MIAMI — Perhaps it’s fitting Miami will play host to perennially doormat Charlotte on March 24. That’s the birthday of escape-artist Harry Houdini, who was born in 1874. Maybe that will mark another great Heat escape. The Heat (11-3) have been making a habit lately of having Houdini-like performances. For the past three games, they've relaxed at home before turning it on late to defeat foes they should have handled much easier. The latest was Thursday. Playing against a San Antonio team that rested four of its top five scorers (Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Danny Green) and was without a fifth (Kawhi Leonard) due to injury, the Heat had an uninspiring showing. Trailing 98-93 with two minutes left, the Heat finally found some NoDoz. They outscored the Spurs 12-2 the rest of the way to win 105-100 at AmericanAirlines Arena. How bad was it? When was the last time you heard a winning coach open a post-game press conference like this? “We’re not going to make any excuses for tonight,’’ said Miami’s Erik Spoelstra. On Nov. 24, the Heat trailed Cleveland, one of the NBA’s worst teams and one without star guard Kyrie Irving, 108-101 with just under two minutes left. But they stormed back to win 110-108. On Nov. 21, the Heat were down 91-84 with just under five minutes remaining in regulation to a so-so Milwaukee outfit. They came back to win 113-106 in overtime. “I’m a coach,’’ Spoelstra said after Thursday’s game when asked if he’s concerned about the Heat thinking they can turn it on whenever they want to beat lesser teams. “The trap doors are always on my mind. I also keep in perspective that it wasn’t too long ago where we were so heavily criticized for our end-of-game execution and being able to pull out games. I don’t think that is a question anymore. The bigger picture, that's the tougher thing to get your handle on.’’ Spoelstra is right, Miami wasn't winning these type of games regularly when its superteam was assembled two years ago. But it’s good he does have some concern the Heat could be lulled into thinking they always can snap their fingers and produce a win when on the ropes against a lesser team. Some Heat players aren't as worried as Spoelstra. Guard Ray Allen said the Heat are still meshing because it’s early in the season and forward LeBron James said getting the W is the bottom line. “Everybody looks at it like, ‘Hey, you need to put them away in the first three quarters or whatever the case might be,’'’ James said. “But, when you win, that’s all that matters.’’ But there’s always a risk of the Heat developing bad habits and eventually losing some of these games they're favored to win big. The last three survivals have come after Miami began a stretch in of 10 of 11 and 12 of 14 games at home. The comforts of home will be put on hold when the Heat on Dec. 26 at Charlotte to begin a four-game trip. We’ll see if they’re then still playing too often down to the level of their opponents. If the Heat are still needing great escapes when the Bobcats visit Miami on Houdini’s birthday, then this really could be a problem. Who’s Hot: Just to spread it around a bit, it would be nice to give James a week off from this category. The problem is James never has not been hot this season. He’s scored 20 or more points in each game, leading one to wonder if he can make it 82 this season in that category. Who’s Hot Besides James: Allen has replaced James and Dwyane Wade as Miami’s go-to guy down the stretch. He’s hit three game-winning shots from beyond the arc this season, including doing so in each of Miami’s last two games. The latest was a 3-pointer with 22.6 seconds left against the Spurs that put the Heat up for good at 100-98. Allen had 20 points against San Antonio, giving him an average of 18.0 the past three games. Who’s Not: Forward Rashard Lewis did little Thursday in his first start of the season. Subbing for injured Shane Battier, he had three points and three rebounds in 21 minutes. Lewis didn’t play in the previous game against the Cavaliers due to a coach’s decision. It remains to be seen how often he can make enough outside shots to make up for deficiencies in other areas. 1. So much for everybody in the NBA worrying about the Heat. Gregg Popovich, coach of San Antonio in the West, isn’t. He said before the season he doesn’t concern himself much about teams in the East, and he further proved that Thursday. Popovich rested four top players because he’s much more worried about Saturday’s home game against Southwest Division rival Memphis. The Heat next play the Spurs March 31 at San Antonio. Considering that concludes a three-game homestand in which the Spurs don’t have any back-to-back games, one figures they won't rest any top players.
2. Wade has bounced back strongly after having missed two games due to a foot injury. Over his past three games, Wade has averaged 21.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists. With Wade turning 31 and no longer being Miami’s dominant player, he will hear at times how he’s on the downside of his career. There was lots of that talk when Wade averaged just 11.0 points in three games and then missed the two due to injury. But he’s been doing a good job of silencing it lately.
3. If there has been one flaw to James’ game this season, it’s free-throw shooting. He’s just 54-of-82 for 65.1 percent, on pace to be a career low. A missed free throw hasn’t cost the Heat any wins this season. But, with Miami leading 100-98, he did go 1-of-2 with 20 seconds left Thursday to keep San Antonio within one possession before the Heat held on.
“I think we’re all day-to-day. You want to make God laugh? Tell him your plans for tomorrow.’’
--Battier, who sat out Thursday due to a sprained right knee and also likely will miss Saturday’s game against Brooklyn. “In practice… we kept score and in every drill we did, he’s trying to win each game… That’s something deep inside of him. You can’t teach that quality… He’s an ultimate competitor.’’ --Spoelstra, on the intense desire James has to win.
“I don’t understand how he continues to be open.’’ --James, on sharpshooter Ray Allen, who has won three games this season with 3-pointers, including Miami’s last two. “Besides the layup he got blocked tonight, yeah.’’ --James, when asked after Thursday’s game if often-injured teammate Mike Miller looks more spry this season.
Consecutive regular-season games James has scored in double figures. It’s the sixth-longest such streak in NBA history.
Consecutive regular-season and/or playoff games James has scored 20 more points. The longest streak of his career was 49, all in the regular season, in 2007-08
Consecutive regular-season and/or playoff games Heat center Joel Anthony has not scored in double figures.
Two of Miami’s next three games will provide some indication if the Heat will have any challengers this season for top seed in the East. The Heat play host to Brooklyn on Saturday and New York next Thursday (in between is a Tuesday game at Washington).
Those teams both entered Friday 10-4, a half game behind the Heat for best record in the East. The Nets will be hampered by center Brook Lopez being out with sprained foot, but they will want to make up for a 103-73 drubbing Nov. 7 at Miami. Meanwhile, the Heat will want to avenge a 104-84 loss Nov. 2 at New York. Other than the two outfits from the Empire State, the only other realistic East challenger to the Heat is Boston. But the Celtics are off to a pedestrian 8-7 start and just lost point guard Rajon Rondo to a two-game suspension.
Considering the Heat have the best record in the East and the second-best mark in the NBA behind 11-2 Memphis, they’re obviously in that category. Still, there has to be some concern about lackluster periods of play in close recent wins over Milwaukee, Cleveland and a depleted San Antonio team. But the Heat, who last week began a light one-month schedule that includes just two road games, have plenty of practice time to make adjustments. Chris Tomasson can be reached at christomasson@hotmail.com or on Twitter @christomasson
