Friday, December 28th, 2007 at 4:00 pm  |  29 responses

Worthy of Your Attention

Magic vs. Heat

by Marcel Mutoni

Unless you’re the sort that enjoys self-inflicted pain (and hey, I’m not here to judge!), watching Miami Heat basketball is usually not recommended. They’re a slow, plodding, and guileless team. So, why am I looking forward to tonight’s matchup with the Magic? Schadenfreude, of course.

Former Heat coach Stan Van Gundy makes his triumphant return to his old stomping grounds tonight in Miami, leading a young and surging squad, and it’ll be great to see the kind of reaction the Heat faithful – the ones that still bother showing up at the arena – give him.

If this game was taking place in New York, you can bet the fans would start some kind of “Fire Riley, Hire Van Gundy” chant; alas, it is laid-back Miami, and patrons are too busy checking their tee times to bother with this derisiveness. Pity.

Even though Shaq is a shell of the player he used to be, it’s always neat when he goes up against one of the up-and-coming monsters of the paint, and there’s no one better at the center position in the League right now than Dwight Howard.

When Dwight posts Shaq at some point in the third quarter tonight, locks eyes with Jameer, spins quickly and violently into the paint, and catches a rim-rattling oop, watch and see if O’Neal doesn’t mutter to himself, “Damn, I remember when Brian Shaw and I used to that.”

Prediction: Orlando (108) – Miami (97).

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  • Russ Bengtson Posted: Dec.28 at 4:00 pm
    Shaq’ll still be in the game in the third quarter?

  • Bigi Posted: Dec.28 at 4:09 pm
    Prediction: Orlando(89)-Miami(96)…Wade County 42 points…Eboy,where ya at?

  • Holly MacKenzie Posted: Dec.28 at 4:12 pm
    It’s about time for Shaq to sit a few games, isn’t it? He just looks bored on the bench as the clock winds down lately.

  • white hot eboy Posted: Dec.28 at 4:15 pm
    IF, IF Shaq plays tonight, I think the Heat will play a strong game and win tonight. They’ll then lose 7 of their next 8 so…..

  • TADOne Posted: Dec.28 at 4:23 pm
    Is Shaq injured?

  • white hot eboy Posted: Dec.28 at 4:33 pm
    Supposedly he is having hip problems.

  • Cheryl Posted: Dec.28 at 4:44 pm
    I traded my Bucks tix for tonight’s game, so I’ll be there. I’ll probably leave fairly drunk, though. It’s hard out here for a Heat fan…

  • Joey Posted: Dec.28 at 4:46 pm
    Shaq needs to stop looking like the L needs to respect him b/c he USED to be the most dominant player in the world and just dunk EVERYTHING. Goodluck getting under the basket though.

  • TADOne Posted: Dec.28 at 4:46 pm
    Presidente’s!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • white hot eboy Posted: Dec.28 at 4:52 pm
    Cheryl, I think you might see a win tonight.

  • Captain America Posted: Dec.28 at 4:59 pm
    Will Jameer start?

  • Justin Posted: Dec.28 at 5:22 pm
    If the game was here in O-Town, then yeah, the Heat would have a shot.
    But the Magic play better on the road then in the O-Rena.

  • Justin Posted: Dec.28 at 5:23 pm
    Jameer will start. If they lose this game and maybe another one after that, Arroz Con Pollo moves into a starting spot.

  • Solito Posted: Dec.28 at 10:30 pm
    There was a heavy articel on Jameer Nelson today on espn.com. It is worth the read: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=BigPicture-Nelson

  • Gerard Himself Posted: Dec.28 at 11:16 pm
    48 points for Wade so far, and OT is about to begin.

  • Gerard Himself Posted: Dec.28 at 11:44 pm
    And another loss for the Heat. Fire Riley! Wait, impossible. Get good players! Wait, how? Trading Jason Williams won’t give you much.

  • Holly MacKenzie Posted: Dec.29 at 12:51 am
    Mutoni, I hope you are watching this Lakers game. I can’t contain my excitement any longerrrrrrr. Cheryl, although the Heat lost it looked like you got to watch an exciting game from Mr. Wade and Dwight. 16-21 from the floor? Why was anyone else even bothering to shoot?! ahahah Great performance by Wade and was there any surprise that Shaq didn’t play? Hope you enjoyed yourself!

  • jay Posted: Dec.29 at 1:27 am
    Holly, the Laker game is CRAZYYYYY. its payback time.

  • Holly MacKenzie Posted: Dec.29 at 1:38 am
    Ahhh I am enjoying this wayy too much. It just feels good to see the guys so happy. Now, lets get Critt some time, Phil!!!

  • Holly MacKenzie Posted: Dec.29 at 1:39 am
    I love that Phil throws him out there @ MSG with the game on the line, and we are up 30 and he’s still chilling on the bench.

  • jay Posted: Dec.29 at 1:48 am
    ok now the game is just getting annoying.

  • Reggie Evans Posted: Dec.29 at 5:32 am
    Who knew Ariza was so much better than Luke Walton? I didn’t. Now I do.

  • Slim Posted: Dec.29 at 6:36 am
    Isn’t Shaq on the commerical for the Icy Hot patch? he should use it…but damn he’s getting old!

  • Sesa Posted: Dec.29 at 10:32 am
    Ariza is better defender and has more athleticism, but Luke has better court vision and a better perimeter shooter.
    Ariza is a more upgraded version of Lamar Odom minus playmaking.

  • Bigi Posted: Dec.29 at 2:16 pm
    1st qtr…Dal-Atl 12-0…Lang this isn’t gonna end well…

  • Slamyomama Posted: Dec.29 at 9:56 pm
    I hope the lakers can keep this up for the remainder of the year i mean they’re playing outstanding bball

  • what Posted: Dec.30 at 7:31 am
    http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.6153/title.dx-news-bits-dipset-gets-disney-nu-jerzey-devil-gets-heaven awaiting comment from sam rubenstein

  • D-Mac Posted: Dec.30 at 11:52 am
    That was a good prediciton i must say
    very impressive

  • Eli Posted: Dec.31 at 5:54 am
    too bad miami was always wack they just got lucky. dwade the only player they got and orlando started out good but theyll get lost in the mix. orlando is still dominant of miami though

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