Game 62 Preview: Miami Heat (42-17) at Nets (22-39)

If someone knows how to stop this man, please contact Avery Johnson with tips

The super-team comes to Newark tonight as Lebron and Dwyane Wade and co take on our New Jersey Nets. The Heat don't have a whole lot riding on this game because it looks like they will be the 2nd-seed in the East for the playoffs as the 1st-seeded Bulls (3.5 games ahead of Miami) and 3rd-seeded Pacers (4.5 games behind Miami) are either too far ahead or behind the Heat to change positions this late in the season. That makes this measly Monday night game relatively meaningless. Let the tanking commence!

Background on Miami

What else is there to say? The Heat might be the most athletic and purely talented team the NBA has ever seen and some nights, always against the Nets, they are simply unstoppable on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor. Sometimes they don't really show up which is when they lose to bad teams but those occurrences are extremely rare. Other than that, it's going to be really tough for the Nets to stick with Miami's extremely talented scorers.

Previous Game

On Sunday afternoon at MSG, the Heat took down the Knicks by a score of 93-85. Miami only allowed two Knicks (Carmelo Anthony and JR Smith) to score in double-figures  but couldn't really stop Anthony, letting him score a game-high 42 points. In classic Lebron and Wade performances, they combatted Melo's effort with 57 points combined between the two (29 for Lebron, 28 for Wade) which, along with Bosh's 16 points and 14 boards, was enough to beat the Knicks.


The Nets weren't as victorious in their last game, a home loss to the Celtics on Saturday night in Newark. The Nets got off to a great start in the game and like they normally do against good teams like Boston, they completely faded in the 2nd half in what  essentially became a blowout. Gerald Green (15 points) and Jordan Williams (12 points, 14 boards) were the only bright spots for the Nets in a game that was extremely forgettable, other than the fact that Ian Eagle and Mike Fratello almost came to blows on the YES Network broadcast.

Probable Lineups

MIA- Chalmers (PG), Wade (SG), Lebron James (SF), Bosh (PF), Haslem (C)
NJN- D.Williams (PG), Brooks (SG), Stevenson (SF), Humphries (PF), She. Williams (C)

Three Keys to a Nets Win

1. Somehow stop the Heat from getting on the fastbreak

2. Win the rebounding battle

3. Hope that Morrow can hit his shots, especially when open