Hornets-Heat Preview

By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO
Posted Dec 08 2012 1:50AM

A pair of losses have the Miami Heat searching for answers defensively.

LeBron James doesn't think one game will solve those issues, but a matchup against the offensively-challenged New Orleans Hornets should only help.

James and the Heat look to begin showing marked improvement defensively and avoid matching their longest losing streak in 11 months Saturday night against the Hornets.

Although Miami (12-5) has one of the league's best records, the team is concerned with a defense that is allowing 100.6 points per game. That number is in stark contrast to last season, when the Heat surrendered 92.5 a contest and 90.3 during the playoffs en route to the NBA title.

"If it goes too long what it becomes is a tendency. If it goes longer than that it becomes a habit. If it continues by the time you get to the playoffs, that's who you are," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "That's what we're looking to change right now."

The defensive issues were further brought to light following a 112-92 home loss to New York on Thursday after falling 105-101 at league-worst Washington two days earlier.

The Heat, who last dropped three in a row from Jan. 10-13, allowed their last two opponents to shoot 46.5 percent from the field and gave up 18 of 44 from 3-point range against the Knicks.

James is looking to respond in a big way, far beyond a meeting with the Western Conference-worst Hornets (5-13), who rank among the league's lowest scoring teams at 92.8 points per game.

"It's going to take more than that; one good game," he said. "We gotta have a string. We gotta have a month. We've had months before; month of December, month of January where we just absolutely get back to the way we're playing. That's defensively and also offensively moving the ball and sharing the ball.

"One game is not going to change it."

While James laments the defensive effort, he's doing his part offensively, ranking fourth in the league at 25.2 points per game after collecting 31 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists to fall just shy of back-to-back triple-doubles.

"My motivation is well beyond hoisting one trophy, and I'm not taking any shortcuts to get to that point, so I can't allow my teammates to take shortcuts," James said. "We gotta be better. I gotta be better. It's that simple."

Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh certainly need to be better after they combined to miss 19 of 25 from the floor while totaling 25 points Thursday.

Facing New Orleans should get at least Wade going again. He's averaging 28.1 points in the last seven meetings, while Bosh was limited to 12 in a 109-95 victory on Jan. 30 in the only matchup last season.

Wade and James had 22 points apiece in that game, helping Miami beat the Hornets for the eighth time in 10 home meetings.

New Orleans is coming off a 1-4 homestand, during which it averaged 88.2 points.

The Hornets capped that stretch with Friday's 96-89 loss to NBA-best Memphis. Still, coach Monty Williams was encouraged despite his team's 11th loss in 13 games.

"It's close to the right effort," he said. "I'm proud of how we competed but my heart aches because you lost a game you had a chance to win."

Rookie Austin Rivers is trying to build on his season-high 15 points from Friday. He had totaled eight points over the previous four contests, going 3 for 23 from the field.

Heat snap 2-game slide, top Hornets 106-90

By TIM REYNOLDS
Posted Dec 08 2012 11:00PM

MIAMI (AP) For the Miami Heat, one nearly perfect quarter was more than enough to help stop a two-game slide.

Dwyane Wade scored 26 points, LeBron James finished with 24 points and seven assists, and the Heat shot a season-best 58 percent on the way to topping the New Orleans Hornets 106-90 on Saturday night.

Chris Bosh scored 13, and Ray Allen and Shane Battier each added 11 for Miami, which took control by outscoring the Hornets 33-10 over the final 11 minutes of the second quarter. New Orleans started the game 10 for 12 from the floor, then shot 9 for 31 over the rest of the half.

"We've got to defend. It's that simple," James said. "When we defend, the game's that much easier for us."

Ryan Anderson scored 24 for New Orleans, which got 20 from Robin Lopez and 12 from Jason Smith. The Hornets turned the ball over 19 times, and Miami converted the miscues into 22 points.

New Orleans outscored Miami by one point in the first quarter, and one point over the course of the second half. The Hornets only got to the foul line 13 times, compared with 24 for the Heat.

"When they're grabbing you like they grab you, without a foul, it's hard to control the ball," Hornets coach Monty Williams said. "Our guys are getting fouled on jump shots and it's hard to not get frustrated. I'm out there fighting for our guys, but that's something that's really frustrating. It's hard to be able to go to the basket when somebody has both hands on you."

James has scored at least 20 points in all 18 Miami games this season. He tied a Heat record by scoring 20 in 23 straight regular-season games (going back to last season) and 39 consecutive games overall, including playoffs. He made 10 of his first 11 shots on Saturday.

The Heat have been plagued by defensive issues at times this season, especially lately, and they looked to have returned in the early going on Saturday. The Hornets ran out to a 25-18 lead by the time this game was 7 minutes old, playing almost flawlessly in the early going.

It didn't last much longer.

Not only did Miami soon clamp down on the defensive end, the Heat offense began really clicking as well.

"Better activity tonight," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "You could see the motor was better. We didn't do everything right. We still had a handful of breakdowns. But the commitment on the defensive end was better than the past two games."

Take away Smith's 5-of-7 effort in the second quarter, and the rest of the Hornets shot 2 for 13 in those 12 minutes when the game turned. Miami outscored New Orleans 33-15 in the quarter - James, Bosh and Wade outscored the Hornets by three - and seven different Heat players had at least one assist in that period alone.

New Orleans' starters were 1 for 2 in the pivotal second quarter, both of those shots by Lopez. Anderson was limited to 31 seconds of time on the court in the second because of foul trouble, and the other three Hornets starters besides Lopez failed to get a shot off in more than 12 combined minutes.

"The positive that we can take away is that in the second half I think we held them to 40 or 42 points," Lopez said. "Imagine if we had come out with that effort from the get-go. It could have been a different game for us."

By halftime, Miami's lead was 64-47, and the Heat weren't in much trouble again - though they had to work in the final minutes to finish off the team with the worst record so far in the Western Conference. Anderson and Greivis Vasquez made consecutive 3-pointers to get the Hornets within nine late in the third quarter. And with 4:40 left, Lopez's three-point play helped New Orleans close to 95-87.

That was the last gasp for New Orleans. Battier took a pass from James and made a 3-pointer from the right corner with just under 3 minutes left, giving the Heat a 101-87 lead, and Wade sealed it with a jumper on the next Miami possession, part of what became an 11-0 game-deciding run.

"We just want to work on consistency now," Bosh said. "Our antennas are up about it."

NOTES: Bosh missed three dunk attempts in the game, including two on one possession in the third quarter, and predictably was teased in the locker room about it postgame. ... Allen is now five points shy of tying Adrian Dantley (23,177) for 22nd on the NBA's career scoring list. ... Miami improved to 9-1 at home. ... Since a 3-2 start, New Orleans has dropped 12 of 14. ... The Hornets played without injured rookie Anthony Davis, the No. 1 pick in this year's draft, for the 11th straight game. He was on the court for a pregame workout and Williams said he hopes to get Davis back in the lineup sometime in the next few days.

Notebook: Heat 106, Hornets 90

Zachary Paul, for NBA.com
Posted Sat Dec 08, 2012 10:46 PM - Updated Sat Dec 08, 2012 10:46 PM

THE FACTS: The Miami Heat defeated the New Orleans Hornets 106-90 Saturday at AmericanAirlines Arena.

The Heat were led by guard Dwyane Wade, who scored 26 points to help them end a two-game losing skid. LeBron James finished with 24 points, seven assists and five rebounds while center Chris Bosh added 13 points and six rebounds. Miami was able to overcome yet another slow start by delivering the knockout in the second quarter.

For a while, it appeared Miami was headed to once again playing down to the level of competition. The Hornets grabbed a 25-18 lead on Ryan Anderson's 3-pointer with 5:24 left in the first quarter.

The Heat closed the gap to one point at the end of the quarter before taking control in the second quarter. Miami put it away with a 12-2 run near the start of the quarter.

Anderson led the Hornets with 24 points and five rebounds.

QUOTABLE: "The motor was better. We didn't do everything right ... but the commitment on the defensive end was better than the last two games."
-- Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.

THE STAT: The Heat shot a season-high 58 percent from the field.

TURNING POINT: After a slow start, the Heat outscored the Hornets 33-15 in the second quarter and shot 76 percent (13-17) from the field.

HOT: James and Wade started by hitting 17 of their first 24 shots. After Wade got the Heat going in the first quarter, it was James who did most of the work in the second and third. The duo combined to shoot 20 of 28 from the field.

NOT: Rookie guard Brian Roberts had a rough outing off the bench, missing seven of his first eight shots. In fact, the Hornets did not receive much from any player in the backcourt, with Greivis Vasquez, Austin Rivers and Roger Mason Jr., also having quiet nights.

GOOD MOVE: The Heat finally got back to their identity, which is playing tough defense. They set the tone by holding the Hornets to 44 percent shooting and recorded a season-high 12 steals. With the exception of Robin Lopez and Ryan Anderson on the inside, the Heat were able to slow the Hornets' offense.

BAD MOVE: After a strong start by Lopez in the post, the Hornets had all sorts of problems establishing that inside dominance in the second quarter. It was then when the Heat took control of the game because the Hornets were unable to produce offensively.

NOTABLE: Udonis Haslem made his second straight start in place of Shane Battier at forward for the Heat ... James left the game in the first quarter with a groin injury but did return ... Hornets rookie Anthony Davis did not play because of a sore right ankle ... The Heat improved to 9-1 at home this season ... James has scored at least 20 points in 39 consecutive games.

UP NEXT: For the Heat, Monday vs. Hawks, Wednesday vs. Warriors, Saturday vs. Wizards. For the Hornets, Tuesday vs. Wizards, Wednesday @ Thunder, Friday vs. Timberwolves.

• Hornets: Gordon
• Heat: Harrellson, Harris

• Hornets: --
• Heat: --

• Lead Changes: 7
• Times Tied: 7

• Arena: American Airlines Arena, Miami, FL
• Officials: #55 Bill Kennedy, #30 John Goble, #29 Mark Lindsay
• Attendance: 19600
• Duration: 2:10