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 RedZone Diaries - An Impressive First Step
And so begins Miami’s quest for an NBA championship. The Heat’s first-ever, 4 game, first-round sweep of the New Jersey Nets was an impressive opening statement, by the Eastern Conference’s top seed. The Heat was clearly the superior team and proved it four times in a row. In these playoffs, the first nets Miami cut down, were New Jersey’s. The Heat’s domination, of a Nets team that won 15 of their last 19 games to qualify for the playoffs, was complete and convincing. Sunday’s 110-97 series clincher at the Continental Airlines Arena was yet another display of Miami’s depth, defense and an offense that New Jersey could not stop or match. Miami averaged 109.5 points a game on 52% shooting and that was with Shaquille O’Neal at half-throttle. “I never went into this series even dreaming it would be a sweep,” said Stan Van Gundy. The Heat’s second year coach takes Miami into the second round for the second year in a row. Last year in took 7 games to advance past New Orleans. This was Miami’s second playoff sweep. The first since the 2000 first round, 3 game knockout of the Pistons and even more one-sided. Miami won three of the four games by double-figures; taking Game 1 by 18, Game 2 by 17 and Sunday’s wrap up by 13. The double-overtime, 108-105, win in Game 3 was indicative of this teams ferocious focus and mental toughness. Miami held the Nets under 40% in the last three games and for the series. .
The Heat defense kept the Nets best two players, Jason Kidd and Vince Carter, under wraps and nearly overwhelmed. Kidd shot 39% and seemed depleted having to defend Dwyane Wade and play 46 minutes a game. “Being swept is something we didn’t want to happen but it did,” said Kidd. “Miami was the better team in this series.” Carter scored almost 27 points a game, leading both teams but had to take an average of 24 shots a game. He made good on just 37% from the field in the series and was a woeful 6-22 in Game 4, Sunday. “We felt ready. We fought real hard,” said Carter. “They have a great chance. They have a great duo. They’re going to be tough, especially when Shaq gets healthy. I did an OK job but we didn’t win a game. I probably didn’t get the job done. Getting swept leaves a nasty taste in my mouth.” Eddie Jones did get the job done. In perhaps his finest playoff performance the Captain capped off a sensational first-round with 21 points and suffocating defense on Carter in Game 4. In the series last two games, Jones buried a playoff, career-hi, 5- three pointers, in each. And in the end, he frustrated Carter, with relentless defense, holding the high-flyer without a dunk for the entire series.
Jones averaged 16.3 points in the series on 55% and went 52% from 3-point land. He remains one of the NBA’s most under-rated defenders but no longer overlooked. In our view, however, Dwyane Wade, was this series MVP. Twice he scored over 30 points. His 32 point, 8 assist effort in Game 1 was surpassed by his 34 points and 9 assists in Sunday’s sweep. In the Game 3, overtime, thriller he walked away with 22 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists and the lone blemish, 9 turnovers. . He took control of Sunday’s Game 4 early. He scored 14 points in the first quarter and had 21 tone-setting point in the first half. “We could never get a handle on him,” said Nets coach Lawrence Frank. “He showed why he’s a real special player. He’s that good. He’s a bigger version of Allen Iverson.” Wade’s 34 point effort yesterday tied Tim Hardaway (he did it twice against the Knicks) for the second highest scoring playoff game in Heat history.
Against New Jersey, Miami dropped a first-round depth-charge. The Heat had at least six players score in double figures in 3 of the 4 games and had 5 in double-digits in all four games. “You need a lot of guys playing well in the playoffs,” said Van Gundy and that’s exactly what he got. Udonis Haslem averaged almost 12 rebounds a game. Damon Jones socred over 16 points a game and shot 53%, making 50% of his threes. Alonzo Mourning, Christian Laettner and Keyon Dooling all shot over 70% for the series, yes 70% percent. Each of those subs took turns sparking their team. Laettner had 8 points on 4-4 shooting in Game 1. Mourning scored 21 points with 9 rebound in 16 remarkable minutes in Game 2. Dooling reached double figures in the final three games, making 14 of his last 17 shots. “We used our bench for primarily defense and energy during the season,” said Van Gundy. “They provided that in this series and also provided offense. Keyon has played well for us, especially considering this was his first playoff series. He was incredible. He gave us a big lift in both games in New Jersey. I am proud of him and happy for him.” And finally there was Shaq. The Diesel played at about 50% through the first round with his bruised right thigh. He fell short of his amazing, career post-season numbers (27ppg, 12.9rpg, 56%) but he still managed a very respectable 18 points and nearly 9 rebounds a game. In Game 4 he was held scoreless in the first half for the first time in his 162 career playoff games.
“In the first half he looked like me in the low-post,” joked Van Gundy. “In the second half he looked like Shaq. He has a ton of pride and he wasn’t going to let us down.” Now he has a week to rest and heal before round two and that spells big trouble for either the Bulls or the Wizards. Miami will meet the winner of that series, beginning as early as this Sunday or as late as next Tuesday, May 10. The first two games will be played at the Heat’s house. In our mid-week report we will look inside the Chicago-Washington series. In the meantime, Heat fans, enjoy the sweep of the Nets and get ready for the next step.
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Eight days, A Sweep.
“What we did in this series is play four straight games with intensity and tenacity,” said van Gundy. “We played extremely hard.”
“Eddie Jones was fabulous in this series on both ends of the court,” said Van Gundy after Game 4. “He held Vince under 40% for the series and he provided us with offense. It would be hard for me to pick an MVP of this series, but he might be it.”
Wade did it at age 23 in just his second dance on the playoff stage. He plays his best in the biggest games. His assists are often as spectacular as his scores. He combines quickness and athleticism with extraordinary court vision and point-guard instincts. He has no fear of flying, driving and relentlessly attacking. His backcourt partner, Damon Jones, compared him earlier in the series to a piranha. Wade responds and rises to the big game challenges. Not since Michael Jordan, have we seen a player get anywhere he wants with his dribble and dunk on people. Every game he does something special, something to make you drop your jaw and jump out of your seat.
