March 18
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
columnist Ethan J. Skolnick
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Some percentages can't be found on a stat sheet. How often, when outside the Heat's facility, does Carlos Arroyo speak his primary language, the primary language of Puerto Rico, where he lived until he was 18? "About 60 percent of the time," the point guard says. That includes most conversations with his long-time friends, and much of his interaction with 4-year-old daughter Gabriella, who is learning English in school. That also includes the linguistic innovation that he frequently uses with his family. "Spanglish," he says, smiling. Whatever he speaks, South Florida's basketball-loving Latino community – and not just the Puerto Rican community -- clearly believes that he is speaking, and ..."
March 18
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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The tune is growing familiar. Tuesday against the Spurs, Dwyane Wade shot 1 of 4 on 3-pointers. Just as he did the game before against the 76ers. A week ago in the loss in Charlotte, he was 1 of 5. In fact, since the All-Star break, Dwyane Wade has stood as one of the worst 3-point shooters in the league, tied for 181st in the league in 3-point percentage. Granted, LeBron James ranks 180th over that same span and Kobe Bryant stands 188th. But that's not the point. Sometimes it's not about the company you keep. Sometimes it's about being true to yourself, or at least acknowledging what you're not."
March 18
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Tuesday night, Dorell Wright provided hope. For the remaining 14 games of the season, the sixth-year forward hopes to provide stability. In his first game back from a two-game suspension following last week's DUI arrest, Wright served as a game-changer in Tuesday night's 88-76 Miami Heat loss to the San Antonio Spurs. When he entered for the first time with 2:11 to play in the third quarter, the Heat was down 69-44. He then sparked the 21-2 run that drew the Heat within six in what proved to be a too-late rally. "I owe these guys a lot," he said of his misstep. "I just want to go out there the rest of the year and leave it out there." The Heat outscored the Spurs by 13 points during the 14 ..."
March 17
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Kenny Hasbrouck expected to make it back to South Florida, just not this soon. "I was hoping it would happen," said the rookie combo guard who went undrafted out of Siena last June. "Honestly, I didn't know they were going to make the move until the summertime." That's when Hasbrouck captured the Miami Heat's attention last year, during an impressive July tryout camp. That also seemingly was the beginning of the end for his 2009-10 NBA hopes. While playing in a spirited session at AmericanAirlines Arena that included Heat mainstays Michael Beasley and Mario Chalmers, Hasbrouck cracked a rib. "We were scrimmaging and I went up and Shavlik Randolph tried to take a charge and I just fell over ..."
March 17
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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The difference between seventh place in the Eastern Conference and seventh in the West? That became painfully evident through the early stages of Tuesday's 88-76 Miami Heat loss to the San Antonio Spurs at AmericanAirlines Arena. Despite each team entering seventh in its respective conference, the Spurs entered 14 games above .500, the Heat three. Make that two now for Erik Spoelstra's team, which shot 5 of 21 in the opening period, trailed by 15 entering the second period, fell behind by 26 minutes later, and was unable to fight all the way back despite a spirited late 21-2 surge that drew it within 71-65 with 8:23 to play. "That was an example, in the first quarter, of a team that was ..."
March 16
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Even in the midst of a playoff race, the Miami Heat has decided to turn its focus to the future. Rather than add a veteran point guard to fill the roster vacancy created by the move of Rafer Alston to the suspended list, the Heat has opted for developmental project Kenny Hasbrouck. Hasbrouck, who spent last summer in the team's developmental camp before an injury kept him out of training camp, had been playing minor-league ball with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League. Because the Heat has two vacant roster spots, it is in position to sign Hasbrouck for the balance of the season, as well as to a team option for next season. "He's got a strong body, has a knack for ..."
March 16
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Monday was a day of contrition at Miami Heat practice. It also was a day when dark clouds lifted. Foremost, Dorell Wright was back on the court for the first time since last week's DUI arrest. "It was just one bad night," he said of what is widely considered an out-of-character moment for the 24-year-old forward. "I don't want anybody to get that confused." Then there was center Jermaine O'Neal making himself available to the media for the first time since being ejected from Sunday's victory over the Philadelphia 76ers following a tussle with Philadelphia center Samuel Dalembert. "You have to play with some type of emotion," O'Neal said. "But you have to find a way to play with emotion, be ..."
March 15
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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It certainly was quite the courtesy of the NBA to line up the Los Angeles Clippers, shorthanded Chicago Bulls and Philadelphia 76ers for three consecutive Heat home games this past week. Now the real tests on this six-game homestand begin. While Sunday's 104-91 victory over Philadelphia, an effort fueled by 38 points from Dwyane Wade, extended the Heat's season-best home winning streak to six, it's not as if the challenges at AmericanAirlines Arena have been overwhelming this past week. That changes starting with a Tuesday visit by the San Antonio Spurs, then a Thursday nationally televised visit by the Orlando Magic and then a Saturday home game against a Charlotte Bobcats team that is ..."
March 15
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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About the only drama came with 5:06 to play in the third quarter. That's when after being poked in the eye on the previous possession, Heat center Jermaine O'Neal got tangled with 76ers center Samuel Dalembert at midcourt and was ejected after putting his hand around Dalembert's neck in the ensuing scrum. O'Neal was charged with two technical fouls and Dalembert with one. "We need that passion. We need that toughness," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "J.O. brings both those things. It just can't boil over to that point. But I want that passion.""
March 14
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
columnist Ira Winderman
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A few weeks back, it appeared as if the Toronto Raptors were poised to run away and hide from the rest of the second-tier playoff pack in the East. Now it appears as if the Raptors simply are looking for a place to hide. From a solid hold on the No. 5 seed, Toronto, with losses in seven of eight heading into the weekend, finds itself very much caught in the scramble for one of the final playoff berths in the conference. That makes Toronto's March 28 visit to AmericanAirlines Arena a crucial one for the Miami Heat, which heads into the season-series finale down 2-1 against the Raptors. But with the Raptors there is far more in play for the Heat than a mere tiebreaker. To refresh, the Heat ..."
March 14
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Considering this is the time when rotations tend to shrink anyway, and considering the Heat has only three remaining sets of back-to-back games the balance of the season, perhaps this is where the Heat needed to get. In Friday's 108-95 victory over the Bulls, coach Erik Spoelstra essentially played eight and trusted seven, with only Udonis Haslem and Mario Chalmers getting significant minutes off the bench, with each playing well. With Michael Beasley expected back Sunday against the 76ers, the question becomes whether faith endures with Dorell Wright, when he returns Tuesday against the Spurs from his suspension. On one hand, the Heat could use Wright's athleticism, defense and ..."
March 14
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Buried beneath the Miami Heat's arrests and suspensions of the past three weeks is a genuine playoff push. The Heat, which is engaged in a tight race for a postseason berth, is 5-1 in its last six games and 10-5 in its last 15. A big reason for the team's success is the success of forward Quentin Richardson. In the last six games Richardson is 25 for 50 on 3-pointers. During the Heat's current five-game home winning streak he's 23 for 43, a .535 percentage. "Q has been shooting the ball amazingly for this stretch we've been playing well," guard Dwyane Wade said after Friday's 108-95 victory over the Chicago Bulls. The Heat needs everything Richardson has in these final 16 games, including ..."
March 13
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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How do you make up for the absence of Michael Beasley? You split the challenge. So center Jermaine O'Neal took care of the scoring and forward Joel Anthony handled the rebounding. With O'Neal scoring a season-high 25 points and with Anthony, who started in place of Beasley, adding a season-high 10 rebounds, the Miami Heat pushed past the injury-ravaged Chicago Bulls 108-95 Friday at AmericanAirlines Arena. "We came out to try to control the tempo," said O'Neal, who shot 8 of 13 from the field and 9 of 11 from the line. "Coach wanted to go to me right away." For a while, it also seemed like the Heat was lacking Dwyane Wade, with its star guard closing the first half with five points and ..."
March 13
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Rafer Alston's sudden departure from the Miami Heat took another twist Friday night, when the veteran point guard was placed on the NBA's Suspended List, and therefore suspended for the balance of the season without the possibility of a return. Alston left the team a week ago after being demoted from his starting role. His only contact with the team since has been a text message to a team trainer that he would not be reporting. He since has mentioned a recent suicide attempt by his twin sister as a contributing factor to his departure. "While we are aware, through media reports, of the personal issue that Rafer is going through, we still have not heard from him," Heat President Pat Riley ..."
March 13
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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In the wake of his Thursday arrest in Miami Beach for driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license, Miami Heat forward Dorell Wright has been suspended without pay by the team for two games. Wright missed Friday's game against the Chicago Bulls at AmericanAirlines Arena and all will miss Sunday's home game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Heat President Pat Riley announced the suspension Friday for "conduct detrimental to the team." "This is out of character for Dorell," Riley said in a statement. "We feel he's a good person and that he will learn from this mistake." In a similar case, the Minnesota Timberwolves suspended center Al Jefferson for two games last week for a ..."
March 12
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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There are statement games of ego, such as last week's victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. And then there are statement games of substance, such as Friday night's against the Chicago Bulls. While beating Kobe and Co. lifted spirits for the Heat, the lift the Heat truly needs is in the standings, where it already has lost season-series tiebreakers to the Milwaukee Bucks and Charlotte Bobcats and stands in peril of doing the same against the Toronto Raptors. Tied 1-1 with Chicago in a four-game series than concludes March 25 at the United Center, the Heat essentially is in last-chance mode when it comes to tiebreakers among the five teams battling for the final four playoff berths in the ..."
March 12
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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The Miami Heat's run of offcourt troubles continued early Thursday morning, when forward Dorell Wright was arrested in Miami Beach for driving under the influence of alcohol and knowingly driving with a suspended license, his second such offense. Bond was set at $1,000 for each offense. Wright, who played 22 minutes in Wednesday night's 108-97 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers at AmericanAirlines Arena, was stopped at 3:37 a.m. in his 2005 Bentley for erratic driving. Wright, 24, was cited after changing lanes without signaling, with the police report noting he was traveling 52 mph in a 35 mph zone on Alton Road. The report noted the California native nearly struck a taxi after ..."
March 11
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
columnist Ethan J. Skolnick
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An hour before Wednesday night's tipoff against the Los Angeles Clippers, Michael Beasley had one simple request. "I just want something with white that I can draw on," he said. He found that coveted blank canvas on the toe box of a leather basketball shoe. There, his black marker went to work, producing a passable portrait of Mickey. Mickey, as in Mouse. Not Micky, as in Arison, the Heat owner. That's Michael Beasley. That's fine. So long as he doesn't dawdle on the court, there's no harm in doodling off of it. He's immature, but also earnest, and endearing. It would nice for him to play the next decade here, to see what sort of person and player he becomes. It would also be nice to see ..."
March 11
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Former teammates staged a shooting contest Wednesday night at AmericanAirlines Arena. Rasual Butler opted for the higher degree of difficulty. Then again, life seemingly never is easy as a member of the Los Angeles Clippers. Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade took a simpler approach. With Wade shooting 15 of 17 from the foul line, the Heat rolled to a 108-97 victory, moving a game ahead of the idle Chicago Bulls for the eighth and final playoff seed in the Eastern Conference. "I just tried to come out and be aggressive," Wade said. "I was very aggressive, trying to get to the free-throw line." Butler, by contrast, took his game outside, converting 6 of 11 3-pointers in keeping the Clippers ..."
March 11
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Despite word that personal turmoil contributed to Rafer Alston's departure from the Miami Heat last week, coach Erik Spoelstra said Wednesday that "our stance is the same" when it comes to the guard's indefinite suspension without pay. In breaking his silence about a departure that came a day after he was stripped of his starting role last Thursday, Alston told ESPN.com that his abrupt exit from the team came amid the emotional strain of his twin sister Racine's recent attempted suicide. Spoelstra said the Heat still has yet to hear from the veteran guard beyond a single text message last Friday informing the team's trainer of his departure. "My thoughts and prayers are with him and his ..."
March 11
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Wade was supported by 19 points from center Jermaine O'Neal and 15 from forward Michael Beasley, who was forced to the bench in the third quarter with a bruised left thigh. "Overall it was a good home win," Wade said. "Now we get some rest.""
March 10
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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There are times, Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra admits, he cringes when he puts his team into a zone defense. "It depends," he said. "It all changes if they make a few shots. Then it changes your perspective." Mostly, though, the perspective has been positive. "It has given us a little bit more of a dynamic look, so we're not so straight forward with our man-to-man," Spoelstra said before Tuesday's game against the Charlotte Bobcats at Time Warner Cable Arena. "We've also tweaked some things and we're changing up our man-to-man, just on some possessions, to give it a different look. "But, more than anything, it's added that dynamic feel and our guys have really responded, energy-wise to ..."
March 10
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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"It's one thing to show up for the fight," Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "It's another thing," he added after a telling pause, "to finish the fight." And thus vanished another potential playoff tiebreaker for the Heat, with Tuesday's 83-78 loss to the Charlotte Bobcats at Time Warner Cable Arena. "We did not close out the game well, at all," Spoelstra said. This, of course, was about more than closing out a game. This was about closing out a season where the thinnest of margins could determine the final four playoff seeds in the Eastern Conference. In falling to the Bobcats for the third time, the Heat has now forfeited potential playoff tiebreakers to both Charlotte and the ..."
March 10
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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For the first time since Rafer Alston left the Miami Heat without explanation, clarity is being shed on the matter. According to ESPN.com, Alston decided to leave the team in the wake of last week's benching amid the emotional strain of his twin sister Racine's attempted suicide. Alston told the website his sister had attempted to take her life just days before he was relieved of his starting job. "The way I handled it was wrong," Alston told ESPN.com. "I didn't really tell [team officials] why I was leaving." The Heat said it only received a text from Alston the morning after he was benched during last Thursday's home victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, offering no details about his ..."