Josh Q. Public:I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day. When it’s cold outside, I’ve got the month of May. -The Temptations
Public Service Announcement: OK, here we go! The Phoenix Suns. Sun-sational. Sun-stoppable. Sun-believable. I know, I know. Let’s not carried away. Carry on my wayward son. There’ll be peace when you are done. Lay your weary head to rest. Don’t you cry no more. Even if it was the lowly Griz, Suns fans can stop their sobbing. At least for a little while. The Grizhave all that ails ya. The Suns scored 132 points against the Grizzlies. 617 points in their last five games against the Grizzlies. The most points by one team against another over a five-game span since these said same Suns had 618 over five games against the WizardsBullets from 1993 to 1995. Memphis is terrible. Abominable. Deplorable. De####able. Memphis has lost fifteen consecutive road games. The Suns can’t worry about that. I don’t care what they say about us anyway. I don’t care ’bout that. They can’t. They got business to take care of. Growed folks business. Post-season business. The Suns remain in sixth place in the West. The Suns have won consecutive games for the first time since early February. The Suns are doing it with defense. Knock ‘em down, roll ‘em around, c’mon defense work! Work! The Suns have been working it on defense. Not shirking it on defense. The biggest knock on the Shaq trade was losing the Matrix‘ on other end of the floor. They discounted his perimeter defense. They discounted his ability to guard the point. They discounted the numbers made by the mismatches he created. It appears they’re finally figuring out life without Marion. The Suns have finally put two games of good defense together. Together, forever, that’s how it will be. The Suns held San Antonio to 34.9 percent shooting Sunday. The Suns limited Memphis to 41.7 percent shooting last night. Larger than Jim Backus, it’s the Cactus. The Big Cactus took only one shot in 16:36 of playing time last night. It’s the first time in his career that Shaq has played more than two minutes without taking at least two shots. How about that? How about this? Shaq may have only taken one shot last night, that’s fine. He still had fitty cent. He still had three big blocks. Mike D’Antoni: “He controlled the whole game.” He did, he really did. And his boy, Amare Stoudemire, was just a beast. Twenty-nine points and thirteen boards in thirty minutes. Yowza! Stoudemire: “We’re just scratching the surface of how good we can be.” I second that emotion. Be afraid Lakers fans. Be afraid Spurs fans. Be afraid Jazz fans. Be afraid Hornets fans. Be afraid Rockets fans. Be very, very afraid.
Public Acknowledgements: Kansas, Weezer, Dionne Warwick, Third Bass, The Miracles, Peter Vecsey and AZ Central
Josh Q. Public: Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief. So dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay. -Robert Frost
Public Service Announcement: Ok, here we go! First thing’s first. Let’s get this straight. I love the Big Aristotle. Shaq Daddy. Superman. Shaq Diesel. Wilt Chamberneezy. Shaq Fu. The Big Baryshnikov. The Showman of the Big Men. Dr. Shaq. The Real Deal. I love Shaquille O’Neal. I love him, but it’s over. Havlicek steals it! Over to Sam Jones! Havlicek stole the ball! It’s over! It’s all over! O’Neal will undergo an MRI to determine if the severity of his lingering hip injury has changed. Whatever the results, it’s time for the big fella to hang up those size twenty-threes. For a generation, Shaquille O’Neal has been the best center in basketball. One of the most dominant big men in history. Most bombinant big man in history. A beast in the low post. Having a feast in the low post. The high priest in the low post. However, the Shaquille O’Neal of today is not the same Shaq of yesterday. Yesterday. All my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they’re here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday. The Shaquille O’Neal of today is not the same Shaq that ripped down rims. The Shaquille O’Neal of today is not the same Shaq that tore down backboards. The Shaquille O’Neal of today is not the same Shaq that led the Los Angeles Lakers to three championships. The Shaquille O’Neal of today is not even the same Shaq that led Miami to another one. Maybe I’m selfish. Selfish like a shellfish. But I want to see Shaq Daddy go out in a blaze of glory. My my, hey hey. It’s better to burn out than to fade away. My my, hey hey. I want to remember Shaq as the three time NBA Finals MVP. I want to remember Shaq as the NBA scoring champ. I want to remember Shaq as coming up just one vote short of becoming the first unanimous MVP in the NBA. I want to remember that drop step. The Black Tornado. I want to remember that little righty hook. I don’t want to see Half-a-Shaq. I don’t want to see Guy LaFleur toiling for the Nordiques and Rangers. I don’t want to see Michael with the Wizards.Say Hey with the Mets. Hakeem Olajuwan in a Toronto Raptors uniform. I understand why sports stars even twenty years ago stayed in the game too long. Salaries weren’t anywhere near where they are today. Shaq has duckets. Buckets of duckets. Get out now Shaq. Get out while you still can. Get out while the getting’s good. You will be missed, and that’s a good thing.
Public Acknowledgements: Johnny Most, Beatles and Neil Young
Josh Q. Public: Suntanned bodies and waves of sunshine. The Florida girls and a beautiful coastline. With warmed up weather, let’s get together and do it again. -Beach Boys
Public Service Announcement: OK, here we go! South Beach bringin’ the Heat, unh. Haha, can y’all feel that? Can y’all feel that? #### it out, unh! What time is it? You know what time it is. Playoff basketball time. And when I say playoff basketball, you know what I’m talking about, boyeeee! I love this game! I love the Heat. The Miami Heat. Bouncin’ in the club where the Heat is on. All night on the beach, till the break of dawn. Welcome to Miami. Buenvenidos a Miami. I know I’ve been Chris Boshing you with the Raptors. I know I’ve been jinglin’ janglin’ you with the Spurs. I know. I also know when push comes to shove, I’m feeling the Heat. It’s like a Heatwave. A Miami Heatwave. Burning in my heart. Sure things were touch and go there during the regular season. Sure they lost the opener by forty-two. Sure they lostShaq Daddy and Flash for a combined seventy-one games. Sure they dipped below even Steven twice. But that was the regular season. You can pack up the regular season in your old kit bag and smile, smile, smile. And I haven’t seen a smile that pretty in a while. How can’t the Heat be smiling? They got that four ringed circus, the Big Baryshnikov. The greatest show on earth. Shaquille O’Neal. Is that the cat you wanna be facing in the post season? Is that the cat you wanna give a reason? Is that the cat you wanna be displeasin’? Shaq Fu is still the most feared big man in the game. You can Big Fundamental me. You can Disco Dirk me. You can Big Ben Wallace me. Heck, you can even Amare Stoudamire me. Shaq Daddy is the biggest Big Daddy of them all. The Mac Daddy will make you: Jump! Jump! The Daddy Mac will make you Jump! Jump! Made folks jump when Flash was out. Put the Heat on his back when Flash was out. Put them on his back and took the Southeast title when Flash was out. And, just so you know, Miami is the only team to ever win the Southeast since the NBA split into new divisions. It’s their seventh overall division championship. More than any other team in all of the NBA since 1996. And, just so you know, Flash ain’t out no more. Flash. Ahh ahh, saviour of the universe. Flash. Ahh ahh. He’ll save everyone of us. Flash. Ahh ahh, he’s a miracle. Flash. Ahh ahh, king of the impossible. Dwyane Wade is back. He make look a little a rusty now. May look a little dusty now. May look a little crusty now. But he’s no Herschel Pinkus Yerucham Krustofski. Nope, no clown he. Flash: “‘I just know I’ll get better.” I believe him. Like my main man, the Boss, always says: “At the end of every hard earned day, people find some reason to believe.” In Flash we trust. You saw him last year. Sportsman of the Year last year. More importantly, NBA Finals MVP last year. Why wouldn’t I trust him. I know it. You know it. Mean Dovine knows it. He’s the best damn guard there is. Not for nothing. You saw that dunk, right? The dunk with the funk. When D-Wade split the middle on them punks. With authority! Ya, thought so. Toine’s finding his comfort zone. Getting giddy in the zone. Shimmy shimmy shaking in the zone. He shakes it to the left. He shake it to the right. He does the hippy shake shake with all of his might. He’s got the hippy hippy shakes. Yeah! So, say what you want. I’m taking the Heat. I’m taking the Heat to repeat. To repeat the treat. They can’t be beat. Party in the city where the heat is on. All night on the beach till the break of dawn. Welcome to Miami. Buenvenidos a Miami.
Public Acknowledgements: The Beach Boys, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Martha and the Vandellas, The Miami Herald, The Florida Sun Sentinel, Spike Jones, Beastie Boys, Kriss Kross, Queen, The Simpsons, Bruce Springsteen, Sideline View, Marv Alberts, Craig Kilborn and the Beatles.
Josh Q. Public: The preservation of the means of knowledge among the lowest ranks is of more importance to the Public than all the property of the rich men in the country. -John Adams
Public Knowledge:
1. So you weren’t impressed with the Big Aristotle’s comeback performance. The fourteen minutes, five points and five boards weren’t enough for ya? You want more. Well, tonight’s the night. It’s gonna be all right. The Heat face the Eddy Curryless Knicks. I think maybe, just maybe, Shaq will put up some numbers.
2. Guess who’s taking the hill again today. Guess who’s making a triumphant comeback again today. That’s right, it’s none other than Carl Pavano. Last seen, Mr. Pavano was smashing up his Porsche and his ribs. Hasn’t thrown in the bigs since June of ‘05. Show me what you got little mama. Show me what you got. Inquiring minds want to know.
3. Pau Gasol to the Baby Bulls? Perhaps. Paxson says he’s interested. They’ve needed a body in the middle who can score ever since they traded away fat Eddy Curry. But for who? Madison Square Gordon and Luol Deng. Not bloody likely. We’ll be keeping an eye on this one.
4. Trouble in Cleveland? The Cavs are 24-18. All well and good. But they’ve lost six out of their last ten. Bye-bye ####? Dwane Casey style? Maybe. Whenever high hopes fail to come to fruition, it’s the coach who usually suffers. Regardless of who misses big free throws.
5. What happened? They used to be the most swinging alligators in the swamp. They used to be the greatest percolators when they really started to romp. Wally Gator style. Now? Not so much. Seven times this season, the Nets have led by at least ten points and lost. Monday they were up twenty. Wednesday, they were up eleven with four minutes left. This team could be 27-15. Instead, they’re 20-22. Good thing they’re in the Hot Lantic. Not for nothing, Cuttino Mobley’s 3-pointer with 0.6 seconds remaining gave the Clippers a 102-101 victory over New Jersey. It was the Nets’ third consecutive one-point loss, equaling the longest streak in NBA history.
6. Red Sox finalize deal on JD Drew. About time. Coconut Crisp, Julio Lugo, Papi, Manny, JD Drew. That’s a pretty daggone good line-up. Gy-Ro-Mite!, Schilling, Pap, Boom Boom Beckett, Wakefield. That’s a pretty daggone good staff. You listen to me brother, saddle your ponies you bet! Bring it ####es! Listen to me now, or listen to me later: Fear the Red Sox!
7. Dewey beats Truman. Vee Dot Carter: “I’m thrilled. It’s always just a great feeling to be selected as an All-Star as a starter.” Hey dum-dum, Hibachi’s starting.
8. Does it ever stop? Tractor Traylor. Remember him? Broke a backboard while at Michigan. Broke his arm while out with Mateen Cleaves. Well, he broke something else. The law. His Largeness just pleaded guilty yesterday. Pleaded guilty yesterday to preparing a false tax return after hiding assets for a convicted drug dealer. I’ll never get it.
9. Start me up! How is Canadian Idol Steve Nash not an All-Star starter. Tracy McGrady? Really? I love T-Mac as much as the next guy, but c’mon. Stupid.
10. The Nugget trade no one is talking about. Earl Boykins for Steve Blake. The Nuggets have won five straight since attaining Blake. He has started at the point in all five of those games. Coinky dinky? We think not. Blake pushes it. Pushes it real good. Hits the three. Protects the rock. The Nuggets are the team no one wants to see come playoff time.
11. Quote of the day. Gilbert Arenas: “He’d like to see what I’m going to do against Duke? I thought it was funny because if I have the chance to go back to college, I’ll give up one NBA season to play against Duke. One college game that’s five fouls, right? … 40-minute game at Duke, they got soft rims I’d probably score 84 or 85. I wouldn’t pass the ball. I wouldn’t even think about passing it. It would be like a NBA Live or an NBA 2K7 game, you just shoot with one person.” And that’s different from now, how exactly?
12. Baby boomers. Four of the five players selected for the Eastern Conference All-Star Team are 25 years old or younger: Agent Zero and Flash are both 25; Chris Bosh and King James are both 22. In the past 50 years there has been only one NBA All-Star Game in which four (or more) starters from one conference were no older than 25. The 2002 West team had four: The Big Ticket, Little Stevie Franchise, The Big Fundamental and The Mamba.
13. Money makin’. Money, money makin’. Dallas Maverick super disco breakin’. Disco Dirk. Nowitzki had 11 rebounds, marking his seventh straight game with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. He also had a seven-game streak earlier this season. No other NBA player has had even one streak of five or more consecutive games with 20 or more points and 10 or more rebounds this season. MVP?
14. Multiple published reports state that Kenny Anderson will be named quarterbacks coach of the Steelers. Anderson played all 16 of his NFL seasons with the Bengals (1971-1986) and he started 23 career games against Pittsburgh, the most for any NFL quarterback vs. the Steelers over the last 50 years. I always liked that cat. Remember 1981? Huh? Do ya? Sherman, set the way back machine. 1981. Anderson had completed 62.6% of his passes for 3,754 yards and 29 touchdowns, with only 10 interceptions leading the NFL with a career-high 98.4 Passer Rating. Associated Press and Professional Football Writers of America NFL Most Valuable Player Awards and the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award. Freezer Bowl to the Super Bowl. The Bengals lost Super Bowl XVI to the 49ers, but Anderson wasn’t bad. 25 of 34 passes for 300 yards. Two touchdowns. Another one on the ground. At the time, his 25 completions and 73.5% completion percentage were both Super Bowl records. Kenny Anderson ladies and gentlemen, Kenny Anderson.
15. Oh, and for the love of god, can someone please tell me how to my avatar up here. It's driving me nuts!
Josh Q. Public:Don’t call it a comeback. I been here for years. Rockin my peers and puttin suckas in fear. -LL Cool J
Public Service Announcement: OK, here we go! Look who's back, back again. Shaq is back, tell a friend. Just when you thought it was safe to go outside again. Just when you thought it was safe, here he comes. Here comes the King. Here comes the big number one. Shaquille O’Neal is here, he’s second to none. When you say Shaq, you’ve said it all. When you say Shaq, you’ve said it all. Careful. Careful out there. Careful everybody. I know. Out of sight, out of mind. The Big Aristotle was out of sight. The Big Aristotle was out of mind. The Miami Heat were out of sight. The Miami Heat were out of mind. Well, he’s back. He’s back and he’s still outta sight. Outta sight, Daddy-O. Outta sight, Shaq Daddy-O. Can you dig it? Sure he played limited minutes last night. Sure the Heat still lost to the Pacers last night. But the shape of the NBA changed last night.
The Big Baryshnikov returned last night from a 35-game absence. With 4:49 left in the first quarter O’Neal returned and joined Dwyane Wade, Jason Williams and Udonis Haslem. It was the first time that unit has been healthy enough to share the court since June 20, 2006. You remember what happened then? Don’t ya? Sure you do. That was when the Heat polished off Disco Dirk and the Dallas Mavericks. Polished off Disco Dirk and the Dallas Mavericks to earn the first NBA title in the franchise’s 19-year history. Everybody’s been Phoenix Sunsing. Everbody’s been Dallas Mavericking. Nobody’s been Miami Heating. I am. I smell what Miami’s got cooking. I know. I know as of right now, the reigning champs wouldn’t even be allowed to defend the title. Wouldn’t even make the playoffs. We know why. There’s been a void. A big void. A huge void. A seven-foot one, three-hundred and twenty-five pound void. A seven-foot one, three-hundred and twenty-five pound void in the middle for 37 of the Heat’s 41 games. Even without Shaq, the Heat have been warming up. During the past 10 games, the Heat are seventh in the league in scoring. During the past 10 games, the Heat have put up better than 102 points a game. During the past 10 games, the Heat are third in field-goal percentage, fifth in three-point shooting and have a positive point differential. During the past 10 games, the Heat have not had the Diesel. They do now. They do now, and all bets are off.
josh q. public. For the public, by The Public. Irreverent sports opinion from a Bostonian in New York. The one blog to read, when you’re reading more than one. Good to the last drop!
said same Suns had 618 over five games against the 
shirking it on defense. The biggest knock on the Shaq trade was losing the Matrix‘ on other end of the floor. They discounted his perimeter defense. They discounted his ability to guard the point. They discounted the numbers made by the mismatches he created. It appears they’re finally figuring out life without Marion. The Suns have finally put two games of good defense together. Together, forever, that’s how it will be. The Suns held San Antonio to 34.9 percent shooting Sunday. The Suns limited Memphis to 41.7 percent shooting last night. Larger than Jim Backus, it’s the Cactus. The Big Cactus took only one shot in 16:36 of playing time last night. It’s the first time in his career that Shaq has played more than two minutes without taking at least two shots. How about that? How about this? Shaq may have only taken one shot last night, that’s fine. He still had fitty cent. He still had three big blocks. Mike D’Antoni: “He controlled the whole game.” He did, he really did. And his boy, Amare Stoudemire, was just a beast. Twenty-nine points and thirteen boards in thirty minutes. Yowza! Stoudemire: “We’re just scratching the surface of how good we can be.” I second that emotion. Be afraid Lakers fans. Be afraid Spurs fans. Be afraid Jazz fans. Be afraid Hornets fans. Be afraid Rockets fans. Be very, very afraid.
Peace out homies. Six two and Even! 
post. The high priest in the low post. However, the Shaquille O’Neal of today is not the same Shaq of yesterday. Yesterday. All my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they’re here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday. The Shaquille O’Neal of today is not the same Shaq that ripped down rims. The Shaquille O’Neal of today is not the same Shaq that tore down backboards. The Shaquille O’Neal of today is not the same Shaq that led the Los Angeles Lakers to three championships. The Shaquille O’Neal of today is not even the same Shaq that led Miami to another one. Maybe I’m selfish. 
Selfish like a shellfish. But I want to see Shaq Daddy go out in a blaze of glory. My my, hey hey. It’s better to burn out than to fade away. My my, hey hey. I want to remember Shaq as the three time NBA Finals MVP. I want to remember Shaq as the NBA scoring champ. I want to remember Shaq as coming up just one vote short of becoming the first unanimous MVP in the NBA. I want to remember that drop step. The Black Tornado. I want to remember that little righty hook. I don’t want to see Half-a-Shaq. I don’t want to see Guy LaFleur toiling for the Nordiques and Rangers. I don’t want to see Michael with the Wizards. Say Hey with the Mets. Hakeem Olajuwan in a Toronto Raptors uniform. I understand why sports stars even twenty years ago stayed in the game too long. Salaries weren’t anywhere near where they are today. Shaq has duckets. Buckets of duckets. Get out now Shaq. Get out while you still can. Get out while the getting’s good. You will be missed, and that’s a good thing.
beach, till the break of dawn. Welcome to Miami. Buenvenidos a Miami. I know I’ve been Chris Boshing you with the Raptors. I know I’ve been jinglin’ janglin’ you with the Spurs. I know. I also know when push comes to shove, I’m feeling the Heat. It’s like a Heatwave. A Miami Heatwave. Burning in my heart. Sure things were touch and go there during the regular season. Sure they lost the opener by forty-two. Sure they lost
Shaq Daddy and Flash for a combined seventy-one games. Sure they dipped below even Steven twice. But that was the regular season. You can pack up the regular season in your old kit bag and smile, smile, smile. And I haven’t seen a smile that pretty in a while. How can’t the Heat be smiling? They got that four ringed circus, the Big Baryshnikov. The greatest show on earth. Shaquille O’Neal. Is that the cat you wanna be facing in the post season? Is that the cat you wanna give a reason? Is that the cat you wanna be displeasin’? Shaq Fu is still the most feared big man in the game. You can Big Fundamental me. You can Disco Dirk me. You can Big Ben Wallace me. Heck, you can even Amare Stoudamire me. Shaq Daddy is the biggest Big Daddy of them all. The Mac Daddy will make you: Jump! Jump! The Daddy Mac will make you Jump! Jump! Made folks jump when Flash was out. Put the Heat on his back when Flash was out. Put them on his back and took the Southeast title when Flash was out. And, just so 
you know, Miami is the only team to ever win the Southeast since the NBA split into new divisions. It’s their seventh overall division championship. More than any other team in all of the NBA since 1996. And, just so you know, Flash ain’t out no more. Flash. Ahh ahh, saviour of the universe. Flash. Ahh ahh. He’ll save everyone of us. Flash. Ahh ahh, he’s a miracle. Flash. Ahh ahh, king of the impossible. Dwyane Wade is back. He make look a little a rusty now. May look a little dusty now. May look a little crusty now. But he’s no Herschel Pinkus Yerucham Krustofski. Nope, no clown he. Flash: “‘I just know I’ll get better.” I believe him. Like my 
main man, the Boss, always says: “At the end of every hard earned day, people find some reason to believe.” In Flash we trust. You saw him last year. Sportsman of the Year last year. More importantly, NBA Finals MVP last year. Why wouldn’t I trust him. I know it. You know it. Mean Dovine knows it. He’s the best damn guard there is. Not for nothing. You saw that dunk, right? The dunk with the funk. When D-Wade split the middle on them punks. With authority! Ya, thought so. Toine’s finding his comfort 
zone. Getting giddy in the zone. Shimmy shimmy shaking in the zone. He shakes it to the left. He shake it to the right. He does the hippy shake shake with all of his might. He’s got the hippy hippy shakes. Yeah! So, say what you want. I’m taking the Heat. I’m taking the Heat to repeat. To repeat the treat. They can’t be beat. Party in the city where the heat is on. All night on the beach till the break of dawn. Welcome to Miami. Buenvenidos a Miami.
2. Guess who’s taking the hill again today. Guess who’s making a triumphant comeback again today. That’s right, it’s none other than Carl Pavano. Last seen, Mr. Pavano was smashing up his Porsche and his ribs. Hasn’t thrown in the bigs since June of ‘05. Show me what you got little mama. Show me what you got. Inquiring minds want to know.
4. Trouble in Cleveland? The Cavs are 24-18. All well and good. But they’ve lost six out of their last ten. Bye-bye 
6. Red Sox finalize deal on JD Drew. About time. Coconut Crisp, Julio Lugo, Papi, Manny, JD Drew. That’s a pretty daggone good line-up. Gy-Ro-Mite!, Schilling, Pap, Boom Boom Beckett, Wakefield. That’s a pretty daggone good staff. You listen to me brother, saddle your ponies you bet! Bring it 
10. The Nugget trade no one is talking about. Earl Boykins for Steve Blake. The Nuggets have won five straight since attaining Blake. He has started at the point in all five of those games. Coinky dinky? We think not. Blake pushes it. Pushes it real good. Hits the three. Protects the rock. The Nuggets are the team no one wants to see come playoff time.
12. Baby boomers. Four of the five players selected for the Eastern Conference All-Star Team are 25 years old or younger: Agent Zero and Flash are both 25; Chris Bosh and King James are both 22. In the past 50 years there has been only one NBA All-Star Game in which four (or more) starters from one conference were no older than 25. The 2002 West team had four: The Big Ticket, Little Stevie Franchise, The Big Fundamental and The Mamba.
14. Multiple published reports state that Kenny Anderson will be named quarterbacks coach of the Steelers. Anderson played all 16 of his NFL seasons with the Bengals (1971-1986) and he started 23 career games against Pittsburgh, the most for any NFL quarterback vs. the Steelers over the last 50 years. I always liked that cat. Remember 1981? Huh? Do ya? Sherman, set the way back machine. 1981. Anderson had completed 62.6% of his passes for 3,754 yards and 29 touchdowns, with only 10 interceptions leading the NFL 
with a career-high 98.4 Passer Rating. Associated Press and Professional Football Writers of America NFL Most Valuable Player Awards and the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award. Freezer Bowl to the Super Bowl. The Bengals lost Super Bowl XVI to the 49ers, but Anderson wasn’t bad. 25 of 34 passes for 300 yards. Two touchdowns. Another one on the ground. At the time, his 25 completions and 73.5% completion percentage were both Super Bowl records. Kenny Anderson ladies and gentlemen, Kenny Anderson.
The Big Baryshnikov returned last night from a 35-game absence. With 4:49 left in the first quarter O’Neal returned and joined Dwyane Wade, Jason Williams and Udonis Haslem. It was the first time that unit has been healthy enough to share the court since June 20, 2006. You remember what happened then? Don’t ya? Sure you do. That was when the Heat polished off Disco Dirk and the Dallas Mavericks. Polished off Disco Dirk and the Dallas Mavericks to earn the first NBA title in the franchise’s 19-year history. Everybody’s been Phoenix Sunsing. Everbody’s been Dallas Mavericking. Nobody’s been Miami Heating. I am. I smell what Miami’s got cooking. I know. I know as of right now, the reigning champs wouldn’t even
be allowed to defend the title. Wouldn’t even make the playoffs. We know why. There’s been a void. A big void. A huge void. A seven-foot one, three-hundred and twenty-five pound void. A seven-foot one, three-hundred and twenty-five pound void in the middle for 37 of the Heat’s 41 games. Even without Shaq, the Heat have been warming up. During the past 10 games, the Heat are seventh in the league in scoring. During the past 10 games, the Heat have put up better than 102 points a game. During the past 10 games, the Heat are third in field-goal percentage, fifth in three-point shooting and have a positive point differential. During the past 10 games, the Heat have not had the Diesel. They do now. They do now, and all bets are off.
