Where The Heat Are On A Losing Streak (Day 17)

Only three games tonight, and I watched every single one. LeBron James (35 points on 9-21 shooting, 0-5 treys, 17-22 free throws, with 10 rebounds, 9 assists, and 3 steals) was an assist shy of yet another triple-double, and his Heat were 6 points shy of defeating the Celtics, as they fell for the 2nd time to the C's this season in their second meeting, 112-107. The Heat couldn't handle Ray Allen (35 points on 13-23 shooting, 7-9 treys, 2-2 free throws, and only 1 rebound) who scorched the Heat for 7 triples tonight. Kevin Garnett (16 points on 6-8 shooting, 4-5 free throws, with 13 boards, 2 assists, 2 steals, and only 1 turnover) was solid tonight, and he has looked healthy and spry all season thus far. Paul Pierce continued his efficient scoring with 25 points on 10-16 shooting, 4-4 free throws, but contributed nothing more but an assist. Rajon Rondo had 3 boards, 16 dimes, and 2 steals but only had 8 points on 3-8 shooting. As long and as fast and as flashy as Rondo is, I don't think that he is as good as the elite point guards in the league, and I don't think he ever will be until he improves his shooting- drastically. His high assist totals are a result of his extremely efficient teammates, so I think he's a bit over-rated there as well. However, I do acknowledge that he is one of the elite defenders in the league. For the Heat, Udonis Haslem (21 and 10 on 9-10 shooting, with an assist, a steal and a block, with only 1 turnover) was near perfect from the field, and Chris Bosh chipped in 15, 7 and 2, on 6-10 shooting, while Dwyane Wade (8 points on 2-12 shooting) struggled.

Luol Deng (26 points on 9-19 shooting, 2-5 treys, 6-7 free throws, with 11 boards, 6 assists, a steal and 2 blocks, with no turnovers) and Derrick Rose (22 points on 10-17 shooting, 2-2 free throws, with 3 boards, 13 assists, a steal and a block) started off hot, as the Bulls rolled past the Warriors, 120-90. This game was pretty much over in the first quarter, as all of Chicago's starters came out firing and the Warriors came out turning the ball over possession after possession. Joakim Noah had 17 points on 6-10 shooting, 5-6 free throws, with 7 boards, 5 assists, a steal and 2 blocks with only 1 turnover, Keith Bogans had 14 points on 6-10 shooting, 2-6 treys, with 5 boards, 2 assists, 6 steals and a block with only 1 turnover, and Taj Gibson had 14 points on 5-10 shooting, 4-4 free throws, with 7 boards, 2 steals and 3 blocks with only 1 turnover. For the Warriors, Monta Ellis (24, 5 and 5, on 10-20 shooting, with a steal) and Stephen Curry (17, 3 and 6, with 2 treys and 5 steals) turned the ball over a ton, as the Warriors missed David Lee (elbow) tonight.

The Lakers lost for the first time this season to the Nuggets, 118-112. Carmelo Anthony (32 points on 14-25 shooting, 3-3 free throws, with 13 boards, 2 assists and 2 blocks, with only 1 turnover) was a beast on a night when Kobe Bryant (34 points on 11-32 shooting) and Pau Gasol (17 points on 6-17 shooting, 5-6 free throws, with 20 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and a block) both struggled from the field.