More Miami Heat Championship gear out: Huh?

Heat Championship T-Shirts/Courtesy: Comicbookreview.com

((ht: dallasnews.com))

Were there really that many people who just assumed the Miami Heat won the NBA Championship...even though they didn't?

We, along with most of the free-civilized blogging world showed you the Miami Herald's presumptuous Macy's NBA Championship gear last week, the morning after the Dallas Mavericks won the NBA Championship.

Now comes this, apparently Marvel comics put out a t-shirt at Miami area Wal-Marts with pictures of the Marvel comics superhero's congratulating the Miami Heat for winning the title. Ooops.

Read the story from the Dallas Morning News RIGHT HERE

Why is it that most of the commercialized world just assumed the Heat would win? And for that matter, why the heck is Marvel printing championship t-shirts--for sale at Wal-Mart? Though for t-shirt and memorabilia collectors like Brother Jon, shirts such as these are the "Holy-Grail", mostly because they shouldn't exist.

For those not aware, NBA Merchandising much like all pro-sports, is supposed to control things like this. Yeah, there were "Heat NBA Champions" t-shirts printed, they print shirts for both teams in the finals. That's how they have the shirts ready right after the game ends. But the loser shirts are burned or sent to a 3rd World Country because the league doesn't want them out. And yet these seem to exist?

Miami Herald thinks the Heat won....

Ad in today's Miami Herald/Courtesy: Andy Slater

((ht: Darren Rovell/Andy Slater))

Haha! This is pretty funny. In a twit pic, a Miami Herald reader points out that the local paper printed Monday's paper a bit too early.

The reason  should be obvious in the photo on the right. The Herald was pimping Heat "NBA Champions" gear for sale at the local Macy's store.

We wonder how many papers they pulled back with that ad...if any. And we wonder how pissed off NBA Merchandising is over this. Yes, the shirts you see there were printed, of that we're sure. They do runs with both teams so the shirts and hats are ready as soon as the game ends.

However, the unused items are generally taken to an incinerator and burned. If those got out it would change the memorabilia business in a really, really bad way and the NBA along with the other pro-sports leagues definitely don't want that.

Dallas beats the Heat and wins title: Most of world rejoices

The only question ended up being: Are there that many Dallas fans or did everyone just want the Heat to lose after they anointed themselves the greatest team in history last summer?

Answer: It was probably a little of both.

The Dallas Mavericks used balance and team basketball to pull away and beat the Miami Heat Sunday night 105-95 on the Heat's home court in Miami.

The series had mostly been about Dirk Nowitzki vs. Dwayne Wade and LeBron James. The last game ended up being Jason Terry, Dirk and the Dallas team versus a bunch of guys who kind of looked like they gave up.

LeBron had 21, Wade 17 and their under heralded teammates like Mario Chalmers made themselves a factor in the game for Miami, but in the 4th quarter it was all-Dallas. Terry put up a 27 point effort and Dirk finished with 21, despite shooting 9-27 in the game.

Unfortunately, this doesn't make Dallas a juggernaut-multiple title winning team. Quite honestly, winning the title this season was a surprise, even to them. Sadly, this is somewhat of an indictment of the Heat more than a crowning of the Mavericks dynasty.

LeBron James continues to be the greatest NBA player with no title. And there were a lot of people rooting against the Heat because of him. Clearly he and to a lesser extent the other members of the Heat franchise should have kept their mouths shut last summer a decision we hope they all regret now. Yeah, signing James was a coup for the Heat, but we say now what we said last summer. Hold a presser, announce the signing and then shut-up and play basketball.

While having three alleged all-stars on your team is great for box office and having ESPN follow you all season, telling you that you should win the title, you still have to win it on the court and clearly, the Heat as constituted, wasn't ready for that.

Your highlights from SI.com/NBA.com



Your post from ESPNEWS and NBA Entertainment just goes even further to show just how much LeBron has gone completely out-of-touch with the rest of us...
Specifically, at the 2:53 mark...
((HT: ebonygentleman79))


Someone, and the HQ means quickly, needs to get in front of The Bron and make sure he knows the proper responses in a situation like that...

We're just going to go back to our lives, now...

And while the HQ thinks he was trying to embrace his inner heel, he needs to go about it this way if he's going to try and go all out...
((HT: NWA/WWE/youtube))

Dirk sick, Mavs still beat the Heat

Maybe the one is better than the three. Dirk Nowitzki fought off a 101 degree fever and coughing fits to score 21 points and lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 86-83 win against the Miami Heat.

The win evened their best of 7 series at 2 games each.

Dirk wasn't great, but because of his sinus infection, he didn't have to be. His teammates picked him up. Jason Terry had 17 and Shawn Marion went all Matrix for 16 points. All told, 5 Mavs here in double figures.

Meanwhile the mystery that is LeBron James continues. For someone who calls himself "King", he was noticeably absent from this game with 8 points in 46 minutes. Again Dwayne Wade did his best to win the game for Miami, dropping 32 points, but made a couple of late mistakes due in part because Dallas smothered him knowing it would be up to Wade to win the game.

James, is being questioned by more than 1 writer/fan for what is going on with him. After calling himself the "Defensive Stopper", he was barely effective in this game and has taken on a smaller role each game. Granted NBA Basketball these days doesn't have enough room for more than 1 star at a time to take over, James has taken a decided back seat to Wade in this series. The question and possible concern is that he's going to respond to the criticism and try taking back the spotlight, if the Heat want to win, that would be a bad idea.

Game 5 is Thursday night in Dallas.

Your highlights from NBA.com/NBAHighlights:

Heat hold off Mavs: Do what's necessary

This is beginning to have the makings of a great series with dramatic finishes.

The Miami Heat were able to hold off the Dallas Mavericks, in Dallas, winning game 3 of their best of 7 series 88-86.

Again, Dwayne Wade was the catalyst for the Heat with 29 points, but it again was the 3rd Beatle, Chris Bosh who ended up with the game winner. Bosh had 18, but continues his struggles from the field, going 7 for 18.

Dirk Nowtizki again was the guy for Dallas with 34, but the vaunted Mavs bench has been less and less a factor as this series goes on. In fact, Dirk really isn't getting much help from anyone during this series. He's arguably kept them in it almost by himself. But Sunday night, he blinked, making a couple of bad decisions late in the game when his team had a chance to win.

Game 4 is Tuesday night in Dallas.

Your highlights from SI.com/NBA.com:

Mavs miracle: Miami melts, Dirk steals game 2

Well, who saw this coming? By this we mean the Dallas Mavericks literally stealing game 2 of the NBA Finals from the Miami Heat.

Dallas overcame a 15-point deficit in the 4th quarter and tied the best of 7 series at 1 game apiece. And to say the comeback was a "Stunner" would be understating the meaning of "Stunner". Dirk Nowitzki, bad left finger and all scored 22 of the last 27 points his team scored and reminded those casual observer that the Heat had a tendency all year long of fading down the stretch.

Perhaps the defining moment in this game wasn't even a Mavericks play. It was after Miami's Dwayne Wade had just dropped a 3-pointer from the corner. Wade stood and held the follow through for a long time, as the shot had put the Heat up 88-73.

Dallas wasn't fond of the gesture.

Wade did score 36 for Miami, but none after the 3-pointer. LeBron wasn't a factor despite 28 points, neither was the 3rd Beatle, Chris Bosh. No, this one was the Nowitzki show. Dirk with the fade-away, Dirk passes to an open Jason Kidd, Dirk with the left hand (bad one) finish, Dirk with the driving layup with 3.6 seconds left and all of a sudden...it was over. Advantage Mavs.

Game 3 is Sunday night in Dallas.

Your highlights from SI.com/NBA.com:

Mavs can't take the Heat in Game 1

Having a couple of days off wasn't necessarily a good thing for the Dallas Mavericks. But it sure didn't slow down the Miami Heat.

The Heat slugged out a somewhat ugly 92-84 victory in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Lebron James had 24 points, Dwayne Wade 22 and Chris Bosh 19 to lead the Heat, who seem like a different team since the return of utility man Udonis Haslem.

It was a tough night for Dallas as star Dirk Nowitzki, despite scoring 27 points going only 7 for 18 from the field. He didn't get much help. Nowitzki also apparently tore a tendon in his left middle finger during the game going for a steal. The injury while annoying, is not expected to keep Dirk from paying in the rest of the series.

Game 2 is Thursday night in Miami.

Your highlights from SI.com:



Dewayne Wade and Lebron James speak. (Thanks CBS Sports.com)

Heat handle Bulls head to Finals

It was over in a "Flash". Okay, not really, but the Miami Heat used a furious late 4th quarter rally to come back and beat the Chicago Bulls 83-80 last night and win their best of 7, Eastern Conference finals series 4 games to 1.

It was LeBron James closing the deal, with help from the other two Beatles, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. James nailed three long jump shots in the last 2 minutes, Wade had 10 4th quarter points and Bosh blocked 4 shots along with scoring 20 points to lead the Heat to the win.

The win sets up a repeat of sorts of the 2006 NBA Finals when the Heat beat the Dallas Mavericks. The same two teams square off again, with the only holdovers being Dirk Nowitzki for Dallas and Wade for Miami.

Game 1 kicks off Tuesday night in Miami.

Here's last nights highlights, courtesy: NBAHiilights:

The Heat is on: LeBron dispatches Bulls

And while he hasn't vanquished them from the Eastern Conference finals yet, he's now only one game away from doing it.

LeBron James scored 35 points, Chris Bosh chipped in 22 and the Heat took care of the young Chicago Bulls in game 4 of their series Tuesday night, winning 101-93 in OT.

The Heat did what was necessary to win. The hit each of their final 24 free throws in the game. They played defense too, limiting league MVP Derrick Rose to 23 points, and it took Rose 27 shots to get those points.

Game 5 in the series comes Thursday night, as the Bulls try to stave off elimination in Chicago.

Your highlights from SI.com/NBA.com:

Bosh bumps Heat by Bulls

It was the 3rd Beatle that did it. Chris Bosh dropped 34 points, including 8 straight shots, leading the Miami Heat to a game 4, 96-85 victory over the Chicago Bulls.

The win keeps the Heat undefeated at home and puts the Bulls at a 2-1 deficit in the Best of 7, Eastern Conference Finals series.

The Bulls didn't get much from their start, Derrick Rose, though he did score 20, Carlos Boozer led them with 26 points and 17 rebounds. It wasn't enough.

The Heat have a chance to jump out to a hugely commanding lead, with game 4 coming up Tuesday night, again in Miami.

Your Highlights, courtesy SI.com/NBA.com:

Udonis the difference maker: Heat beat back the Bulls

It's funny how a team loaded with All-stars needs a role player to make the difference. But Wednesday night in Chicago, that is exactly what happened.

Led by the bolt of energy that is forward Udonis Haslem, the Miami Heat took game 2 in their best of seven series with the Chicago Bulls, winning 85-75 in front of a sold out crowd at the United Center.

Haslem didn't lead the team in scoring, he had 13, LeBron had 29, but he led them in effort, giving the team the inside presence they often lack and chipped in 5 rebounds and a block shot to boot.

The Heat made league MVP and Bulls point guard Derrick Rose work hard for everything he got and he struggled, scoring 21 points, but the rest of the Bulls, for the most part played spectator.

Next up on Sunday, because the NBA often gives 5 day breaks between games in the playoffs, is game 3 in Miami. It's a game that while not required to win, would be helpful to the Bulls to win if they want a shot at the series, since they've now lost home court advantage. We'll see how that works out.

Your highlights from SI.com/NBA.com:

Derrick Rose, Taj Gibson and the Bulls cool the Heat

Taj Gibson over Dwayne Wade

The NBA's feature Finals series didn't exactly live up to the hype Sunday night. The Chicago Bulls continued their dominance of the Miami Heat, winning game one of their best of seven series 103-82.

As always, the bulls were led by league MVP Derrick Rose who is more and more impressive every time we see him play. Rose dropped 28 on the Heat, but it was the Chicago Bench and particularly Taj Gibson on the bench, who gave the Bulls the boost they needed.

Read your game report from the Chicago Sun-Times RIGHT HERE

The Heat version from the Ft.Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel RIGHT HERE

We don't think this series will end quickly. It should go 7 games. These are probably the two best teams left in the quest for the NBA title. Though if Chicago continues playing this way, they'll be the one left standing.

Well, they've taken down the embed code for the game highlights. But NBA.com does have video of Taj Gibson posterizing Dwayne Wade of the Heat.

Check out the video:



He added this one a little later, for good measure:

Rajon Rondo goes Willis Reed: Celtics beat Heat

The Boston Celtics took care the Miami Heat Saturday night 97-81, their Eastern Conference semi-final now 2 games to 1, Heat advantage.

The Celtics played it physical and clamped down on Miami's big three of Dwayne Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh. But perhaps the biggest story of the night involved Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo.

Rondo briefly dislocated his elbow after being pulled to the ground while stealing the ball from Wade. Rondo went back to the locker room, got taped up put on an elbow pad and came back into the game, helping lead Boston to victory.

Props to Rondo, there are not a lot of guys in the high, priced, prima-donna world that is the NBA who would have done that. Rondo's status for the rest of the series however, remains in question.

Your highlights from SI.com/NBA.com:

Sixers cool off from the Heat: NBA Playoffs

And put off the inevitable for at least another couple of days.

The Philadelphia 76ers put on a great show Easter Sunday for their fans, taking down the team that most love to hate, the Miami Heat 86-82.

The game was a back and forth game that Philly had to come back and win after getting an early lead. And Miami reverted back to early season form...and couldn't close the game.

Your game story from Marc Narducci of the Philadelphia Inquirer RIGHT HERE

Dave Hyde of the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel breaks down the collapsing Heat RIGHT HERE

SI.com gives us highlights of this game.

Elbow To Face= Fist To The Ribs

((HT: CSNWashington/NBA/blazersedgeben))

John Wall didn't like getting elbowed in the Wednesday night game between his Wizards and the Heat. The only problem with that is when Zydrunas Ilgauskas elbows you in the chops, you can't just hit him back in the chops if you're a guard...

Evidence below...


Doesn't quite seem like a fair fight unless a stepladder is involved...

Cavs Win Against Heat In Cleveland

((HT: youtube/nba.com))

Hey, this was the Cavs bowl game... this was their moment in the sun since they got absolutely Horizon-jobbed the last time the Threetles were at Quicken Arena...

It wasn't the way it happened the last time...
Nowhere close...

Here's the highlights...


That's what happens when you don't show for starting line-ups...
You think the HQ is kidding...???
Observe...
((HT: NBA TV/youtube))


He was taking his talents somewhere else apparently...

Heat lose again: There's no crying in Basketball!

LeBron James/Courtesy: miamiherald.com

And really, due to circumstances and a few big mouths, there are very few people aside from ESPN producers who are empathizing with the plight of the Miami Heat.

The team proclaimed by alleged experts...and themselves as the greatest after picking up LeBron James and Chris Bosh in the offseason to go along with Dwayne Wade has, well....underachieved a bit.

As for the crying thing. That came on the heels of the Heat losing on Sunday, 87-86 to the Chicago Bulls. It was alluded to in the post game presser by embattled Miami Coach Erik Spoelstra.

Read more from the Chicago Sun-Times (note the headline: Crying game): RIGHT HERE

Here's the Fort Lauderdale (north of Miami) Sun-Sentinel's take on things RIGHT HERE




Really we just can't find room in our collective hearts to be sad for the Heat. This is what they asked for. This is what they wanted. They wanted to be the "Three Amigos" or whatever they are trying to call themselves. They aren't.

While they all may get along just fine off a basketball court, they obviously have some issues on it. Individually they are all very, very talented players. But they are talented players who don't know how to play together within a system. For all the ESPN hype that they may break the record for most wins in a season. That won't happen. They are 43-20 with 19 games left. Heck, they right now are the #3 seed for the playoffs.

It isn't to say they won't be dangerous in the 3 months known as the NBA playoffs, they will. If they get hot, they can still be a problem. But they've been exposed. Teams know what it takes to beat them and they are beating them. It just re-inforces the point that money and superstars may buy happiness, but may not necessarily buy a title.

If you want to know why these guys are mocked almost everywhere outside Miami now, look back and remember this video:

So When Does Riles Take Over...???

The HQ is thinking very, very soon...

Especially after the clunker of intense proportions that El Heat laid in San Antonio against Los Spurs last night...

Is it just us or:
1) Are those Spanish-based conversions of the nicknames seemingly incredibly inaccurate or,
2) Incredibly patronizingly-sounding or,
3) Both...

Just thinking out loud...

At least the Smurfs translated to "Los Smurfos..."

Anyway, here's your anti-El Heat highlights where the Three Kings played more like Slow Poke Rodriguez than Speedy Gonzalez...
((HT: NBA.com/youtube))


The HQ wonders what Eric Spoelstra will put on his resume and if Pat Riley will give him a good reference or not...

This Is What It's Like To Blow A 24-Point Lead

((HT: NBA.com/youtube))

All the HQ can do is laugh at this one...
Orlando comes from behind to beat the Three Kings...
Enjoy...

Eddie House Fined For Big Balls Celebration

Yesterday, as the Miami Heat's Eddie House hit a game-winning three in Oklahoma City, House celebrated as he thought appropriate when the Thunder called time out...

Witness below...
((HT: NBA on ABC/youtube))


The HQ figured after his display that something would happen...
It did... from the NBA their own selves...

Miami Heat guard Eddie House has been fined $25,000 for making an obscene gesture, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 22.2 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Heat’s 108-103 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Jan. 30.

Well played, House...