Heat get burned playing with fire against Thunder
For the second straight game, the Miami Heat struggled against a team with clearly less talent than them. Last game, the Heat snuck away with a one point victory over the New Jersey Nets after Dwyane Wade nailed a three with 0.01 seconds remaining. However, last night, they could not stop Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and the rest of the young Oklahoma City Thunder team. The big blow was delivered early on when Miami jumped out to a 16-11 lead midway through the first quarter. Lead by Kevin Durant, the Thunder went on a 20-1 run over the next 8 minutes to pull their 
lead to 31-17.
Early in the third it looked like the Heat would get right back in it as they pulled to within one point of the Thunder. After the Heat pulled within one, Oklahoma City went on a 14-2 run to shut down any Miami Heat hopes of sneaking a win in a game they were clearly out played in. The Thunder out-hussled, out rebounded, and outshot the Miami Heat, containing Dwyane Wade to just 22 points, tieing his season low. He also added 6 rebounds and 7 assist. But the story of the night was Kevin Durant, who poured in 35 points, added 9 rebounds 5 assists a block shot and a steal for the Thunder who ended up winning their 6th game of the season to go over .500 by a final score of 100-87. Last season, it took the Thunder 38 games to win 6, this year that have done it in 11.
Westbrook played excellent. He had 24 points on 9-13 shooting and 7 assists. He make 2 of 3 from beyond the arc, and it was his three with 6:40 seconds remaining that may have put the dagger in the Heat hopes. The Thunder got great production from the center position as Nenad Krstic and Nick Collison combined for 20 points, 14 rebounds on 9-12 shooting from the field.
For the Heat, Jermaine O’Neal had another solid game scoring 19 and pulling down 10 boards. Mario Chalmers continues to be the most over rated sophomore behind maybe college teammate Brandon Rush of the Pacers. He scored just 7 points, had 2 assists, and turned the ball over twice.
Next up for the Heat are the Atlanta Hawks. The last time these two teams faced off, the Hawks dismantled the Heat in Game 7 of the opening round in the NBA Playoffs just a year ago. If the Heat can not beat lesser opponents like the Thunder, and struggle against an 0-11 team, and need a miracle shot to win, I am scared as to see what the red hot Hawks will do to this team.
One final thing I wanted to touch on is the color commentators for Sun Sports, who broadcast the Miami Heat games locally. They are Eric Reid and Tony Fiorentino. Eric Reid is the one with the very annoying pitched voice, and Fiorentino is the guy who you can’t make out if he is trying to pull off an Italian accent, or a New Yorker accent. Either way, these two are the single biggest Homers in the NBA. They absolutely are the worst color commentators in the 
NBA. They should be known as color cartoon play-by-play folks for the Heat. Let me explain why I think they are homers. First off, whenever Dwyane Wade does anything at all they shout and scream and are so enthused. For instance, this would be the call if Dwyane Wade pulled down a rebound with no one around him. Reid: “Dwyane Wade goes up, Dwyane Wade is in the air, AND DWYANE WADE PULLS DOWN THE BOARD!!!! Oh my, what an athletic play to pull down the uncontested rebound by the best player EVER to put on a Miami Heat Jersey. Tony, what exactly can Mr. 305 not do?! I am simply in awe of his uncontested rebounding ability.” Seriously, listen to them, you will hear it too and laugh for hours. Next, is what put it over the top for me. I have been a long time hater of these two, but yesterday they really pushed the envelope. They had the nerve to criticize Russell Westbrook and his abilities throughout the game. They were on him, talking about what he needs to do to improve and play better. Consistently pointing out every flaw in the young man’s game. Let’s not forget gentlemen, all the players around him are young too, so he is not going to be perfect, and some things that a smart veteran could save him on, he lacks that luxery. They picked him apart the entire game, when right in front of them, in their face, the entire season; they watch one of the most over rated PG’s play. Mario Chalmers is a back-up PG in the NBA at this point at best. He is not good by any stretch of the imagination. Yes, he gets the occasional steal, but he gets lit up throughout 
the night, and he will come up with one, maybe two plays a game. Watching Chalmers play yesterday, and listening to these two hacks go off on Russell Westbrook was apauling. Please Eric and Tony, stop being homers, yes, we all know Wade is good, but you are going to blow the speakers of my surround sound with your over the top cheers for Dwyane Wade’s average plays. He makes a lot of great plays, so cheer as loud as you want when he knocks down the game winner, or throws down the emphatic dunk on Anderson Varejao, but relax a little bit. And start giving credit where credit is due. Westbrook tore Chalmer a new one last night. Start picking apart Dwyane Wade when he disappears in games this season, and how he isn’t being consistent, instead of applauding everything he does as masterful.
