| Miami Heat News: |
| MIAMI - Even at 35, the beast within is still within, Shaquille O'Neal insists.
These days, though, it's a matter of how often it can be stirred from its cage. "As a tamed tiger now," the Heat center says, "you always go back to what you know, a la Siegfried and Roy. "I've been tamed the last couple of years, but here's a chance for me to go wild again." It has been a while since O'Neal has been able to bear his bite. Two seasons ago, he missed 23 games. Last season, the count was up to 42. All the while, he has deferred to teammate Dwyane Wade, the undeniable difference in the franchise's 2006 NBA title run. This season, though, Wade will miss a significant chunk of the early games as he rehabilitates from May knee and shoulder surgeries. And that means for weeks, possibly even longer, the onus again will be on O'Neal to live up to his "most dominant" self-billing. "When I came here," he says, "I accepted a different role because that was better for the team. It's just time for me to step up a little more and I have no problem doing that." But can he? And does he truly want to? Is the will to succeed still there after so many grueling seasons? Statistically, even on a per-game basis, last season was as tame as the league has witnessed from the 7-foot-1, 325-pound, 16-year veteran, with career lows in scoring (17.3 points per game), rebounding (7.4), blocked shots (1.4), free-throw percentage (.422) and minutes per game (28.4). |
| Event | Date | Tickets | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
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Miami Heat
vs. New Jersey Nets
|
6:30 pm
|
O2 Arena
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| More Miami Heat News: |
| The Heat continued their cruise towards the postseason on Monday night, trouncing the Milwaukee Bucks, 110-71, AmericanAirlines Arena. It marked Miami's largest margin of victory this year and was the third biggest in franchise history.
Miami is already on cruise control, owning a commanding 8 1/2-game lead over the second place Detroit Pistons. The Heat are 13 contests in front of Southeast Division contender Washington. Dwyane Wade scored a game-high 29 points and Shaquille O'Neal posted 21 points and nine rebounds in Miami's win on Monday. Wade connected on 10-of-12 attempts from the field for the Heat, who have won nine straight and 16 of their last 18 contests. Wade and O'Neal continue to be the most dangerous tandem in the league, averaging a combined 46.3 points, 15.6 rebounds and 10 assists per contest. Wade leads the squad in scoring (23.2 ppg) and assists (7.1 apg), while O'Neal is tops on the squad in rebounding (10.3 rpg) and blocks (2.44 bpg). Damon Jones netted 15 points in the victory and Eddie Jones chipped in 10. The Heat shot 55-percent from the field compared to Milwaukee's paltry 32- percent. The Heat have won 13 straight and 15 of their last 16 home contests. The 13- game home winning streak is the longest within a season in franchise history. The official record of 14 wins included the last 12 home tests of last year and the first two from this season. Miami center Alonzo Mourning finished with eight points in nine minutes of action. Mourning has seen limited minutes since being signed by the Heat earlier this month. Miami has no time to rest as it has a contest against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden tonight. The Heat will host Kobe Bryant and the Lakers on Thursday before finishing up their week's slate versus the Knicks at home on Saturday. |