Gameday Pr0phile - Heat

Miami Heat (23-15, 1st Southeast)

Los Angeles Lakers (20-17, 3rd Pacific)

Lakers Team Stats
Offense 97.5 ppg, 20.2 apg, 42.0 rpg
Defense 95.3 ppg, 19.9 apg, 40.7 rpg

Heat Team Stats
Offense 100.0 ppg, 20.7 apg, 43.9 rpg
Defense 95.9 ppg, 20.5 apg, 40.2 rpg

Season Series
The Heat lead the series, 1-0.
Last Meeting:

Gary Payton came up huge in Miami’s win, 97-92, Dec. 25th, 2005

image courtesy NBA.com

Top 6 Lakers

PG Smush Parker 11.7 points, 3.1 assists, 3.2 rebounds
SG Kobe Bryant 34.2 points, 4.4 assists, 5.6 rebounds
SF Lamar Odom 14.5 points, 5.5 assists, 9.3 rebounds
PF Kwame Brown 6.4 points, 0.9 assists, 6.2 rebounds
C Chris Mihm 10.2 points, 0.9 assists, 6.6 rebounds
6th Brian Cook 7.0 points, 0.8 assists, 2.9 rebounds

Top 6 Heat
PG Jason Williams 14.5 points, 4.8 assist, 2.5 rebounds
SG Dwyane Wade 26.4 points, 7.1 assists, 6.4 rebounds
SF Antoine Walker 12.6 points, 2.4 assists, 5.5 rebounds
PF Udonis Haslem 8.3 points, 1.1 assists, 7.5 rebounds
C Shaquille O’Neal 18.3 points, 1.3 assists, 9.5 rebounds
6th Gary Payton 9.3 points, 3.4 assists, 2.8 rebounds

Key Matchup: Smush vs. Williams/Payton

Smush is probably an upgrade from Chucky Atkins, but the Lakers were torn apart by the PG rotation of the Heat on Christmas Day. Given Smush’s inconsistency, it’s difficult to say whether he’ll be up to the task. Then again, he is coming off of his career best game. With Williams being slowed down a little bit with knee tendinitis, the matchup looks to favor the Lakers a bit more than last time. Factor in the fact that Payton played out of his mind, and this is a matchup that LA can win.

Featured Peformers
Kobe Bryant 36 points, 5 assists, 6 rebounds
Shaquille O’Neal 20 points, 3 assists, 12 rebounds

Outlook

LA is starting to look good again. A win could put them into a tie (or possibly sole possession of) for 6th seeding in the West. Miami is on a roll, with the second best record in the East. They have beaten LA 3 times since Shaq switched teams. Unfortunately for the Heat, it seems as if their dominance over LA has run its course. Kobe is playing an amazing level and Kwame and Mihm have established themselves as competent presences down low.

While Odom’s performance will be important, his is a matchup LA can lose and still win the game. I expect Kobe and Smush to prove themselves the difference makers.

Lakers 98
Heat 95