and 
game 5
Kickoff : 7:00pm Eastern Time
And now, in keeping with Desipio.com’s iron-clad committment to the mediocre, the decision has been made to Game-Cast the luke-warm Miami/New Orleans game tonight instead of the significantly more thrilling Minnesota/Denver clash. Yeah, it’ll be interesting – and would have been ever moreso if this were a 5-game series, there’d then at least be the added scent of Elimination in the air.
Tonight’s encounter is coming to you live from American Airlines Arena – where all attendees get a seat that’s too small for them and a tiny bag of pretzels – as the Heat look to go back ahead in this series after dropping both games in New Orleans earlier in the week.
It’s tied at 2-2; the young and fearless Heat versus the older, boring-er Hornets in a game that doesn’t really matter. Coming up.
Fighting back from that 2-0 hole, one gets the impression the NBA’s loooong drawn-out scheduling of this series is significantly benefitting the Hornets. After the first 2 games in Miami, New Orleans looked exhusted, both mentally and physically. But then, with only 2 games in the past 8 days – both back at home – the Bugs have been able to fight back with 2 emphatic victories.
Can Baron Davis and his achy body turn up to out-play mercurial Heat rookie Dwayne Wade? Can the Hornets’ plethora of big bodies dominate Brian Grant and Udonis Haslem inside? Can Miami find a consistent offensive go-to guy – they’ve been lead in scoring by 4 different people over the 4 games of this series – to enable them to breakdown the Bugs defense? Will Wang Zhizhi score?
All these questions and more will be ignored as tip-off for game 5 approaches.
At shoot-around, Davis looks fit, and relaxed.
The Bugs bench has been their X-Factor so far. Stacy Augmon, David West and Darrell Armstrong have all been contributors throughout this series.
Whichever teams plays with more passion tonight will win. This is the playoffs, guys.
Want to see guys playing with passion? Turn on channel 9, folks.
And forget about the NBA.
In every playoff series there are games that can go either way. For New Orleans, they lost game 1 which they could have/should have won, and if they get done here tonight, they’ll lose this series. Only the real great teams can’t afford to let chances slide.
Bill Walton talking up Dwayne Wade, especially at home. Important to note his name is pronounced with a … pause … between the ‘D’ and the ‘wayne’.
"A lot going on behind the scenes."
Interesting to hear a player being so frank about off-the-court issues.
Sell-out in Mia.
Do they announce these games in Spanish and English.
What about Portugese?
They’re on the court. Lots of empty seats at the moment
Keith Askins there on the bench could be on this roster.
Magloire with the medium-length socks. Not a good look.
Both teams mis-firing.
Lovely block by Wade on Davis, but foul on Grant.
Davis misses the first. It’s 1-0.
Why do we persist in running plays for Eddie Jones?
Odom hits from the baseline, it’s still a soccer scoreline, 2-1.
Heat have real nice athleticism, have to keep it under control. Despite the empty seats, there’s a lot of noise.
Wade with the acrobatic layup in traffic.
I’m the only guy rebounding here!
Wesley hits clean for 3. It’s 4-4.
Caron Butler with the offensive board but the turnover.
Wesley again, same spot.
I suck.
PJ Brown, the former Miami forward, hits the mid-range.
Hornets up 5.
Butler looks simultaneously smaller and bigger than he is.
Wade.
You don’t score on me, kid.
D. Wayne with his 2nd foul. Davis to the line. Wade sits.
11-6 Norleans.
Whoo, Davis scores on the 1-on-4 fastbreak. Good D by New Orleans.
Hornets lead by 7.
Baron Davis interview – "dark cloud", "we just became a fragmented, fragmented team". Sounds bad.
I suck.
Out of the time-out, the Heat making baskets. Jones hits a 3.
Foul on Alston’s nice goatee. Miami in the penalty already.
Alston draws a foul at the other end, goes straight over to the official.
I have a very unreliable release.
Brick.
PJ Brown makes both, Norleans up 6.
Ooh, tough call, foul on the screen on Odom, that’s his 2nd. Didn’t look like a foul on the replay.
airball by Caron Butler.
NOr 18
Mia 10
3:06
It’s only a 20-second timeout.
Haslem on the court for the Heat. And Rasaul Butler.
Miami shooting 28%.
Bill Walton – "all the stuff we’ve been talking about, not relevant whatsoever right now."
correct.
Hey, Stu – why did we schedule this series to finish around a week after all the other first-round matchups had been completed?
Indiana took 4 games, New Jersey took 4 games, and Detroit 5 games. Yet this is game 5 tonight – should be 6, at least.
Hello!
You know you’re in foul-trouble when I’m on the court.
Nice offensive rebound by Haslem.
20-13, Lynch with 6 boards.
Magloire makes a Mutombo-esque move on the blocks – just as well it’s Samaki Walker guarding him instead of someone decent.
22-13. Final minute first quarter.
Alston to the line.
Last play of the quarter;
Armstrong to David West, Miami down 10.
Whoh, they count it, it was after the buzzer.
Jack Nies called it good, but they’re reviewing it.
Davis 8 points in the first, Wesley 6.
Norleans have 8 FTs and 7 FGs in the quarter. Anytime you have more free throws and field goals, it’s either a good thing or a bad thing.
basket was ruled no good.
Someone stole Bill Van Gundy’s lower jaw.
It’s little wonder Jeff and Stan look so peculiar, with a Dad like that.
Sounds like a coach though
here I am again!
Miami make a nice play out of the stop-ball again, it’s now 25-18.
Stacy Augmon should not be shooting the basketball.
Rasaul Butler off the screen, in less than 2 minutes the lead is down to 5.
damn I have long arms.
As I get older, I start to shrink but my arms are getting longer.
there’s not as many of us now…
Wow, an unbelievable 3 by Davis with the D right on him.
And then the foul on the assist to David West – like the look of this West character.
Augmon should sit and stay.
NOr 30
Mia 22
8:44 2nd
Phi 1
Tor 1
1st Int
Arz 0
Phi 0
Bot 3rd
What brand of embalming fluid do I use?
Odom back on, travels but gets away with it, but good D by long-armed Hornets.
Augmon didn’t sit, makes the open J.
Davis, even not fit, has a dynamic first step.
We’re down 11.
Eddie Jones now 2-8 from the field, lead the Heat in scoring regular season.
Jones for 3 off the Butler steal.
Ahh, nice, the fake-timeout play. Didn’t work, but I like it. You’d hope that a Van Gundy team would be too smart to fall for that…
We’re into it.
You’d think considering how much we paid for these tickets we’d cheer once in a while.
Nice block by Caron Butler, he’s a small-forward.
Timeout, 33-27.
Miami have been playing well this quarter, but they’re still in a hole.
Wade 4-8, 8 points, 4 rebounds.
CButler 0-3, 0 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 assists.
Jones 3-9, 7 points.
RButler 2-3, 5 points.
Grant 0-2, 0 points, 3 rebounds.
Watch my guys get a bucket out of this timeout.
Odom with the lefty hook.
Hang on, did Walton just call Wade a ‘legend’?
"Larry Bird and Dwayne Wade 2 legends from 2 different eras".
Jump Ball.
Lead is 4, Miami needed that bucket.
Jones picks up a foul on the Wesley pump-fake.
Wesley slips over, ball rolls out of bounds.
And a technical foul on Baron Davis.
33-30.
4:55
What a play by Wade, the lead is 1.
Good D by Miami, get the turnover. This is loud.
Eddie Jones for 3, right in front of the New Orleans bench.
Miami take the lead.
It’s a 13-0 run. New Orleans out of the timeout, Augmon makes the J.
Jones, it rims out. Tied at 35.
Check.
Oh big bucket, Davis makes the 3 just before the shot-clock.
Nice move by PJ Brown.
Rebounding hurting the Heat on these last few sequences.
Oh wow, they just cannot guard Dwayne Wade.
Final minute of the quarter.
Good box-out by Butler.
Eddie Jones didn’t like the call. PJ Brown with the defensive play.
But a foul on Magloire on the in-bound. Haslem misses the first, makes the 2nd.
44-40.
Oh terrible ball security, Davis lays it in after the Magloire miss.
Grant hits the J.
And another bucket after the quarter-time buzzer. That’s Halftime.
"Did a jood job of getting to the FT line."
"We have to be able to close out quarters like we want to."
"He’s quick."
Instead of the chick taking the 3-quarter-court shot, tonight’s half-time show will consist of a sneezing competition. The longest, and louded, sneezes will win free tickets to game 7.
The disposable microphones are in.
Let’s rock.
…for those paying attention, the Cubs got 1 run on three hits in the top 1st against the great woody williams…
New Orleans 46
Miami Heat 42
halftime
Bugs shooting .471 from the field, Heat shooting .386.
B Davis 20 points on 7-9, 2-3 and 4-6.
PJ Brown 8 points and 5 rebounds.
J Magloire 2 points, 2 FGA, 7 boards.
G Lynch 0 points on 0-4, 6 boards.
Eddie Jones 13 points on 4-14.
Dwayne Wade 12 points on 6-10.
Caron Butler 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 0 points.
Lamar Odom 6 points, 0 assists, 2 fouls.
I’m Kerry Wood, bitches!!!
struck out swinging.
Greg Anthony and co spending more time talking up game 5 between TWolves and Nuggets, and the Lakers/Spurs series, than this one.
It’s been a pretty good game.
Miami have been playing from behind all game, and are showing nice guts. They believe. New Orleans need to keep them down 5+ throughout the 2nd half to be able to win this.
The Bugs have controlled this game so far, but when Baron Davis’ hot hand cools off they’ll need to get points from somewhere. And it looks like Miami have more buckets in them.
Magloire hasn’t had the ball, he needs a big 2nd half. Brian Grant has quietly been a factor, and so has Caron Butler. The Hornets are up but they’re a long away from winning this one.
this game’s about D.
and not defense. Doubt.
I’m up.
We’re back.
Odom gets his shot blocked. Lynch with the brick.
Lots of empty seats here again.
Wesley in and out. Wade draws a blocking foul on Davis.
I’m 6-4.
And I’ll draw another foul.
I think Miami have found their new franchise player.
48-43, New Orleans.
1-0, CHC, Top 4rd.
Hello!
Wesley with the nice layup through 2 defenders on the break.
Timeout Miami – getting some foul calls but nothing else happening as they start the 3rd. Van Gundy setting up another play.
Miami 3 of 8.
Norleans 4 of 8.
The lead is 8, 51-43.
Odom again with the bucket after the timeout.
Did Walton just say he’d had 32 operations?
Lynch has been playing so long he forgot you can’t jump out of bounds and call time anymore. When did they change that rule – 1999?
I’m doing it all tonight.
Beat Butler off the dribble, draw the foul, make the layup, make the FT.
Up 9.
A double, Corey scores.
2-0 Cubs.
I’m Woody Williams bitches! (ducks)
I missed again.
What’s the most rebounds a guy has in a 0-point game?
Miami get another foul – Odom misses at the line.
54-45.
Palindrome scores.
Lynch pokes Odom in the eye.
Or maybe he was just faking it, left him open for the J.
Oh, Magloire finally gets a call. Good D in the paint by Miami.
Lamar can’t believe it.
"You can be the best player on the floor without scoring."
There’s my signature play. A hit after the foul-call.
7 of 13.
You can smoke cigars in this Arena?
The T on Magloire with the hit on Wade.
Big foul on Odom down the other end. ‘Easy play to call’ Walton assures us. That’s 4 on Lamar.
Here I am!
Didn’tcha hear me bitches? I’m KKKKerry Wood!!!
Lead back up to 9.
Brian Grant wide open, Wade with the assist.
Davis on the bench, and the Hornets turn it over. Nice play by Eddie Jones. Though he travelled but he made the tough right-hand layup in transition.
It’s 58-53. Timeout.
4 K’s.
Still 2-0, Top of the 4th.
I’m up shortly.
Miami have done a better job getting to the line this quarter. The game’s about points – you have to make your FTs or else it doesn’t count.
Carmelo won’t play.
"I don’t have an idea."
Magloire misses from the line, now. The Bugs are 12-17, themselves.
Shut up, Jim.
59-53 Bugs with the ball.
Grant has 3. Davis is back on.
It’s a 24 second violation, but it should have been a kick-ball on Dwayne Wade.
Miami from the side.
Wade slices in and kisses high off the glass, but it’s called an offensive foul.
That’s 3 on Wade.
Big big call.
"I completely disagree."
New Orleans can win the game here. Odom is sitting down, Wade is down.
61-53.
Wang Zhizhi loses the ball inside.
Magloire misses the J. Eddie Jones with the right hand, nice move. Has 17.
2:30 to go, Hornets offensive rebounding a factor.
And Alston airballs.
OK, it’s on.
Lynch upset. It’s been brewing, Haslem and Alston pulling him off the ground. Off-setting technicals.
Nice feed to Grant by Raefer Alston. Crowd into it.
Back on the bench.
Magloire with the block, and the foul. That’s 3.
Haslem to the line.
Born in Miami, high school in Miami, University of Florida.
Didn’t hit FT’s in the pros, either.
Wesley travels. Miami with the ball down 5.
Jones bricks from 3, thought he was fouled.
30 seconds left.
A T on Rafer Alston, that’s it, he’s out.
We’ll hurt you.
Good officiating, it was a little punch to the waist by Alston.
That’s the reason for the call, good work.
Last play of the quarter. Davis on the clear-out, but no basket.
We lead by 5.
This is a pretty decent game.
Good quarter there by the Bugs – Davis sat for much of it, and they kept their lead to between 5 and 9.
Things getting physical – brings the crowd into it, but the Hornets have much more experience and they’re not worried by the increased temperature.
Heat can’t afford to lose their cool. Their D is good, they can win this if they’re good enough.
63-58 New Orleans after 3.
2-1 Cubs, bottom 4th, Edmonds at 2nd base.
38 times Miami have trailed after 3, for just 6 victories.
Hornets with another turnover as the 4th quarter starts.
Baby – I scored!
2-1 after 4.
Wood: 4Ks, 54 pitches
Miami playing good D, Wade scores off the screen by Odom.
David West misses his put-back.
Oh, that’s a huge call, offensive foul on Caron Butler running into David West.
there I am.
Both teams playing frantic basketball.
Dwayne Wade with the spin move, loses the ball but scores – oh, so much altheticism.
Miami with a 6-0 run, hit the lead.
This is a high-quality game. All you boys at the baseball, you’re missing out.
How good has Miami’s D been this quarter – forcing the Bugs further and further out on the floor, doubling Davis to get the rock out of his hands. Darrell Armstrong has not been a factor. Wesley’s too quiet.
64 Miami
63 NOrleans
9:51 4th
2 Cubs
1 Cards
Mid 5th
PJ Brown misses out of the time-out.
Foul on David West – great pass by Odom to Haslem under the rim. Hits both, it’s 66-63.
Augmon recovers his own fumble, it’s called travelling.
Floyd is going white-man crazy – he’s gunna get tossed if he’s not careful.
That’s another missed FT.
There I am again.
Bigtime move by Baron Davis – knifes in and it’s a blocking foul.
Out-side the restricted area by about 2 feet, that’s Haslem’s first.
Tied game.
Wade penetrates and Haslem is fouled again by Magloire.
68-66, Miami lead. 8 mins to go.
12 points and 9 boards.
It’s tied in St. Louis too
Wood got 3 Ks in 5th, with a Sanders HR.
After 5, 2-2
Brown with the 15-footer, Jones answers to keep the lead at 2.
Then Haslem recovers the loose ball. Bavis penetrates and finds Armstrong for 3, Hornets back up by 1.
And Odom answers for 3.
What a game.
No time-out by Floyd and good D to get Augmon taking the shot, the miss.
Eddie Jones floats in, that’s time-out now.
No.
Davis gets fouled, will go to the line – it’s 75-71.
We’ve gone missing.
2-2 in St Louis, top of the 6th.
3-1 Toronto, 1:35 to play.
I’m 6-8 from the line tonight. Need to hit these 2.
5 mins to play, this game is in the balance.
New Orleans trying to be patient, but Miami flying round the court.
Hits the 1st. And the 2nd.
75-73 Heat lead.
Bad idea to post up Haslem, Wade forces the pass, out of bounds.
Oh, Dwayne misses the open layup of the steal. New Orleans ball.
That other turning point?
dammit.
Bad pass by PJ Brown after getting the new 24, 19 total turnovers by the Bugs.
Good save by Armstrong. Twice.
And finally they Bugs hit a 3. Davis hits, Hornets back up 1.
Every play matters here, Miami giving up too many offensive rebounds here. Odom and Butler have to carry the load, on every play.
New Orleans have gone small – Wesley and Armstrong and Baron Davis – and still they’re getting back their own misses.
Miami’s ball out of the TO.
Miami 3 full timeouts left, and the 20.
New Orleans 2 and the 20.
76-75 New Orleans, 3:25 to play.
2-2, Mid 6th
boom baby – for 3!
Jones with the huge 3.
Lynch scores, that’s his first FG. How many rebounds?
And now Jones at the line. Misses the first with the friendly rim.
I was a All-Star, remember.
It’s ‘an’ All-Star, buddy.
2 minutes to play.
Miami with the ball, Odom playing with 5 fouls.
And that’s 5 on Magloire.
80-78, Odom can tie it up.
74% from the line this season.
Both.
80-80.
2-2.
Defense and execution.
New Orleans have the ball with 1:32 to play.
I can smell overtime.
Both teams with a foul to give.
Good D by Eddie Jones. A miss by Wesley, or was it Davis, on the heave.
Oh man – Wade hits the 3 from the corner, scot-clock at zero.
Odom threw it over and Wade hits, the crowd goes crazy.
3-2 St Louis, end 6th.
I feel terrible.
Great game here, Wade hit the game winner in the final seconds of game 1, and now a huge huge 3 with 50 seconds remaining.
Davis controlls it.
Armstrong blocked by Caron Butler.
Gets it back, and it hits the side of the backboard. Great D by Miami.
Miami up 3 and Butler to the line.
Misses the first.
Terrific block on the re-play.
makes the 2nd.
Heat ball off the Wesley missed 3, out of bounds. 23 seconds left. Playing the foul-game.
Lead is 4 and Butler back to the line.
Game is over, but you have to go through the process. Makes the 1st.
Makes the 2nd.
86-80, New Orleans use their last timeout.
Miami showed lots of guts to win this one. They could have quit, but their youngsters came alive.
This Dwayne Wade kid has got something special.
23 second left.
Hornets ball – Steve Smith hits for 3, oh there we go.
It’s 86-83, 14 second to play.
Jones to the line.
Hit the 2nd – Davis missed the 3, good work by the defender not to foul.
That will do it.
there you go, and now TWolves/Nuggs will be lame, right?
Big win by Miami – this is a nice bunch of kids Stan Van Gundy has here.
This loss might kill the Hornets – Baron Davis had a terrific first half, but they didn’t click when they needed to down the stretch.
At home, the Bugs know they can win, but they’ve gotto be doubting after letting this opportunity go.
Anybody watching this crap instead of Cubs/Cardinals is a total fag.
Miami 87 d New Orleans 83
Miami 31-70 44%, NOr 28-79 35%.
Wade 21 points on 9-17 and 1-1 threes.
Jones 25 points and 4-9 FTs.
C. Butler 5 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals, 2 blocks.
Davis 33 points on 11-18 and 7 assists in 42 minutes.
PJ Brown 12 points and 13 rebounds.
Wesley 10 points on 4-13, 4 turnovers.
G Lynch 1-9 FGs, 9 rebounds, 4 turnovers.
Anybody watching this crap instead of Cubs/Cardinals is a total fag.
Y’all calling me a fag, now?
Good call.
There is one, and only one, thing in modern society more hideous than crime – namely, repressive justice by free online poker