Beat the Bulls

It’s the first game back home after the All-Star break for the Miami Heat, and it’s time for LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh to put up or shut up. For the first three years of this team being together, Heat fans have ridden the same roller coaster of...

By Ric Delgado

February 20, 2014

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "19274298",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17482312",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18711090",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17482310",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18711090",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17482313",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

It’s the first game back home after the All-Star break for the Miami Heat, and it’s time for LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh to put up or shut up. For the first three years of this team being together, Heat fans have ridden the same roller coaster of aggravation. The team spends most of the year coasting on its talents, winning game after game, but not nearly as many games as every single basketball fan knows this outfit is capable of winning. In the meantime, sports talking heads like Bill Simmons and Michael Wilbon question the Heat’s championship abilities. Then, there are games with the potential to be the pinnacle of Heat fan annoyance. The Chicago Bulls are one game above .500. Their whiny former MVP Derrick Rose is all but shut down for the rest of the season with an injury, a recurring yearly theme. Yet it’s very likely our hometown heroes might not take this game seriously and blow it in embarrassing fashion, giving even more fuel to the naysayers. Cheer your favorite team to victory this Sunday at the American Airlines Arena (701 Biscayne Blvd., Miami). Tip-off is set for 3:30 p.m. Tickets cost $80 to $500. Visit heat.com or call 786-777-1000.
Sun., Feb. 23, 3:30 p.m., 2014

KEEP NEW TIMES FREE... Since we started New Times, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Miami, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.