Down 16 in the first half to the Heat's most hated rival, it looked as if Miami's 13-game winning streak was in a boatload of trouble. Good thing for the Heat it happens to have the B.O.A.T., AKA the man Pat Riley calls the "Best of All Time." Captain Cobra Dick to the rescue, once again. Hissssssssssssssssssssssssssss!
LeBron James proved again Sunday afternoon just why he has been the Eastern Conference Player of the Month every single month this season, leading the Miami Heat to a statement win over the New York Knicks 99-93. James had his normal "double-take omg wtf srsly?" stat line, finishing with 29 points, 11 rebounds, and seven helpers -- willing Miami to its franchise-record-tying 14th straight win.
The win was the first for Miami this season over the Knicks or Pacers, thought to be the two teams that will be the biggest hurdles for the Heat as it looks to conquer the East for the third straight season on its way to the NBA Finals.
In addition to the Heat's usual greatness, Miami is riding the hot veteran hand of Shane "Horsetronaut" Battier and his timely threes, plus the relentlessness of newcomer Chris "Birdman" Anderson. The Heat very well could be playing its best basketball since, well, since EVER. Really? Ever, you ask?
Since February 1, the Miami Heat has had the same number of losses as the San Francisco 49ers.
Yup, EVER.
Miami was able to extend its franchise-record-tying streak by keeping the Knicks' Carmelo Anthony under wraps after a strong 17-point first quarter, limiting him to just 15 the rest of the way. While 32 points might seem like a lot, it wasn't nearly enough this night, as Anthony's supporting cast was less than stellar. J.R. Smith had 13 points and 12 rebounds but shot just five for 18 from the field. Jason Kidd snapped out of a personal slump, finishing with 14 points, eight rebounds, and six assists -- including four straight three-pointers at one point. Most of Kidd's damage came early, however, because of his old balls. He has old balls, you see, and those babies only take you so far in a young-man's balls game.
LeBron, now he has the young balls. James played 43 minutes in the game basically because he's awesome, and the Miami Heat needed more awesome, so LeBron James and his awesome stayed in the game longer than usual.
"His motor is limitless. I don't want to take that for granted. I don't just want to assume that he can play 40-plus minutes, but he had to do it on both ends," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "Couldn't get him out in the fourth quarter, and if I would have tried, he probably would have strangled me."
Spoelstra is afraid of LeBron James's awesome, because LeBron James's awesome might choke a bitch if it gets in the way of its awesome.
Fourteen and counting. Awesome.
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