Heat Have High Hopes: All Or Nothing For Miami in 2011

The Heat need to forget about the miserable embarrassment that was Game Two at TD Garden and the 44-6 run spanning almost 20 minutes during the 2nd and 3rd quarters that will go down in NBA history as one of the worst displays of playoff basketball ever.

During this second NBA season, where every win is a desperate one, teams show their true worth under pressure.

Miami helped themselves out of a Game One victory and then after an all even 1st quarter in Game Two, things took a walk on the wild side. The Heat missed ten consecutive shots to dig themselves into a monumental hole, and with the roadblocks out for Wade they continued to lose ground on a play by play basis.

Even after Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett blew his cool and seemingly his chances for his team to complete the home stand sweep, Miami managed to allow the Celtics to overpower them in every aspect of the game.

During the regular season, the Celtics were ranked 28th in the league in rebounding and somehow they managed to outclass on the glass, grabbing two out of every three rebounds.

That is a clear hustle stat, as either team has as good a chance at snagging the shot off the rim. They let Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen and the Ticket Stub Glen Davis to dominate in every facet.

Allen, who everybody outside of Boston labeled an old guy with nothing left, shot lights out from outside the arc. Rondo dished out a dozen dimes and outclassed the Heat's high man on the glass. And then there was Garnett's replacement Davis almost dropping 30 in his first Playoff start since last year's stand in role.

An all around sad showing for the sub-par ballers from South Beach. Maybe they should forget about this whole series and season and simply start preparing for the big one next summer.

Isn't that what everybody is waiting for? Flash is going to get a pair of All Stars to join forces with in his fight against the invaders of the Wade County hard court.

Will it be the grand prize of King James defecting from Cleveland? Not likely.

Will Amare Stoudemire finally land in the South East? More probable.

Does Carlos Boozer finally get to play for his offseason hometown? Strong possibility.

Will Chris Bosh head South of the border and leave Toronto for sunny skies? Wade's been on this bandwagon from the start.

Big things are a definite possibility, but nobody wants to even mention the opposite end of the spectrum. What if Dwyane jumps the sinking ship? What if South Beach isn't as enticing as one might think? You are going to give Pat Riley the benefit of the doubt, but you never know until it happens.

It would be the ultimate downfall of the franchise and Miami sports would never be the same.

Whatever happens, the cameras and microphones will be heading South for the Summer as free agency ascends on Biscayne Bay. Moves will be made. Prayers will be answered or dreams will be dashed. Either a championship dynasty or a blown up rebuilding project. Wade stays and brings some friends or nobody plays and Miami basketball dies.

As the Boston series seems to be slipping away, I can't help but focus on the offseason horizon. The anticipation is exhausting and all I want is to know the Heat's ultimate fate.

Feeling the Championship first hand in 2006 has spoiled me for life. I need to get that feeling back. It was pure electric joy as MY team had risen to the top. This offseason will either bring that feeling into a less distant focus or possibly send the image away for good here in South Florida.