Miami Needs To Focus on the Detroit Pistons Before LeBron's Return To Cleveland

Danny DolphinDec 1, 2010

The Miami Heat have an ultra-hyped game on Thursday against the Cleveland Cavaliers in LeBron James return to his former city. However, they need to focus on Wednesday's game against the Pistons first.

Tipoff: 7:30 PM ET, Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Where: American Airlines Arena, Miami, FL

TOP NEWS

TV/Radio: Sun Sports, 790 The Ticket

Records: Miami 10-8, Detroit 6-12

Line: Miami by 11.5

Notes

The Lakers have lost three in a row and the national media has taken notice. Good. In other news, Phil Jackson’s seat is getting hot. Is a Kobe/Phil “bump” coming soon?
The Pistons shoot 39 percent on threes (5th in NBA).
Wizards center Hilton Armstrong was suspended for one game for his flagrant foul on Joel Anthony on Monday night.
Coach Erick Spoelstra won his 100th game on Monday night. Here’s to many more.

Keys

Don’t look ahead. Everyone in the NBA this week is focused on Heat-Cavs on Thursday when LeBron James makes his return to Cleveland. Take it one game at a time.
Energy for 48 Minutes. In the win against Washington on Monday, Miami exerted maximum energy for the full game. They need to sustain that energy level through out the season with the way opponents are playing them.

Detroit isn’t a juggernaut by any means, but it is a different type of “bad” team. It's a veteran team with Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, and Ben Wallace. It can snag the upset if someone like Rodney Stuckey has a big game. Keep that man away from the basket.
Be aggressive. Dwyane Wade looks to be in mid-season form after Monday’s resurgence (26 points, 8 rebounds, 8-for-17 shooting). He needs to continue to be aggressive and attack on both ends.