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MIAMI – Pop quiz: After two wins in two days in the New York metropolitan area, the Heat should be most excited about which of the following:

A. The quality comeback victory at Madison Square Garden.
B. The LeBron James offensive explosion at the end of the win in New Jersey.
C. The sweep keeping a glimmer of hope to earn the No. 1 seed over Chicago.
D. Chris Bosh showing signs of playing like an All-Star again.

Reasonable people could debate, but taking the long view, the answer would unquestionably be "D." Bosh’s back-to-back double doubles, and most especially the 29 combined rebounds, in New York and New Jersey were a hugely positive sign for the Heat.

Bosh has been wrapping it in excuses and coming up with creative philosophies over the last few weeks – the “I’m not focused on individual rebounding, as long as we get the ball it’s cool” defense being the most egregious -- but the bottom line is Bosh just had his worst two months of rebounding since he was a rookie.

He went through a 21-game stretch from late February to last week where he averaged 6.5 rebounds per game, which is roughly the same as Luol Deng this season. That number is shocking for a 6-foot-11 forward who has three seasons of averaging more than 10 rebounds per game under his belt and still in his prime.

Suddenly, though, Bosh has had a new vigor around the boards. He’s been noticeably more active and aggressive during the Heat’s three-game win streak. His coach, clearly elated at Bosh returning to the sort of active rebounder the Heat badly need, responded to it with a mix of goading and praise.

“Possibly I just needed to start him at center, for him to see that big C next to his name because he’s been big,” said Erik Spolestra, referring to the fact that Bosh has been the de facto starting center the last three games because of an injury to Ronny Turiaf.

“This is as big as he’s been for us in two years on the glass," Spoelstra said. "He’s providing a lot of big muscle plays for us. I love the look he’s been bringing for about the last two weeks.”

Spoelstra wasn’t wrong. Those were the two most prolific back-to-back rebounding games Bosh has over the last two seasons. It is not something Bosh could be expected to keep up but it’s clear that when Bosh is active in rebounding it has a cascading effect that helps the entire time.

Feeling good after those two break out games, Bosh is now saying it’s part of a late-season mentality.

“I'm putting a certain focus into every game and I know that I should be playing well right now," Bosh said. "I want to have momentum going into the playoffs."

Count on Spoelstra and Bosh’s teammates to try to hold him to that.

On Monday night, LeBron James delivered a vintage performance through a furious late-game comeback in New Jersey. He looked like the James of old, attacking the basket with reckless abandon and blasting through multiple defenders en route to the rim.

James outscored the Nets 17-9 over the final five minutes of the game. New Jersey knew what was coming but still could not stop it. In the midst of the barrage, there was Dwyane Wade, cheering James on from the sideline, fist-pumping after every James basket with such enthusiasm that it looked like he was pulling a lawnmower cord in rewind.

This scene has been a familiar one over the past several months. Throughout this condensed season, it has become clear that James has been at his best while Wade gets his rest.

Whether it's due to injury or Heat coach Erik Spoelstra's so-called "maintenance program," Wade has sat on the bench more than ever this season. The 30-year-old has averaged a career-low 33.8 minutes per game and has been a spectator in street clothes for a total of 13 games, with the Heat going 12-1 in those games. In fact, the Heat have played almost half (46 percent) of the season's total minutes with Wade on the bench. But nonetheless, thanks to James' play, the Heat have been able to chase the league's top record even with Wade missing so much time.

It's no coincidence that we're seeing James perform like he did in Cleveland while Wade has been sidelined. Should James win the MVP award this season, it'll primarily be because he has lifted his game to towering heights in the absence of Wade. When Wade exits the game, it's James' opportunity to get back to his old self, something he vowed to do before the season. The numbers are impossible to ignore.



Is it a surprise that James watches his numbers surge when a ball-dominant wing player leaves his side? No, that's expected. But the sheer magnitude is staggering. With Wade off the floor, James averages 30.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.1 assists every 36 minutes while putting up a monstrous player efficiency rating (PER) of 35.6. However, when Wade joins him on the floor, James' scoring numbers fall off a cliff, down to "just" 22.7 points per 36 minutes, while his PER slides to a more terrestrial 27.4 figure.

To see why, just look at the usage rate (USG%) column, which tells us the percentage of the Heat's possessions that James uses while on the floor. Like we witnessed on Monday night, James attacks more aggressively when Wade sits on the bench, using 37.9 percent of the Heat's possessions while averaging more field goal and free throw attempts in his playing time. When Wade takes the floor, James sees about a third of his shots disappear.

This is the sacrifice that James made. Gone are the days when he could shoot 30 times a game without having to share the ball with Wade or Chris Bosh. James knowingly traded individual numbers for the potential glory of winning a championship. Last season, James' numbers dipped, "The Decision" backlash hadn't thawed and the Heat disappointed in dramatic fashion. As a result, James finished third in the MVP vote. As everyone knows, the tradeoff didn't pay out and James ended the season empty-handed, without an MVP trophy or a championship ring.

But this season, he could gain at least one of those pieces of cherished hardware -- the Maurice Podoloff trophy -- because his on-court surroundings have looked reminiscent of his Cleveland days when he won two straight MVPs. Not only has James lifted his game with Wade sitting out, but he's having more opportunities to shine. Last season, James shared the court with Wade for 73.2 percent of his minutes. This season? Time with Wade has dropped to 58.2 percent. In the end, James has raised his PER back to where it was before he left Cleveland (30.6 this season versus 31.1 in 2009-10).

James has made the most of the focused spotlight this season, Monday night's 37-point performance being just the latest example. Though James teamed up with Wade to win a title, playing without Wade has reaffirmed James' individual value.

With off-the-charts production this season, James has left no doubt that he remains the most talented player in the game. Perhaps all it took was some alone time for the world to appreciate it.

Statistical support for this story from NBA.com.

NEWARK, N.J. -- It was going to be a setback night, a forgettable night, a how-fast-can-you-get-to-the-airport night.

It was going to be a “this is everything that's wrong about the NBA” night, one team thinly disguising a tank job and the other team stuck in a zone between resting too many players and not resting players enough in a relentless season.

Then LeBron James produced an illusion. He was able to go back in time two years or three years when his reality was different. To a time when he had a road crowd in one palm and the ball in the other. Where there was no concern about anything but his teammates getting the hell out of the way. No catalog of bad recent late-game memories, just a clear conscience and not a hint of regret.

For a few minutes it was not about the Heat’s chase for a championship, not about who would be the “closer,” not about anything except a hugely gifted athlete showing a mastery for the game. An unexpected vacation for everyone at the Prudential Center.


James scored 17 straight points in a blur of speed, force and finesse in a five-minute span Monday night in a game that went from bland to brilliant in a blink. Down five points to the New Jersey Nets, James waved his hand and the Heat won by three points, 101-98.

It completely won over the crowd, most rushing to their cell phones to take pictures and fire off texts and tweets about what they were seeing.

“It was amazing, honestly,” said James, who ended up with 37 points. “Last year I never thought I’d hear 'Let’s Go Heat,' that I’d hear 'MVP' on someone else’s floor. What we’ve been through in the last year -- I’m happy to be part of it.”

All the hype and the highlights, the commercials and billboards, the free-agent rumors and expectations exist because James is one of the few players in sport who can command a moment like this.

No, it wasn’t against the 1971-72 Lakers or the 1995-96 Bulls. In fact the Nets were a shell of the shell of a team they are. Deron Williams and Gerald Wallace sat out with minor injuries and, of course, there was no Brook Lopez. So it was not a performance for the ages. But it was a reminder of why James is so popular and in demand.

Yes, there were thousands of Heat fans who came to the game and cheered throughout. But the series of plays he made won over the impartials and probably some of those that had been mixing the standard road boos for James earlier in the night.

As he made five baskets, all within a few feet of the rim in a wave of force that no one saw coming when the Heat fell behind by 13 points earlier in the second half, he captured the audience. Just like he used to before the infamous television broadcast up the road in Greenwich, Conn. And the rally in Miami. And the few bad nights in Dallas.

“Where were those fans earlier?” said Nets forward Kris Humphries, who was on track to being the game’s hero with 29 points before James took over. “They should be screaming the whole game; don’t just show up when they get on top.”

The fans showed up when James brought them to their feet.

“The guy is so big and strong,” Nets coach Avery Johnson said. “We attempted to double team him twice and he just overpowered our guys. And then when the third defender came, he beat the third defender. Then when guys fouled him, he still scored.”

That’s pretty much how it went. After coming back into the game with 5:35 left, James made four layups and a short jumper in the paint, and hit all seven free throws he attempted.

One time he went right through Humphries, listed at 6-foot-9 and 235 pounds, going chest-to-chest at the rim before flicking a left-handed bank shot. That gave the Heat their first lead of the game with 50 seconds left.

Then he zig-zagged through four Nets defenders on the same play – it was not inspiring execution by the Nets but James still beat four NBA players in the final seconds of a tight road game – to give the Heat a 3-point lead. Then he made two clutch free throws to finish it off.

There was no need to be concerned about deferring to Dwyane Wade, who sat the game out to rest. James has been amazing in situations like these this season. His scoring average improves four points a game, he gets to the foul line more and the Heat usually win. They are now 11-1 this season when James plays and Wade doesn’t.

“I try to do the things that need to be done to help us win; I know that my scoring has to go up a little bit more when D-Wade is out,” James said. “I was looking at the scoreboard and seeing we were making a run. I knew I was making some plays. I didn’t know I scored 17 straight.”

In another installment of the Heat Index's 3-on-3 series, our writers give their takes on the storylines before the Heat visit the Nets (22-39).

1. Fact or Fiction: This is the last time Miami sees D-Will in a Nets uniform.

Tom Haberstroh: Fiction. Deron Williams isn't the type to make a public stink with a trade demand, but I think it's telling that he has been outwardly OK with the Nets' rebuild. Perhaps it's because he assumes Howard will finally join him this summer if New Jersey can come up with the pieces in a trade (that 2012 first-rounder would've come in handy). Patience may indeed be a virtue.

Michael Wallace: Fact. I guess there's still a bit of fleeting hope that the Nets could somehow land Dwight Howard this offseason and keep Deron Williams. But the reality is that no team has struck out more times since that 2010 free agency bonanza than New Jersey. Williams is all but certain to be on the move this summer - and it probably won't be along for the ride with the Nets going across that bridge to Brooklyn. He's done his time and has given the Nets two seasons to build something around him besides loads of losses.

Brian Windhorst: Fiction. Williams does indeed seem like he's going to test the market and there's a comfy spot waiting for him in Dallas. While I'm not guaranteeing Williams will be back, I think there's a lot that could happen involving the Nets between now and July 1 that could affect Williams' decision. I do think the Dwight Howard trade sweepstakes will be re-opened soon after the Magic conclude their season. There's also a chance the Nets jump up in the lottery to the top three and keep their pick and get in position to draft an impact player. There's still a decent chance Williams is a Net next year.

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2. Fact or Fiction: Your best guess is that LeBron gets the night off.

Haberstroh: Fact. But I've been wrong on these calls many times before. If he doesn't get the night off, then something's up. The Heat can't afford LeBron to be less than full strength for the playoff run and they know that. Another playoff flameout would be a disaster and a night off could go a long way especially with his gimpy ankle. Why risk it?

Wallace: Fact. But it might take a stern directive from Pat Riley at the top. LeBron made it clear the other night when logged 29 minutes against the Bobcats that playing through nagging injuries and late in the regular season "is just who I am, man. It's just how I've always been." LeBron even suggested he would have vetoed coach Erik Spoelstra's attempt to rest him. But after tweaking an ankle Sunday against the Knicks, it just wouldn't be wise to push it a night later - even without having to fly to face the Nets.

Windhorst: Fact. There's a ready-made reason: his rolled left ankle that he suffered in New York Sunday afternoon. Plus it's the fourth game in five nights and he's played in the other three. Plus, as I've been harping on for 10 days now, giving him time off is just a really good idea.

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3. Fact or Fiction: Chris Bosh's rebounding remains Big Three's biggest question mark in playoffs.

Haberstroh: Fact. But Dwyane Wade's post-halftime issues are a close second. Bosh's rebounding void continues to perplex the masses. Sure, Wade and LeBron gobble up a few of his boards every night and the Andrea Bargnani Effect can't be discounted, but 20 days shouldn't go by between Bosh's double-digit rebound outings. Considering their energy-burning defensive schemes, the Heat cannot afford to give up deflating second-chance opportunities in the playoffs. That hinges on Bosh.

Wallace: Fiction. I wouldn't just stop at rebounding. In fact, Bosh's overall play and consistency on both ends of the court are the biggest question marks facing any member of the Heat's Big Three, although there appears to also be something a bit off with Dwyane Wade. I've said it plenty of times: Bosh needs to play like an All-Star for this team to reach its full postseason potential. His 16-point, 14-rebound effort against the Knicks must be bottled up and carried into the playoffs. It is essential to overall success.

Windhorst: Fact. The Heat are such a different team when Bosh is more active on the glass. It allows them to get in transition more, it gets them extra possessions on offense and overall when Bosh is more active going after rebounds usually it carries over to other parts of his game. Rebounding has been a constant battle for the Heat all year. Bosh is supposed to be their best rebounder but he's had one of the worst rebounding years of his career. But it's not too late for him to turn it around. Though I do believe the opponent had something to do with how well Bosh performed on Sunday.

In another installment of the Heat Index's 3-on-3 series, our writers give their takes on the storylines before the Heat visit the Knicks (31-28).

1. Fact or Fiction: Mike Woodson makes the Knicks a bigger threat than Mike D'Antoni.

Tom Haberstroh: Fact. Sometimes a coach makes his money by drawing up expert X's-and-O's. Other times he makes his money by motivating his superstar. Whether it's true or not, Carmelo Anthony's new-found dedication to play "harder" on both ends of the floor is absolutely essential for the Knicks' overall health. If Carmelo wasn't getting that from D'Antoni, then that was a problem. Hopefully for the Knicks, Woodson solves that problem.

Michael Wallace: Fact. Woodson has been with the Knicks all season and had a strong voice in the direction of the team as defensive coordinator even when D'Antoni was on the bench. But if Carmelo Anthony and a couple of others are more willing to listen and buy into what Woodson is selling as the head coach, then it benefits the team overall. Injuries have been an impediment for both coaches, but New York is playing as a far more confident team these days.

Brian Windhorst: Fact. If D'Antoni was given players that better fit what he likes then this would be a different answer. The Knicks don't have the pieces to be a great offensive team. Their best hope to succeed with this roster is to rely on their defense. That's what Woodson has done and it's made them a more dangerous team.

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2. Fact or Fiction: The Heat would rather play the Magic than the Knicks in the first-round.

Haberstroh: Fact. Dwight Howard's health changes everything. But if I'm Pat Riley or LeBron or a Heat fan in section 307, I'm hoping that the Magic continue to nosedive in the standings. Because unlike the Bulls, the Magic are basically nothing without their MVP candidate on the floor. When Howard's on the bench, the Magic get outscored by almost double-digits every 48 minutes. Even knowing that it's possible Howard comes back, that's a gamble the Heat should rather take.

Wallace: Fact. Only because there's a chance Dwight Howard will be extremely limited or not in the lineup at all in a potential first-round playoff matchup. But let's be honest here. The Heat don't fear either of these teams because both the Magic and Knicks play a style that forces Miami into its preferred up-tempo, open-court pace. The national focus and daily media scrutiny in a Heat-Knicks series would definitely ensure Miami enters the playoffs at full throttle, though.

Windhorst: Fiction. I suppose if the Heat knew for sure Dwight Howard is out it would change the answer. But that's not known yet. What is known is the Heat have trouble with physical centers and 3-point shooters. That's what Orlando has when Howard is there.

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3. Fact or Fiction: Strictly building a defense, you want Tyson Chandler over LeBron.

Haberstroh: Fact. If we're just talking defense here, Chandler would be my guy. It's hard to separate offensive and defensive acumen, but if I need a stop, I'm feeling more confident having Chandler buoy my back-line than have LeBron out on the perimeter. If we're talking a one-on-one isolation at the end of the game, I'd stick LeBron on the guy. But Chandler would be my choice overall. Still blows my mind that a Carmelo Anthony "led" defense ranks better than a LeBron James "led" defense, but it's true. Chandler's why.

Wallace: Fiction. Perhaps this was an attempt to carve out a favorable answer for Chandler. But this sort of hypothetical is a bit unreasonable. If this were football, where players typically only perform on one side of the ball, then supporting Chandler's specific defensive prowess would be easier. But this is basketball, and you must account for both ends of the court. LeBron can defend at the rim as well as on the wing and finish his own handiwork at the other end in transition.

Windhorst: Fiction. This is a trick question. In basketball vacuum yes, a great defensive center is more valuable than a great wing defender. That's why Bill Russell won 11 rings. But you never take Chandler over LeBron. I could list the reasons but it's a basic question. Now, let the statisticians tell me why I'm wrong.

Ahead of Heat-Knicks on Sunday, we thought we'd get the point of view from Madison Square Garden. Here's the report from ESPNNewYork.com's Jared Zwerling. (For the corresponding Heat perspective, head to their blog.)

1. The Knicks are playing great ball on both ends of the floor. Who deserves the most credit for the turnaround?
No question, Mike Woodson. Offensively, he's helped Carmelo Anthony flourish, getting him the ball more quickly in halfcourt sets in his sweet spots -- in the midrange and post-up areas -- and he's capitalizing there. Under Mike D'Antoni, because the offense was predicated more on the pick-and-roll, there was some delay in getting Anthony the ball. Now, he's the immediate focal point in the offense, which has been enhanced with Jeremy Lin and Amare Stoudemire inactive due to injuries since March 26.

Since then, his health is also a big reason why he's been shooting nearly 50 percent (49.8) from the field, averaging 28.8 points per game. He had been dealing with injuries to his groin and right wrist (his shooting hand), but he said earlier this week that he now feels the best he's been all season. That's one of the main reasons why no team wants to face the Knicks in the opening round of the playoffs (not to mention, Madison Square Garden is a challenging place to play for a road team). Melo is one of the best scorers in the league, and he's extremely clutch.

Defensively, that's Woodson's MO. It goes back to his days in Detroit, where he won a title with the Pistons in 2004, and that's why D'Antoni hired him to be his defensive coordinator, if you will, before the season started. The Knicks had improved defensively before D'Antoni stepped down on March 14, but with Woodson at the helm, they've taken it a step further, holding opponents to 88.8 points per game since then -- the second-best mark in the league (after the Bulls' 88.6) during that span. Woodson's no-nonsense personality, stressing accountability at all times, has fueled the Knicks to button up their defense. And the players have bought in, especially because they know they need to fight their way out of the two lowest spots in the East playoff picture.

To understand some of the finer details of the adjustments Woodson has made, here's a great quote from Steve Novak, which he gave me on Friday: "I think when [Woodson] first took over, more than anything he really just set an intensity of defense that we played. And just like the team togetherness. If a guy gets beat, it's like somebody's right there. Everybody finds a way to get stops. Comfort and communication is a big part of it, too, because sometimes when you switch, it's like should we or should we not? As the season's gone on, I think we've gotten a feel for each other. I think that's evolved."

2. How have the Knicks community dealt with the team's resurgence without Amare Stoudemire and Jeremy Lin on the court? Has it been confusing, bittersweet or just plain exciting?
Exciting. Here's the bottom line: The Knicks community just wants to see winning basketball. They don't care what it takes. They are a frustrated bunch, with the team getting so close in 1999 to a championship (their last one was in 1973) and then having ups and downs in the past decade with Isiah Thomas leading the way as head coach and president of basketball operations. Of course, there's added excitement with the likely return of Stoudemire next week and Lin possibly coming back at the start of the second round of the playoffs. But the Knicks need to move up to the sixth seed for that happen, because they are not beating the Bulls or Heat in a seven-game series.

3. From where you stand, would the Knicks rather face a Bulls team led by a gimpy Derrick Rose or a stumbling Heat team in the first-round of the playoffs?
Jared Jeffries said on Friday that the Bulls would be a better matchup for the Knicks because of a gimpy Derrick Rose. And I agree with him. The Heat have just way too much firepower to lose a seven-game series. They can come at you in so many different ways. On the flip side, the Knicks don't have a lot of firepower right now, and they'll still be a bit short-handed entering the playoffs with a less than 100 percent Stoudemire and a hobbled Baron Davis. Every game, Anthony will be asked to put up close to 30 points for the Knicks to have a shot, especially because the Knicks' current secondary scorers (J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert) are still too inconsistent right now.

With not a lot of practice time during the shortened season, it's been hard for basically a new-look Knicks team since December to build cohesion. And that's something, to me, the Heat still have, especially having nearly two seasons under their belt. They will turn it on when the playoffs start. I have no doubt in my mind that they will return to the NBA Finals. After losing to the Dallas Mavericks last year, the Heat will be on -- as they say at the American Airlines Arena -- starting at the end of April.

The question posed to LeBron James wasn't specific enough.

As the Miami Heat shifted their focus to Sunday's showdown against New York at Madison Square Garden, James was asked what he thought about the Knicks this season.

His answer: Which version of them?

“We've all seen so many different teams from the Knicks this year,” James said of a squad that has endured a coaching change and multiple lineup tweaks and altered its style of play in just the past six weeks. “We've seen them in the beginning, without [Jeremy] Lin, then with Lin in the lineup. Without Amare [Stoudemire], then with Amare. Now [Carmelo Anthony] is playing [power forward], which is a matchup problem for everybody. So it's a different team, but it's a really good team.”

To suggest the Knicks have gone through a few changes since the last time the Heat saw them in late February would be an understatement -- sort of like saying J.R. Smith has a few tattoos. A more accurate assessment would be that the Knicks have gone through a makeover wrapped around a facelift stuffed inside an in-season rebuilding job.

And through it all, James and the Heat see the Knicks as a team that has emerged as a more focused and formidable threat. The Knicks also could end up as Miami's first-round playoff opponent if the current standings in the Eastern Conference hold to form, with the Heat essentially locked in as the No. 2 seed and the Knicks sitting in seventh place.

But these aren't the Knicks who were demolished by the Heat in a 102-88 loss Feb. 23 in Miami. James said he remembers that game “like it was yesterday.” For the Heat, that previous meeting came when they were in the midst of their most dominant stretch of the season. The Knicks were the eighth of nine consecutive opponents Miami defeated by a double-digit margin, a remarkable run that ended a game after the All-Star break.

The Heat, who have gone just 15-10 since last beating New York, haven't been quite the same team since then. But then again, neither have the Knicks.

Back then, Mike D'Antoni was clinging to his job with a team deep in turmoil and beset by injuries. Now, under assistant-turned-interim coach Mike Woodson, the Knicks are rooted in accountability and have resurrected themselves into a team that seems to be peaking in time for the postseason.

Back then, Anthony was banged up and looked somewhat washed up as he struggled to find a productive role and rhythm. Now, he has regained a bit of his swagger and is back to being one of the most prolific scorers in the league, having averaged 30 points a game in April.

Back then, Linsanity engulfed New York. Now, with Lin out of the lineup and recovering from knee surgery, the backcourt hype has been all about 21 “Shump” Street. Knicks rookie Iman Shumpert has regained a prominent role in the rotation that he once lost to Lin, and has developed into a versatile defender and productive scorer. Smith, one of the league's streakiest scorers, was signed in March to provide a spark off the bench, and Steve Novak has become as lethal a 3-point threat as anyone in the NBA.

Six weeks have made a significant difference.

There are tangible results to prove it.

The Knicks were 18-24 when D'Antoni stepped down but have since gone 13-4 under Woodson, a proven defensive-minded coach who was an assistant on Detroit's 2005 championship team and later guided Atlanta to perennial playoff appearances.

New York has gone from giving up 96.5 points a game with D'Antoni as coach to allowing just 88.8 points under Woodson, the second-fewest yielded in the league over the past 17 games. The combination of the Knicks' improved play and the Heat's recent struggles on the road against playoff-caliber teams was enough to leave Miami a bit on edge entering Sunday.

Factor in the prospect of these heated rivals possibly meeting in a seven-game series at the end of the month, and it's enough to make Sunday somewhat of a statement opportunity for both teams.

“It will be a tough, tough, tough game, but it's always tough trying to get back on track,” forward Chris Bosh said of the Heat, who are 1-8 in their past nine on the road against teams with winning records. “We have a chance to get a huge road win. I wouldn't say it's daunting. We know that they're good. We know what they're capable of. That makes the importance of Sunday's game -- it increases it because it's a potential playoff matchup. We don't want them to have any confidence on us.”

Despite the chance the teams could be staring at a playoff matchup, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said there's no reason to enter the Garden with a poker face and refrain from tipping a strategic hand.

“There's no secrets in this league,” Spoelstra said. “What can you hold back? The most important thing for us anyway is we're trying to get to an optimal level of play where we're playing at a high level. We're not there yet, particularly on the road. So we're not going to keep any cards to our vest. We can't afford to do that right now.”

The Heat have outscored the Knicks by 24 points in the two wins this season. But it's possible neither team will be at full strength Sunday. Dwyane Wade (knee/ankle), Mike Miller (ankle), Ronny Turiaf (hamstring) and Udonis Haslem (stomach virus) sat out Friday's win against Charlotte. Spoelstra said he was hopeful they all would play Sunday as Miami tries to shore up its playoff rotation.

Stoudemire, who has been recovering from a back injury, resumed workouts with the Knicks this weekend but is questionable for Sunday's game. Lin likely won't return until the playoffs.

Considering where these teams were two months ago -- and where they could be headed in two weeks -- the Heat and Knicks have reached a crossroads along their collision course. Miami is looking to regain its February form. New York has been working to distance itself from the team it was back then.

For James, keeping track of the ever-changing Knicks presented one challenge entering Sunday.

Finding an answer for his team's recent road woes could be an even bigger chore.

“Every team has that one point where they have that streak and everything is clicking,” James said. “We can go back over that film and watch what we were doing great. We were defending great. We were running out. We were getting fast-break points. We were very aggressive. We can get back to that. But at the same time, we want to continue to work forward ... and get ready for the postseason.”

NEW YORK -- Sunday afternoon is the last time the Heat and Knicks are scheduled to play each other this season. But when the teams line up at Madison Square Garden (1 p.m. ET, ABC), they’ll do so knowing this is a legitimate playoff preview.

There’s wiggle room in the standings with just less than two weeks left to sort it out, but right now the Heat and Knicks would be first-round playoff combatants. That would easily be the Eastern Conference’s most interesting series because of the star power, fan interest and upset potential that exists.

Here are five reasons fans should hope Sunday's game is just an appetizer:

1. The LeBron James-Carmelo Anthony power forward duel. It looks like Amare Stoudemire is on track to be back for the playoffs so Anthony might return to starting at his more natural small forward spot. But with all the success the Knicks have had playing smaller with Anthony at power forward, you can bet he will still get significant minutes there. So will James, who has been playing power forward throughout the season for the Heat.

The two always are an intense matchup, and seeing James and Anthony battle it out against each other at power forward would create an element we haven’t seen before. Likely it would mean more post play plus a serious test at the defensive end for both players.

2. Home-court dominators. One of the reasons this would have the potential to be a long series is both teams have been great on their home floor and not so good on the road. The Heat own the league’s best home record at 25-4, including a 2-0 mark against the Knicks. New York, though, has been the league’s best home-court team over the past month by winning its past nine at MSG.

The Heat have well-known issues on the road and are just 1-8 in their past nine road games against current playoff teams. The Knicks, meanwhile, have just 11 road wins, which is currently last among all teams in playoff position.

3. Coach pressure. Mike Woodson has transformed the Knicks since taking over from Mike D’Antoni, going 13-4 and improving the Knicks' defense vastly. But with numerous big names potentially interested in the position this summer, Woodson might be coaching for his job in a series such as this. If he can pull off an upset against a team such as Miami, he probably will win the job full time.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra has one of the most pressure-filled jobs in the league. His decision to go from a “grind the game” approach last season to a “pace and space” attack with a gambling style on defense this season has yielded mixed results. He’s been constantly changing his lineups recently in an attempt to find a mixture that works for the postseason. If he can’t get the Heat out of their recent funk, he’s going to be under extreme scrutiny.

4. The Chandler effect. Dirk Nowitzki won the MVP and Jason Terry won fans’ hearts but Tyson Chandler had a huge role in leading the Mavericks over the Heat in last year’s Finals. His ability to protect the rim and change shots arrested the Heat’s penetrating offense and contributed to the struggles James had getting to the rim. In a defining moment in Game 4, he took a charge from James on a potential 3-point play that went a long way to deciding that series-altering game.

Now he’s in New York and having a fantastic defensive season again. With the Knicks excelling by playing at a slower pace and willing to win games in the half-court, James and Dwyane Wade will have to challenge him in the paint.

5. Novak vs. Heat’s 3-point defense. Garden darling Steve Novak is currently second in the league in 3-point shooting at just less than 46 percent. The Heat rank 28th in defending the 3-pointer, their greatest defensive weakness. Novak is known for getting hot and being forgotten about as defenses focus on Anthony and Stoudemire on the interior. Along with J.R. Smith, another player with a reputation for hitting 3-pointers in bunches, Novak and the Heat dealing with their 3-point issues could end up being a crucial X factor in a Heat-Knicks series.

In another installment of the Heat Index's 3-on-3 series, our writers give their takes on the storylines before the Heat hostthe Bobcats (7-40).

1. Fact or Fiction: LeBron/Wade/Bosh all should get the night off.

Tom Haberstroh: Fact. Let's count the reasons why this is a no-brainer. One, the Big Three are coming off the most draining games of the season, both mentally and physically. Two, the Bobcats are maybe the worst team in NBA history. Three, a loss would have no effect on the playoff picture. Four ... must I keep going?

Michael Wallace: Fiction. I'd rest LeBron and Dwyane, but allow Bosh to continue to play his way into some form of rhythm. He needs the confidence boost. I'm really not in favor of inadvertently penalizing the home fans by allowing marquee guys to take the night off. It would be better to do something like that on the road. But it is what it is, as they say. A Bosh-led team should be enough to get past the woeful Bobcats. I repeat, should.

Brian Windhorst: Fact. The No. 1 seed in the East is gone, it belongs to the Bulls. The Heat have got to seriously start to consider getting their heavy minute guys some more rest. They have eight games in 11 days. They simply cannot go into the playoffs with their top three players tired from that stretch. I understand the coach is trying to piece together a rotation and a rhythm before the playoffs. But it won't matter if your stars have been ridden into the ground.

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2. Fact or Fiction: Spo's turnstile rotation is a cause, not an effect, of Heat struggles.

Haberstroh: Fiction. He's an easy target, but the players aren't leaving Spoelstra with much of a choice at this point. What's Spoelstra's alternative? What, you want him to keep throwing Norris Cole out to the wolves? Not see what he has in Ronny Turiaf? Not get Mike Miller conditioned for the playoffs? Not try to find some semblance of scoring at the five? I get that James Jones should see some more playing time, but every supporting cast member has been absolutely dismal lately.

Wallace: Fiction. As long as LeBron, Wade and Bosh are on the floor, the Heat have enough to win games. It's missed free throws, hero-ball iso and late fourth-quarter no-shows that are the cause of the struggles. For the most part, you can mix and match the pieces around the Big 3 and there's not much appreciable difference. We've known that for two years. But it has the appearance of desperation to see Spoelstra searching so hard for answers at this stage.

Windhorst: Fiction. The reason he's been forced into this mode of throwing things against the wall is because he's not getting consistency out of his bench players. There is truth that you can't keep changing a player's role and expect him to adapt on the fly and Spoelstra has been changing roles violently recently. But there's got to be accountability from the players themselves. They have got to produce, all of them besides Norris Cole are veterans who signed with the team to execute in the situations they have been regularly failing in.

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3. Fact or Fiction: The Heat are worse off than a year ago.

Haberstroh: Fact. But things can change quickly. They actually have Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller on the floor together these days, which couldn't be said this time last year. So there's that. But for all the talk about continuity and chemistry carrying over from last season, it's hard not to look at this downward overall trend and wonder: Are they Heat closer to square one now than they were in December?

Wallace: Fiction. Take a step back. Breathe. Relax. What exactly have the Heat lost so far this season? Everyone's relatively healthy. They're a top-two seed in the East. They're division champs. And they're still the team to beat in the conference, regardless of the recent missteps the past month. That's not to dismiss the struggles. I warned about the 10 burning issues facing this team a month ago. And all that said, the Heat's goals are still in front of them. Period.

Windhorst: Fact. A year ago the Heat finished the regular season 13-2 and it set the stage for the playoff run. The Heat are just 13-10 since the All-Star break and they have been one of the worst teams in the league on the road over the last two months. The results speak for themselves.

When Pat Riley called Shane Battier this offseason to make his free agency pitch, Battier brimmed with excitement. Not just because there was a Hall of Famer on the other end trying to woo him to join forces, but because the Heat's roster offered a unique basketball opportunity. From Battier's perspective, the Heat weren't just a championship contender; they were a squad featuring boundless versatility. And he wanted to be a part of it.

How important was the team's versatility to Battier? Consider this: "Is LeBron going to play the 4?" was one of Battier's first talking points with Riley in December. Being a player who can defend multiple positions, the situation in Miami appealed to Battier for a number of reasons, but a chance to take the floor among other multi-dimensional players ranked right at the top.

Riley told Battier that he saw it the same way. With LeBron, Battier, Dwyane Wade, James Jones and Mike Miller in tow, the Heat boasted an arsenal of wings that could wear different hats depending on the situation. More than that, Chris Bosh's height and Udonis Haslem's toughness allowed the Heat to play without a traditional center.

"When we get Mike Miller healthy, I think we're going to have four of the best, most versatile perimeter players in the league," Riley said during a press conference with Battier in December.

"It reminded me a little bit of what I had for nine years in Los Angeles," Riley said. "I had Magic (Johnson) and (Michael) Cooper and (Byron) Scott and (James Worthy). Basically perimeters that played all different positions. I see Shane and Mike Miller and I see Dwyane and LeBron in almost the same kind of thing.

"(Erik Spoelstra) has the same opportunity."

And on Tuesday night against the Boston Celtics, Spoelstra took full advantage of that opportunity.

Down eight points at the 3:25 mark in the third quarter , Spoelstra made a call to the bench. Needing a fresh jolt to bring the team back into the game, Spoelstra inserted Battier, Jones and Haslem into the game, joining LeBron and Miller on the floor. With one move, Spoelstra put something into place that you almost never see on a basketball court:

Five players wearing the same jersey, all listed with the same height.

Yes, the Heat were able to put five players standing 6-foot-8 on the floor and barely anyone blinked an eye. In fact, we haven't seen something like this all season. According to NBA.com data, the Jones-Miller-Battier-James-Haslem five-man unit is the only lineup used in the 2011-12 season to feature five players of the same height. This might seem like an trivial event fit for barroom banter, but the meaning goes far deeper than that. In putting that lineup on the court, Spoelstra showcased the Showtime-inspired vision that Riley designed in the offseason.

The Heat have been forced to keep that lineup in their back pocket for months, thanks to Battier's slow integration and Miller's variety of injuries. But with the Celtics playing without a giant center, Spoelstra found a prime opportunity to unveil it on Tuesday. LeBron played point guard on offense and power forward on defense, the wings spread the floor, and the undersized Haslem played the role of the big man. Was it successful? Not particularly. In the sliver of about three and a half minutes of action, the Heat were outscored by the Celtics 7-6.

Evidently, the 6-foot-8 quintet won't be an instant juggernaut, and it may never be. But don't expect that lineup to be a one-time deal. More likely, it will develop into one of Spoelstra's favorite units when he rests Wade and Bosh. Spoelstra, as most coaches would with his palette of personnel, holds an affection for the unconventional. Look no further than the playoff series against Chicago when the Heat's "Big Five" lineup of Wade-Miller-LeBron-Haslem-Bosh was the team's most-used lineup outside of the starting five.

With the struggles of Norris Cole and Mario Chalmers, it's expected that Spoelstra will continue to experiment with his versatility and put LeBron or Wade in the point guard slot for long stretches. On Tuesday, the Heat were plus-eight with LeBron running point guard on Tuesday and minus-16 with Cole or Chalmers on the court. The unconventional lineups have been successful and Spoelstra will likely keep pushing the envelop down the stretch, even with the understanding that the players might feel "uncomfortable" with some of the personnel changes.

There's no doubt that the team is still evolving after 56 games. And we'll probably see more lineup creativity on Thursday against the Chicago Bulls. At this stage of the season, Spoelstra is hoping to catch opponents off guard and deploy versatile lineups that the league hasn't seen before. Just as Riley drew it up.

Whether it's on or off the court, there never seems to be a shortage of controversy and criticism surrounding LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

Considering their sporadic play over the past month, the microscope is focused even sharper on the Heat as they enter Thursday's game in Chicago having lost five of its last 10 games. The standings reveal Miami (40-16) sits three games behind the Bulls (44-14) with 10 games remaining in the race for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.

But what do the Heat see when they look at themselves lately?

How much do they care about securing the best record? Are they concerned about their recent mediocre play since the All-Star break? Do they believe they can simply turn it on once the playoffs arrive after overcoming similar regular-season issues last season to get to the NBA Finals?

In their own words, James, Wade and Bosh addressed those questions – and more – as they prepared for the Heat's showdown in Chi-town.

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LeBron James How important to you is getting the No. 1 seed in the playoffs?

“I think you guys make more of it than we do. As far as seeding, seeding can take care of itself. We just want to play well. We want to continue to get better and not take a step backwards. That's what we're all about, man. Honestly, personally, I don't get involved in the seeding too much. I don't know what everybody else thinks about it. I was the No. 1 seed for two years straight in Cleveland – I keep telling you guys – and we didn't win. We were the No. 2 seed last year and we got to the Finals, and we still didn't win it last year. I don't care about seeding too much. I just want to play well going into the playoffs. That's just me. That's my personal approach to it all. I've been the fourth seed. I've been the third seed. I've been the second seed. I've been the first seed. I just want to win.”

Are you surprised how well the Bulls have played without Derrick Rose?

“Nope. They've got a great defense and they've got a really good team that shares the ball. You take Rose off that team and they're still better than a lot of other teams in the NBA, without Rose. And when you add him in there, they're a very special team. So I'm not surprised.”

Is it dangerous to think a team can turn it on or turn it up when the playoff starts, regardless of how you're playing at the end of the regular season?

“We're not a team that's saying that. I don't think there's that many teams that say that. We're not a team that says, 'Let's cruise' or, 'Let's not take these games and go hard.' We're playing to win each game. I've never been a player that's said 'Let's turn it up in the playoffs.' I've always gauged the regular season, especially the last three weeks going into the postseason, as getting ready for the playoffs. That's just my approach. Being a leader of this team, I feel that we are all doing the same thing. We're not a team that says, 'OK, we can cruise these last couple of weeks, and then we can turn it up in the playoffs.' You build your habits in the regular season. I know that.”

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Dwyane Wade How much stock do you place on Thursday's game against the Bulls?

“You play the regular season for seeding. You can't always get the No. 1 seed. So you just try to … that's what you go through the regular season for. You're playing to get continuity. You're playing for positioning. But if you're a good team, you don't worry about how you didn't get No. 1 or didn't get No. 2. You go into the playoffs feeling like you can beat anybody.”

As confident as you guys are, is a big win on the road needed just for your psyche?

“It'll be nice. Real nice. We're going to go up there with a free mind, go up there and play, try to get one. We know when we play the Bulls, no matter what's going on in the game, it's always a grind-out moment. A team can pull away or a team can come back. So we're going to go up there and try to be mentally strong. As we get down this stretch, as coach has been playing different guys, hopefully guys continue to get comfortable because we have to start tightening up our rotation soon to get ready for the playoffs.”

How much do you draw from last season, when the Heat struggled with teams like Boston and Chicago in the regular season, but got past everyone in the East in five games during the playoffs?

“You can't look back and say, 'Well, that's going to happen again.' We're a very confident team. We know how good we can be, how good we are. The regular season is all about dealing with the ups and downs of a regular season. So no matter what we're going through, or what people are saying we're going through, we're not that bad. We're 40-16 right? It's not that bad at all. So, in these last couple of games, we're going to continue to try to get our rhythm, continue to learn our game and what we're trying to do. And no matter what seed we are going into the playoffs, we're going in very confident.”

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Chris Bosh Has it been easier to get over tough losses quickly, considering the pace of this 66-game season?

“Yeah. I mean, we're finding ourselves having to get over a lot of losses (recently). It really doesn't bother me too much. We have to find a way to get it going. And that's what it is. We're at a point now where, just like Big Z (Zydrunas Ilgauskas) told me last year in the playoffs, you can't get too high and you can't get too low. This is a good test for us. We just have to stay even, do what we're supposed to and get back on track.”

Coach Erik Spoelstra said it's probably a good thing the team is feeling a bit uncomfortable right now. How do you process that discomfort and move forward from here?

“You have to be uncomfortable. Things are going to be uncomfortable. We're not going to be comfortable until that final buzzer ends. That's the nature of it. Everybody wants to just go through everything nice and relaxed and (have) everything going well. But that's unrealistic. We're in a position now where we have to figure this out. As long as we stay together, we'll be fine.”

What's been missing since that streak in January and February when you were playing so well?

“Wins. Guys are picking us apart. We need to anticipate things a lot better. We need to just put it together. I don't think we're playing bad on offense. I don't think there's a lack of trust. We all trust each other. We just have to put it together and get it done. No science to it. I just take it one day at a time, man. I don't say, 'Oh, we'll be fine. We made the Finals last year.' You kind of get in trouble doing that. I just think we have to continue to have urgency, think about what we need to do, where we need to get better and work on it the next game. Win or lose, move on to the next one.”

In another installment of the Heat Index's 3-on-3 series, our writers give their takes on the storylines before the Heat visit the Bulls (44-14).

1. Fact or Fiction: The Heat are still the favorites to rep the East in Finals.

Tom Haberstroh: Fact. As impressive as they've been without Derrick Rose, I'm not sold that the Bulls are in any better position to triumph over the Heat than they were a year ago -- especially with Rose dealing with an assortment of nagging injuries.

Michael Wallace: Fact. What's really changed since the beginning of the season, when many felt the Heat were the favorites to come out of the East and get back to the Finals? Miami is the defending conference champs, and Chicago must still prove it can win a seven-game series against this team. Regardless of the outcome of tonight's game, that won't change.

Brian Windhorst: Fact. I know that this absolutely drives the Bulls fans crazy because they correctly point out how well they've played even without the league MVP. Trying to be objective on this and when considering how a playoff game usually unfolds, I still think the Heat having both LeBron and Wade plus the ability to assign LeBron to guard Rose in late-game situations gives them the advantage in a playoff setting. I freely admit that it's a loose assumption and possibly based on old analysis but that is the way I see it now.

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2. Fact or Fiction: CHI #WithoutRose are better than MIA #WithoutWade.

Haberstroh: Fiction. Forget the 10-1 record for a moment and remember that LeBron James took this roster to the NBA Finals. Both teams would make the playoffs in the East, but simply put, the Bulls would lose an MVP while the Heat would maintain their MVP.

Wallace: Faction. I don't like to go there, but I have to on this one. The Heat's 10-1 record without Wade reveals a far better winning percentage overall than the Bulls record without Rose. But on the other hand, the Bulls, without Rose, beat the Heat the last time the teams met. So what does this mean in the grand scheme? That I'm firmly on the fence.

Windhorst: Fiction. Not based on the winning percentages and probably not with the eye test, either. The Bulls win because they have a system that is perfectly designed to grind out victories. They are very disciplined and focused on a style. And because of that, they have been able to, more or less, play the exact same way whether Rose is in or out. The Heat without Wade change their style and it frees up James and Bosh to play more the way they prefer, with James able to have the ball in his hands on every possession and for Bosh to get a high volume of touches. Maybe I wouldn't select them to win the conference without Wade but with James and Bosh the Heat would still be favorites in the majority of single game situations.

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3. Fact or Fiction: Hollinger is right, Tyson Chandler deserves DPOY over LeBron.

Haberstroh: Fact. You could vote for James and I wouldn't fault you for it; they're that close. I appreciate LeBron's versatility but I'm always troubled by this question: How do you quantify "LeBron guards positions 1-through-5"? It's certainly valuable, but is it more valuable than having an anchor like Chandler routinely busting pick-and-roll attacks and protecting the rim? To be honest, I don't have an answer for that. But I'm immensely impressed by the Knicks' rise in the defensive ranks before-and-after the signing of Chandler.

Wallace: Fiction. Hollinger certainly makes a compelling argument - just as he did last season when he felt Dwight Howard was a stronger MVP candidate than Derrick Rose. What Chandler has meant to the Knicks' defense overall can't be denied. That said, no player in the league is asked to do more on both ends than LeBron, who defends at an elite level while still carrying the bulk of Miami's offensive load.

Windhorst: Fiction. You have to be careful getting into an argument with Hollinger because he'll have a case that he can back up with data before he offers such insight. But when you consider the roles LeBron is asked to play defensively -- just in the last game, for example, he defended Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Brandon Bass -- you cannot compare the two. LeBron's ability to effectively defend so many different players is a game-changer. We've only see a few players in league history with this sort of ability.

On Wednesday, Dwyane Wade spoke out about the lack of compensation for jersey sales generated during the Olympics.

"It's a lot of things you do for the Olympics -- a lot of jerseys you sell," Wade said after the Heat's practice on Wednesday in advance of Thursday's game against Chicago. "We play the whole summer. I do think guys should be compensated. Just like I think college players should be compensated as well. Unfortunately, it's not there. But I think it should be something, you know, there for it.

"The biggest thing is now you get no rest," Wade said. "So you go to the end of the season, [Team USA] training camp is two weeks later. You're giving up a lot to do it. It's something you want to do. But it's taxing on your body. You're not playing for the dollar. But it would be nice if you would get compensated."

Late Wednesday night, Wade took to Twitter to clarify his comments made earlier in the day.

In another installment of the Heat Index's 3-on-3 series, our writers give their takes on the storylines before the Heat host the Celtics (32-24).

1. Fact or Fiction: The Heat should worry if they struggle vs. BOS again.

Tom Haberstroh: Fiction. Until Erik Spoelstra assigns Dwyane Wade and LeBron James to guard Rondo, we can't read into the regular season results just yet. The Heat will shorten their rotation and play Rondo more aggressively if they were to play come playoff time. That should change things. Lest we forget, the Heat were 1-3 against the Celtics last regular season.

Michael Wallace: Fiction. I wouldn't go as far as to say the Heat should worry if they struggle. Boston makes it almost impossible for anyone to look good playing them. Secondly, both teams know where they stand. Miami doesn't match up well with Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett. The Celtics can't keep up if the Heat get a chance to run. There might be a bit of a pride factor for the Heat after being blown out in Boston last week. But it's all about the postseason with these teams.

Brian Windhorst: Fiction. The opponent hasn't seemed to matter as much over the last six weeks, it has been more about the Heat's energy and intensity level. They have proven that they can be the best team in the league when they are able to play to their preferred style. The Celtics, because of their defense, make it harder to get there. But the fact that they scored 43 fewer points the second time they played the Celtics than the first says more about the Heat than Boston.

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2. Fact or Fiction: The Heat should give Rajon Rondo his space.

Haberstroh: Fiction. This is a pick your poison situation and I'd rather cut off his airspace. I could talk all day about this but just go read this summary from TrueHoop.

Wallace: Fact. Yes, the scouting report says to back off Rondo and play under the screen on the pick-and-rolls to make him a shooter. But the reality is that he still finds a way to beat you. The Heat might actually be better off overplaying and forcing Rondo to be a scorer and finisher at the rim. At least that limits his ability to get teammates involved. But when Boston has it going, Rondo is just one of multiple headaches.

Windhorst: Fiction. This is a classic argument that has been going on with Rondo for years. Do you give him space and dare him to shoot but allow him to get a head of steam and make it impossible to keep him out of the lane? Or do you play up on him and attempt to limit his vision and passing ability and risk the chance of a blow by that will cause the defense to collapse? There is no perfect method. Most coaches believe that you should change the looks and change the defenders he sees so that he cannot get a rhythm.

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3. Fact or Fiction: The Celtics are now legit title contenders.

Haberstroh: Fact. Opponents are shooting 39 percent and averaging 83.4 points per game over their last 10 games against the C's. If they continue to asphyxiate opposing teams like this, their ceiling is higher than the top floor of the John Hancock Tower.

Wallace: Fact. If they're relatively healthy, the Celtics are as dangerous as anyone. Their combination of experience, great point guard play, stingy defense and unflappable closers make them a team you simply don't want to face in the playoffs. Is Boston playing on the same consistent level as Chicago and Miami? Obviously not. But are they still capable of winning a first-round series and upsetting someone in the second? Yes.

Windhorst: Fact. They are back to playing championship level defense. When they can do that their depth issues and offensive inconsistency become much easier to manage. The Celtics are now the best defensive team in the lead by most metrics and that is how they reached those two Finals. They are an underdog, yes, but playing that strongly at the defensive end they would have a chance against any team.

MIAMI – Next up on the Miami Heat’s redemption homestand: the Boston Celtics.

After a week of misery on the road that had them getting outclassed by the Oklahoma City Thunder and then the Celtics on back-to-back weekends, the Heat have attempted to restore some of their dignity during the last week at home.

They got the Thunder back with a high-energy victory in Miami last week. Wednesday night it’s a chance to have some sort of comeback after the Heat were humbled in a 19-point loss in Boston, where they managed a measly 72 points on April Fool’s Day.

“It pissed us off really,” Chris Bosh said of that Celtics loss. “Sometimes you need a thumping to put things in perspective.”

While that sort of sounds like the Henry Hill character from Goodfellas – “everybody takes a beating sometime” – what happened in Boston and Oklahoma City and the Heat’s collective reaction to it has been a theme to this season.

The Heat sure sound like they’ve got some motivation to avenge that Celtics beating – “We’re looking forward to playing them again, they pretty much did whatever they wanted to us in Boston,” LeBron James said – and it begs a question.

Being that the Celtics are one of the most respected teams in the league, why did the Heat approach that game in Boston with so little intensity? Why did it take such a loss to fire them up, apparently the same way it happened against the Thunder after a lackluster effort on Oklahoma served to fire them up 10 days later?

The answer can be seen in another phenomenon of the season. After beating the Detroit Pistons Sunday night, the Heat are now 10-1 this season playing without Dwyane Wade. In that blowout win, the Heat played what looked like their most defensive energy in several weeks while both James and Bosh came out much more aggressive than usual as they combined to score 48 points just basically just three quarters.

How can it be explained that the Heat appear to approach a game against the Pistons with more focus than the game a week earlier in Boston, where they looked both flat and lethargic on a stage when you would expect the exact opposite? Allow Bosh to break it down with some honesty.

“The urgency does go up a long more when we don’t have Dwyane in there,” Bosh said.

“Our challenge all year has been to play that same way with him on the court and that’s really the last frontier for us. If we bring that same sense of urgency when he’s out there I think that’ll be good for us. We’ve done it in spurts but we haven’t done it consistently. In order to win a title I think that’s the level we’re going to have to play at.”

For whatever reason, the Heat have become a team that does not play with the same intensity on a regular basis. In fairness, no team does. That’s why even the best teams year after year usually lose at least a fourth of their games. But normally teams get up for certain opponents and even in those eventual losses go down with more pride.

The Heat have had their moments, but the second half of the season has been defined by not just inconsistent play but inconsistent aggression. It’s better known as the “flip the switch” mentality that has been something talented teams have battled for years at all levels. Some of those teams have proven than can indeed flip the switch enough to win championships. For others it’s a bad habit that costs them a title.

“We all have an extra gear we go to when one of our guns is out,” James said. “We’ve been able to step up when we need to.”

Wade, however, will be back for the Celtics. So which James will be ready for the Celtics? The one that had no assists and managed just two free throws in the loss in Boston or the one who scored 41 points and got to the foul line 13 times two days afterward when Wade skipped a game against the Philadelphia 76ers?

Over the last few weeks as they have amped up for the playoffs and taken over the Atlantic Division lead, the Celtics’ defense has tightened and they have leapt in the rankings. They now lead the NBA in defensive field goal percentage and defensive efficiency. Smothering the Heat was perhaps their finest defensive outing of the season.

Not to mention that Rajon Rondo is on a historic run of 17 straight games with 10 assists or more, putting the teeth back in Boston’s offense. He put up a triple double against the Heat in the last meeting.

With all that going on the Celtics promise to be a challenging opponent again. This time, though, it sounds like the Heat plan to flip the switch and join the fight.

“We’re going to come out and do a much better job,” Bosh said. “We’re trying to fix everything and get back to the level we were playing at.”