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INDIANAPOLIS - After cancelling practice and media sessions Friday, the Heat hunkered down in their search for answers to overcome a 2-1 series deficit against the Pacers. With two days to recover and regroup before Game 4 Sunday, I break down where the Heat must go from here.

INDIANAPOLIS -- On his way off the AmericanAirlines Arena practice court Wednesday, Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem stopped to speak with someone who knows the kind of impact the rugged veteran is capable of having on a title-contending team.

Waiting off to the side of the gym was Heat president Pat Riley, who coached Miami when Haslem was a starter during the team's 2005-06 championship run.

In many ways, Riley still sees Haslem as the player capable of taking on the toughest defensive challenges in the frontcourt while also managing to routinely knock down mid-range jumpers in big spots to provide the Heat relief.

But a combination of injuries and offensive struggles the past two seasons have taken a toll on Haslem, who is in the midst of the least-productive season of his career.

Under normal circumstances, Haslem would be the natural choice to step in and fill the void created by the absence of Chris Bosh, whose strained abdominal muscle is likely to sideline the perennial All-Star for the rest of Miami's conference semifinal series against the Indiana Pacers.

But Haslem played just 12 minutes during Tuesday's 78-75 loss that allowed the Pacers to tie the series at 1-1 and steal home-court entering Game 3 on Thursday in Indiana. So before the Heat departed Miami on Wednesday, Riley pulled Haslem aside to try to clear up a few concerns.

Part of the reason Haslem's minutes have been reduced recently, specifically late in games, is because LeBron James shifts to power forward -- Haslem's natural position. The Heat also spread the floor with 3-point shooters around James, and have gone to Bosh or Joel Anthony at center.

“Part of the deal is you produce on the court, and when you're not on the court, you continue to support your guys and continue to be a good teammate,” Haslem said of his conversation with Riley. “It's not like I'm giving up minutes to some bum off the street. My minutes are going to the MVP at (power forward). When I get my opportunities, all I can do is try to make the best of them."

The Heat might never again need as big of a boost from Haslem as they do right now. With Bosh out of the mix and Miami desperately looking for production beyond James and Dwyane Wade against the deep and relentless Pacers, Haslem is one of a few key role players the team is relying on to break out of slumps that have lasted far too long.

When Riley envisioned the players who would make the most impact on the Heat's roster, the hope was that James, Wade and Bosh would be adequately and consistently supported by Haslem, Mike Miller and Shane Battier.

But all three reserves haven't exactly lived up to expectations this season. Haslem and Battier are shooting the worst percentages of their careers. Miller's overall production as a shooter and facilitator has fallen off so much the past two seasons that teammates don't even consider him to be one of the primary ball-handling options on the team -- which was supposed to be a strength.

Unless the three of them get going quickly in this series, the Heat could be upset by Indiana. What the Game 2 victory did for Pacers was provide evidence that they can absorb solid games from James and Wade and still beat a Bosh-less Heat team by limiting contributions from others. It's not all that different from the Heat knowing they could sustain a 40-point game from Carmelo Anthony last series and still cruise to victories against the New York Knicks.

James and Wade scored 21 of the Heat's 23 points in the fourth quarter of Game 2 and also took 17 of 23 shots. Among the adjustments Miami talked about making for Game 3 was to get -- and keep - others confidently involved to help ease the load on James and Wade.

“All of us will take the onus on making sure other guys get more opportunities,” Wade said. “And me and LeBron will also make sure the opportunities we have will be a little bit more effective. It's nothing new for us. We have a lot of guys that get the ball because we handle a lot, and we have to make plays for them. So we have to do a better job of trying to find out how to get those guys more involved.”

Beyond James, Wade and Bosh, the Heat fashion themselves as a team of specialists - role players who do one specific thing well. Most aren't considered players capable of consistently creating their own shot. So even when Wade and James aren't scoring, they're working just as hard to set up scoring opportunities for their teammates.

Without Bosh, the Heat have even fewer options when it comes to players who can catch the ball and create offense for themselves, which puts even more pressure on the offense on nights when Miller, Haslem, Battier and Mario Chalmers -- primary rotation players -- aren't making shots. The most glaring offensive statistic for the Heat through two games is their 1-for-22 shooting from 3-point range.

“For us, it's the obvious storyline,” Battier said. “Some missed shots that are right there for us are the main culprit. We're getting looks. We're not going to overreact. If the shots present themselves again, we're going to take them and take them with confidence.”

The fact remains the Heat are a wounded team searching for answers in the middle of a series that could prove to be tougher than many observers expected.

“Anybody can be beat at any time,” Haslem said. “Even with Chris, we can be beat. We're not unbeatable. But, like I said, we've got to come together and it's got to come from multiple guys. It's not just going to be one guy.”

Riley's message to Haslem was that the Heat's ability to come together will be crucial for this team to rebound from the Game 2 loss and regain its footing in this series. As frustrated as Haslem might be with his inconsistent playing time and struggles within the offense, he said “it's not the time” to gripe or complain about anything.

“If anything, we come together right now,” Haslem said. “We don't go separate ways and complain about individual things. So I'm all in for what needs to be done to help the team win.”

Sitting at his locker after the 78-75 loss to the Pacers, Heat point guard Mario Chalmers felt that Darren Collison clipped him on the arm on the potential game-tying 3-point attempt with three seconds left.

"I had a good look at it," Chalmers said. "I felt like I was fouled on the three that I shot but they didn’t call it. Darren got me for sure. It is a shot I usually knock down."



Tough to tell live or on video, but the photos above certainly appear to back up Chalmers' complaint. Collison appears to make contact with Chalmers' elbow and then immediately afterward Collison pulls his arms back.

Either way, expect LeBron James and Dwyane Wade to shoulder most of the blame for their missed shots at the end.

But did the refs miss one, too?

See for yourself. Chalmers' 3-point attempt occurs around the 55 second mark.

MIAMI – As Mike Miller spoke with about a dozen reporters in front of his locker late Monday night, the Miami Heat swingman was continuously interrupted by the ring chime buzzing from the cell phone in his pocket.

“Man, you're blowing up,” someone told Miller, referring to the messages piling up on his cell.

“Yeah,” Miller responded, sounding slightly embarrassed. “I guess everyone just watched the game or something.”

The rest of the NBA postseason field might need to take notice, too, especially if the Heat's role players continue to perform the way they have to help boost Miami to a 2-0 series lead against the New York Knicks.

What the Heat displayed in the 104-94 victory in Game 2 was a sneak peek of exactly what stands to make this Miami team different than the squad that entered the postseason a year ago. With the exception of offseason free-agency pickup Shane Battier, the names and faces are the same from last year's postseason run that fell two games short in the Finals of winning a title.

But what the Heat are now showing is the difference a healthy, confident, aggressive and effective supporting cast can make around LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Miami entered the playoffs with one of the least-productive benches in the league, one that provided fewer than 25 points a game and is considered by some league analysts as the main reason Miami might again stumble in its quest for a championship.

But if two games are any indication of what could be in store throughout the playoffs, the Heat's supporting cast could provide the boost that puts them over the top. So far, they've executed to expectation.

This time a year ago, Miller and Udonis Haslem were severely limited in the playoffs by injuries that forced them to miss much of the regular season. Now, Miller is shooting 43 percent from 3-point range in the series while aggressively putting up shots he once tended to pass up. Meanwhile Haslem, despite still struggling with is offense, is leading the team in rebounding and has outworked Tyson Chandler and Amare Stoudemire on the boards while averaging just 20 minutes through the first two games.

“This is what we always envisioned, with those lineups being out there and the acquisition of Shane,” James said. “Just to have Mike in rhythm, seeing him shoot the ball like we know he can shoot the ball. Having (Haslem) as comfortable (and) as healthy as he's been the last year, and everybody else, is great. We just want it to continue.”

Entering the series, I gave the Knicks' role players a clear edge over the Heat's, but developments have swung the advantage in Miami's favor. Iman Shumpert's knee injury in Game 1 took him out of the mix and the Knicks have gotten very little from league 3-point shooting leader Steve Novak. Beyond J.R. Smith's occasional scoring outbursts, the Knicks' supporting cast easily has been outperformed.

By comparison, Mario Chalmers – when he's not being scolded by James for lapses – has averaged 12 points, 7.5 assists and only two turnovers through two games. And Battier has absorbed the brunt of the defensive assignment on Anthony, yet has still managed to rebound and hit a pair of 3-pointers in both games to sustain game-sealing runs.

“It helps a lot, especially with everybody comfortable,” Chalmers said. “So we're not favoring one person. Those guys (James, Wade and Bosh) are trusting us to make plays, and that's what we're doing. I wouldn't say it's a blueprint. But it's a good job of everybody contributing. When we play like this we're hard to beat. And it shows.”

It also reveals the potential the Heat have when at full strength. This time last season, coach Erik Spoelstra wasn't sure what he would get out of his rotation beyond James, Wade and Bosh in the postseason. But among the early answers in these playoffs is the spark provided by Battier, one Spoelstra says gives the Heat, “an element we didn't have last year.”

There might not be an individual task in the East during the playoffs for Battier tougher than matching up with Anthony.

“That's part of the reason why I'm here, why I thought I'd be a good fit,” Battier said after Game 2. “The playoffs are a different animal. It's good to know my teammates have confidence in me, my coaches have confidence in me. But it's not about stats, it's about making plays and winning games. That's the fun part, and that's why I'm here.”

Miller said the coaching staff has challenged the Heat's role players with three simple tasks going into each game.

Play hard. Bring defensive energy the moment they enter the game. And knock down open shots when they get them.

Battier and Miller, specifically, have a fourth mandate.

“They're putting more onus on us to shoot the ball, contested or not, just to open up the floor,” said Miller, who's attempted 14 3-pointers through two playoff games after averaging just three attempts in the regular season. “If we're shooting it, even when we're not making it, it's easier on those guys. When we're aggressive, make or miss, it makes people guard us, makes them account for us.”

It's that accountability factor that has the Heat heading to New York for the next two games of the series after having held serve in Miami. That accountability should also serve early notice to the league that there's an improved difference and depth with the Heat this time around.

Will it be enough to make up that two-game shortfall in the Finals last season? Time will tell as tougher challenges loom throughout the Heat's playoff run. But the early signs have been encouraging for those in the race.

“That's the blueprint for how we want to play,” said Bosh, who was then asked if the Heat are stronger now than they were in last year's playoffs. “I want to say yes, but you know how the playoffs are. They're so long. There are going to be a multitude of tests in this postseason. We're making improvements every day. Our bench has improved in confidence and production. I want them to keep improving, keep believing in themselves and do what they have to do so we can keep going forward.”

Miller probably got around to eventually returning the calls and texts that flooded his voicemail after the game. If not, you'll have to pardon him.

He's been a bit busy on the other end with the Heat's supporting cast trying to send potential playoff opponents a message.

MIAMI – When it comes to the recent play of the Miami Heat's much-maligned supporting cast, doubt is gradually being replaced by definition.

That's the simplest way Heat forward Shane Battier can explain the recent consistency and upswing in production some key members of the rotation have provided Miami in support of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh as Miami gears up for the playoffs.

For the most part, the Heat know what to expect from the Big Three. But for much of the second half of the season, they just haven't been sure what they'd get from the Next Four. That's starting to change as Battier, Udonis Haslem, Mario Chalmers and Mike Miller are showing more signs that they've regained some rhythm and confidence over the past two weeks.

That group continues to redefine themselves.

Collectively, Battier, Haslem, Miller and Chalmers have accounted for 25 points, 13.2 rebounds, 8.1 assists and three steals a game during the Heat's five-game winning streak. Individually, they are starting to resemble the players they were expected to be when the season started. Beyond those four, the Heat also rely on center Joel Anthony to be a defensive spark off the bench and turn to James Jones in spot moments to space the floor with 3-point shooting.

“It's exciting to know our best basketball is ahead (and) not behind us,” Battier said as the Heat look to extend their winning streak to six games Saturday against the Wizards. “That can be a good thing going into the playoffs. Obviously, you'd love to say, 'OK, this is who we are going forward.' (But) we don't know who we are (yet). I say that as a positive thing for us, because what we were the last few weeks wasn't going to cut it.”

Their recent play just might be enough to get the Heat over the hump. Just from an offensive standpoint, add the 25 points the Heat's Next Four have provided with the combined 67.7 points that James, Wade and Bosh are averaging this season and it equates just under 93 points. When Miami scores at least 93, it is 38-7 this season.

With four games left in the regular season, Miami is working toward two goals while having already secured at least the No. 2 seed in the East. The first mission is to continue to rest Wade, Bosh and – eventually – James as much as possible for the postseason. The second priority, which is a byproduct of the first, is to get their once-reeling role players back into a reliable rhythm.

With Wade or Bosh sitting out four of the past five games – Bosh missed Thursday's win against the Bulls that moved the Heat within 1 ½ games of the No. 1 seed – Miami is executing its plan on that front. And as a result of the extra available playing time, some key rotation players have been able to get their games on track.

“That process has already been happening,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “Guys are feeling much more comfortable with the rotation. (It's) fairly similar to what we're used to. Guys are understanding their roles and getting confident in how we're playing and totally understanding what makes us successful.”

That understanding has manifested itself in numerous ways.

Battier, having one of his least productive offensive seasons of his career overall, has shot 50 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from 3-point range over the past five games. His defense, however, has been solid most of the season as he continues to guard the opponent's best offensive player for extended stretches.

Haslem has struggled with his shot all season, but his consistent rebounding recently caused Spoelstra to insert him into the starting lineup to address one of the team's problem areas. Miami is 5-1 since Haslem took over as the starter alongside Bosh and James in the frontcourt.

Haslem said he expects to remain a starter even when Ronny Turiaf returns from a hamstring injury that's kept him out the past six games. Meanwhile, Miami has outrebounded four of its past five opponents, including a 45-40 edge against Chicago on Thursday night.

“Bottom line is when you get into playoffs and you go against teams like the Chicagos and Bostons - teams that are really going to dig deep into the film and try to take you out of what you do - guys like me, Mike and Shane are going to be put in position where we need to make plays,” Haslem said. “None of us has had our best offensive year this year. But that doesn't matter. You move on to the next game. We understand you have to have a short memory and get ready for the next one. We just have to build on that these last few games and be ready for when it does really matter.”

The Heat's bench has ranked near the bottom of the league in overall production the past two seasons. The role players have grown accustomed to criticism from national analysts who have suggested that James, Wade and Bosh don't have enough support when compared with star players on other title-contending teams.

But Wade likes what he's been seeing from the bench in recent games.

“I love to see that confidence come out,” Wade said. “Even Mike Miller just comes out shooting the ball. They make us a deeper team, a better team. We want to show them we need them if we're going to reach our ultimate goal. It just can't be heavily on three guys or four. It has to be a collective group.”

The process hasn't been easy, especially with the lineup combinations and rotation changing from game to game lately. Balancing rest for star players while developing a rhythm for the support cast has created a difficult juggling act at times.

“We're still learning about ourselves,” Battier said, despite being 62 games into a 66-game schedule. “It's been tough with Dwyane missing games and now Chris missing some games. I think we feel better about ourselves and we feel better about the direction we're going in. But it would be nice to have a few games with everyone in the rotation. We're getting there.”

The Heat don't have much more time to figure it out. But players are hoping to make the most of these final tuneup games to continue to build for the postseason.

“Guys are really stepping up in that regard,” Spoelstra said. “Stats don't tell the whole story.”

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.

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 Pistons (21-34).

1. Fact or Fiction: Detroit's recent hot steak is more fluke than for real.

Tom Haberstroh: Fact. Not to take anything away from their strong play as of late -- actually, nevermind. That's what I'm about to do. They're 5-2 in their last seven games but here's who they beat: the Wizards twice, the Bobcats in overtime, the Erie Cavaliers and the bizarro Orlando Magic. A win is a win, but I'm not sold that they're suddenly better than they were a month ago.

Michael Wallace: Fiction. The Pistons should be a .500 team fighting for a final playoff spot in the East. Emphasis on should. They do have a combination of talented pieces and proven veterans on the roster, so this team has drastically underachieved in recent years. This current relative upswing is too little, too late.

Brian Windhorst: Fiction. After a morbid 4-20 start, the Pistons are 10-10 since the All-Star break (the Heat are 12-8) and showing all the signs of a team that is turning the corner. Rodney Stuckey is probably playing the best basketball of his career, Greg Monroe is a most improved candidate and looks like a franchise center and rookie Brandon Knight is promising. This does look like a team on the rise.

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2. Fact or Fiction: Mike Miller's addition means more than Turiaf's.

Haberstroh: Fact. Only Sacramento has shot worse from downtown than the Heat (28.4 percent!) over their last 10 games. For a team that flaunted not one, but two shooters at the 3-point contest, they seem quite desperate for some floor-spacers -- and more importantly, shot-makers.

Wallace: Fact. In theory, this is a no-brainer. The Heat's record when Miller plays is far and above better than when he doesn't. But that can also be a bit misleading considering this is one of the least productive seasons in Miller's career. Turiaf's size, rebounding ability and toughness up front fill a huge void. But Miller's versatility fits more with the Heat's preferred style and pace.

Windhorst: Fact. Turiaf plays a position where the Heat are thin, Miller plays a position where the Heat are deep and that is why it could be a discussion. But the Heat have played their best -- last year in the playoffs and this year during in the middle of the season -- when Miller has been healthy and contributing. He's not be the player the Heat thought they were signing but his ability to hit the 3-pointer plus his hustle and defensive flexibility really seem to have positive impacts beyond his basic stats.

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3. Fact or Fiction: Miami's biggest concerns are (in order) health, boredom and fatigue.

Haberstroh: Fiction. I'll say health is the most pressing issue because this team's fate will be decided by LeBron James' play down the stretch. And from all indications, he's still not over the dislocated finger and the lingering side effects from the collision with Grant Hill. (Yes, I think the Hill collision was more serious than they're letting on). Whether it's complacency or fatigue or more likely, a combination of both, this team needs to cut down on its moronic turnovers. I'll say it's a tie.

Wallace: Fiction. Health could be a legit concern, with LeBron pushing through a few nagging issues and Miller having missed a month with an ankle sprain. But boredom and fatigue are simply byproducts of this season - not viable excuses. So when the Heat win it's due to fantastic play. But when they lose, it's because of fatigue? Come on, man!

Windhorst: Fiction. Other than health -- and that is every team's top worry going to playoffs -- I think consistency is the biggest challenge for them. Perhaps it has grown out of boredom and is contributed to by fatigue, but they do not have the same level on mental focus and energy from night-to-night. That is a real danger to their playoff chances if they don't solve it.

After the Heat lost another big game on the road in front of a national audience, it's time to bust out the stethoscope and diagnose what's wrong with the Heat. Here are five charts that tell the story. (Geek note: lines are presented as trailing 10-game averages.)

1. LeBron James isn't relentlessly attacking the basket
Remember when LeBron was punishing the basket earlier in the season? Not anymore.


2. Norris Cole and Mario Chalmers' shooting has fallen off a cliff
Can't stress enough: Miami's point guard production has plummeted from All-NBA to the NBA's basement.


3. Dwyane Wade's tendency to settle in losses
Noticed Wade has suddenly fallen in love with his jump shot? It's a symptom of stagnant offense.


4. The Heat's dramatic drop-off in tempo
Tired or not, Miami has abandoned the high-paced attack as the condensed season has rolled along.


5. Chris Bosh's rebounding pales compared to his peers
Once one of the top rebounders at his position, Bosh now trails the competition on the boards.


Statistical support for this story from NBA.com.

MIAMI -- Erik Spoelstra loves to work with his point guards.

One of the mainstays at Heat practice last season was Erik Spoelstra working with Mario Chalmers on his 3-point shot. Spoelstra, who used to play college ball at University of Portland, would toss Chalmers the ball and then close out on him as the defender, replicating an in-game environment. Spoelstra wouldn't stop there. Sometimes you'd catch Spoelstra purposely nudging Chalmers as the point guard took the shot in effort to teach him how to absorb contact and remained balanced. Other times, you saw Spoelstra take a giant cushion, not unlike you see used by coaches on the football field, and push Chalmers as he fired off a shot.

This season, though, you don't see it very often. Not because Spoelstra doesn't want to, but because there just haven't been very many practices. But with Chalmers shooting a paltry 30 percent from downtown in March, Spoelstra got back out there after Wednesday's practice for some shooting drills with Chalmers.

But there was a new face this time: Norris Cole. The rookie has hit a bit of a wall this season and Spoelstra knows the youngster needs to put in some extra time. So after working with Chalmers, Spoelstra went over to Cole and worked with his jump shot on the other side of the court. The drill had Cole shooting jumpers, just like he did with Chalmers.

Then suddenly Spoelstra decided to personally guard Cole. Not only that, the 41-year-old coach held up pretty good. Here's a little clip from the action where Spoelstra looks like he got a piece of Cole's jump shot.

I don't know, did he foul him?

Remember the "pace and space" offense? That was what Erik Spoelstra called the Heat's new offensive philosophy. Run the floor, space the floor and attack relentlessly. For the first couple weeks of the season, the Heat did just that. In the season premiere on Christmas, they pummeled the Dallas Mavericks with 31 fastbreak points and turned the defending champs into petrified wood. Over the first ten games of the season, the Heat averaged 21.6 points per game on fastbreaks. The Heat were fulfilling their vision as LeBron James and Dwyane Wade lead a stampede through the league.

And then it all came to a halt. First impressions are hard to break, so it's easy to overlook how the Heat have slowly transformed from a hare to a turtle. And in the process, the Heat's offense has experienced their ups and downs. In February, the Heat's offense was thriving, but it wasn't because of their open court assault. Their fastbreak points per game fell to 15.6 in the month of February and they no longer were among the league leaders in the category.

But after a dominant February, the Heat's offense has come back to Earth and the fastbreaks are few and far between. The deceleration was underscored in Monday's loss to the Indiana Pacers when the Heat scored just four points in the open court. In the meantime, the high-powered offense has been in a freefall since they lost to the Lakers on March 4 and the "pace and space" offense is nothing but a memory.

Below is a chart of the Heat's offensive efficiency across the season, shown as a 10-game trailing average. It answers the question: "How well have the Heat scored over the past 10 games?" We look at offensive efficiency (points per 100 possessions) because it strips the inflationary effect of pace (a super fast team's points per game numbers overstate its effectiveness.)

The Heat's offense peaked at the Utah Jazz game and then it's all downhill from there.



Pay close attention to the color of the line. We've added another layer to the graph to illustrate the disappearance of fastbreak points. The stronger the red, the greater the percentage of Heat points generated from fastbreaks. Notice how it's blood red for the first 10 or 15 games of the season and then -- poof -- the Heat abandoned their fastbreak game.

Why did the Heat stop running? Dwyane Wade got hurt. After that, the Heat were forced to switch up their attack, hit the brakes and insert a 3-point shooter in the lineup. The fast break points dwindled in his absence, but it never really returned.

What do we have to blame for that? The Heat's "pace and space" offense was met with skepticism around the league for two reasons: a) history tells us that teams who vow to run fast in the preseason rarely actually do; b) the condensed season is exponentially taxing on the players. Sure, the Heat might have been the most athletic and conditioned team heading into the season, but even for them, sprinting through a marathon season was a tall task especially when the organization has rarely, if ever played up-tempo.

Another thing is going on here that isn't captured in the graph above, but is equally important. The shooting has been terrible. Over the past few weeks, the Heat couldn't hit water if they threw a rock in Biscayne Bay. Since the All-Star break, 3-point shootout contestant Mario Chalmers is converting 34 percent of his shots from the floor and 30 percent from downtown. Norris Cole? He's shooting an abysmal 27 percent from the floor. Even LeBron has watched his field goal percentage drop from 55 percent to 50 percent pre- and post-All-Star break, respectively. Wade and Bosh have watched their shooting rates sink as well.

So not only have the Heat stopped running, but they've stopped splashing the ball through the net. Are the two interrelated? It's hard to say. If this is a team that is fatigued from sprinting out of the gate, they're showing it in the numbers. The Heat's offense has been in decline over the past month and they'll need to bounce back in a big way against the Dallas Mavericks, a tough defensive-minded team, on Thursday.

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 Pacers (28-19).

1. Fact or Fiction: Dwyane Wade's shotless 4Q on Sunday is a concern.

Haberstroh: Fiction. That Wade didn't shoot from the floor or the charity stripe is probably not much more than a statistical oddity. But that little eye-brow raise will at least cause Erik Spoelstra and the Heat to prescribe a better late-game strategy than what we saw in Sunday's loss to Oklahoma City.


Wallace: Fiction. I know Dwyane didn't want to really address it after the loss to OKC, but he is not a player who is ever 'game-planned' out of the offense. I've seen him take over too many times in the fourth quarter with - or without - a directive from the Heat's bench or teammates. Give some credit to the Thunder. Let's get real. Wade has more control/influence over the offense than anyone in the Heat organization when the ball is in play.

Windhorst: Fiction. It was, as the stats guys like to say, an outlier. It's quite odd for Wade not to get involved. Perhaps even some of the fault is on Wade for not taking charge like he is known to do. Generally, the Heat have shared the ball. The Thunder completely took the Heat out of their game and this was another example.

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2. Fact or Fiction: Miami's PG woes are more significant than Miller's injury.

Haberstroh: Fact. Didn't it look like the Heat were just standing around and waiting for something to happen down the stretch? Shane Battier's task on offense might be to wait in the corner and drill a 3-pointer, but they could use someone who could penetrate and be more dynamic after a pass. Mike Miller from a few years ago might have been able to fulfill that role, but at this point in Miller's career, that's a job better-suited for Norris Cole and Mario Chalmers. The Heat need Cole and Chalmers to provide some quick Pepcid "CC" relief.

Wallace: Fiction. I didn't attend Hollinger University or Haberstroh State, but I think the super stats experts would tell you that this is an extreme case of Mario Chalmers' shooting regressing to the mean, considering how scorching hot he was before the All-Star break. Norris Cole is a rookie playing like, well, a rookie. Miller's injury woes are no longer a concern. They're an epidemic.

Windhorst: Fact. Chalmers hasn't been able to hit a shot since the 3-point contest. His shooting numbers this month are alarming. Meanwhile, once the league's scouts got a look at Norris Cole and figured out how to play him -- back off and defend the drive -- he's really struggled. It has killed his confidence. It's OK, it happens to rookies. But coinciding with Chalmers' slump, it's a bigger issue.

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3. Fact or Fiction: LeBron's recent struggles are nothing more than a slump.

Haberstroh: Fiction. I can understand playing through an elbow injury in the postseason, but LeBron should save the macho stuff for the playoffs when there's an offseason to recover. Between that and the concussion-like symptoms, it's looking more and more like resting LeBron after Phoenix was the smarter choice. Of course, hindsight is 20/20 and all that.

Wallace: Fiction. Obviously, there's an issue with LeBron's right elbow. He aggravated it again when he collided with Derek Fisher late in Sunday's game. But his relative slump actually started a game or two before he took that hard foul last week against Phoenix. So I'd say it's equal parts slump, slippage in his rhythm and mid-to-late season fatigue.

Windhorst: Fact, probably. I don't want to fit into a narrative here but it does feel like the elbow situation in Cleveland. His shot looks off. He sometimes grabs and grimaces at the elbow during the game. But he denies that it's an issue and isn't getting extra treatment for it. We all saw him land on it. It's his worst scoring stretch in about five years. LeBron says it's a slump, I guess it's a slump.

PHILADELPHIA -- At this point, the diagnosis is simple by most accounts.

A Miami Heat team that has lost its way a bit the past three weeks just needs to regain its basketball identity. So even as LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh stumble into Friday's game to finish off a road trip in Philadelphia, none of them will lift a finger to push the panic button.

But they each can point to some familiar signs of collective frustration.

“No, I'm not concerned,” Wade said. “I just want us to play better as a group, for everyone to continue with confidence. Confidence is key. I don't want guys to lose confidence in their individual ability. In anything, you're going to lose some games, you're going to go through some tough stretches. That builds a team. We'll deal with it and we'll move on and eventually get it under control.”

Since entering the All-Star break late last month with the league's best record, the Heat (31-11) have gone just 4-4 and have lost four straight games on the road. A loss to the 76ers on Friday would make it Miami's longest road skid since the Big Three came together before last season.

Three weeks ago, the Heat were storming through the league while winning nine consecutive games by double-digit margins. Everything was clicking. Everyone was cohesive. All was good. Miami was playing so well - so efficiently at the time - that some were questioning whether the team might be peaking too soon. It was a notion at which the Heat's players and coaches scoffed.

But that was then.

The All-Star break disrupted their rhythm, although Miami opened the second half of the season with a blowout victory in Portland. Since then, the Heat have lost four of seven and are coming off consecutive losses to Orlando and Chicago, teams that pounded Miami inside and further exposed a glaring weakness in the middle.

Miami was outrebounded by double figures in both games and also picked apart by small, quick point guards who penetrated the lane at will late in games.

Although the Heat have been encouraged by the play of point guards Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole overall this season, the team watched Thursday's trade deadline pass without making a move to add help in the frontcourt. Bosh, Udonis Haslem and Joel Anthony, Miami's primary power rotation, had no answers Tuesday in Orlando, where Dwight Howard posted 24 points and 25 rebounds. A night later in Chicago, the Heat were outrebounded 50-34 and outscored 21-7 in second-chance points.

Offensively, Bosh and Haslem have been inconsistent all season and were a combined 4 of 20 from the field with just seven rebounds against the Bulls. The Heat have worked out several low-budget free agents in search of help in the post and will continue to monitor the waiver wire to see if more options might be available in the aftermath of Thursday's league-wide trades.

But for now, Miami's lack of consistent toughness inside is an issue that must be addressed within.

“We've been playing some big teams the second half of the season so far,” James said. “We don't have the size. But we've just got to figure it out. We've got to put more bodies on guys and just try to do it as a collective group, a collective effort.”

James also said the recent losses to the Bulls, Magic, Lakers and Jazz on the road aren't indicative of the Heat's overall play this season away from home. Miami's 13-9 mark entering Friday's games was tied for the third-best road record in the league.

“I think it's more of a rough patch than a concern,” James said. “We know how to win on the road. We've won on the road before. I don't get too caught up in the standings. At the end of the day, in the playoffs, you've got to go win on somebody's floor, you have to win on the road.”

There are other issues that have factored into the Heat's recent slippage. The bench has tailed off in recent games and shooters such as Chalmers and Shane Battier have lost their touch from beyond the arc. Mike Miller, second in the league in three-point shooting percentage, is recovering from a sprained left ankle and did not travel for the Heat's three-game trip.

Wade and James have been overextended in some areas, while the supporting cast hasn't provided enough to consistently bridge the gaps since the break.

“We certainly have to own it, no doubt about that,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “And we will. We have a group that doesn't dodge this. We couldn't keep on playing during the All-Star break. We had to break like everybody else. And that's how fragile things are in this league. But the character and makeup of our group … we'll work together to find a way to get back to where we were. We were playing excellent basketball three weeks ago. But that's in the past.”

The Heat's offense is really good.

This is no secret if you've been paying attention to the NBA's goings-on this season. If you take a look at the list of most potent offenses in the league, the Heat stand head-and-shoulders above the competition; the Heat are currently scoring 108.1 points every 100 trips down the floor, which places them first in the offensive efficiency rankings.

More instructive, though, is the cushion that separates them from the rest of the league. The Oklahoma City, for example, rank second in offensive efficiency at 106.1, a 2-point difference which is roughly the same distance between the 10th-ranked 76ers offense and the 17th-ranked Nets offense. Two points, on the aggregate, is no small thing.

The Heat's offense is really good, that much we know. But where they're really good might surprise you. The overriding narrative -- which holds plenty of merit --is that the Heat's new up-tempo playing style has driven their rise. And this is true, the Heat are playing much faster than they did last season. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade have stepped on the gas and the Heat have, at times, blown past their opponents in the open court.

But that's not the whole story. While it's true that the Heat have catapulted through the ranks thanks in part to their dominant transition assault, there's more to this team than highlight reels and fastbreak dunks. In fact, four out of every five Heat plays on offense don't occur in transition, according to Synergy video tracking. (Synergy tracks every possession in the NBA and places each offensive play into two groups: transition and halfcourt.) The Heat, like all teams, only spend a handful of plays in transition per game and mostly engage in halfcourt warfare.

So what happens in the halfcourt?

More dominance.

Here's where the narrative separates from reality. When you look at how the Heat get their points, you'll find that they get the majority of their points, not from racing up and down the floor in high-velocity brilliance, but from pounding teams when the game slows down in the halfcourt. This fact was underlined in Tuesday's blowout win over the New Jersey Nets.

Amazingly, the Heat built up a 38-point lead on the short-handed Nets with exactly none of those points coming on fastbreaks. Not one. Their first fastbreak points on Tuesday came late in the fourth quarter when Norris Cole laid it in after a pass from James Jones. LeBron, Wade and Chris Bosh were not involved, unless you count cheerleading from the bench as being involved.


So it's as good a time as any to point this out: the Heat rank as the most efficient halfcourt offense in the league, according to Synergy tracking. Said in laymen's terms, the Heat get more out of their halfcourt possessions than any other team. And they have been doing this for quite some time.

Below is an interactive chart that illustrates the Heat's separation from the league in halfcourt efficiency (points per 100 possesions). I've also shown how much they "use" halfcourt offense as a percentage of their total offense. As a handy rule, teams want to be in the upper-half of the chart. Teams that use halfcourt offense more often than others will find themselves on the right-side of the chart.


This probably doesn't jive with the national perception. Since the Heat have played at a faster pace this season, their sharpness in the halfcourt gets lost in the analysis. And so far this season, 83.8 percent of the Heat's plays have come in the halfcourt and a look at their efficiency reveals they've scored 94.7 points every 100 possessions. By comparison, the Oklahoma City Thunder check in at second place with 91.7 points every 100 possessions. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Hawks -- a team that garners a considerable amount of praise in the halfcourt -- ranks right around average (86.5 points).

So what's going on here? When did the Heat start flipping the script? A few things have stood out recently. For one, the Heat have relied more on LeBron and Wade in the post this season compared to last. Although it's not a straight one-for-one trade, these two superstars have abandoned most of their ill-advised 3-point tries in exchange for attacks in the paint with their back to the basket.

Secondly, they're spreading the floor with sharpshooters. The Heat's designated Dranos -- Mario Chalmers, Mike Miller, Shane Battier and James Jones -- have shot a scorching 44 percent from downtown (172-for-390). The threat of perimeter shooters has acted as a decongestant for LeBron, Wade and Bosh to penetrate into the paint as well as provided a safety valve when defenses decide to collapse.

And lastly, as part of the Heat's pace-and-space offense, Spoelstra has built in more cuts to the basket from the weakside, encouraging more movement and disruption for the defense. Their offense generated from cuts has risen from 7.0 percent last season to 9.5 percent this season.

The big implication here is that the Heat shown that they're well-equipped for playoff-style basketball, a development that flies in the face of the conventional wisdom. While teams slam on the brakes in the postseason, the Heat have actually done the same in the past few weeks. And have thrived in that style of play. The Heat's pace has slowed down considerably since jumping out of the gate and they've more recently focused on picking apart teams in the halfcourt.

So if you think the Heat are just a fastbreak team, well, think again.

MIAMI – Just before the All-Star break, Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra asked his team two pertinent questions that will define their destiny.

“What kind of team do we want to be?” Spoelstra probed. “What's our motivation?”

The Heat will resume their search for those answers on Thursday, when they open the second half of the season with a game in Portland. But to this point, what we've seen from the Heat is a team that appears determined to return to the NBA Finals and finish the job this time after falling to Dallas in six games last season.

Miami is far from perfect, but it very well could be in the midst of the best basketball we've seen since LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh joined forces in the summer of 2010 to alter the league's landscape. They've yet to define their destiny, but the Heat have developed this season into a team that tied with Oklahoma City for the NBA's best record entering the break at 27-7, and one that resumes play riding an eight-game streak of victories by a double-digit margin.

Overall, the Heat deserve an “A” for a midterm grade after getting off to the best start in franchise history. But I'll go a step further and break down the marks for each player on the roster, along with evaluations of Spoelstra and team president Pat Riley based on the progress they've made amid Miami's lofty championship-or-bust expectations.

JOEL ANTHONY, Starting C
(3.0 PPG; 4.3 RPG; 1.2 BPG)
Upshot: There have been stretches this season when Anthony has simply dominated the paint defensively with his shot-blocking. His offense has improved enough to the point where he's developed a decent jump hook, and there's a pretty good chance he'll actually catch and finish once in a while.
Downside: Being undersized and mainly a non-factor overall offensively puts the Heat in a tough spot. His rebounding numbers could also be better.
Midterm Grade: C

SHANE BATTIER, Reserve SG/SF
(4.5 PPG; 2.1 RPG; 1.1 APG)
Upshot: The cold front finally ended about two weeks ago. Maybe it coincided with his guy, Jimmy Buffett, coming to town for that concert. It finally appears his offense is catching up with his defense. Battier also ranks among the NBA's leaders in drawing charges, and will be key down the stretch.
Downside: His first half was such a struggle offensively, he shot just 38.9 percent and sometimes looked like a washed-up player on both ends of the court. Consistency is a significant concern.
Midterm Grade: D+

CHRIS BOSH, Starting PF
(18.4 PPG; 8.30 RPG; 2 APG)
Upshot: It finally seems to be sinking in for Bosh that he might never be as productive, statistically, as he was as a featured man in Toronto. He's had a great attitude and is trying to make the most of his adjusted role. Recently, his rebounding has picked up and his mid-range jumper continues to drop.
Downside: Bosh just doesn't spend enough time attacking the lane. He should easily be a 20-10 player, but too often falls short. His play will ultimately determine how tough Miami will be in the postseason.
Midterm Grade: B-

MARIO CHALMERS, Starting PG
(11.1 PPG; 2.5 RPG; 3.6 APG)
Upshot: Chalmers is justifying that new $4 million-a-year salary by having a career season. He's developed into one of the top 3-point shooters in the league. He's always been confident about his game, but we're now seeing a dependable and consistent presence from a far more mature Chalmers.
Downside: If he faced Jeremy Lin every night, Chalmers would be just fine defensively. But that's one area of his game that leaves a bit to be desired at times. He should be that motivated every game.
Midterm Grade: B

NORRIS COLE, Reserve PG
(8.7 PPG; 1.7 RPG; 2.5 APG)
Upshot: Two words you'll never use to describe the Heat's rookie point guard: Bashful and slow. The kid is flat-out fearless on the court and has proved to be a late first-round steal. Cole has been the change-of-pace guard Miami needed to push the pace for it's much-improved second unit this season.
Downside: For a guy who gets to the rim with relative ease, Cole should be a much better finisher in the lane. He also needs to make more plays as a facilitator and learn when to shift gears to mix things up.
Midterm Grade: B

EDDY CURRY, Reserve C
(1.1 PPG; .7 TOT; .1 APG)
Upshot: Even though he's privately frustrated with the lack of playing time, Curry has publicly maintained a professional and positive demeanor about his role in Miami. He lost a ton of weight to prove to Pat Riley that he was serious about this comeback after nearly three years of inactivity.
Downside: Spoelstra is more comfortable with second-year center Dexter Pittman than Curry. That doesn't bode well moving forward for Curry's chances on a team that already prefers to play smaller.
Midterm Grade: I (Incomplete)

MICKELL GLADNESS, Reserve PF/C
(.3 PPG; 1.4 RPG; .3 APG)
Upshot: The second-year development player was brought back for a second 10-day contract on Tuesday, and could be one step closer to remaining for the rest of the season. Gladness, a slender shot-blocker, showed enough talent to make the team out of camp but opportunities have since been slim.
Downside: Gladness needs to spend more time in the weight room to bulk up. He's also learning the hard way that life trying to get his shot off in the NBA is a lot more difficult than in the D-League.
Midterm Grade: C- (Incomplete)

TERREL HARRIS, Reserve SG
(3.3 PPG; 2.6 RPG; .9 APG)
Upshot: Harris has the size, strength, scoring ability and defense to contribute on any roster that doesn't include LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Shane Battier, Mike Miller and Norris Cole in the perimeter rotation. But when he got the opportunities, Harris showed in games that he's a legit NBA prospect.
Downside: Unfortunately for Harris, the Heat have contract commitments for their perimeter players that extend beyond this season. He'll be the next Anthony Morrow to get away amid a numbers crunch.
Midterm Grade: B-

UDONIS HASLEM, Reserve PF
(6.3 PPG; 8.1 RPG; .7 APG)
Upshot: He's healthy. That couldn't be said about Haslem much of last season when he missed most of it, including the first two rounds of the playoffs, to recover from foot surgery. The Heat certainly missed his interior toughness and rebounding, which have been exceptional so far this season off the bench.
Downside: Those baseline and straight-away jumpers that have been automatic for Haslem the past few years are flat broke right now. He's struggled to find an offensive rhythm and is shooting a career-worst 41.8 percent.
Midterm Grade: B-

JUWAN HOWARD, Reserve PF
(.8 PPG; .7 TOT; .3 APG)
Upshot: Howard is a proud vet who resents being reduced to this tag, but he's been a consummate professional and solid locker room presence. At 38, he is clearly along for the potential ride to a title. His best work comes in pushing Bosh, Curry and Dexter Pittman in workouts. He also still does a mean Cabbage Patch.
Downside: But nobody does the Cabbage Patch anymore. And it hasn't been easy having a locker next to LeBron for home games and being smothered by media lining up for those postgame interviews.
Midterm Grade: C

LEBRON JAMES, Starting SF
(27.4 PPG; 8.10 RPG; 6.8 APG)
Upshot: So far, no one in the history of the game has done it better or more efficiently on the court that LeBron, who was named conference player of the month for December/January and has positioned himself well to win his third MVP award. He's added a post-up game, as promised, and has been on a tear lately.
Downside: LeBron still can't get out of his own way sometimes. The flirting with Cleveland and the fallout from the way his All-Star performance ended created serious questions that just weren't necessary.
Midterm Grade: A+

JAMES JONES, Reserve SF
(3.3 PPG; .9 RPG; .2 APG)
Upshot: There's no doubt in anyone's mind that Jones is capable of knocking down big shots when needed. He's shooting 42 percent from 3-point range and also continues to grade well defensively by draw charges. The fact that he re-signed shows how badly he wants to stick with his hometown team.
Downside: Having Jones and not playing him is a luxury. In hindsight, though, would the Heat have been better off using Jones' or Howard's spot to get younger and more athletic at power forward/center?
Midterm Grade: C+

MIKE MILLER, Reserve SF
(6.3 PPG; 3.4 RPG; .7 APG)
Upshot: Just like Haslem, Miller is enjoying an extended stretch of good health after missing a major chunk of last season with injuries. He's second in the league in 3-point shooting at 51.7 percent, has thrived defensively and has found a comfort zone on the second unit with Battier, Haslem and Cole.
Downside: He remains the Heat's most realistic trade asset beyond the Big Three should Riley seriously pursue adding more size. Miller is on pace to average career lows in minutes, points and assists.
Midterm Grade: B-

DEXTER PITTMAN, Reserve C
(1.5 PPG; 1.5 RPG; .1 APG)
Upshot: Big body, big hands and solid footwork are all major assets for Pittman, a second-year center still trying to prove he can be a long-term fit. He's also dropped plenty of weight to show he's serious about maintain a roster spot in Miami. Pittman can at least say he's beating out a veteran in Curry.
Downside: Pittman has had enough time to crack the rotation. Still, Spoelstra would rather play Bosh, Haslem and Anthony at center. That tells you all you need to know about Miami's project centers.
Midterm Grade: D+

DWYANE WADE, Starting SG
(22.4 PPG; 4.40 RPG; 4.8 APG)
Upshot: LeBron's efficiency is obviously rubbing off on Wade, who is ranked second behind his teammate in PER. Wade has been a different player since he came back from the foot injury that cost him six games. His boost helped propel the Heat to their current eight-game streak of blowout victories.
Downside: Wade is praised for his ability to help out in the lane and block shots, but he also deserves a bit of the blame for blown assignments that have led to the Heat giving up a ton of open 3-point looks.
Midterm Grade: A-

ERIK SPOELSTRA, Head Coach
(27-7, First place in the East)
Upshot: Miami lost eight games by the time it played 17 last season. This year, the Heat have yet to reach eight setbacks through 34 games. Credit Spoelstra for finding the right buttons to push. He's altered the playing style, managed egos, settled on a rotation and has Miami rolling through a tough schedule.
Downside: No other coach works under the assumption that anything less than winning a championship could be considered a failure. That leaves Spoelstra in a tough spot regardless of that new contract extension.
Midterm Grade: A

PAT RILEY, President of Basketball Operations
(27-7, First place in the East)
Upshot: Riley was absolutely right about one thing: The Heat didn't need major roster tweaks after finishing two games short of an NBA championship in the first season of the Big Three era. Instead, they only needed to get healthy and focus a bit more on the game itself and less on distractions.
Downside: It's too early to know if offseason investments in Battier and Chalmers will pay off in the playoffs. But the lack of depth in the post has yet to be addressed as the March 15 trade deadline looms.
Midterm Grade: B

MIAMI - Mario Chalmers figured he'd potentially face criticism for the Heat's decision to sign him to a lucrative contract in the offseason. Instead, he's responded by firing off the best start of his four-year career. And he hasn't since stopped shooting.

Veteran swingman James Jones has yet to receive that sort of opportunity in the Heat's rotation this season. But he's ready to go all Jeremy Lin should he ever gets in. For now, James will focus on defending his 3-point shootout title this weekend alongside Chalmers at All-Star Saturday Night in Orlando.

In Episode 2 of Heat Index's Post-Up Podcast, I catch up with Chalmers and Jones to discuss their 3-point competition, the Heat's record-setting start to the season, a touch of Miami style Hip-Hop and much more.

So kick back, turn up your speakers/headphones and bump the hottest NBA podcast in the industry.