Is Dwayne Wade really any good? He matched a career high with 50 points while adding 10 rebounds and nine assists in Saturday's 140-129 triple-overtime win over Utah. He's averaging an NBA-leading 30.0 PPG, while adding 5.2 RPG and 7.7 APG. After last year's 'nightmare' season (15-67), the Heat are 36-29 and in great position to return to the playoffs, this year. O'Neal (13.5-5.8) and Moon (8.8-5.4) have now each played 13 games with the Heat (Miami sent Marion to Toronto) and that trade seems to have worked very well for Miami. Haslem (10.6-8.4) has been a 'rock' in the frontcourt all year, with rookie PG Chalmers (10.1-4.7 APG) settling nicely into the starting lineup, while the No. 2 pick (overall) from last year, Michael Beasley (13.4-5.2), has done a good job accepting his role of coming off the bench. The 76ers made a strong second-half run last year to make the playoffs. Much was expected from them this season, especially after they signed Elton Brand away from the Clippers. However, Brand (13.8-8.8) never fit in and now is lost for the season with an injury. His 13.8 points mark a career single-season low in PPG, as does his 44.7 FG percentage (his career mark is 50.3). Iquodala (18.0-6.0-5.3) got off to a slow start but his numbers are now up to those of the last two seasons. Miller (16.5-4.5-6.5) continues to be one of the league's most consistent PGs and small forward Thaddeus Young (14.4-4.9) has made a HUGE improvement from his rookie year (8.2-4.2). Williams (12.1) has followed last year's breakout season (11.5) with another solid year plus veteran guard Green (9.5) adds depth to Philly's quality perimeter players. Inside, center Dalembert (6.4-8.8) is an excellent rebounder and defender plus 6-10 Florida rookie Speights (7.9-3.7), may turn out to be a better player than Joakim Noah? Philly really struggled coming out of the All Star break, losing their first four and going 3-7 SU and 2-8 ATS in their first 10. They have won two straight though (home wins over Tor and Chi), and now get a Heat team coming off yesterday's triple-OT win. Chalmers, Haslem and Wade all played 50-plus minutes on Saturday, while the always fragile O'Neal played 48. What's more, Miami has dropped 15 of its 17 games in Philadelphia. Take the 76ers
Larry Ness 3-15-09 (prelim)
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