31-year old center Jermaine O’Neal has really played well in March for the Heat. In 10 games this March, O’Neal is averaging 30.7 minutes, 15.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.3 blocked shots per game. He has now played in 65 games (all starts) for the Heat this season and he is averaging 29.1 minutes, 13.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.4 blocked shots per game. The Heat really need O’Neal to finish the season strong if they are going to get a playoff spot.

SG/SF Daequan Cook has really stunk this season for the Heat. He has played in 43 games (3 starts) for the Heat this season and he is averaging 15.9 minutes, 5.2 points, 1.9 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. Cook is only shooting 32.1% from the floor this season while is downright terrible. He played a couple good games this season for the Heat while D-Wade was out of action, but he has stunk for the most part. I see Cook having a hard time sticking with the Heat much longer if he continues to shoot so many bricks.

Dwyane Wade has been a superstar for the Miami Heat all season long, but he has been playing some of his best basketball of the season in the month of March.  On the season Wade is averaging 26.7 points, 6.5 assists, 4.7 rebounds, 1.9 steals, and 1.0 blocks while shooting 47% from the field and 30% from three.  In nine games this month, Wade has averaged 30.9 points, 7.4 assists, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.2 steals while shooting 48% from the field and 31% from three.  Wade had missed four of the last five games in February, and the Heat ended that month on a four-game losing streak.  Wade’s great play has helped the Heat go 6-3 this month and put them at the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference Playoff picture.  If Wade rides this hot streak into the playoffs, the Heat will be a very dangerous team to face in the first round.  Wade has the ability to put a team on his back, and with Jermaine O’Neal playing well, they could make a nice run in the postseason.

Carlos Arroyo is now the starting point guard with Alston out of commission for a while so they need him to step up. The early returns are good as Arroyo is averaging 38.7 minutes, 11.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.3 steals in his last three games. Arroyo has played in 53 games (16 starts) this season for the Heat and he is averaging 18.4 minutes, 5.2 points, 1.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. This is a good move for the Heat as Arroyo is better than Alston anyway.

The Heat have suspended point guard Rafer Alston indefinitely for making himself unavailable to the team. He had a recent nasty outburst when taken out of a game and the Heat just aren’t going to put up with that kind of stuff from a player who has been awful. Alston has played in 25 games (all starts) for the Heat this season and he is averaging 26.2 minutes, 6.6 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. Alston is only shooting 35.5% from the floor so the Heat won’t miss him while he is out.

UPDATE: The Heat have suspended Alston for the rest of the season.