The Miami Heat got hot the minute they inserted 35-year old center Zydrunas Ilgauskas into the starting lineup.  Ilgauskas has played in 30 games (21 starts) for the Heat so far this year and he is averaging 18.2 minutes, 5.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 1.1 blocked shots per game so far this year.  Big Z is also shooting 53.5% from the floor as he is shooting the ball really well.  When teams double one of the “Big Three” it often leaves Z open and he can still knock down shots with his jumper.  He has been a huge asset for the Heat and I look for that to continue.

26-year old power forward Chris Bosh is starting to get hot in December and it’s no coincidence that the Heat are 7-0 in those games.  Bosh has started 7 games so far this month and he is averaging 35.0 minutes, 16.9 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.  Bosh has now played in 25 games (all starts) for the Heat so far this year and he is averaging 34.4 minutes, 17.7 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.  The Heat need him to keep playing well because they were banking on him to average 9-10 rebounds a game this year.

30-year old James Jones is the long range bomber for the Miami Heat, at least until Mike Miller returns to action.  Jones has played in all 20 games (0 starts) for  the Heat so far this year and he is averaging 24.4 minutes, 8.1 points, 2.5 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game.  He is shooting 43.6% from three point range this year as he is 44 of 101 from that range meaning he’s jacking up an average of 5 3-pointers per night.  Look for the Heat to keep feeding him the ball as long as he keeps shooting like he is right now.

The Miami Heat is still D-Wade’s team and he has been the best player on the team so far this year, without a doubt. Wade has played in 8 games (all starts) for the Heat so far this year and he is averaging 34.4 minutes, 26.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.6 assists and 1.0 blocked shot per game. Wade is also shooting well from everywhere on the floor so far this year as he is hitting 49.3% from the floor, 42.3% from the three point line and 77.2% from the free throw line. He is the unquestioned leader of the Heat and I don’t see that changing any time soon.

29-year old power forward Udonis Haslem is a lot like Rodney Dangerfield used to be as neither of them get much respect. All Haslem does is bring his hard hat to work everyday for the Heat. He rebounds, plays defense and once in a while gets to score some points. He played in 78 games (0 starts) for the Heat last season and he averaged 27.9 minutes, 9.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game. Haslem has now played in 517 games (386 starts) for the Heat in which he has averaged 30.9 minutes, 10.0 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. Haslem is #2 all-time in Heat history in games played (517), #3 in rebounds (4,177), #9 in steals (307) and #8 in points (5,175). It will be interesting to see if Haslem is involved in a trade this off-season as the Heat look to reload. I hope he stays because he means a lot to this team and his buddy D-Wade as they won a championship together.

Dwyane Wade has taken his team and put it on his back recently. In his last 5 games, D-Wade is averaging 38.4 minutes, 30.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 2.6 steals and 1.4 blocked shots per game. D-Wade has now played in 73 games (all starts) this season for the Heat and he is averaging 36.2 minutes, 26.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.9 steals per game. The Heat better hope that they can convince D-Wade to re-sign with him over the summer or it will be rebuilding time in Miami.

The Miami Heat were on top of their game in March, finishing the month 12-3 and putting themselves only 1/2 game out of the 5th spot in the Eastern Conference standings.  Their leader Dwyane Wade had a great month of March.  He had six games where he scored 30 points or more and also had five games where he had 10 assists or more.  For the month, he ended up averaging 26.9 points, 7.5 assists, 5.5 rebounds, 2.3 steals, and 1.0 blocks.  Those are all above his season averages.  Wade got some great help from his supporting cast as well.  Guys like Jermaine O’Neal, Udonis Haslem, and Carlos Arroyo all had some nice contributions over the past month.  The Heat have obviously been hot, and after a 98-81 blowout win Wednesday over the Detroit Pistons, they have now won six in a row heading into the final stretch of the season.  They only have seven games left, and all seven of those games are against some pretty weak opponents.  All seven of their final opponents have records well below .500.  The toughest team left on their schedule is the 28-47 Indiana Pacers.  The only negative for the Heat right now is that Jermaine O’Neal is battling a knee injury, which forced him out of Wednesday night’s win.  Still, the Heat should be pretty confident as the season winds down and I expect them to beat out the Milwaukee Bucks for the 5th seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.  The Bucks have a much more difficult schedule down the stretch, and the Heat are red hot.

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.

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.

Jermaine O’Neal has been playing some very good basketball in the month of February and has really stepped it up the past few games with Dwyane Wade out.  O’Neal is only averaging 13.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.4 blocks on the season.  This month has been much better for O’Neal though, with him averaging 16.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 2.0 blocks.  He has scored 18 or more points in five of the last six games and kept the Heat from falling apart with D. Wade out.  They are 2-2 without Wade and O’Neal is the main reason why.  O’Neal has had a lot of injury problems the past few years though, and has been playing through a strained back lately.  If O’Neal can stay healthy and keep up this productive play, it could really help the Heat make a surge in the Eastern Conference playoff picture when Wade returns.