Post-Game Grades: Mario Chalmers’ Heroics Lead Miami Heat Over Lakers

75. 20. 78. 110. Final

Miami Heat. CHRIS ANDERSEN. A. <em>Stats: 27 Min, 5-6 FG, 0-0 3FG, 2-2 FT, 8 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 3 BLK, 0 TO, 12 PTS</em><p class=. C

<em>Stats:38 Min, 4-17 FG, 0-4 3FG, 0-0 FT, 8 REB, 4 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK, 4 TO, 8 PTS</em><p>He gets a whole other letter grade because, well, #BSB stands for Big Shot Bosh, baby. With 1:44 left in the game, Bosh hit a key jumper to put the Heat up 74-70. He also secured a couple of rebounds at the end of the game, including the sealing board after Kobe’s miss to tie the game.</p>. C. Miami Heat. CHRIS BOSH. C+

A. <em>Stats: 31 Min, 7-16 FG, 0-3 3FG, 5-7 FT, 3 REB, 8 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 19 PTS</em><p>When Wade left the game, Mario Chalmers upped his game. His nine points in the fourth quarter saved the Heat from a bad loss–especially his two late-game layups with less than 1:30 left–it’s as simple as that. </p>. PG. Miami Heat. MARIO CHALMERS

D. <em>Stats: 19 Min, 3-6 FG, 1-3 3FG, 0-2 FT, 2 REB, 4 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 3 TO, 7 PTS </em><p>Cole was benched at the end of the game for Shabazz Napier, who hadn’t seen playing time since B.H. (#BeforeHassan). He made a 3-pointer, though. That was nice.</p>. PG. Miami Heat. NORRIS COLE

B-. <em>Stats: 36 Min, 4-13 FG, 0-2 3FG, 0-0 FT, 8 REB, 0 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 8 PTS </em><p>Deng was tasked with defending Kobe, like, all game. While Kobe’s shooting at a near all-time inefficient rate, he still put up 19 shots. Defending that can get tiring and Deng did a good job, holding him to 3-of-19 and 12 points. He locked him down on the final shot of the game and forced a very tough shot.</p>. SF. Miami Heat. LUOL DENG

Miami Heat. JAMES ENNIS. F. <em>Stats: 10 Min, 0-1 FG, 0-1 3FG, 0-0 FT, 1 REB, 0 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 0 PTS</em><p>Ennis dunked over Rasual Butler on opening night and that’s when he peaked. He’s been unplayable for weeks now but he’s been the only option the Heat have had. He was bad enough tonight that Spo had to resort to the gloomy Chalmers-Cole backcourt… which eventually turned into the Chalmers-Napier backcourt.</p>. SG

Miami Heat. DANNY GRANGER. F. <em>Stats: 24 Min, 0-3 FG, 0-1 3FG, 2-2 FT, 4 REB, 0 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 2 PTS </em><p>Granger’s cold streak continues. It wasn’t much better on defense, where he fouled Jeremy Lin on a fast-break layup for no reason to give him and and-one attempt with just minutes remaining. He got some minutes at SG tonight but that didn’t last long.</p>. SF

SHABAZZ NAPIER. D+. <em>Stats: 10 Min, 0-1 FG, 0-1 3FG, 0-0 FT, 2 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PTS</em><p>With Wade hurt and Cole and Ennis stinking it up, Napier got minutes by default tonight. He wasn’t much better, missing his only shot which he took after seemingly screwing up the play call and no one knew what to do.</p>. PG. Miami Heat

DWYANE WADE. B+. <em>Stats: 15 Min, 2-5 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-0 FT, 5 REB, 5 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 4 PTS </em><p>Dwyane Wade left the game in the second quarter with what the team called a mild left hamstring strain and did not return. He was having a good, all-around game until then. He seems questionable for Wednesay’s game at Golden State.</p>. SG. Miami Heat

A. <em>Stats: 19 Min, 7-9 FG, 0-0 3FG, 1-2 FT, 9 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 5 BLK, 0 TO, 15 PTS </em><p>Whiteside’s production took a hit when Wade left and no one knew how to get him the ball anymore. But in that first half he was his dominant self. He’s really made the sweeping jump hook a normal thing in his game. He’s showing us something knew almost every game. This is exciting.</p>. C. Miami Heat. HASSAN WHITESIDE

B+. <em>Stats: 3 Min, 1-1 FG, 1-1 3FG, 0-0 FT, 2 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 3 PTS</em><p>Shawne Williams came in, hit a 3-pointer, and then left the game. I thought that was pretty good. Still can’t figure out why he’s not playing over an icy Granger.</p>. F. Miami Heat. SHAWNE WILLIAMS

ERIK SPOELSTRA. B. <p>Have to give Spo some credit for stringing together the team’s first consecutive win since late November and getting it done short handed. My only gripe is his continued loyalty to Granger and, after starting Whiteside in the second half against the Clippers, going back to Birdman in that position (although Whiteside’s early foul trouble and Bird’s strong performance have something to do with that).</p>. HC. Miami Heat