Miami Heat Power Fankings, Week 4: Second in the East

Last week in the Miami Heat Power Fankings: Dwyane Wade finds himself in a slump… Chris Bosh makes faces… Tyler Johnson officially takes Mario Chalmers’ spot… Josh McRoberts passes up another shot… Hassan Whiteside stays dominant.

1. Dwyane Wade (last week: 1)

For Miami sports fans, the Miami Heat are a sanctuary. A safe word often uttered when watching the Miami Dolphins stumble through the season. But when the Heat trailed the Philadelphia 76ers by 17 points in the first half of Saturday’s game, Heat fans felt as if they were watching the basketball-version of the Dolphins. It would be such a Dolphins thing to do if the Heat were to become Philly’s first win of the season.

But rather than be the Dolphins and belly up, the Heat did Heat things. They used a huge second half to come back and beat the Sixers.

If it wasn’t for Dwyane Wade and his 27 points, Miami would have lost that game. Wade kept the Heat within striking distance (barely) for three-and-half quarters until the rest of his teammates woke up and rallied to win the game. That’s why we love D-Wade. He’s the anti-Dolphins.

2. Hassan Whiteside (last week: 3)

Whitside’s week: 15.7 points per game, 9.3 rebounds per game, 7.3 blocks per game (!!!!) and a 64.3 percent shooting clip in three contests.

He’s doing Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson-type things. He’s unbelievable, and teams are game planning against him and not Wade or Bosh.

3. Chris Bosh (last week: 2)

Chris Bosh had an up-and-down week. It started down against Minnesota, went up for a game against the Kings, then back down against the 76ers. 10, 23 and 13 is what he put up in order. He did finish the week with two consecutive double-doubles, but his 13 and 10 against the Sixers was about as lame of a double-double as you’ll ever see.

Still, he’s getting double-doubles when he’s not playing well, and that 23-point game against the Kings was huge.

He also hit a 3-pointer to tie the game against the Sixers, giving fans a Big Shot Bosh moment to add to the collection.

4. Justise Winslow (last week: 4)

Winslow’s having some turnover issues, averaging four per game this week. But he also shot better than 50 percent from the field and averaged 8.3 points per game this week. He’s starting to look for his own shots more, and he has the ability to break out offensively. He just hasn’t been that aggressive yet. The Heat may need him to be soon.

5. Amar’e Stoudemire (last week: not ranked)

After picking up two early fouls against the Kings, Hassan Whiteside went to the bench. Enter Amar’e Stoudemire, who not only sky-rocketed up the Heat fan rankings, but the Heat player’s rankings too.

He scored 10 points in the first quarter before Whiteside made his return.

6. Tyler Johnson (last week: 6)

Tyler Johnson’s 19 point game against the Kings proves that he’s better than Mario Chalmers. Rio hasn’t been capable of those games for about two years now. Every once in a while, Johnson will blow up with a big game. That’s just what the Heat need from him.

A Penny For Your Thoughts, Pat Riley:

Pat Riley sits in his seat at AmericanAirlines Arena, poised, stoic, not moving… he watches Dwyane Wade put his arm around the slumped shoulders of Goran Dragic, his $85 million man.

Wade gives him a brief pep talk. It’s one of those leadership, ace teammate moments.

Riley watches all of this unfold in front of him. He contemplates–contemplates makes it sound like he’s thinking hard. When Riley thinks, it’s effortless–rather, he muses about what it is Wade is telling the point guard.

“Keep your head up, dawg. Just keep shooting.”

No. That’s too simple. It’s not moving. It’s not… what’s the word.. Spoismic? Rileable?

Maybe he tries to light a fire under him.

“I’ll kill your family if you miss another shot.”

No, no. That’s not it, either.

Suddenly, Dragic looks up. He looks right into the eyes of Riley. Now Riley knows, Wade told him to find Riley in the crowd.

Dragic’s eyes are stuck in the line of sight of Riley. He wants to look away, but he can’t. Just beyond Dragic, Riley sees Wade. Wade’s eyes are also locked on Riley. But it’s not the same as Dragic. His eyes are locked voluntarily. It’s an understanding glance. Riley nods. Wade nods in agreement. Dragic, finally able to look away, jogs down the court to get back on offense.

7. Goran Dragic (last week: not ranked)

Dragic quietly had his best week of the season, averaging 10.3 points and 6.3 assists in three games. He’s still not quite there yet, and the chemistry with his teammates is about as awkward as anything Paul Rudd’s character said or did in “I Love You, Man.”

As much as I would like to say it’s getting better, it’s not. He’s scoring and assisting on his own talent. His numbers are a result of 100 percent talent, zero percent chemistry. That’s the hardest way to do stuff.

Not ranked: Gerald Green’s Mysterious Illness, Beno Udrih, James Ennis’ ball handling, Chris Andersen, Alonzo Mourning, Udonis Haslem, The Ghost of Mike Miller, Late Arriving Heat Fans, Micky Arison, Pat Riley, D.J. Khaled, Burnie, the White Stripes, The Void Left By Mario Chalmers.