Post-Game Grades: Heat Take Game 2, Beat Bobcats 101-97
By Wes Goldberg
Miami Heat 101, Charlotte Bobcats 97
LeBron James: A
11-17 FG (1-5 3FG), 6 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 steals, 32 points
LeBron James had a good all-around game, scoring a game-high 32 points. His passing was great all game (sans the one throw away at the end), he rebounded well and shot efficiently. His four steals in the game led to fast-break points and he helped set the tone of the game.
Chris Bosh: A
8-11 FG (4-5 3FG), 5 rebounds, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 20 points
Redemption is spelled B.O.S.H. Chris Bosh’s four three-point field goals made my incessant complaining of his propensity to chuck three’s sound dumb (though I stand by it). Bosh, however, was feeling it tonight. He was shooting three’s and stretching the defense, which is the Bosh-chess-piece working at its best. No doubt that Bosh’s good game helped LeBron have a good one too.
Dwyane Wade: B-
4-10 FG, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 15 points
After his playoff party in Game 1, Wade’s game mellowed out in Game 2. He wasn’t as efficient from the post, though Charlotte seemed to key in on that throughout the game and Wade seemed more content with taking jumpers. However, he came up big by scoring eight of his 15 points in the final period, including a steal on the Bobcats’ final possession that led to free throws to clinch the game.
9-13 FG, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 22 points
MKG kept the Bobcats in this game. His double-double was impressive opposite LeBron. His defense is always stable, but his offensive game typically leaves much to be desired. Tonight, he took a page out of LeBron’s shot chart collection and scored almost every point in the paint. If MKG starts figuring it out offensively, it would be a very intriguing storyline for the remainder of this series.
More from Heat History
- The greatest individual Miami Heat performances in Team USA History
- Ranking the 15 most underrated players in Miami Heat history
- Ranking the top Finals performances from Miami Heat role players
- Ranking Dwyane Wade’s top five signature moves
- What if… Dwyane Wade never had knee problems?
Miami Heat: B
35-67 FG (9-23 3FG), 22-29 FT, 37 rebounds to Charlotte’s 41, 19 assists to Charlotte’s 18, 17 turnovers to Charlotte’s 13.
It was the Big Three and that was about it. Unlike Game 1, in which the Heat were supported by a starring supporting cast, Game 2 was much more a three-man show. Ray Allen particularly struggled, having not made his first shot until 2:02 left in the third quarter, and James Jones wasn’t the savior he was in the first match. But, hey, that’s why you have the Big Three in the first place.