Miami Heat Power Fankings, Week 8: Showing Some Teeth

The Miami Heat Power Fankings are a non-scientific, completely subjective ranking of Heat players. Last week in the Miami Heat Power Fankings: Oh… sh*t… I forgot to do them last week.

1. Dwyane Wade (last week: 1)

Dwyane Wade’s hijacking tendencies reared their ugly head against the Toronto Raptors, when he hogged the ball and gummed up Miami’s otherwise solid ball movement. Instead, Wade forced up ill-advised turnarounds and long-2s and the Heat bumbled their way to their first loss to the Raptors in 12 matchups. Still, we love D-Wade. It’s his city and he can do whatever he likes.

And why do we love him? Because in Miami’s very next game against the Portland Trail Blazers, Wade had the opportunity to do the same darn thing after Goran Dragic got himself ejected. Tied at 97 with six minutes left, Wade could have kidnapped the ball and held it ransom. Instead, he learned from his mistakes and ignited a big quarter from Hassan Whiteside with the pick-and-roll game. Wade County.

2. Chris Bosh (last week: 2)

In that Portland game, Chris Bosh was the true hero, scoring 11 points in the fourth quarter as if to say “we will NOT lose two straight home games. I will NOT allow it!”

AmericanAirlines always gets the most turnt when Bosh is the life of the party.

A Penny For Your Thoughts, Pat Riley:

Pat Riley sits in his seat at AmericanAirlines Arena, poised, stoic, not moving…

He watches as Goran Dragic, his prized point guard acquisition, hassles Al Horford at the top of the key. Horford is trying to create some space, lifting the ball out of Dragic’s reach and seeking a teammate to pass to. Horford pivots and his elbow finds the jaw of Dragic. Dragic reaches for his mouth and falls to the ground.

There’s blood.

We realize that Dragic’s lost a tooth. There it is. Lying on the court.

Dragic is called for a foul.

And so starts Dragic’s deteriorating relationship with NBA officials, something that would come to full climax a few days later.

But that’s not what’s on Riley’s mind. Rather, Riley is thinking about the good ole’ days of basketball, when getting your teeth knocked out was less exceptional, and bruises were expected with the pay check. Oh, man, these kids these days don’t understand. He’s certain Dragic will leave the game and need immediate attention in order to repair his front tooth out of both medical need and vanity equally.

It’s to much of his own surprise that a few minutes later Dragic walked out of the locker room, ready to take the court.

That’s a throwback.

Maybe they do it different in Europe.

That’s a hockey player, not a basketball player.

Stop the bleeding. Start the balling.

Riley, in this moment, feels the sweeping sensation of a successful investment.

In this moment, he feels a tingle. His mouth. Riley reaches up slowly. His ringed fingers slide along each individual tooth, along the ivory and through the ridges, until he comes up empty.

Riley looks down at the court. There is Dragic, fully smiled. Fully toothed, looking up at the team president. He nods in knowing appreciation. Riley nods in return. Game on.

3. Goran Dragic (last week: 3)

After getting thrown out for arguing foul calls, Dragic inspired the Heat fans at AAA to take part in one of sports’ finest traditions… the “ref you suck” chant. There is nothing else in the world like a full arena screaming at one person to tell them they suck at their job. It’s also probably one of the meanest things anyone can do, but that’s what comes with the zebra stripes.

Earlier in the week, Dragic got his tooth punched out by Al Horford. He obviously left the game then, later and less obviously, returned to the game! Yo, if that doesn’t win over your new fans, nothing will. Goran’s got balls.

4. Hassan Whiteside (last week: 9)

After struggling for a couple of weeks, Hassan Whiteside came back to average 13.4 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.8 blocks in five games this week. He also played in the last two fourth quarters, meaning that he’s doing something to get Erik Spoelstra to trust him in those minutes. Probably defending the rim and diving on pick-and-rolls like a friggin pro.

This the kinda sh*t that make the hood go crazy:

5. Gerald Green (last week: 4)

Someone tweeted at me this week saying “where would the Heat be without Gerald Green?”. Where would they be? Probably all bunched up below the rim like 4-year-olds playing soccer. Green is Miami’s best floor spacer, most unafraid heat checker and fiercest underbiter. Where would the Heat be without Gerald Green? Well, probably trying to force Mario Chalmers into being its best 3-point shooter.

6. Luol Deng (last week: not ranked)

One of the themes to Spo’s lineups this season is trying to get his best two-man linueps on the court as much as possible. Wade and Whiteside, Bosh and Justise Winslow, etc. It seems as if Spo has found one for Dragic. Luol Deng averaged 35 minutes per game last week, mostly as Dragic’s running partner at a stretch-4 along with Bosh at center. It’s a small ball lineup that allows Dragic to push the pace and gives him two pick-and-pop options in the front court. Deng’s embraced playing power forward, and its unlocked some cool small ball stuff that should help the Heat get with the times.

7. Justise Winslow (last week: 7)

Winslow is having a rough shooting season, and last week he shot a horrid 39 percent from the floor. When he hits his shots, it’s a call for celebration. Like a piñata, you don’t get them often. Making shots shouldn’t be like beating the living hell out of a candy-stuffed, tissue-paper covered lama doll. But, geez, sometimes it feels like that much of an ordeal for the rookie. Spo is learning he can’t keep Winslow on the court for as long as he likes despite his top-notch perimeter defense. Winslow averaged just 23 minutes per game, four fewer than his season average. His playing time could keep sliding if he doesn’t get that stroke right.