Miami, 2/9/10 – As the Rockets went crashing earthwards in the vicinity of South Beach, they could take heart in being beaten & battered  before the Heat pummeled them for a 33-point victory.  After all, Miami was rabid to break a five game slump & get their mojo back.  Putting forth a stellar effort that saw six players score in double figures, the Heat got what they needed, blowing out Houston 99-66 to the delight of hometown fans.

Despite starting a season sans 7’6” center Yao Ming (broken foot) & minus franchise goldbricker Tracey McGrady (take your pick, chronic poor attitude mostly) the Rockets have flown higher & farther than many expected.  Wily coach Rick Adelman has forged a strong, team-first group playing as more than the sum of its parts.  Perspective-wise, while their record (27-24) makes for ninth place in a beastly Western Conference, in LEastern Conference terms that’s a game ahead of Charlotte (26-25) for the sixth spot.

For the 26-27 Heat then, a depleted Rockets were perfect prey for them.  Dwayne Wade stuffed his staff sheet, notching 17 points, 7 dimes, 5 steals, & 4 rebounds – in barely 29 minutes of game time.  Five other Heat players got in on the act, with Udonis Haslem in particular standing out with his own 14 points & 14 boards.  Considering the Heat could suit up a whole entire extra player if need be though, predicting victory wasn’t exactly rocket science.

“We caught a Houston team that was a little beat up, and that certainly was a factor,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said.

Missing both swingman Trevor Ariza & point guard Kyle Lowry in addition to the aforementioned Ming & McGrady, Houston was simply overmatched.  Down 56-31 by halftime, the Rockets ended shooting only 30% from the field.  Lead by Luis Scola’s 12 points, Space City’s squad also suffered a lackluster showing by guard Aaron Brooks, whose 10 points (season average 19.4) & 1 assist (4.9 usually) helped seal their fate.

Regardless of circumstances, Miami should take heart in their big night.  A win like this always feels good on your home court, even if your fans are leaving early on account of lopsided win.  With their next five games on the road, Miami needed a confidence booster.  Houston find themselves in a limbo kind of place.  Ming is back next season, but speedy recovery from an injury referred to as “career threatening” will be difficult.  McGrady probably won’t be in a Rockets uniform much longer – all the better for a Rockets team happy to be rid of his baleful influence & monster contract. 

Orlando, 2/8/10 – With a high-flying & age-defying performance Monday night, “Vinsanity” was back.  Magic fans, on lookout for Vince Carter’s wild side since his arrival in an off-season trade, finally saw the player they’d hope would replace the departed Hedo Turkoglu, & help Orlando back to Finals glory.  The Hornets, who got Carter’s 48 points up their nose with a rubber hose while blowing a 17 point lead, looked more like the Bumblebees.  Falling to the Magic 123-117, they lost their fourth in five games since point guard All-Star point guard Chris Paul went down with a knee injury.

Daytona Beach, Florida native Carter had been having a rough go of it since returning to the Sunshine State.  Seeing his per-game scoring drop by more than four points (20.8 to 16.5) since donning a Magic uniform, many thought the 33 year old was beginning to circle the drain career-wise.  January, were he managed a measly 6.8 points per game, was especially cruel.  Therefore, whatever VC did (extra sleep, lucky socks, blood sacrifice maybe?) to produce this kind of outbreak, the Magic are hoping he keeps doing it.

“It was a great feeling,” Carter said. “When you’re rolling like that for your team, it’s a great feeling.”

So yeah, he shot 70% from the field & 60% from downtown.  Even better, he scooped up seven rebounds along the way.  The kicker though, is seeing that that all this was accomplished in just 38 minutes of playing time.  Love him or hate him, you just gotta give the man his propers.  Magic center Dwight Howard’s huge night – 25 points, 12 boards, & 4 blocks – would usually be the storyline, but here functions more as a pleasant side note for Orlando, who have won nine of their last eleven.

Sweet-shooting Serb Peja Stojakovic lead the Hornets with 29 points, & strong support by two other hive-members kept things interesting almost until the end.  Power forward David West clocked 27 points, but only four rebounds - his usual rebounding touch (7.5 per game) seemingly absent.  Rookie Darren Collison, who the Hornets rely on to provide some of what they’re missing with Chris Paul out, put in 27 points.  Collison also had nine assists – and four turnovers, showing that he should take every opportunity possible to learn from the hyper-efficient CP3

Even as they lost a tough one, the Hornets showed some class & gave it up for Carter.

“He was unbelievable,’” Stojakovic said. “He made some really tough shots over two guys or three guys.”

“That was good defense on him for the most part,” West said. “We just couldn’t keep him contained.”

Considering their recent slump, such displays of sportsmanship are refreshing – especially in pro sports.  However, as play-off spots in the sink-or-swim West settle into place, New Orleans will be without their team leader for at least the next 4-6 weeks, as Paul recuperates from left knee surgery.  Predictions?  Rough seas ahead and no play-offs this season – leading to an off-season of soul searching for a team that once promising endless potential.