It’s all just a big pie fight, really. The softish Miamis (we need a plural in there somwhere) slide into the 2 seed in the East.

Why is everyone so excited for the opportunity to be the valet to Kobe’s Gloria James pimp slap?

The gutless Miami Heat turned in another gutless performance worthy of their gutless season. They lost to the very un-good team in Cleveland, 102-90.

But that’s not the best part.

LeBron missed the player introductions. Presumably to avoid the cascade of boos to inevitably rain down upon the once favorite son of Ohio.

Oh wait. Nope. LeBron says he was in the bathroom.

Dear Heat fans,

The sky is once again falling. Oklahoma City – while hot – should not be clowning you in your own gym. 96-85, Thunder. 

Here at our fine and noble digital archipelago, we are standing by our prediction that the Miami Heat will not represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals come June. Today, however, this is a braver stance than it was when Miami was finding more Faberge eggs than wins.

Now the Heat are, well, hot.

Your final from last night: Miami 110, San Antonio 80.

Miami need this game more than Los Angeles. That much was stipulated on these virtual pages before the game. And thus, the Heat – on the verge of total collapse – beat the Lakers 94-88. It ended a 5-game losing streak for Miami, and snapped an 8-game winning streak for LA. The Heat also swept the season series from Kobe and Co.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

We love sports because they present real human drama in easily-consumed portions at regularly scheduled times. No two teams have enjoyed more real human drama this season than the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers. Frankly, the Heat – losers of their last five – need this more than the Lakers – winners of their last eight. And the game will be played tonight in Miami, so maybe there’s an advantage there for the sputtering Heat.

Basketball is a team game that is sometimes transcended by individual brilliance. But not always:

Miami found a new way to lose to a good team, this time wasting splendid offensive nights from Dwyane Wade (38 points) and LeBron James (31 points) in a 105-96 defeat to Portland at AmericanAirlines Arena.
- Miami Herald

That’s five in a row, for those of you scoring at home.

Adrian Wojnarowski writes about the NBA for Yahoo Sports. Adrian has done excellent reporting on the continuing relationship between Isiah Thomas and the New York Knicks. Today, Adrian joined Robert to recap a pretty heavy weekend in the NBA. Podcast after the jump.

Let’s compare the Heat – the self-declared dynasty of the next 7 seasons – with the Lakers, the current champions.

1) Would Phil Jackson ever, ever, ever, EVER let the media know one of his players was so upset they were crying after a regular season loss? Erik Spoelstra just did, after his Heat team lost their 4th in a row.

2) Would any of the current Lakers – including the acknowledged emotional volcano that is Ron Artest – ever, ever, ever, EVER be moved to weep openly after a regular season loss?

It’s March, people. The Heat are in tears?

Frank Isola covers the Knicks for the New York Daily News. The Knicks, with new acquisitions Chauncey Billups and Carmelo Anthony, just went down to Miami and beat the Heat. Eyebrows are now raised across the Eastern Conference. Podcast of the conversation with Robert and Frank after the jump.