Chris Bosh vs Blazers, highlights

One of the best games of his career, Bosh at his best.

GAME WINNING 3!

Deng looks for a more consistent season

Amid seemingly nonstop turbulence, the Heat were fortunate to have someone as reliable as Luol Deng last year. He spent more time on the court than any other player, a significant feat given that hardly anyone could stay healthy, and steadied them at both ends of the court.

For Deng, though, last season felt like trying to solve an algebra problem while the numbers kept changing. It was difficult enough adjusting to a new system and new teammates after a decade with Chicago, and that process became far more arduous as injuries forced Miami to shuffle its rotation.

“It’s very hard to judge what I can do from last year,” Deng said. “It was a year where you saw Luol Deng at his best and Luol Deng at his worst. There wasn’t consistency … As long as we keep the group together and everyone is healthy, you’ll be able to see a more consistent me.”

As long as he stays healthy, this season should be better. Deng, 30, has a stronger grasp of what coach Erik Spoelstra wants from him and a better handle on playing with guys like Dwyane Wade and Goran Dragic, plus his teammates have a clearer understanding of how to best utilize Deng’s natural abilities.

“He’s just more comfortable,” Wade said. “Does that mean there’s gonna be an explosion in his production? No one knows that, but I think mentally he’s in a better place.

“I want to take a lot more 3s this year,” Deng said. “I’m shooting a lot every day to make it more a part of my game. I’m challenging myself to get my percentage even higher this year.”

If Deng gets better from 3 and gets back to the game that made him one of the elite small forwards in the NBA, he could be even more important to the Heat than he was last season.

Bird training hard

"He lost some weight so he's a little bit less of a weight load on his joints, which is so essential as you get further in your career. He's lighter, he's quicker, I think he's stronger and ultimately can play faster," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.

Wade mentoring Winslow

When striving for success in life, you always need someone to help guide you there. Its no different in professional basketball. Even the great ones like D.Wade had someone help them get to point they are now. Former Heat players like Caron Butler and Alonzo Mourning mentored Wade when he first came in the league. And now D.Wade is doing the same for Justise Winslow.

Right after Friday's practice, Wade spent about 20 minutes teaching Winslow what he learned about post moves. David Fizdale, who has work with Wade on post moves since 2008, also helped. They both ran Winslow through a number of post situations he'll face depending on the defense.

However, its going to be different in the game. Especially against great defenses, it going to take.....

“Patience,” Wade says. “You want to get down there and you want to go. But you have to have patience in the post. The best players, they have all the patience in the world and they get you to do what they want you to do (Heat.com).

Of course, this doesnt mean Winslow will become as good as Wade is in the post in one day. It'll take time. Wade says he became a good post player at the age of 27 and if Winslow gets it down at age 21 he'll be "ahead of the curve." Most young players at Winslow's age, don't normally focus on working on their post moves until they start losing some of their athleticism and speed. So Its great to see at young player like Winslow willing to learn early from one of the greats.

This is what Heat fans envisioned when the Heat drafted Winslow. And its another reason, besides Wade's importance to the franchise, why the Heat did everything they could to bring Wade back

News #1

Hassan Whiteside (right calf strain), Chris Bosh (illness) & Amar'e stoudemire (rest) all missed today's team practice.

Spo on guys missing practice: "The workload has been pretty heavy. We just want to make sure everyone is taking positive steps forward."

Whiteside on his calf strain: "The pain went away. I'd say I'm at about 70-75%."

Chris Andersen, tattoos

Andersen is known for brightly colored tattoos on his arms, chest, neck, back, hands and legs. His first tattoo was given as an eighteenth birthday gift by his mother, who has some body art of her own from her tenure in the Bandidos Motorcycle Club. Andersen's regular tattoo artist, Denver-based John Slaughter, estimates he has inked 75 percent of his body. He showed off those tattoos in PETA's "Ink Not Mink" ad campaign to protest the fur industry.