All Business As Heat Look To 2nd Round
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Over the last two years, not having Dwyane Wade in the lineup for a playoff game would have been cause for concern for the Miami Heat. This year, a much-deeper Heat squad had a message for the injured Wade, don't worry, we'll take care of this.
Sunday, the Heat completed a first-round sweep of the Milwaukee Bucks even with Wade reduced to being just a spectator. All four of the Heat's wins in the first round came by double-digits over a Bucks team that was playing hard but simply couldn't match up with the talent of the Heat.
LeBron James did the lion share of the work on Sunday, scoring 30 points, pulling down eight rebounds, and seven assists. Ray Allen continued to play excellent basketball scoring 16 points and pulling down seven rebounds. Allen reached double figures in three of the four games of the Bucks series.
Even Mario Chalmers, who struggled mightily from the field, still contributed to the win with eight rebounds and six assists.
"We're a good basketball team. That's nothing that's a secret," Wade said. "We're not a one-man show, a two-man, a three-man (show). We're a basketball team."
Those words should strike fear in opponents because as long as the Heat continue to play as a team, it's going to be almost impossible for any team to beat the Heat four times in seven games.
The Heat are also going to get an entire week off to rest. The Heat won't play again until Saturday at the earliest against the winner of the Brooklyn-Chicago first-round series. It's crucial time Wade needs to get his knee feeling better. But Miami won't be sitting on South Beach sipping drinks during the break.
"That won't be a problem," James said. "We've got an opportunity to rest because we took care of business, but our business is not done. The only thing we guaranteed ourselves is the next round. That's it."
Miami's fourth victory of the playoffs has them one-quarter of the way to successfully defending the team's NBA championship. Despite their star-studded roster, the Heat have little use for individual accolades or accomplishments right now. They have one goal in mind, and one goal only, and it will take the entire team to achieve it.
"I'm glad to get this," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "It's the first step in our journey. Hopefully, a long journey."
The sweep in the first-round series was the first sweep in the Big Three-era in Miami. Dating back to last season, Miami has won eight straight postseason games, which ties a franchise record. Finally, LeBron James scored at least 30 points for the 54th time in the postseason, second to Kobe Bryant among active players.
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