Well, I'm not usually one too get overly excited about regular-season losses, but this one has me a bit disappointed. Not because I'm worried about Miami catching us, and not even because SA picked up another game on us. It has more to do with the fact that I think we missed a chance at dealing Miami a major psychological blow. I don't think we're a lot worse off for the loss, but I do think the Heat are much better off for the win. Three quarters of really outstanding basketball wiped out by a lousy last quarter.

On the last play, Tay actually played Wade as well as possible. What had me a bit annoyed is that Wade should never have shot the ball. I was shouting at my television screen that you have to take the ball out of his hands there. A high double, whatever. You can't let the star beat you. Make Haslem hit a jumper. Hopefully Flip learned something from this.

My other issue (like many on this board) is for about the last half of the fourth quarter we should have been throwing the ball to 'Sheed in the post. Neither Haslem nor Walker has any chance against him down there. The other thing I would like to see is, when Dyess and 'Sheed are in the game together, to take more advantage of Shaq's unwillingness to leave the paint.

I am with everyone else on Delfino. I was one of the most vocal critics of him last year, but he is proving me wrong. After watching him play Pierce, Kobe, and now Wade, I'm convinced that the guy is the real deal defensively. I'm not ready to put him on the all-defensive team, but he's physical and also fundamentally very good. He's not afraid to get right up into a guy, a little bit like Hunter. In fact, the bench made a very solid contribution in general.

Well, we'll see what happens from here on out, but I think we gave Miami a breath of life.