CORAL GABLES, Fla.—

As the Miami Heat’s lone representative at the Monday meeting that led to a hardened players’ stance in the NBA lockout, James Jones insisted he did not stand alone.

Instead, as secretary-treasurer of what formerly had stood as the players’ union, Jones said Tuesday that he cast the Heat’s vote against the NBA’s latest proposal after canvassing almost the entire roster.

“I spoke to the majority of the guys, just about all of ‘em,” Jones told the Sun Sentinel.

Jones said at no point in the process, which ended with the union electing to file a “disclaimer of interest” and disband, did he act against the interest of any of his Heat teammates.

“Our players elected our team officials and our reps to go up there and speak on their behalf and that’s what I did,” Jones said.

Forward Chris Bosh, who attended Tuesday’s University of Miami-Rutgers game and spoke to a pair of South Florida reporters during the first half, said he also understood the Heat’s vote to be unanimous.

“I don’t like it,” Bosh said of the nasty turn in the negotiations that led to the filing of antitrust complaints Tuesday in Minnesota and California. “I don’t think anybody likes it. But sometimes when you’re doing business it’s so hard to kind of draw the line and work together.”

Bosh praised Jones’ efforts, but said it still is difficult to comprehend an entire season could be lost.

“It’s still kind of weird not playing, because I’ve always played in November,” he said. “So it’s feeling real out of place.”

He said it would not be a stretch to believe the Heat’s signing of himself, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in the 2010 offseason contributed to the league’s belief that the work rules had to change.

“I think so,” he said.

But he said efforts to block such an approach are misguided.

“I mean, if you look at the free agents coming up in the same situations, with Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, Deron Williams, they can control their own fate,” he said. “They have the power to control that and I think that’s a great thing. In any job you want freedom to negotiate.

“With us doing what we did, and Carmelo going to the Knicks, I think that has a lot to do with it. Hopefully we can keep that and guys can come and go and make the deal that’s best for them and their family.”

Bosh said he is not currently considering overseas options.

“I guess for me personally, it’s probably when the whole season is (lost), if it gets to that point,” he said. “If it gets to that point where there is no chance there is a season, then I might consider it. But even then a lot of things have to happen.”

Instead, his next overseas appearance could come in the 2012 London Olympics, with Wade and James already having committed.

“Absolutely,” he said. “I’ve been looking forward to the experience ever since we had it the last time. We’ve been talking about it for years and it’s been four years already.”

Jones said his work with the players’ association is essentially over.

“It’s out of our hands now,” he said. “It’s in the lawyers’ hands now. And anything regarding that stuff is best answered by them.”

iwinderman@tribune.com, Twitter @IraHeatBeat

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The NBA’s Most Valuable Player attempted two shots in the fourth quarter Sunday.

Let that marinate: Two shots for Bulls guard Derrick Rose in 12 minutes of one of the most important games of his young career.

In back-to-back games, the Heat’s defense has dominated Rose and his Bulls in a close final period in the Eastern Conference finals. Rose attempted four shots in the fourth quarter of Game 2 and made none. It might be the difference in the series. Sunday’s loss gave Chicago its first consecutive defeats since early February.

Rose built his MVP résumé this season on strong efforts in the fourth quarters of games. More specifically, his fourth quarters against the Heat during the regular season helped him win the award. What has been the key to containing the youngest MVP in league history?

“I don’t know,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Monday, a practice day for the Heat and an off day for the Bulls. “It’s a whole lot easier said than done.”

Spoelstra played coy Monday for obvious reasons. With a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-7 series, the Heat can take a commanding lead Tuesday with a win at AmericanAirlines Arena.

“He’s a great player,” Spoelstra said. “He’s an MVP player. [Rose] will have opportunities on every single possession.”

But he has not. Chicago’s Rose is wilting. Forward LeBron James, the MVP the two seasons before Rose won the award, said Monday that the Heat is playing its best defense of the season. That defense begins with stopping Rose, and the game plan for limiting him will remain the same Tuesday.

‘head of the snake’

“He’s the head of the snake,” Heat guard Dwyane Wade said. “We understand as he [goes], they go. If we can slow him a little bit then that’s what we want to do.”

The Heat has used a mixture of double teams and traps to contain Rose on the perimeter. When he penetrates the lane, the Heat’s help defenders have been quick to close off angles to the rim and force difficult shots.

“We’re just trying to keep him out of the paint,” Heat reserve Mario Chalmers said.

For much of Sunday’s game, guards Chalmers and Mike Bibby served as the Heat’s first line of defense against Rose. In the fourth quarter, the Heat went with Wade and James as on-the-ball defenders and limited Rose to just one shot in the paint.

“We just have to keep bodies in front of him and be athletic,” Spoelstra said.

Said Wade: “Our only job is to make sure when he comes to the basket to make it tough on him. We’re just trying to put bodies in front of him.”

Wade added that the Heat has used different defenders against Rose in an attempt to “wear him down” for late-game scenarios. It has worked. Rose was 1 of 6 from the field in the fourth quarters of Games 2 and 3. On Monday, Chris Bosh called Wade the perfect one-on-one defender against Rose for late-game scenarios.

“Dwyane can gap him a little bit more and give him a little more space because he can time his jumper a little better — because Dwyane’s bigger and he’s just as quick and just as fast as [Rose] is,” Bosh said. “When Dwyane is motivated to stop somebody, he does a pretty good job.”

He’s on his own

Rose didn’t receive much help offensively late in the previous two games of the series. Chicago reserve forward Taj Gibson (17 points) has outscored the rest of the Bulls combined (13 points) in the fourth quarters of the Heat’s back-to-back wins. In that fact, Wade said he and James can relate to Rose and his plight.

“That’s the reason why we’re playing together,” Wade said. “After so many years of that, you want to do something else.”

There is the quick update of the day.

Philadelphia 76ers´ Andre Iguodala (9) slides past Miami Heat players Chris Bosh (1) and Joel Anthony (50) during the first half of Game 2 of the first-round NBA playoff basketball series in Miami, Monday, April 18, 2011. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)
Foto: AP

Philadelphia 76ers´ Evan Turner (12) tries to block a pass to Miami Heat´ LeBron James (6) during the first half of Game 2 of the first-round NBA playoff basketball series in Miami, Monday, April 18, 2011. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)
Foto: AP

Philadelphia 76ers´ Evan Turner tries to get around Miami Heat´s Joel Anthony (50) for a two point shot during the first half of Game 2 of the first-round NBA playoff basketball series in MIami, Monday, April 18, 2011. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)
Foto: AP

Miami Heat´s LeBron James (6) drives up against Philadelphia 76ers´ Evan Turner during the first quarter of Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoff basketball series, Monday, April 18, 2011 in Miami. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)
Foto: AP

Philadelphia 76ers players Elton Brand (42) and Louis Williams (23) try to block Miami Heat´s Dwayne Wade (3) from taking a shot during the first half of Game 2 of the first-round NBA playoff basketball series in MIami, Monday, April 18, 2011. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)
Foto: AP

Philadelphia 76ers´ Andre Iguodala (9) slides Miami Heat players Dwyane Wade (3) and Anthony Joel (50) during the first half of Game 2 of the first-round NBA playoff basketball series in MIami, Monday, April 18, 2011. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)
Foto: AP

Philadelphia 76ers´ Jodie Meeks (20) drives past Miami Heat´s Zydrunas Ilgauskas during the first quarter of Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoff basketball series, Monday, April 18, 2011 in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Foto: AP

Philadelphia 76ers´ Elton Brand, left, looks for an opening past Miami Heat´s Chris Bosh (1) during the first quarter of Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoff basketball series, Monday, April 18, 2011 in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Foto: AP

Miami Heat´s Dwyane Wade (3) brings the ball down the court during the first quarter of Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoff basketball series against the Philadelphia 76ers, Monday, April 18, 2011 in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Foto: AP

Philadelphia 76ers´ Thaddeus Young, right, attempts to steal the ball from Miami Heat´s Mike Miller during the first quarter of Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoff basketball series, Monday, April 18, 2011 in Miami. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)
Foto: AP

Philadelphia 76ers´ Andre Iguodala, right, goes up for a shot against Miami Heat´s LeBron James (6) during the first quarter of Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoff basketball series, Monday, April 18, 2011 in Miami. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)
Foto: AP

Miami Heat´s Dwyane Wade dunks the ball during the first quarter of Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoff basketball series against the Philadelphia 76ers, Monday, April 18, 2011 in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Foto: AP

Miami Heat´s Dwyane Wade (3) goes up for a shot against Philadelphia 76ers´ Elton Brand (42) during the first quarter of Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoff basketball series, Monday, April 18, 2011 in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Foto: AP

Miami Heat´s LeBron James, rear, goes up for a shot against Philadelphia 76ers´ Spencer Hawes (00) and Evan Turner, foreground, during the first quarter of Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoff basketball series, Monday, April 18, 2011 in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Foto: AP

What are your opinions.

MIAMI (AP) — Dwyane Wade’s migraine “nightmare” ended in time for Game 2 of the playoffs.

Wade was in the lineup for the second game of Miami’s Eastern Conference first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night, one day after missing practice with a migraine headache. Wade returned to the team for its Monday morning shootaround, wearing lenses to protect his eyes from bright light — a headache trigger — while doing some shooting.

Wade elected to play without the glasses.

“He’s had these before and he’s not the only one on our team. We’ve learned a lot more about migraines with him and James Jones having to deal with it,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “So he’s able to manage it as well as you possibly can.”

Wade played through a headache in Game 1 and scored 17 points, the last five coming in the final 94 seconds to help Miami seal the win. He told the team before Saturday’s game that he was not feeling great, though he played 35 minutes in Game 1 without any obvious problems.

On Sunday, he awoke with a migraine. Wade made his first public comments about his latest bout with migraines Monday afternoon on Twitter, thanking people “for the support as I go (through) these migraine nightmares.”

“Very encouraging,” Heat forward LeBron James said after seeing Wade on Monday morning. “We want to be as close to full strength as possible.”

The 76ers expected Wade to play, and coach Doug Collins even had some comedy ready for the news that the 2006 NBA finals MVP was back at practice.

“I have a set of cymbals that every time he runs by the bench, I’m slashing them,” Collins said. “And I went out and bought the brightest flashlight I could find, and every time I get eye contact I’m shooting it at him. He’s going to be great. He always is. He’s a lot like (Michael Jordan). I think his mental capacity to fight through these things is off the charts and we expect him to be terrific.”

Migraines have bothered Wade since his childhood, and have flared up at least twice this season.

He missed a Heat game against Toronto on Jan. 22 with the headaches, returning to the lineup five nights later in Madison Square Garden against the New York Knicks sporting a pair of orange-tinted goggles to protect his eyes from light. Wade made 13 straight shots from the field in one stretch with the glasses, though he said afterward that he found them awkward at times.

The migraines have typically shown up about once every couple years, which makes the issue even more befuddling for Wade, since he’s never been able to identify the exact triggers. He missed a game in January 2005 with a migraine and many practices during college at Marquette with the problem, though never had to sit out for a headache before turning pro.

“He’s as tough of a guy I’ve ever seen playing through sprains, bumps, bruises, hip-checks, all of these things,” Spoelstra said. “A migraine is a completely different affliction. People who’ve never had one before, including myself, we can’t relate. My father used to get them all the time and it’s a scary ailment.”

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MIAMI — One of Dwyane Wade’s biggest rivals is back, at the worst possible time for the Miami Heat.

Wade did not practice Sunday because of symptoms of a migraine, a problem that has plagued him for years and kept him out of a game earlier this season. His status for Game 2 of Miami’s Eastern Conference first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday is unclear, prompting at least some mild concern for the Heat.

“He’ll be here,” predicted Heat forward LeBron James.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra didn’t go out on that limb, saying that it’s “too soon” to know if the 2006 NBA finals MVP will be available when Miami gathers for practice Monday morning to complete preparations for Game 2.

Wade told the team that he felt a headache coming on Saturday afternoon before Miami’s 97-89 victory, playing 35 minutes without any obvious discomfort. Wade scored 17 points in that game, five of them in the final 1:34 as the Heat held off a huge comeback attempt by the 76ers.

“We’ll have to see how he feels at the end of the day,” Spoelstra said. “We really wanted to be proactive right now and keep him rested and take medicine and we’ll go from there.”

So while there was some worry at Miami’s practice, the 76ers seemed totally loose at the end of their session. A few players shot free throws in flip-flops after the workout, others tried 20-footers with their non-shooting hand.

If the 76ers are nervous about the prospects of getting into a two-game hole — the Philadelphia franchise has lost all 16 series in which it’s faced an 0-2 deficit — it didn’t show.

“The younger guys, they’re not getting frustrated. They don’t even get it. They’re happy to be here, out here playing,” said 76ers forward Elton Brand. “The older guys, we’re saying we need to attack the rim. We need to put the onus on the refs to call it.”

Much as it was Saturday, foul shooting remained key in Philadelphia’s thoughts on Sunday.

Here’s the good news for the 76ers: They’ve held the Heat under 50 percent shooting all four times they’ve played this season. Here’s the bad news: They’ve lost all those games.

Gotta run!.

MIAMI (AP) — One of Dwyane Wade’s biggest rivals is back, at the worst possible time for the Miami Heat.

Wade did not practice Sunday because of symptoms of a migraine, a problem that has plagued him for years and kept him out of a game earlier this season. His status for Game 2 of Miami’s Eastern Conference first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday is unclear, prompting at least some mild concern for the Heat.

“He’ll be here,” predicted Heat forward LeBron James.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra didn’t go out on that limb, saying that it’s “too soon” to know if the 2006 NBA finals MVP will be available when Miami gathers for practice Monday morning to complete preparations for Game 2.

Wade told the team that he felt a headache coming on Saturday afternoon before Miami’s 97-89 victory, playing 35 minutes without any obvious discomfort. Wade scored 17 points in that game, five of them in the final 1:34 as the Heat held off a huge comeback attempt by the 76ers.

“We’ll have to see how he feels at the end of the day,” Spoelstra said. “We really wanted to be proactive right now and keep him rested and take medicine and we’ll go from there.”

So while there was some worry at Miami’s practice, the 76ers seemed totally loose at the end of their session. A few players shot free throws in flip-flops after the workout, others tried 20-footers with their non-shooting hand.

If the 76ers are nervous about the prospects of getting into a two-game hole – the Philadelphia franchise has lost all 16 series in which it’s faced an 0-2 deficit – it didn’t show.

“The younger guys, they’re not getting frustrated. They don’t even get it. They’re happy to be here, out here playing,” said 76ers forward Elton Brand. “The older guys, we’re saying we need to attack the rim. We need to put the onus on the refs to call it.”

Much as it was Saturday, foul shooting remained key in Philadelphia’s thoughts on Sunday.

Here’s the good news for the 76ers: They’ve held the Heat under 50 percent shooting all four times they’ve played this season. Here’s the bad news: They’ve lost all those games.

It’s not the shots the 76ers are defending that are deciding their games against Miami. It’s the ones they can’t contest – the ones from the foul line – that are making the difference. Miami holds a 127-61 lead in free throws taken in its series with Philadelphia this season, including a 39-15 edge in Game 1.

“You’ve got to put that ball on the deck and drive in there and you’ve got to get some contact,” Philadelphia coach Doug Collins said. “So we’re going to keep trying to do that. That’s obviously an area we’d like to be better. But we scored 42 points in the paint yesterday, so it wasn’t like we were launching jumpers.”

Fouls – for and against – have been a season-long issue for the Sixers. They were 26th in the 30-team NBA in free throws taken this season, while Miami ranked third in that department. And while the 76ers had three players get called for fouls more than 200 times during the regular season, Wade was Miami’s leader with 197.

“They have athletes that attack that goal,” Brand said. “We don’t attack as much as those guys going to dunk the ball at the rim. So there’s going to be a disparity. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, they cause havoc, and (Chris) Bosh underneath, stuff like that. They’re going to get more fouls than us. We just have to be more aggressive.”

If Wade cannot go on Monday, the Sixers obviously catch a huge break. And if Wade does play, he may have to wear goggles again to protect his eyes from bright lights – one major migraine trigger.

Wade wore goggles with an orange tint when Miami faced the New York Knicks on Jan. 27, around the time of his last known fight with migraines. He made 13 straight shots from the field during one stretch of that game, finishing with 34 points in a 93-88 loss.

The Heat have clearance from the NBA if Wade has to wear the goggles Monday.

Even with Wade in the lineup, Philadelphia held all three of Miami’s stars to under 50 percent shooting Saturday, with James going 4 for 14 and Bosh 8 for 17. James and Bosh did combine for 25 rebounds and a 22-for-25 showing at the foul line.

James acknowledged that if he has to do more Monday, that’s fine.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge,” James said.

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

What do you guys think about this.

MIAMI (AP) — One of Dwyane Wade’s biggest rivals is back, at the worst possible time for the Miami Heat.

Wade did not practice Sunday because of symptoms of a migraine, a problem that has plagued him for years and kept him out of a game earlier this season. His status for Game 2 of Miami’s Eastern Conference first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday is unclear, prompting at least some mild concern for the Heat.

“He’ll be here,” predicted Heat forward LeBron James.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra didn’t go out on that limb, saying that it’s “too soon” to know if the 2006 NBA finals MVP will be available when Miami gathers for practice Monday morning to complete preparations for Game 2.

Wade told the team that he felt a headache coming on Saturday afternoon before Miami’s 97-89 victory, playing 35 minutes without any obvious discomfort. Wade scored 17 points in that game, five of them in the final 1:34 as the Heat held off a huge comeback attempt by the 76ers.

“We’ll have to see how he feels at the end of the day,” Spoelstra said. “We really wanted to be proactive right now and keep him rested and take medicine and we’ll go from there.”

So while there was some worry at Miami’s practice, the 76ers seemed totally loose at the end of their session. A few players shot free throws in flip-flops after the workout, others tried 20-footers with their non-shooting hand.

If the 76ers are nervous about the prospects of getting into a two-game hole – the Philadelphia franchise has lost all 16 series in which it’s faced an 0-2 deficit – it didn’t show.

“The younger guys, they’re not getting frustrated. They don’t even get it. They’re happy to be here, out here playing,” said 76ers forward Elton Brand. “The older guys, we’re saying we need to attack the rim. We need to put the onus on the refs to call it.”

Much as it was Saturday, foul shooting remained key in Philadelphia’s thoughts on Sunday.

Here’s the good news for the 76ers: They’ve held the Heat under 50 percent shooting all four times they’ve played this season. Here’s the bad news: They’ve lost all those games.

It’s not the shots the 76ers are defending that are deciding their games against Miami. It’s the ones they can’t contest – the ones from the foul line – that are making the difference. Miami holds a 127-61 lead in free throws taken in its series with Philadelphia this season, including a 39-15 edge in Game 1.

“You’ve got to put that ball on the deck and drive in there and you’ve got to get some contact,” Philadelphia coach Doug Collins said. “So we’re going to keep trying to do that. That’s obviously an area we’d like to be better. But we scored 42 points in the paint yesterday, so it wasn’t like we were launching jumpers.”

Fouls – for and against – have been a season-long issue for the Sixers. They were 26th in the 30-team NBA in free throws taken this season, while Miami ranked third in that department. And while the 76ers had three players get called for fouls more than 200 times during the regular season, Wade was Miami’s leader with 197.

“They have athletes that attack that goal,” Brand said. “We don’t attack as much as those guys going to dunk the ball at the rim. So there’s going to be a disparity. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, they cause havoc, and (Chris) Bosh underneath, stuff like that. They’re going to get more fouls than us. We just have to be more aggressive.”

If Wade cannot go on Monday, the Sixers obviously catch a huge break. And if Wade does play, he may have to wear goggles again to protect his eyes from bright lights – one major migraine trigger.

Wade wore goggles with an orange tint when Miami faced the New York Knicks on Jan. 27, around the time of his last known fight with migraines. He made 13 straight shots from the field during one stretch of that game, finishing with 34 points in a 93-88 loss.

The Heat have clearance from the NBA if Wade has to wear the goggles Monday.

Even with Wade in the lineup, Philadelphia held all three of Miami’s stars to under 50 percent shooting Saturday, with James going 4 for 14 and Bosh 8 for 17. James and Bosh did combine for 25 rebounds and a 22-for-25 showing at the foul line.

James acknowledged that if he has to do more Monday, that’s fine.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge,” James said.

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Not much else going on in the NBA world today.

MIAMI (AP) — One of Dwyane Wade’s biggest rivals is back, at the worst possible time for the Miami Heat.

Wade did not practice Sunday because of symptoms of a migraine, a problem that has plagued him for years and kept him out of a game earlier this season. His status for Game 2 of Miami’s Eastern Conference first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday is unclear, prompting at least some mild concern for the Heat.

“He’ll be here,” predicted Heat forward LeBron James.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra didn’t go out on that limb, saying that it’s “too soon” to know if the 2006 NBA finals MVP will be available when Miami gathers for practice Monday morning to complete preparations for Game 2.

Wade told the team that he felt a headache coming on Saturday afternoon before Miami’s 97-89 victory, playing 35 minutes without any obvious discomfort. Wade scored 17 points in that game, five of them in the final 1:34 as the Heat held off a huge comeback attempt by the 76ers.

“We’ll have to see how he feels at the end of the day,” Spoelstra said. “We really wanted to be proactive right now and keep him rested and take medicine and we’ll go from there.”

So while there was some worry at Miami’s practice, the 76ers seemed totally loose at the end of their session. A few players shot free throws in flip-flops after the workout, others tried 20-footers with their non-shooting hand.

If the 76ers are nervous about the prospects of getting into a two-game hole — the Philadelphia franchise has lost all 16 series in which it’s faced an 0-2 deficit — it didn’t show.

“The younger guys, they’re not getting frustrated. They don’t even get it. They’re happy to be here, out here playing,” said 76ers forward Elton Brand. “The older guys, we’re saying we need to attack the rim. We need to put the onus on the refs to call it.”

Much as it was Saturday, foul shooting remained key in Philadelphia’s thoughts on Sunday.

Here’s the good news for the 76ers: They’ve held the Heat under 50 percent shooting all four times they’ve played this season. Here’s the bad news: They’ve lost all those games.

It’s not the shots the 76ers are defending that are deciding their games against Miami. It’s the ones they can’t contest — the ones from the foul line — that are making the difference. Miami holds a 127-61 lead in free throws taken in its series with Philadelphia this season, including a 39-15 edge in Game 1.

“You’ve got to put that ball on the deck and drive in there and you’ve got to get some contact,” Philadelphia coach Doug Collins said. “So we’re going to keep trying to do that. That’s obviously an area we’d like to be better. But we scored 42 points in the paint yesterday, so it wasn’t like we were launching jumpers.”

Fouls — for and against — have been a season-long issue for the Sixers. They were 26th in the 30-team NBA in free throws taken this season, while Miami ranked third in that department. And while the 76ers had three players get called for fouls more than 200 times during the regular season, Wade was Miami’s leader with 197.

“They have athletes that attack that goal,” Brand said. “We don’t attack as much as those guys going to dunk the ball at the rim. So there’s going to be a disparity. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, they cause havoc, and (Chris) Bosh underneath, stuff like that. They’re going to get more fouls than us. We just have to be more aggressive.”

If Wade cannot go on Monday, the Sixers obviously catch a huge break. And if Wade does play, he may have to wear goggles again to protect his eyes from bright lights — one major migraine trigger.

Wade wore goggles with an orange tint when Miami faced the New York Knicks on Jan. 27, around the time of his last known fight with migraines. He made 13 straight shots from the field during one stretch of that game, finishing with 34 points in a 93-88 loss.

The Heat have clearance from the NBA if Wade has to wear the goggles Monday.

Even with Wade in the lineup, Philadelphia held all three of Miami’s stars to under 50 percent shooting Saturday, with James going 4 for 14 and Bosh 8 for 17. James and Bosh did combine for 25 rebounds and a 22-for-25 showing at the foul line.

James acknowledged that if he has to do more Monday, that’s fine.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge,” James said.

That’s all for today guys, i’ll be back to blog you tomorrow.

MIAMI – One of Dwyane Wade’s biggest rivals is back, at the worst possible time for the Miami Heat.

Wade did not practise Sunday because of symptoms of a migraine, a problem that has plagued him for years and kept him out of a game earlier this season. His status for Game 2 of Miami’s Eastern Conference first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday is unclear, prompting at least some mild concern for the Heat.

“He’ll be here,” predicted Heat forward LeBron James.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra didn’t go out on that limb, saying that it’s “too soon” to know if the 2006 NBA finals MVP will be available when Miami gathers for practice Monday morning to complete preparations for Game 2.

Wade told the team that he felt a headache coming on Saturday afternoon before Miami’s 97-89 victory, playing 35 minutes without any obvious discomfort. Wade scored 17 points in that game, five of them in the final 1:34 as the Heat held off a huge comeback attempt by the 76ers.

“We’ll have to see how he feels at the end of the day,” Spoelstra said. “We really wanted to be proactive right now and keep him rested and take medicine and we’ll go from there.”

So while there was some worry at Miami’s practice, the 76ers seemed totally loose at the end of their session. A few players shot free throws in flip-flops after the workout, others tried 20-footers with their non-shooting hand.

If the 76ers are nervous about the prospects of getting into a two-game hole — the Philadelphia franchise has lost all 16 series in which it’s faced an 0-2 deficit — it didn’t show.

“The younger guys, they’re not getting frustrated. They don’t even get it. They’re happy to be here, out here playing,” said 76ers forward Elton Brand. “The older guys, we’re saying we need to attack the rim. We need to put the onus on the refs to call it.”

Much as it was Saturday, foul shooting remained key in Philadelphia’s thoughts on Sunday.

Here’s the good news for the 76ers: They’ve held the Heat under 50 per cent shooting all four times they’ve played this season. Here’s the bad news: They’ve lost all those games.

It’s not the shots the 76ers are defending that are deciding their games against Miami. It’s the ones they can’t contest — the ones from the foul line — that are making the difference. Miami holds a 127-61 lead in free throws taken in its series with Philadelphia this season, including a 39-15 edge in Game 1.

“You’ve got to put that ball on the deck and drive in there and you’ve got to get some contact,” Philadelphia coach Doug Collins said. “So we’re going to keep trying to do that. That’s obviously an area we’d like to be better. But we scored 42 points in the paint yesterday, so it wasn’t like we were launching jumpers.”

Fouls — for and against — have been a season-long issue for the Sixers. They were 26th in the 30-team NBA in free throws taken this season, while Miami ranked third in that department. And while the 76ers had three players get called for fouls more than 200 times during the regular season, Wade was Miami’s leader with 197.

“They have athletes that attack that goal,” Brand said. “We don’t attack as much as those guys going to dunk the ball at the rim. So there’s going to be a disparity. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, they cause havoc, and (Chris) Bosh underneath, stuff like that. They’re going to get more fouls than us. We just have to be more aggressive.”

If Wade cannot go on Monday, the Sixers obviously catch a huge break. And if Wade does play, he may have to wear goggles again to protect his eyes from bright lights — one major migraine trigger.

Wade wore goggles with an orange tint when Miami faced the New York Knicks on Jan. 27, around the time of his last known fight with migraines. He made 13 straight shots from the field during one stretch of that game, finishing with 34 points in a 93-88 loss.

The Heat have clearance from the NBA if Wade has to wear the goggles Monday.

Even with Wade in the lineup, Philadelphia held all three of Miami’s stars to under 50 per cent shooting Saturday, with James going 4-for-14 and Bosh 8 for 17. James and Bosh did combine for 25 rebounds and a 22-for-25 showing at the foul line.

James acknowledged that if he has to do more Monday, that’s fine.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge,” James said.

There is the quick update of the day.

ATLANTA – Contently, Heat guard Dwyane Wade leaned back in his chair inside the visiting locker room at Philips Arena on Monday night and offered an easy smile. Finally, it was over.

Moments earlier, Wade received news that the Celtics had lost to the Wizards in overtime. The Heat’s playoff opponent for the first round was set (Philadelphia) and Miami had earned home-court advantage for at least the first two rounds of the playoffs.

A few feet to Wade’s left, teammate LeBron James was relaxing as well, surrounded by a few reporters and answering questions introspectively with a carefree attitude rarely seen this season. James was a reporter himself after Monday’s game as he followed the Celtics-Wizards game on his mobile phone and relayed the updated scores to his teammates.

“You think about everything we’ve gone through this year,” James said. “It took us 81 games to get to this point. It was just about staying the course, staying the course.”

The Heat’s plans for Wednesday night’s game against Toronto — the final game of the regular season — changed drastically in an instant when James shouted aloud the final score of the Wizards victory over the Celtics: 95-94. The Heat (57-24) now has the option to rest its starters for a game that cannot affect its playoff seeding.

The Heat assumed its final road swing of the regular season would feature two important games to determine its spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Before departing Miami, coach Erik Spoelstra told his team to approach the two-game stretch like the final two games of a playoff series. Wade packed accordingly.

No longer required to give maximum effort Wednesday, Wade was adjusting to the new scenario on the fly.

Apparently, Wade didn’t pack enough clothes in the event the Heat clinched the No. 2 seed Monday, which it did. Before even leaving Philips Arena, Wade was thinking about sitting out Wednesday’s game as an inactive player. He turned to Chris Bosh in the locker room and asked him if he had an extra suit.

Wade then joked that he might have a conversation with Spoelstra about sitting out Wednesday’s game. The Heat held an optional practice Tuesday at Air Canada Centre in Toronto, and all indications point to the Heat resting its starters against the Raptors on Wednesday night.

“We have a little time to enjoy this, just because of how far we’ve come since November, when we were 9-8,” James said. “It was less than a month ago when we lost five in a row. We just continued to grind. I give a lot of credit to [Spoelstra] and a lot of credit to our coaching staff for keeping us in tune.”

Although giving the night off to the Heat’s Big 3 would be the conservative move, Miami can finish the regular season with the third-best record in the NBA with a victory. That could prove important should the Heat meet the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals.

The Mavericks (56-25) play the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday. A Heat loss and a Mavericks victory would give Dallas home-court advantage if the teams meet in the NBA Finals.

Entering Tuesday, only the San Antonio Spurs (61-19) and Chicago Bulls (60-20) had better records than the Heat, meaning the Bulls would hold home-court advantage if they play the Heat in the Eastern Conference finals.

The playoffs, which begin Saturday, were on the minds of the Heat’s players before Monday’s game in Atlanta. Heat forward James Jones talked with reporters about the difficult matchups both the Sixers and Knicks could present. Jones said the Sixers’ youthful energy would be difficult to overcome in a long series.

What are your opinions.

TIM REYNOLDS, AP Sports Writer

POSTED: Monday, March 14, 2011

UPDATED: 10:32 pm CDT March 14, 2011

What do you guys think about this.

Dwyane Wade said Zydrunas Ilgauskas should stop being so cheap.

Ilgauskas missed his second game in a row Monday night due to an infection in his foot. He stepped on a nail at his home last week, which eventually forced him to spend two nights in the hospital for treatment. On Sunday, Wade joked that the accident wouldn’t have happened if Ilgauskas had hired someone to do construction around his house during the basketball season.

“It’s not the time for that, Big Z,” Wade said.

Ilgauskas is questionable for Wednesday’s game against the Thunder — the Heat’s finale in a six-game home stretch. Little-used reserve center Jamaal Magloire has received minutes while Ilgauskas has been away.

Ilgauskas spent his first night in the hospital Sunday and was supposed to be released Monday morning but then stayed another night. The infection was caused by a minor scratch from a nail that punctured the sole of Ilgauskas’ shoe. He played with the injury Saturday against the Grizzlies.

“He is at home resting right now,” coach Erik Spoelstra said before Monday’s game. “We’ll have to wait and see until he gets back in gear.”

Guards galore

The Heat faced an elite point guard in Tony Parker on Monday and must prepare for another when the Thunder’s Russell Westbrook arrives Wednesday.

Heat point guards Mario Chalmers and Mike Bibby will take turns guarding Westbrook. Chalmers recently has played in the first and third quarters while Bibby comes in the second and fourth quarters.

“Those are two of the best point guards in the West and they’re both super athletic and super quick and they do a very good job of running within their system,” forward Chris Bosh said. “We just have to support our guys. We know that they’re good players and they’re going to play well for us and we just have to encourage those guys to stay in front of their man and we’re going to help them as much as possible when it’s time.”

Ginobili reflects

The Heat’s Big 3 and the Spurs’ core of Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan and Parker have their similarities but how each team’s nucleus was created couldn’t be more different. Ginobili, born in Argentina, reflected on the Spurs’ grassroots growth since he joined the team in 2002.

“I got here in 2002 with plenty of doubts, not knowing exactly what my role was going to be or who I really was going to become in the NBA,” Ginobili said. “And I bet that Tony was very optimistic about his career, but he never thought that he was going to be a three-time All-Star — win three championship rings, stuff like that. So, it just happened slowly and then we became very important for this franchise and we built this core group.”

Bosh said the Heat’s core will eventually enjoy the same team chemistry as the Spurs, but he added that it isn’t happening this season.

“It’s going to happen eventually here,” Bosh said. “It’s not going to happen this year. You have to go through different trials and tribulations, and you just have to stick together.”

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