BAMAPHIN 22
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Shaquille O'Neal repeated the words often, perhaps only to provide himself much-needed reassurance.
The phrase?
"I've been in this situation before," O'Neal kept saying after practice Tuesday, 18 hours or so removed from the debacle that was Miami's effort in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against New Jersey.
And yes, O'Neal has been in this situation -- a 1-0 hole in a playoff series -- before, 12 other times to be exact. His teams have rallied to prevail in only three of those series, and if the Heat want to be the fourth entry on that list, they could certainly use a victory in Game 2 on Wednesday night.
"It's nothing to be worried about," O'Neal said. "It's nothing to panic about. We just know that we didn't do anything right last night."
The Nets jumped on the Heat early in Game 1, feasting on nine first-quarter turnovers on the way to building a 17-point edge after 12 minutes, and eventually wound up with a 100-88 victory that New Jersey guard Jason Kidd said only looked easy.
"It's never easy on the road against a very talented team like Miami," Kidd said. "It's never easy. They missed a lot of easy shots."
While Miami is vowing to bring a different level of effort in Game 2, New Jersey will probably take on a different look as well -- although it's a change the Nets would prefer not to make.
Forward Richard Jefferson has a bone bruise on his right ankle, an injury that kept him sidelined for the final 22 minutes of the series opener and will likely leave him sidelined on Wednesday night; he's listed as doubtful.
"We just have to hold it down until he gets back, if that's the case. ... His health is first," said Nets guard Vince Carter, who scored 27 points in Game 1. "For selfish reasons, we'd like to have him out there, pull a Willis Reed or something, but his health is more important. We'd rather have him for the seven-game series than Game 2."
http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=90807
The phrase?
"I've been in this situation before," O'Neal kept saying after practice Tuesday, 18 hours or so removed from the debacle that was Miami's effort in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against New Jersey.
And yes, O'Neal has been in this situation -- a 1-0 hole in a playoff series -- before, 12 other times to be exact. His teams have rallied to prevail in only three of those series, and if the Heat want to be the fourth entry on that list, they could certainly use a victory in Game 2 on Wednesday night.
"It's nothing to be worried about," O'Neal said. "It's nothing to panic about. We just know that we didn't do anything right last night."
The Nets jumped on the Heat early in Game 1, feasting on nine first-quarter turnovers on the way to building a 17-point edge after 12 minutes, and eventually wound up with a 100-88 victory that New Jersey guard Jason Kidd said only looked easy.
"It's never easy on the road against a very talented team like Miami," Kidd said. "It's never easy. They missed a lot of easy shots."
While Miami is vowing to bring a different level of effort in Game 2, New Jersey will probably take on a different look as well -- although it's a change the Nets would prefer not to make.
Forward Richard Jefferson has a bone bruise on his right ankle, an injury that kept him sidelined for the final 22 minutes of the series opener and will likely leave him sidelined on Wednesday night; he's listed as doubtful.
"We just have to hold it down until he gets back, if that's the case. ... His health is first," said Nets guard Vince Carter, who scored 27 points in Game 1. "For selfish reasons, we'd like to have him out there, pull a Willis Reed or something, but his health is more important. We'd rather have him for the seven-game series than Game 2."
http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=90807