Christmas Day Games Afterthoughts: Miami Heat vs. New York Knicks

(click here for recap)
The first of five games on the NBA schedule on Christmas Day. It was a pretty close game for the first half, but the Heat managed to create some separation late in the second quarter. The Heat's 10 point cushion lasted until the final minutes of the fourth quarter, when the Knicks came rumbling back to get within three.

• Dwayne Wade put up another signature monster stat-line: 30points (11-21), 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals. He had was hitting from all over the floor in the fourth quarter, effectively neutralizing the Knicks final rally. And did you see that dunk in the last frame? Ridiculous.
• Michael Beasley is playing with so much more confidence than last year, and proving his worth as last year's #2 draft pick. The Knicks just could not figure out how to stop his lefty drives today, and Beasley capitalized on his opportunities with drives to the hoop and some mid-range jumpers. Beasley finished the game with 19 points, but not much else (2 rebounds, 0 assists/steals/blocks).
  
• David Lee, you have to love the guy. On a night when the entire team was struggling to put the ball in the rim, Lee was the only consistent source of buckets. His awareness of the ball, excellent hands, and touch around the rim make up for any lack of athleticism he might have. Lee finished with 19points and 16 rebounds.
  
• Nasty. That's all I can really say about Al Harrington's outing. He (and the rest of the Knicks) spent much of the night bombing away from behind the arc. When he did decide to attack the rim, good things happened... it's too bad he didn't figure that out til the final two minutes. 12 points on 5-20 shooting...blehh
  
• I can't decide whether I like Danilo Gallinari or not. He's got a real smooth stroke from long range, and when the threes weren't falling, he hit the lane. At 6'10" with a shooting guard's game, he can pretty much shoot over whoever's manning him up. But this guy's craftiness reminds me of Ginobilli. His little number on Q-rich at the end of the 4th was shady- smart? yes... but still shady. Danilo had a pretty good outing with 26 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists.
  
• D'Antoni - I think Nate's learned his lesson. Let Kryptonate play!
  

All in all, the game wasn't much excitement until the last couple of minutes. For a game featuring D'Antoni's "uptemo" offense, the game felt pretty slow.