--After sitting out two games due to his suspension for his preseason fight with Pistons rookie forward Jonas Jerebko, backup center Jamaal Magloire will be eligible to return for Sunday's home game against the Chicago Bulls. While he sets up as the Heat's third-string center, behind starter Jermaine O'Neal and emerging reserve Joel Anthony, Magloire stands as reliable bulk against the likes of Shaquille O'Neal, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Dwight Howard and Kendrick Perkins, players the Heat faces in the season's opening month. "You know what you're going to get with him," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "You're going to get toughness. You're going to get defense. You're going to get communication. He's going to bring it. Guys like playing with him, because he's going to knock bodies around. "He does the things that make other people better and the things that coaches like from where we're sitting," said Spoelstra.
--With Jermaine O'Neal getting off to a surprisingly solid start, perhaps last February's Shawn Marion trade with the Raptors could yet turn into a winning proposition for the Heat. O'Neal certainly is encouraged.
"I'm not going to say by any means that I've arrived," he said. "I'm not going to be able to jump as high as I was jumping at 23, but I'm pretty sure anybody that was drafted in my class can tell you they're not jumping and running as fast. But I feel good."
O'Neal, at 31, is not going to singlehandedly win games for the Heat this season. And there likely still will be uneven moments. But if he can positively contribute in a significant percentage of games this season, then the buying-time strategy with his acquisition might yet prove to be a winning strategy.
--It turns out the flu symptoms that kept F James Jones from making the trip for Friday's game were nothing more than a stomach virus.
"Hopefully, it'll be a 24-hour deal," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "But he went to the doctor immediately. We sent him home and he's feeling better."
Spoelstra said there was increased awareness amid league-wide concerns of swine flu.
"I would say it was probably more immediate," Spoelstra said. "Sometimes we might say, 'How does a guy feel?' and kind of leave it up to him if he wants to fight through it."
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It was gratifying. To have this feeling here hasn't happened very often for us." -- Coach Erik Spoelstra, after the Heat ended a string of 17 consecutive losses at Conseco Fieldhouse.
Play Basketball Hot Streak and win prizes!
