--F James Jones got the start at small forward over F Jamario Moon. Jones ended with nine points and four rebounds and four fouls. "I don't know if it made a difference, negative or positive," G Dwyane Wade said. "When you lose, everything looks negative."
--F Jamario Moon wasn't upset he didn't start Game 1. That honor went to F James Jones, who was making just his second start of the season. "It makes it better when you can come off the bench because you can sit here and get a feel for the game," Moon said.
Perhaps he was rationalizing, but at least he wasn't complaining and causing a problem.
--The Heat is back in the playoff after a one-year hiatus. Actually, Miami's last playoff appearance was a disaster. It was 2007, and the defending champion Heat, which won just 44 games, was swept by Chicago in the first round.
Things were different this season, however.
"I wasn't sure if we had a playoff-contending team," Heat president Pat Riley said. "You just don't know with injuries and health. But everything has gone very well."
Owner Micky Arison, who runs Carnival Cruise Lines as his day job, said he's not shocked by the job rookie head coach Erik Spoelstra has done.
"I think he's done a fantastic job," Arison said.
By the way, Arison picked the Heat in six games over Atlanta.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "If I had a choice to double-team Dwyane (Wade), I'd double-team him from the side. If you double-team him from the top, he has too much room to hurt you. If you can put him in a box, that's the best way to guard him. And you still can't stop him." -- Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins, the former Atlanta Hawks superstar.
