Late start + Heat loss = bad mood

The Miami Heat's Udonis Haslem scrambles for a loose ball by the Thunder's Kevin Durant.

Reach for that fourth cup of joe Wednesday? You’re not alone. The late start to Heat games is making us tired, cranky and less productive at work, a sleep specialist says.

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BY ADAM H. BEASLEY
ABEASLEY@MIAMIHERALD.COM
At coffee shops and bagel joints across South Florida Wednesday, two major gripes more or less summed up the region’s general sense of malaise:

1. Does the Heat have anyone who can cover Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook?

2. Why the heck do they start these NBA Finals games so late?

Mornings after any Heat playoff loss are sour in these parts, but Wednesday’s mood was particularly bleak. Sleep deprivation piled on top of disappointment and anger has that effect. READ MORE HERE

Even Thunder fans are enamoured with LeBron James

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Miami Heat are Eastern Conference Champs

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Miami Heat defeats Boston Celtics in Game 7, advances to NBA Finals. Face Oklahoma City in Finals after tense Game 7 victory against the veteran Celtics

BY JOSEPH GOODMAN
JGOODMAN@MIAMIHERALD.COM
The series comeback complete, LeBron James turned to Dwyane Wade and gave his teammate a hug. Around them an arena shook with excitement but their faces bared no emotion.

For them, there was nothing to celebrate. There was only more focus.

The Heat defeated the Celtics 101-88 on Saturday in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals. After trailing Boston 3-2 in the best-of-7 series, Miami won two consecutive games to earn its second East championship in a row.

Now it’s onto Oklahoma City and the NBA Finals where the Heat hopes to silence the ghosts from last year’s collapse to the Dallas Mavericks. READ MORE HERE

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Free Think Tank Photo Laptop Case with Every Roller

 Think Tank Photo has had such a strong response that they are extending the “Buy a Rolling Camera Bag/Get a Free Laptop Case” promotion through Father’s Day, June 17. When you buy one of the rolling bags (e.g. Airport Security, Airport International), you receive an Artificial Intelligence 15 or 17 laptop bag for free. If you are looking for a gift for Father’s Day you can purchase Think Tank Photo Gift Certificates.

Will Bosh be back for Game 5 Tonight?

The Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade reacts after missing the three pointer to end the game in overtime.

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The Celtics Keyon Dooling celebrates after hitting a three pointer in the second quarter.

ESPN reported that Chris Bosh likely will be activated for Tuesday night’s Game 5, but Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said nothing is definite. 

BY BARRY JACKSON 
BJACKSON@MIAMIHERALD.COM 

Facing a resilient, resurgent opponent with championship pedigree, the Heat hopes a return home and a possible return of Chris Bosh can deliver a sorely needed boost. 

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The Heat is hopeful Bosh will be able to play in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals on Tuesday night, barring any red flags in his workouts in front of coach Erik Spoelstra. But Spoelstra cautioned Monday, “It’s premature to say he’ll definitively play.”    Read more here:

Celtics Beat Up on Heat in Boston

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EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS | CELTICS 101, HEAT 91 (HEAT LEADS SERIES 2-1)  

Garnett, Rondo help host Celtics cut Miami Heat’s series lead LeBron James scored 34 points, but Kevin Garnett was too much for the Heat, which fell in Game 3 to the desperate Celtics.

BY JOSEPH GOODMAN
JGOODMAN@MIAMIHERALD.COM
BOSTON -- This is likely the final postseason for Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen in Celtics green. You just knew this city and its rocking and rambunctious arena wasn’t going to let those guys get out of town without one more seismic home-court victory in the playoffs.

Two days after handing the Celtics a demoralizing defeat in the Eastern Conference finals, the Heat watched its 2-0 series lead get cut in half Friday night at TD Garden. For Garnett, Allen and Paul Pierce, the energy inside the building was like a steroid pumped directly into old legs. The place vibrated like a tin-roofed shed in a category-3 storm.
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Miami Heat Advance to Eastern Conference Finals

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by Charles Trainor Jr. and Al Diaz

Dwyane Wade leads Miami Heat over Indiana Pacers to advance to Eastern Conference Finals

Dwyane Wade scores game-high 41 points, grabs 10 rebounds as Heat  closes out Pacers in six to return to Eastern Conference finals



BY JOSEPH GOODMAN
JGOODMAN@MIAMIHERALD.COM
INDIANAPOLIS -- This was Dwyane Wade’s very best — his Ninth Symphony, his Ulysses, his roundhouse, double-legged dropkick from the top rope.

In a rough-and-tumble second-round series that featured blood and flagrant fouls, cheap shots and suspensions, Wade delivered the final blow Thursday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

He scored 41 points in the decisive game of the series, leading the Heat into the Eastern Conference finals with a 105-93 victory against the Pacers.

Although the series was peppered with hard fouls and trash talk throughout, there was none of that in the final game. There was just a whole lot of Wade doing things that reminded all that watched of the 2006 NBA Finals and delivering a performance that will live forever.
READ MORE HERE.

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by Charles Trainor Jr. and Al Diaz