Game Time

Who: Heat (26-22) @ Sixers (24-24)

What: A very evenly matched game with the Heat coming into Philly to take on the now Elton Brand-less Sixers. As everyone now knows, Brand will have season-ending surgery to fix the shoulder that has given him problems for six weeks. The Sixers need to overcome the loss by playing sound basketball and keeping the team atmosphere that has helped them get back to the .500 point after an ugly start to the season.

Miami comes in playing up and down basketball, pretty much in the same fashion as the Sixers. One night they can look insanely good, the next can be a pain to watch. Dwyane Wade will pose problems on the Sixers unless they use their wingmen to counteract him. Look for Iguodala to be matchup with Wade all night. Though, it may not mean much, the guy is so good.

Where: Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, PA

When: 7pm, CSN Philly

Why (The Sixers need this win): Basically to show everyone they can keep winning without Brand and that the Sixers can hang with anyone in the East. This would be a nice statement win for Iggy and the Stooges, and would push them closer to both Detroit and Miami for the five and six seeds, respectively.

How (The Sixers will win): By containing Wade to the best of their abilities, most likely by keeping a long arm in front of him. While its impossible to stop him completely, keeping him from going off will help. I know im not saying things that aren't already known, but Wade is one of the best scorers in the game, and the rest of the Heat team is struggling in that department.

Also, keep running! Try and speed past the Heat and finally, the team will be over .500.