Of course, the Heat was helped significantly with Jazz forwards Carlos Boozer and Andrei Kirilenko sidelined by injuries. Also, Deron Williams was slowed by hip pain.
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We've had some conversations with him (Boozer) about it ... And, look: As far as I'm concerned, I feel Carlos wants to be here. And as far as we're concerned we certainly want him to be here, and then we're going to address it accordingly.
As kids, we played with the same rusty playground equipment Carlos Boozer used back in the day
Now that I look back at the ’04 experience, it was a blessing to myself ... LeBron, Dwyane and also Carlos Boozer, we were at America’s lowest point in ’04 … and now we’re sitting here because we did a hell of a job putting American basketball back where it’s supposed to be, which is at the top of the world.
You know, a lot of the reaction to that team in 2004 was unfair ... That ’04 was a team that was put together because other people didn’t want to go. You had to ask certain younger guys like myself, LeBron, Carmelo, Carlos Boozer onto the team. It was just a team that we thought we were going to go over there to Greece and win. This team knows we have a very tough task. But we also understand that we have the ability and talent to win.
With Shawn Marion and the Heat expected to resume contract talks shortly, several teams including the (Los Angeles) Clippers and Golden State have expressed an interest in acquiring him. The issue, though, will be whether any offers will be more appealing than keeping Marion long-term or allowing his deal to expire next summer to sign Utah's Carlos Boozer.
If I continue to grow as a player and develop, I'd like to be a player like Carlos Boozer who's able to bang, pull rebounds and mix it up a little bit ... I'm looking forward to getting to work in the gym and becoming the best player I can be.
They've been physical. They've been outhustling the Lakers ... And also, too, (Carlos) Boozer woke up, and Deron Williams has just been fantastic, really, his leadership. They got into their fast-break game and, so, give Utah some credit.