Which I’m sure we all need after that BS (and I don’t mean Bachelor of Science) last night. It was so horrendous that I don’t think there’s any amount of talking (on our parts or  any of the Heat players) that can help. I’m only interested in one thing: How will the guys respond Friday night at AAA? We need the win, but more importantly we need our guys to bounce back from that manhood-reducing slap across the face they just took from the Celtics in Game 2.

We’ll see how that goes soon enough, but here’s a thought I just had: Is making sure we get one of the Top Level free agents REALLY the best way for the Heat to go this summer? Everyone (including myself—at least up until now) thinks that’s what the team needs to Contend. Pat Riley has promised that to prospective season ticket buyer, but maybe—just maybe—there’s a better approach. Am I crazy? Maybe, but just hear me out.

Here’s what we know: Dwyane Wade is solid enough to get the Heat into the Playoffs if it’s just him on the team with some guys from the local Y (okay, that MAYbe a bit of an exaggeration, but you get my point).

Here’s what we don’t know: 1) What if NONE of the top free agents end up leaving their current teams? 2) What if none of the guys who are willing to come to Miami is a good fit? 3) What if the only way we can get a Top Level guy is to pay him a MAX contract that he may not (and probably won’t) ever truly earn? 4) What if we get a MAX level guy who is worth the money but turns out to be a locker room cancer?

One thing Pat Riley has been during his tenure is fiscally responsible. He hasn’t handed out bad contracts that the team regretted a year or two down the road. We need him to maintain that consistency.

The alternative? Rather than try to look for a MAX guy, sign him, and then try to convince one other REALLY good player to come to Miami for less money than he’ll get on the market, what if the Heat could get 3-4 really good players for the same price as a MAX guy and a bargain-priced borderline All-Star? Think about it. One of the things we want to happen coming out of this summer is to be in or really close to Contention. None of the recent Champions, save the Lakers of Kobe and Shaq, have had two MAX contract guys on a team that won a Ring, so maybe MAX contract for Wade + MAX contract for Bosh, Stoudamire, Boozer, or whomever ≠ a Heat Championship.