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Sports Agenda for Thursday (4/12/12)

Big Story:
The Panthers playoff push begins in 24 hours, the Miami Heat desperately need a road win against the Chicago Bulls, some words of wisdom on Ryan Tannehill, and the Marlins, yikes, get spanked in Josh Johnson's second start.

Lyrics of the Day:
"When you were young and your heat was an open book. You used to say live and let live. But in this ever changing world in which we live in makes you give in and cry….say Live and Let Die" – Paul McCartney, and when he does this song live….WOW!!!!!

Miami Heat: (@ Chicago Bulls, 8 p.m., Sun Sports/TNT)
It's hard to label a game for the Heat as must win, but I honestly think tonight's game is a must win.
To put it bluntly, the Heat have sucked on the road this season.
For a team hoping to go deep in the playoffs, that simply isn't going to cut it.
I think Spoelstra should try something radically different with the lineup.
I say we put LeBron, all 6'8" of him, and make him the starting point guard.
That allows you to start an extra shooter in Shane Battier.
Let's face it, LeBron is the league's best passer and he's arguably one of the best defenders in the game.
Here's how you could run the substitutions:
Starters – LeBron, PG; D-Wade, SG; Shane Battier, SF; Chris Bosh, PF; Ronny Turiaf, C
Bench in order of need – Mike Miller, SG/SF; Mario Chalmer, PG; Udonis Haslem, PF/C; James Jones, SF/SG; Joel Anthony, C; Terrel Harris SG; Juwan Howard, PF
Rotate those guys through and you have interchangeable pieces that can really turn the heat up on guys defensively off the bench.
Your starting lineup could probably average around 80 points a night if things go well.
I just think LeBron is the best distributor, so make him the point.
After all, he's the best passer at that position since Magic Johnson during the Lakers heyday.
Man, I'd love to watch that lineup run like that.

Miami Marlins: (@ Philadelphia, 7:05 p.m., Fox Sports Florida)
OUCH.
That's about the best way I can describe Josh Johnson's second start of the season.
It's clear he's still not completely back after missing most of last season.
He's got an ERA north of 8 and the Marlins bats were stymied by Roy Halladay.
Guh.
I know it's early, but I'm concerned about JJ returning to form.
He was serving up big stinking cheese last night and the Phillies were a giant mouse looking for dinner.
Tonight, we get the second career NL start from Mark Buehrle.
He pitched well last week, but got no offensive help.
If Johnson continues to struggle, I move Buehrle up to number one in the rotation and try to get Johnson extra rest, like the Mets are doing with Johan Santana.
Also, watch Giancarlo Stanton.
I'm guessing he'll be headed to the disabled list soon for his knee issue.
How about this, the Marlins 3-5 starters in the rotation have the lowest ERA's on the team.
I think Buehrle will pitch well tonight, but the Marlins bats had better wake up or it will be all for naught.

Miami Dolphins:
Former Baltimore Ravens coach Brian Billick brought up a good point on ESPN today.
He said that he and the Ravens had one player in the 2007 Draft as the highest rated position ever on their draft board.
It wasn't All-Pro wide receiver Calvin Johnson though.
It was NFL bust Jamarcus Russell.
Let's face it, outside of Andrew Luck and RGIII, the other quarterbacks in the draft are unknowns.
That being said, if the Fins staff believes in Ryan Tannehill, go get him.
But if you're just hoping he falls to you, that's not exactly a ringing endorsement.
Look at the Redskins…
They wanted RGIII, they knew what they had to pay to get RGIII, and they went and got RGIII by trading into the second spot of the draft.
That's what good staffs do.
If Tannehill isn't a sure bet for the Fins staff, look elsewhere, because he has a limited amount of production in college.
Course if you draft him as a quarterback and it doesn't work out, you've got a great possession receiver in house with him as well.
I'm still thinking the Dolphins are leaning defense with that pick, namely a pass rusher opposite Cameron Wake.
As the Giants proved last season, you can never have enough pass rushers in the NFL.
If they draft someone like Melvin Ingram of South Carolina or someone like him, that's gold.
Line them up opposite each other standing up in a 3-4 or with their hand down in a 4-3 and tell them, go sack the quarterback.
Problem solved on defense.
Then, make the trade and draft Brandon Weeden, who I think will make a good, not necessarily great, quarterback either in the second round or at the end of the first round.
QB and DE/OLB with first two picks.
Draft a wide receiver or offensive lineman in the third.
Then look for depth in the later rounds.

T-Minus around 33 hours until the Panthers start their playoff run!!!

All that and more on CBSMiami.com/sports
Follow me on Twitter @timkephart33
Also follow @cbsmiami for all the latest news as it happens.

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