This was supposed to be a much improved defensive back court after Tim Hardaway took his fragile feet to Dallas.

How could it not be with a more mobile, energetic defender like Anthony Carter?

Yet the Heat's perimeter defense has been as bad through the first 12 games as it has in years. Opposing guards are scoring almost at will, a major factor in the Heat's eight-game losing streak.

Saturday against Cleveland, Andre Miller, who had a triple-double against the Heat on Nov. 2, scored 21 points and had 12 assists. Wesley Person had 25 points and 14 rebounds.

The game before that, Dallas' Steve Nash scored 22 points and Michael Finley had 15. Minnesota's starting back court of Wally Szczerbiak and Terrell Brandon combined for 41 points on 18-of-29 shooting last Tuesday, and Charlotte's Baron Davis and David Wesley combined for 44 points one game earlier.

"Our perimeter players, from a defensive standpoint, all year long, have been sort of a problem," Heat coach Pat Riley said. "We're just not getting the kind of defense from the back court or the perimeter players that we need to be consistent."