Trick - No Treat

Heat open up season with disappointment

So, we get our rings, everyone is laughing and giggling and showing off their hard fought bling and then they all went home for the night.

Maybe it was because it was Halloween. Maybe the real Heat players did go home after the ring ceremony and let imposters take the court - fans dressed up as their favorite Heatians - to take on the Bulls. The Bulls were only looking for treats and pulling tricks.

Riley had moaned and groaned about concerns about a lack of focus and intensity. Nothing big, but just enough to make the papers. I just chalked it up to coach speak.

And listen, let's not go crazy here, it is one game. But there is something alarming to take note of - this Heat team looks old and lifeless.

It isn't just Shaq, but Gary Payton looks slower and confused. Walker looks like a barrel dropped off a moving truck. Posey didn't get enough playing time. Zo looked like he was off a little.

Riley didn't make the right moves quick enough - this new NBA is built on perimeter games with lithe, quick guards who can get away with murder as long as they don't travel. And that really means, not taking more than three steps...

The Bulls got a big boost with 17 free throw attempts in the 1st quarter. Short of some sort of conspiracy, needless to say it didn't help the Heat. But they didn't exactly help themselves - the 2nd quarter on the Heat burned out. Quicker than it began.

And the Heat 'faithful' was all but gone by the 3rd quarter, emptying out quicker than if the AAA was on fire. It certainly wasn't the Heat that was lighting the place afire, but the Bulls' shooting.

On this night, it looked like the rings went to the wrong team. But it is just one game. One game, in fact, that will end up landing Jalen Rose on this roster. It isn't official, yet, but it is hard not to believe Riley is on the phone with Rose's agent finalizing this deal before Shaq gets out of the shower.

We'll see. The Heat looked lifeless, except for Wade who provided his usual big stunning, larger-than-life plays. But he can't do it alone and if he is forced to, this team's repeat will be over before it can really begin.

Heat adding Rose?

Jalen Rose was waived by the NY Knicks at a tune of $15M dollars. Another brilliant move by GM/Coach Isiah Thomas that yielded Rose after dealing away Antonio Davis, whose contract has since expired, has now decided against keeping Rose on the roster.

Yet here in south Florida, speculation has begun about the possibility of Rose landing on the Heat's roster. Riley has always seemed to like Rose's talents, and his potential for creating mis-matches on the floor.

"He's a very skilled player," Riley said. "He's still young, I think, at 33 years old. So he is capable. He's very capable, we know that. But he has to be at the right place at the right time."

Riley has been rumored to have attempted trading for Rose in the past, and has been an admirer of his skills for sometime. These comments seem to indicate that Riley not only knows of Rose's availability, but would welcome signing him. Usually, he is known to distance himself from speculation about a player, but in this instance that does not seem so.

Also of note, to possibly force connections here, Rose covered the Heat as a special reporter for Fox Sports during the Finals last season and seemed to get along very well with the team.

If anything is going to happen, it could happen as soon as Wednesday when Rose will officially be eligible to sign with any team. Signing with the Heat would make him the second ex-Knick to come on down to south Florida on Thomas' nickle. The last being Shandon Anderson, whom Thomas is still paying - $8M for this season.

Last Minute Deal in the Works?

With Monday's 6pm deadline only a few days away, it seems Riley is playing a little roulette. There are only 2 spots left on the championship roster, but three candidates - Vincent Grier, Chris Quinn and Robert Hite. All are deserving of a spot, and Riley reflected as much in recent interviews.

Grier is a rangy, physical defender that can create turnovers and cover twos and threes in this league. He could be a Askins type defender, and since Keith is a coach on this staff, it is a good possibility he learns some tricks of the trade.

Quinn looks like a sharp PG prospect. He has excellent ball-handling skills, very good court vision and crisp passing abilities. He is quick to move the ball, and set up the offense by finding an open man or creating open looks. Several times in the game against the Rockets on Wednesday, he played a successful two man game with the Rockets' defense.

Hite looks like the second coming of Eddie House. And we all know that Riley tried to make a play for House's services this summer. He has microwave-like offense, and is uber-athletic with lots of energy. Most likely, Hite would be an offensive option inserted at the 2 or even the 1.

Yet, recent comments have forced some speculation about a possible trade in the works:

"I think all three are deserving. Between now and then maybe we can work something out with another team about doing something to open up a roster spot."

So who would Riley package in a trade? Kapono is target #1. Signed to an extension, Riley has openly praised his three point shooting and his defensive improvements. It seems like a set up. Riley is most likely trying to maximize the value he has built into Kapono in order to get something to work. But if he wants to create and open spot on the roster, he needs to deal a second player. Who would that be? Who would give Riley a commodity that could yield a trade? And who would Riley target and what position?

A PG?

A SG?

We will have to stay tuned over the weeked to see what is up Riley's sleeves.

Heat trim down roster by 2

Tonight the Heat released Antonio Burks and Daniel Horton. Which means that Vincent Grier, Chris Quinn and Robert Hite survive - if only for another night.

It seems like Quinn and Hite are going to make this final roster, as the Heat need a PG to spot Gary while Jason Williams is rehabbing his knee. Quinn is most ready for point guard duties, but Hite offers more athleticism and offense. Grier, a physical defender and slasher, is a long shot considering the Heat have enough swingmen for their needs right now.

The Heat wrap up their preseason with a game at home in Miami tonight against the Houston Rockets on ESPN.

Who hears a Horton? Heat preseason "tryouts"

Well, folks, it is that time of year again. On the eve of the final preseason matchup, where our Heat face the up-and-coming Magic in Orlando, there will be something to play for - a roster spot.

Right now, it seems that the final spot on the 15 man roster is up for grabs and there are basically three men in the race - Antonio Burks, Chris Quinn and Robert Hite.

Burks was signed away from the Grizzlies, and was expected to contend for the backup-backup PG spot the Heat need to fill (Jason Williams won't be back from knee surgery until mid-November). Yet, some serious competition arose along the way.

Quinn, the Fighting Irish alumnus is battling along with Robert Hite, the ex-Cane, for that spot that was all but assured to Burks.

Hite is displaying an electric offensive touch, scoring efficiently and effectively all preseason. He dropped 25 points on 10-14 shooting in only 25 minutes against the Grizzlies while Quinn had a solid game scoring 4 points with 5 assists and one turnover.

There was much speculation about the guys being brought in - Vincent Grier and Daniel Horton are all but forgotten now - and their possibility of making the championship squad. It will come down to a final showing against Orlando tomorrow night. Stay tuned, but it looks like Hite has emerged as the favorite, with Riley speaking very highly of him and his athleticism and quickness.

It wouldn't be the first time a Cane made the Heat's roster - Tim James and Darius Rice being others who paved the way, but neither could stick.

Heat add Antonio Burks

The Heat singed Antonio Burks, formerly of the Memphis Grizzlies, to a one-year $744K deal that is not guaranteed. He will have to make the team to earn the full worth of the contract.

But with Jason Williams estimating his return to be sometime in mid-November, and Gary Payton as the incumbent starter (at the ripe old age of 39), there will be plenty to motivate Burks besides the money including playing time at the start of the season for the defending champs as they begin the year banged up.

The six foot 195lb Burks played at Memphis in college as well, and as a pro was able to get some solid minutes at around 10 per game to display his developing skills. He is a quick, athletic point guard that seems to be able to score the ball pretty effectively at the NBA level. Per 40 minutes, based on his 2 seasons as a pro, he estimates to have a 9.4 PPG average along with 5.3ASTs to 2.4TOs.