Eddie Jones, The Return?

Eddie Jones, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal, has been bought out by the Grizzlies. He was then waived to make room for Will Conroy, who was signed to a 10 day contract.

What this means: It's obvious. A Heat reunion could be the order here. EJ is good friends with Dwyane Wade and some of the other Heat players, but his obvious pain of being traded away left a bitter taste in his mouth. Perhaps Riley coming to EJ and begging him to return may smooth things over. It also may be a move to help save the Heat's season. Which would only add to the appeal of EJ's return.

Stay tuned...

Heat Gone SOFT!

Leadership Void Evident

Oh boy, if General Patton was alive to see this - would he have a field day. Probably would just end up choking on his cigar. Both he and good old Red Auerbach for that matter.

Patton once was credited with saying, "Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way." Seems the Heat are in desperate need of guidance themselves.

The Heat are lost without Riley, that much is clear. You can say all you want about how a coach is overrated, that players win games, etc. You would be right only if that team had an established leader, because the only way this team gets out of its rut is by the grip of a strong leader. Perhaps around the back of their collective necks before they collectively choke themselves.

The Heat have obviously underachieved. No wait, grossly underachieved. And spare me the injury BS. I am a Heat fan, I have been watching games and keeping track of injuries. Heck, sometimes it feels like the injury announcements are more important than the stats of the opponents. Scouting goes out the window in favor for a diagnosis. That is the sad state of the Heat these days.

Yet, I can't help but sense that it is all an excuse anyway. If the Heat were, say, 25-19, would the injuries be mounting as much? Would I instead be writing a blog about their ability to overcome adversity?

Instead, I am writing this blog, about how the Heat have gone soft and have been underachieving all season. To the point it is ridiculous.

It isn't quite on par with say, Einstein picking his nose in the back of pre-algebra class; or Bach singing karaoke; or Picasso drawing by numbers; but it is equally stupid.

The Heat have tons of talent, so let's not get stuck on the injury situation. Yeah, they haven't had their starters together all season, but this isn't the Beetles we are talking about. The Heat do play in the East, the apparent YMCA version of the NBA. If they were 19-25 in the West, I might actually still be writing a blog about overcoming adversity, yet as it is, they aren't. If the playoffs started today, they wouldn't be there to "turn it on". Heck, if they started tomorrow or even next week, chances are the Heat wouldn't make the postseason.

In the midst of all of this is the complaints and whining. Haslem walking off the court because he didn't appreciate the team's inability to move the ball on offense. Wade pointing out to the rest of the team saying something has to change. Shaq saying he was embarrassed by the loss to Knicks - yet he wasn't in a Heat uniform but in his suit instead.

Don't you at least have to be dressed up to be embarrassed? (Yes, I do sense the irony...but I think you can spare me the indulgence. At least this once?)

The team's state is so baffling, yet the answer is so simple. No, Ron Rothstein is not Riley - but only a week or so ago everyone was asking if Riley should return, since ol' Ronnie had the Heat on a 4-2 west coast trip. Funny how things change so quickly - Heat went from underachievers to tough road team with renewed championship prospects to underachievers again. Still, I contend, the answer is simple.

In my last blog, I mentioned Wade has to step up. I stand by that. Not because I think Wade is all of a sudden a bum, no. He is arguably the best guard we have in the NBA and one of the top 5 players in the NBA. He is also the exemplary statesman, diplomat, and franchise player ANY fan could ask for.

I understand and appreciate his worth.

But I have to call them like I see them, too. And as good as Wade is, he has been under performing, too. He has to step up defensively and he has to take on a more direct role in how this team is going to perform.

He is the true leader of this team, whether he likes it or not.

Shaq, Zo, Gary - all great players that have been there before. They can't do it on the floor though, only with their mouths. They can pay lip service to what it is like to lead a team, give us all insight. They have experienced it. Yet, they are all incapable of calling upon those experiences now for direct intervention. They, too, have to defer to Wade who has the ability to do it on the floor and thus, lead by example.

Some of you may say that the Heat don't possess enough talent. I would quickly defy that notion by supplying for examination, not only the fact that this is the same team that won it all last season but also the Jordan lead Bulls of '95-96, which finished with a 72-10 record. All this coming on the heels of Jordan's first year back after his first retirement. That team had a strong willed, but mature Jordan of course, but after that, the talent pool was not as amazing as some may think. What made it work was the leadership - Jordan. Everything started and ended with him. They had Dennis Rodman on that team, for God's sake! They were able to corral everyone's talents into a cohesive, finely-tuned machine with pinpoint focus.

That is the level I compare Dwyane Wade to, and that is exactly what this team needs from him. They need his leadership. He may not be the vocal leader that can say something and everyone fall into line. Alternatively, the Heat don't need another voice to keep them in line. They need an example of greatness to fall under and follow. They need to act like champions and when they forget how to, they need a reminder.

This is not to berate Dwyane Wade or his efforts, but to call him to a challenge. To exhort him to embrace the greatness he has the rare opportunity to achieve.

General John Pershing once said, "A competent leader can get efficient service from poor troops, while on the contrary an incapable leader can demoralize the best of troops."

The talent level on this team is moot. Wade is the focus and will continue to be and he SHOULD be. This is his team, no matter if Shaq is healthy or not. Deep down, the Diesel knows that.

And he would agree - you cannot tell someone to be great. They just are. Likewise, you cannot expect to influence someone by telling of examples, but by showing them with examples. For that is all there is.

For the Heat, this bickering and whining has to stop. It ceases when Wade, like he did in Game 3, wills his team to victory and leads them back to greatness. And the rest of the team, regardless of who is dressed or not, falls in line.

Time for Wade to Step Up

Jamal Crawford, 52 points on 20/30 shooting.

Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon combine for 60 points.

Both the Knicks and the Bulls beat the Heat, who has dropped 3 straight now. And in each of the losses a defensive let down was evident.

In the Pacers' loss, Danny Granger scored 14 of his 16 points in the 4th quarter - demonstrating that this team has yet to account for a hot shooter. Flash forward to the Knicks and Bulls games and you see a serious trend emerge.

Could it be due to bad substitutions or bad rotations? Possibly. You could fault coach Rothstein for putting the wrong personnel on guys - from time to time. Then again, what else does he have to work with?

We could make all kinds of excuses - injuries, bad officiating, whatever. The fact of the matter is, the Heat are not playing good defense and when they do decide to step it up, it is little too late.

No one may realize that the Heat scored over 30 points in two quarters last night - the 2nd and the 4th. But they only scored 17 in the first quarter. Much like their season, they are not coming out focused and bent on the task of winning games. They think they can just turn it on when the need to and wrap things up. Perhaps it really was a bad thing for them to win the championship last season - as they were down 2 games to none and came back and won that series. As impressive as it was, it may have given them a false sense of apathy.

And the Heat are paying for it now.

Dwyane Wade is the leader of this team - whether he chooses to accept it or not. He is the man, the new face of the NBA. He is a superstar. As humble as he is, he has shown a pretty smooth adaptation to this role due in part to Shaq's presence and influence. Yet there is another challenge facing Wade now - the kind of challenge that wearing a target on your back gets you. The fans in the NBA don't like Wade - because they are envious of the calls he gets. Players around the NBA say the same thing, they demonstrate their bitterness towards the calls he gets although they respect his game.

Seems, Wade has gained superstar treatment without having to pay his dues. He grabbed the Jordan Rules without having to study for them.

The same could have been said for Kobe Bryant when he started to make his way in the Association. Again, he was a talented player brimming with super-staredness but was on the same team as Shaq. He got Jordan-like treatment from the refs, too.

Perhaps all of this attention has filled Wade's head some. You wouldn't notice if you were a Heat fan. He continues to work hard and play hard, but there are troubling signs here.

Namely, a lack of defensive intensity.

It seems as goes Wade, so goes the Heat. And the Heat have been all bark and not bite lately. Sure, they can heat it up quickly, and make big runs when they need to, but they are not getting back and playing good defense.

This is the area that Wade has yet to pass his tests. As long as other teams can score seemingly at will from the guard spots against Wade-led teams, his accomplishments will be cheapened. It isn't like Wade can't play defense - he can. He has the athletic ability, the smarts, the reach, the whole package. He just seems like he would prefer not to.

A lot is asked of Wade on the offensive side of the ball. He is the playmaker for the Heat and will carry the offense. So to ask him to shut down the opposing team's hottest player is a lot. But that is precisely what he needs to do as a superstar. He has the ability, and his team needs him to do it.

Watching the games the last few nights it is evident the Heat don't have a complete answer for stopping guards with a decent offensive reportoire. Yet, at a certain point Wade had had enough, and decided to stick Gordon - he then faced his man, blocked his shot, sent Gordon to the floor in the process AND the shot clock sounded. Heat ball.

That is the kind of intensity Jordan would display almost every night. He was the ultimate competitor. And this is what the Heat need from Wade - his competitive fire. He has it. We all saw it in the Finals in Game 3. He was not going to let his team punk out like they were.

And eveything changed.

It is now at the point of the season that it resembles game 3. Either take charge now, or the whole season - all the work - is for not. Wade needs to step up and lead his teammates - with or without Shaq. The Heat will follow and so will the wins.

Vladimir Kaponovic, All Star?

Congratulations to Shaq and DWade on making the all star team as starters. But who didn't think that was going to happen? Just the way it happened, the latter through nightly generation of highlight reels while the former due to the size of his shadow cast from the bench. It's like voting a dead man president, or at least senator - not that Shaq doesn't deserve to be recognized as an All Star, just that he has only played in 5 games now.

I wonder what the odds were for that on the books in Vegas...

The all star fun isn't over just quite yet, oh no. We get to see who rounds out the roster (why Nash was snubbed as a starter only reflects that popular voting is a flawed system...), who gets to dunk and bore the rest of us, which rookies get to show their stuff, which players get to demonstrate their skills, and who gets to thrill us with their deft three point shooting.

The last competition is what I am really in anticipation for because, frankly, it is the one competition the Heat has the best chance of winning since Harold Minor skyed for dunks a few years back (the only thing Baby Jordan ever did, actually). That chance for the Heat is materializing in the form of one Jason Kapono.

Kapono has had a pretty big year thus far. He sat the bench last season due to his unfamiliarity with Riley's defensive system, not just because he was slow of foot. Turns out, Riley's endorsement of Kapono was not just steam to inflate the baloon of his value, but rather an honest truth. The kid can defend solidly, and can stay honest on his assignment.

But let's be real here, the reason Jason Kapono is in this league is because he can flat out shoot.

Shooting over 50% from three point range (55.5%) and over 50% from the field (52%) is down right impressive. And reason one why he WILL be at the all star game in Vegas with fellow Heatians Wade and Shaq.

The interesting point to consider for Kapono is that this was no new secret - he could always shoot the rock. Just he didn't have that added sexiness of being a European player coming out of school. And he had stayed for all four years at UCLA - that is two strikes against him.

Being white and an American player is not what the NBA tends to value in this league. Could the Kap'n change all that?

"I should have left UCLA after my freshman year, played in Croatia, grown a beard and changed my name to Vladimir Kaponovich."

First thing, there is no need for an 'h' on your newly christened last name, JKap. Secondly, you have done pretty well considering. Thirdly, Vladimir Radmonovic is not exactly having the success you are these days, so perhaps it was a good thing the way it has worked out.

Kapono, Kaponovic, My Kapono, whatever you want to call him, has demonstrated that if you can shoot you can be a factor in this game. Shooting has never gone out of style and in fact, has become increasingly devalued in favor of athleticism. The trend has been to find hybrids to play positions, centers that can handle the ball and pass, power forwards that can knock down threes. This has all lead to league-wide schizophrenia and in some instances, ugly basketball. Take an off night from Rasheed Wallace for example, BLECK!

What Kapono is doing right now needs to be commended. He is not only demonstrating that the biases and prejudices of the NBA exec are an archaic outdated thing that needs to be dealt with, but that the return to simple and stable ideas in this game can help make it better. Kapono can shoot, but he also has a quick release. Imagine what he would be doing on Phoenix's roster?

Unfortunately for the Heat, Kapono may be pricing himself right out of Miami. There will be some execs who overvalue his talent, and devalue their ability to find another good shooter, and will pay dearly to have him on their roster. An All Star appearance with a win at the three point competition might be the death knell for his Heat career, too.

Nevertheless, I root for Kapono because I rooted against him. Yes, me, a Heat fan thought that there was no way Kapono could realistically make a consistent contribution to the Heat. But he has, and he is showing staying power - with the right offense, mind you. After all, Rasual Butler could shoot, too and was a second round pick. And he had a very strong start to his career in Miami, before being dealt to New Orleans. Coincedentally, he too has made a pretty big splash this season as a shooter.

And like Kapono, all he needed was playing time to prove himself. In Miami, Kapono has gotten his chance and made the most of it. See you in Vegas - and win that three point competition for all the other shooters out there.

Mavs Don't Prove Anything with Win

It was as clear and as bright as Josh Howard's grin to the Heat bench, or as loud as Avery Johnson's voice. Or as unexpected as Stackhouse's offensive outburst. The Mavericks needed to beat the Heat to help cope with their Final's experience. The mental trauma is evident, as they demonstrate themselves to be unbalanced as a result of seeing the Heat snatch the trophy out from under their hasty hands - as after 2 games both they and their fans were all too ready to call that series.

It was like an intervention for them, and everyone echoed the sentiments:

"It's like going someplace and seeing your old girlfriend you broke up with, the one you thought you were going to marry but it fell apart," Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said. "You get that queasy feeling, then you get past it."

No Mark, it is more like she broke up with you and you just couldn't ever move on while she married, had 4 kids and got the vacation home in Malibu. While you eat canned beans.

The fragile psyche of the Mavericks was evident. They instituted a 10pm curfew for the players so they could have a better chance of beating the Heat - the first time for a regular season game, according to Anthony Johnson. "It wasn't a big deal, due to the fact that we wanted to beat this team."

Stackhouse continued to rant about how his team was better, eventhough the Heat were sporting the hardware that was blinding them all. Even Jason Terry, perhaps with his headband on a little too tight, asked Gary Payton before the game "You know you have something that belongs to me, right? You keeping my ring polished?"

As the game wore on, Terry's skirt seemed a little out of place, "We've got to close 'em out. We ain't gonna do what we did last time."

The Mavs won the game, 99-93. Yet, they proved very little other than that they are still the same team from last season - they rely on their outside shooting, and will whine and flex and cry throughout a game to fake their advantage. In fact, some of the classy Dallas media and fans continue to question Wade's injuries. Stay classy, Dallas. Then again, this is Big D, the place that shot JR.

What really killed the Heat was poor shooting in the first half and giving up way too many rebounds and second chance opportunities. Something that when Shaq returns, likely won't happen. Even Stackhouse, with his big mouth, admits as much. "It's a regular-season game. You cannot avenge what happened to us in the Finals in a regular-season game. Maybe the fans can sit back and say, 'We told you they were better.' But in our hearts, we just can't do it."

"With (Shaquille O'Neal) coming back, they're going to be the team to beat in the East."

Celebrate all you want, Dallas, but like the Finals, it takes 4 games to win a series and a trophy, not two. Regular season games don't matter - as Heat fans may remember the Mavericks blew out the Heat last season during the regular season.

So, once again, nothing is proven. And that may be the hardest thing for the Mavericks to deal with.

Heat Surging Without Riley

There has been a lot of talk about this lately - from our forums to the media - that the Heat are playing better without Riley at the helm. And the evidence is unavoidable - the Heat have won 5 of their last 6 games, not including a 4-2 West coast road trip. Also, Antoine Walker and James Posey have seemed to revert to last year's form almost suddenly.

Is it because of Riley or in spite of Riley?

Ron Rothstein is a solid veteran coach. He has seen it all and he can coach - this is a guy who was an assistant with Chuck Daly and worked his way up to head coach for the Heat from 1988-1991. Expansion teams back then were not as equipped to win as they are now, and Rothstein did a very good job considering the circumstances.

But make no mistake, he is not Pat Riley.

When Riley stepped down about 10 minutes before the 2003-2004 tipoff, and pushed Stan Van Gundy into the head chair, he stated that he did so because that team needed a new direction, a fresh voice.

Could this team have the same need? It's unlikely.

The main thing to remember is that this team has yet to have its entire starting lineup, the one that won a championship last year, in place. Shaq has played 4 games. Wade has missed a few games, as did Posey and Walker - for other reasons. Jason Williams has missed games because of his creaky knees - but has recently showed promise as he played on back to back nights on that West coast trip (let's see if he turns that trick tonight against Philly).

So for all Riley's coaching magic and motivational trickery, he could not get this team to perform at the level it did closing out last season. Well, he also didn't have the personnel in place to do that, either and most of them reportedly did come to training camp bloated on the championship afterglow and out of shape.

Before we consider that Rothstein is a superior coach to Riley, let's demonstrate some sanity here and start to think about what else could be going on - maybe Riley finally got everyone's attention. Maybe him stepping down to take care of his health hammered home that he was sacrificing a lot, too, day in and day out. Maybe he finally got three (Did I say 'three'? I meant 'through' - must've been a "Freudian slip"...) to the pouting Posey and Walker, who were struggling this season but weren't putting in everything they could into their conditioning. Maybe the new ball really has helped Walker regain his confidence and thus, this is just all coincedental.

At any rate, don't start the Rothstein for head coach campaign just yet. Riley is the master, and Rothstein would just as quickly tell you as much. The fact that the Heat are playing good basketball is fortunate because, let's face it, they couldn't have played any worse with the talent they have.

However, it will be akward to see Riley return to the bench if the Heat are off and running, and pushing Rothstein back a seat because the media may start to clamor then that Riley only wanted out when it got tough. The irony is, of course, that no matter how successful Rothstein is as head coach of the Heat for this interim period, not one win will be added to his tally. Instead, it is all going to Pat Riley's career record.

Just like the roster and the system that is in place, the true architect is Pat Riley. He built Heat basketball into what it is today - just like the new look locker room.

Sometimes, you just can't escape the shadow.

Walker is Playing with Fire

Who would have thunk it? Antoine Walker is now playing his best basketball all season, and all it took was a deactivation from Pat Riley, due to fitness qualifications, to get his attention.

Three games back, each time dropping 13 points while coming off the bench, and each time out he has hit three 3pointers. He is shooting 52% from the field since his return, 53% from downtown.

Some cite the return of the old leather ball as helping Walker out, and he has echoed this sentiment. Whether or not it is true, it is certain that Numero Ocho is playing with more confidence now than he was at any point in this season and part of that could be due to the return of the old ball, something he is more familiar with. A perfect snapshot was during the Lakers game, which the Heat lost but showed their offense is ready to match up with anyone, Walker passed up a three point shot and took the ball into the painted area to set up a teammate. This demonstrates that Walker is growing his game and understands that he doesn't need to shoot three pointers to be an effective scorer or teammate, but to use that as a weapon to create plays.

Walker got his body fat percentage down to the 10% mandate Riley demanded of him. Folks, I ain't gonna lie - that isn't easy to do. For anyone. Heck, mine I just found out is, let's say over 20%. (I won't reveal how high as, well, I have to spare SOME dignity! Besides, I joined a gym! Riley hasn't deactivated me just yet from this blog...but if he reads this, he just might...) To get it down to 10% is quite a physical achievement - so let's not question Walker's commitment to the team any longer. It is easy to do from the sidelines, where we sit in our ivory towers judging players without knowing their situations, all too easy, but Walker is a competitor and wants to win and contribute to this team's success.




And now he has that opportunity and is making the most of it. Walker has been a very polarizing figure among us Heat fans; some claim he is a bum only concerned with his own numbers, others see him as a very competitive guy who is trying his best to adjust to his new role.

I think it is time we start fresh with Walker. Toine' is showing signs of growth and maturity. He is adjusting to his role and may continue to come off the bench for the remainder of the season - as Jason Kapono looks to keep his hot shooting hand in the starting spot.

The Walker Wiggle is back. Sure, he was the guy when asked why he shoots so many threes he replied,"because there are no fours" but that is what we have to love about the guy. He will do whatever it takes to win and to get his team over the top.

And since his return, he has been playing pretty good basketball. Let's hope it continues.

Heat Involved in Trades?

Some more rumors coming down the wire

There are a couple of players that seem to pop-up - or are resurfacing - in a possible trade scenario with the Heat. These players all serve needs for the Heat and some have been linked with the Heat while others are more speculative at this point.

Steven Blake

Blake was dealt to Denver from Milwaukee this past week. Yet, a rumor lingers that he is being dangled for the Cavs $2.1M trade exception. Miami did inquire about Blake before he was dealt to Denver, and being from Miami himself, Blake would have been an ideal choice to get PG minutes behind Williams. Yet, Miami may be able to still take a stab at brokering a trade with Denver if they can pony up on the trade exception deal the Cavs are bouncing around.

Corey Maggette

Yes, he is still an option apparently. As recently as this past week, according to insiders, Randy Pfund was at a Clippers game scouting out Maggette. The Clippers have not recieved any offers that they were expecting, and could just give up and hold on to Magette. Maybe Miami can still convince them otherwise...

Chris Webber

His announcement will come this week, probably Monday, after he officially clears waivers. The Heat have their $5.2M exception to burn, but they won't have to burn all of it as their prorated portion would be only $1.3M for the rest of the season. The Heat's competition, the Lakers and Pistons, could only muster up $1.2M at this time; so it stands that the Heat will have the best financial offer in place.

Marko Jaric

Yes, the one and only. Apparently he is not happy in Minny and is following AI's footsteps in demanding a trade. Minny doesn't have much use for him, since he is eating up a paycheck with a 6 year, $38M dollar bench-warming career. Miami, however, needs another PG and could utilize Jaric's services - but the numbers would have to match to make a transaction happen. Hmmm...I wonder who the Heat would ship off...

Eddie Jones

The captain. The heart of the Heat teams of the latter to post Riley era. He might be coming on back. According to sources in Memphis, West is going to waive EJ and set him free - since he is in the last year of his contract and not seeing any floor time. The Grizzlies have no real use for him right now, being so far away from postseason contention. Smells like another Heat reunion...

Heating Up on West Coast Trip

The Heat are in the middle of a 6 game, 12 day road trip. All seemed lost for the Heat as they started out this trip without Wade, Shaq, Posey, Walker AND Riley.

Then the Heat started winning.

Wade returned and the Heat snuck by Portland. Then they squeaked by the Sonics. A stop off in the Bay Area got the Heat a blowout win over the Warriors and then on the following night, tonight, the Heat streaked by the Jazz, whose notes were all flat tonight (sorry, couldn't resist).

That is 1, 2, 3, 4 wins in a row now. Wait a second! That is a winning streak? Gasp! The Heat are on a winning streak! Wow, imagine that! And not more than a few days ago, everyone was lamenting the Heat's season, sounding the death knell for the champs.

Well, it was too soon. What this proves is that the Heat are starting to get healthy, and starting to click. The champs have also added, essentially, the services of two new players to the mix - Jason "Kap'n" Kapono and Dorell Wright.

It also may prove, or at least suggest, that the West is not as strong as it is made out to be. But I digress - and certainly would incite inflammatory comments from our west coast readership (yeah right, like ANYONE actually reads this blog!!!).

But seriously, this is a great trend for the Heat. Their stock is rising, and they continue to win. Sure, these are games that they should be winning - Portland, Seattle, Golden State and now the Jazz all have a combined record of 71-80 or a .470 winning percentage. But the Heat were struggling with anybody and everybody.

Yet, there are signs that this offense is starting to take off. The Heat scored 118 against the Warriors on .529 FG% and .433 3pt%. Tonight, more of the same - .508 FG% and .565 3pt%. The Heat, ahem, are hot.

• Wade has 2 30+ point performances on this road trip, so far. Not bad for a tender wrist, which has been seeing a lot of action shooting baskets, both free throws and field goals.
• Kapono - yes, the Kap'n - has been a consistent outside scoring threat, shooting over 50% on the year from three and dropping 4 straight 18+ point barrages. And back to back games with 4 three pointers made. He is coming on strong as a starter, and is showing himself a worthy player for the rotation.
• Williams has not only played on back to back nights, but also is scoring double digits in three straight while being efficient from the field. Also, three straight games with 3 or more made three pointers.
• Four quarters scoring 30+ points in the last two game. The Heat are dropping buckets in a hurry - quicker than a janitor in a school cafeteria.

If the Heat are starting to get their offense together, and the outside shooting seems to be tightening up (even Walker has been efficient since his return, shooting 5-10 tonight and 5-8 last night, both games hitting on 3 three pointers), then it will only become more precise when Shaq returns.

In fact, this is something the rest of the East should take notice of, especially the Wizards and the Magic. They have been driving daddy's car while he has been away. Time to hand the keys back.

Heat Check: January

Here we are, deep into winter, and the Heat have started to catch fire. After a dark month in December, with Wade getting his wrist pulled like pull-start lawnmower and both Posey and Walker having one too many helpings of mashed potatoes and gravy, the Heat struggled. The lost 5 in a row at one point, and then headed out on a 6 game road trip without Pat Riley, Shaq, Wade, Posey and Walker.

And Ron Rothstein was left in charge of what was left.

But the Heat started the road trip, and have now won two straight. That is a sign - positive? Yeah. Is the big turnaround coming? Maybe.

There are a lot of things to keep track of. Namely, Shaq will return January 15th, but is with the team right now in San Francisco -as is James Posey and 'Toine Walker. All three have been working out in Miami while the Heat were on the road. Also, Dwyane Wade has returned. His wrist is a little tender, but the "s-word" hasn't surfaced yet, so that is good. Speaking of, Riley has gone through his procedures and is coming out ok. He may return to the team in a matter of a few weeks.

There is more positive news. Chris Webber, whose contract was recently bought out by the Sixers, will clear waivers on Monday and has said the Heat is on his wishlist. The Heat have been responsive, saying that they are interested and will see if it is a good fit for both parties. Landing Webber would increase the front court depth on this team, and protect it from injury and even lethargy. Walker would have to see his minutes cut up, and maybe this would even give Riley a new spirit.

Also, Steve Francis is considering a buyout with the Knicks. He is unhappy in NY and is out in Houston "rehabbing his knee". Although Isiah Thomas has publicly stated that a buyout has not been discussed, there are several sources involved in the situation that state otherwise. Francis would be an interesting fit for the Heat as he would be able to provide depth at both PG and SG. His offense tends to be to look for his own shot, but with talent like Wade and Shaq on the team and dominating the play calling, he would have to become more deferential. Considering that this team is strong willed and iron-fisted with Riley controlling the circus, and a champion to boot, this may be an ideal situation for Francis to reclaim his value in this league.

So, the Heat are starting to hit their stride. Everyone is getting healthy and other contributors have emerged in Wright and Kapono; both players watching their PT grow as their time grows.

With or Without You: Part I

Shaq is waiting in the wings and ready to come back and make his re-debut this season, slated for January 15th. He has only played in 4 games this season, but he is the "Big Difference Maker" for the Heat, as he will help tilt the games into the Heat's favor.

At least, that is the basic understanding of Shaq's presence in the post. Analysts like how Shaq spaces the floor - he demands attention in the low post and constantly draws double teams. With Dwyane Wade's ability to create and penetrate, teams have to pick their poison when facing the Heat and their two-headed beast, like Dallas came to discover in last year's finals.

Yet, so far this season, there is little statistical evidence to supply this notion. But is the Big Yardstick's presence overstated? Sure, it is a small sample size, but here are the numbers:

With Shaq the Heat are 2-2 but without him they are 13-17.

There is a little theory though that I have been working on, as some of you know who read this blog, that free throw attempts (FTAs) is the secret to winning NBA games. The more FTAs you log, the more likely your victory is going to be.

There are few players in the NBA that demand the attention of the officials like Wade and Shaq. Wade is getting 10.7 FTAs per game this season; while Shaq is gaining 4.5 this season (in only 4 games), he received 8.0 FTAs per contest last season.

Coupled together, that is 18.7 FTAs a game between the two star players alone.

As a team, the Heat are getting 25.3 attempts at the charity stripe this season, but last season it was up to 28.2 per night.

That would indicate that Shaq's presence increases the number of FTAs for the Heat, but the evidence for this season concludes that Shaq does not. FTAS with Shaq so far this season, 25. FTAs without Shaq this season, 24.47.

Again, the sample size is so skewed (4 games with Shaq, 30 without) that it isn't a fair analysis. A look at last season's numbers and how they broke down would give us better data to forecast the numbers for this season - but I haven't completed that analysis yet (thus, the 'part I' in my title!).

Upon completion of that analysis, a more accurate picture can be obtained. Still, as it stands, the data indicates that the FTAs stay about the same with Shaq or without him. That is interesting because the winning % obviously increases with Shaq in the game, as one would expect. Stay tuned...

...and yes, U2 is my favorite band...

Wade Out for Suns? Heat Start Road Series

Most likely, Dwyane Wade will miss tonight's first game of the big west coast road trip for the Heat, due to his lingering wrist injury (thanks Hinrich!). Ok, that last part was in good fun...but still, the suspicion lingers.

The Heat will engage in a contest with the Suns without its biggest playmaker, but the rest of the crew has shown some signs of life despite blowout losses to the Magic and the Clippers. Yet, even though there was some improvement against the Clippers, the Heat still fell short. The defensive effort was inconsistent, but that is something the Heat are working on.

That said, it is all up to Ron Rothstein, the original Heat head coach, to pull of a miracle tonight and keep the Heat team from reaching a heightened state of crisis. After all, Riley is out as is James Posey and Antoine Walker, both of whom will not be available for tonight's game.

As for Riley, his return remains indefinite at this time, but a return is expected.

"My plans are to return," he said. "This is a leave of absence and my plan is to return. When that is, I can't tell you."

"I'm just tired of the pain and the medication. It's going to be indefinite. I'll be very connected with the team."

As for Walker and Posey, they won't be allowed to rejoin the team until Riley says they can. Rothstein noted that he has no input on that measure.

Such is the drama that is the Miami Heat.

Riley Steps Down; Could It Be For Good?

Before tonight's game, around 5pm at the press conference, Pat Riley not only addressed how he was stepping down, indefinetly, as the Heat's head coach to get his knee and hip treated, but he also dropped another point of interest: he was taking James Posey and Antoine Walker with him.

The official reasoning he gave was that both players were being suspended due to not being up to par physically for the Heat. Apparently, Riley has a sliding scale in place for fitness for his players and both Posey and Walker are not within their demanded range.

Posey is currently at 9% body fat, but commented that he is going to stay behind and continue to work so that he can get down to that 8% requirement that is asked of him.

As for 'Toine Walker, he is currently at 11%, by some estimates (whose, I have no idea...) and needs to get his down to at least 10%. When asked about the suspension, which means being listed "inactive" for tonight's game against the Clippers (which resulted in a 110-95 home loss...), Walker said, "I ain't talkin'."

This is not coincedence, and something must be afoot here in Miami.

There have been rumors that Riley has grown tired of all the bickering, and the complacency. Riley has always been a physically demanding coach, his practices were always one of legend. Just ask Zo.

Yet, this has never happened on any recent Heat team. The only incident that I could think of like this would be Ike Austin, whom Riley had discovered in his early Heat tenure. Austin had a huge weight issue, but was able to keep his weight down and stay in good shape with Miami under Riley. Udonis Haslem, another player who had weight issues, got himself in shape before coming into Heat camp a few years ago as an undrafted rookie. He has kept the weight off ever since and has been a devout Riley follower.

So, weight issues have never really been a problem for Riley as a coach. Especially not this late in the season. There seems to be more to this situation that is being related.

Also, although Riley's need for treatment is legit, his timing is questionable. Currently, the Heat are playing without Wade and Shaq, and are in a bit of a slump. Perhaps the medical attention is dire and needed now more than ever. There was very little time in the offseason to get this done.

This also could be a motivational tactic for Pat Riley. Maybe this will be his way of reaching through to his players.

It is a well-known fact among insiders that Riley has grown tired of some of Walker's antics. He has been grumpy and headstrong, and not willing at times to take criticism. The Heat need better performances from Walker and he has at times seem to be lost on the court, not to mention playing without any confidence. He is having his least productive year as a professional, too. The Heat need better from Walker.

Yet, Riley has been quick to cut back criticism of Antoine Walker, and pointed that the team as a whole has underperformed.

Could something be brewing here? Could Riley be tiring of the antics of this team to the point where he would actually give up? There are some who believe the players are tiring of Riley and his demands - already. And that these players want Riley out of Miami. If this is true, these players don't understand that Riley IS the Miami Heat. He is team president, GM and head coach. He controls everything in Miami related to NBA basketball.

And if this is true, for the sake of the franchise these dissenters need to be caste out of Miami for good.

Shaq is going to be coming back very soon and he is reportedly in great shape - better than when he started the season. So, analysists who may think that this is a bargaining chip ready to be levied at the Diesel may be outthinking themselves. What happened could be simply that Riley was going to step down and didn't want his class disrupted by the bad kids in class while he was away. The substitute is Ron Rothstein, one time Heat head coach, but it is clear that this is still Riley's lesson plan.

Riley Stepping Down to Undergo Surgery

Pat Riley is stepping down as Heat head coach, with a temporary leave of absence, to undergo knee and hip surgery that Riley has been putting off. In his stead, Ron Rothstein will be headcoach for the Heat.

What this means

This is only a temporary absence, and is due to much-needed surgery that Riley has been putting off with the busy offseason. It couldn't come at a better (or worse?) time for the Heat, who are coming off an uninspiring blow out loss to the Magic and are looking to face the Clippers tonight in Miami. Up next is a 5 game road trip which they will start with Shaq and Wade out with injuries. Shaq is slated to return on January 15th, and Wade could return sooner although it is possible he will miss Friday's game against Phoenix as well.

This could display some frustration by Riley, who seems to be embattled with his team's under-performance. Eventhough the gamble won him a championship, the media seems to be targeting Antoine Walker as a major reason for the Heat's struggles while Riley, attempting to defend his player, has been forced into repeatedly calling out the entire team on occasion. This could be a move to help circumvent any exhaustion, as Riley is older now and may not be as ambitious about coaching with the recent championship ring on his finger.

Stay tuned...

Wade Out Against Clippers

Dwyane Wade won't be suiting up against the Clippers. He had nothing positive to say about his injury after Tuesday's practice:

"I tried to shoot a little today, just for a minute, with tape on, and it's discomfort, so I stopped right away."

Even a possibility of a return for Friday's game against Phoenix (10:30pm ESPN) seems to be in question.

"I've still got some soreness in my wrist, so it's not time," Wade said. "The way I play, I've got to be very cautious about me jumping back in."

To err on the side of caution would be well-advised. Shaq is gearing up for his return, which is being loosely slated for January 15th. In fact, it could be to Riley's advantage to hold Wade out until then as well, and work the rest of this team into somekind of shape. Walker has been struggling, but so have many others on the Heat. Riley, in fact, pointed to himself as well.

"We're 13-17. There's about five guys who have underperformed. As a coach, I've underperformed. There isn't anybody you can point your finger at. Nobody. This is an absolute team effort."

Tonight's matchup against the Clippers will not prove to be an easy task either. Coming off a 5 point loss to the Magic, the Clippers are not exactly the NBA's strongest road team, but will present some formidable matchup problems for the short-handed Heat.

Happy New Year! My Heat Resolutions

Ok, so everyone has popped the bubbly, shot off their fireworks and guns, and said goodbye to '06. And what a year it was - especially for Heat fans.

First came the Trade - Walker, Williams and Posey landing in Miami proved Riley not only to be the great gambler, but also to be championship grade. Amid much second-guessing, of course.

Then came, the Change. Stan Van Gundy, after pull-starting this new Heat motor couldn't quite get it to run right and Riley stepped in and guided the team. Citing family concerns, SVG stepped down and Riley, weeping, took over. Of course the rumor was that it wasn't a lack of ability on SVG's part, but a lot of yapping from a few of the vets - namely Gary Payton, Antoine Walker and even Shaq.

Setting all of the drama aside, the Heat grabbed for even more by muscling their way to their first ever NBA championship. Zo is relieved, Payton can finally die in peace, and Walker, well, he can do his wiggle with authority now.

Yet, 2007 is a new year, and with new challenges. So, as a spoiled-rotten Heat fan, I will make some promises for resolutions:

1) I will get into "game shape". With all the injuries on this current Heat roster, Riley may give me or any one of us Heat fans a call to run the point or something. 10 day contract, here I come - but first, I got to put down this turkey leg.

2) No more whining about the officiating. Ok, so what fan DOESN'T complain about the officiating? As the champs of the league, we shouldn't complain because we SHOULD be getting all the calls! At least, that is how it worked for the other champion teams of the past, right?

3) I will root FOR Antoine Walker. I know, I know. We are all guilty of it. We cringe whenever he hoists up a three (and scream YEAH when he makes it...which is why there is not a whole lot of smiling when Walker is on the court). We get queasy whenever Walker tosses up a layup like a hand grenade. Or when he barrels into his defender like a running back (give Saban a call, Toine - that is, if he doesn't run off to Alabama!). Perhaps collectively, we can all, with positive thinking, divinely inspire something in Antoine Walker to play with a sense of efficiency. Or is that urgency?

4) I will NOT blame the new ball anymore. Missed that free throw? It's the new ball. Missed that layup? New ball. Missed a payment on my credit card? You got it - new ball. That thing going on in the Middle East? Well, that is probably because of the old ball...but I digress.

5) No more resolutions. Who am I kidding. I can't keep any of these straight for longer than a week. We'll all go out, join a gym, eat tofu and quit smoking for about 2 weeks. Maybe three. But there is no way in hell I am not going to scream at a ref for being blind and stupid. Or not screaming at Walker for the same thing.

Just wishing everyone a healthy and safe new year. Especially you, Shaq and DWade. C'mon back, boys - we need ya.