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.