The Coach Spo Era Begins

2,186 games coached in the NBA. That is regular season and postseason. A few titles to talk about. A couple hall of fame players to call by first name. And a ticket punched for the hall of fame himself.

Is it any wonder Pat Riley is burned out?

Could he realistically say he wanted to coach this upcoming season? For what? He just went through possibly the worst season coaching he has ever had, but if you put him to it he probably would say it was worth it to get that championship in 2006. Then again, maybe not.

So, he found somebody who was ready for the challenge. Erik Spoelstra is that person and he has been doing everything he could to get himself in this position from watching video tape to breaking down players' shots to shining shoes. Whatever it took. And here he is. He even got an immediate phone call from Dwyane Wade saying congrats and talking about how excited he is for the future.

Gone is the past. The recent past with all its scabs. The Shaq apathy, the Riley tight-fisted control. All of it comes off. There is no safety net - and that is exactly what this team needs.

When Riley made the move back in 2003, it was in favor of little known Stan Van Gundy - Jeff's brother. In fact, even when Riley left it was Jeff Van Gundy who took over for the Knicks - and they didn't miss a beat it seemed. The Riley protege is going to have to prove himself to the rest of the world, but not to Riley. And that is what matters here as the move upstairs is made for good - so we think.

This team needs to be about change and a new growth. A new direction. Riley can't provide that, Spoelstra can. Could the same be said about a retread like Jeff Van Gundy or Mike Fratello or even a Ron Rothstein?

Let the Spo Era begin. The Heat have a top 4 pick and will be looking to climb out of the cellar. Better to do it with a completely new coach than one who is heading to the hall of fame.

Join the discussion about the Heat's new coach, Erik Spoelstra.

Riley Calls It Quits; Spoelstra Takes Over

Where were you the last time you heard this news: Pat Riley is retiring as coach. And the time before that? And the time before that?

Well, Heat fans - and Knick fans - should be able to remember those moments. I still remember the surreal moment we landed Pat Riley here in South Florida. The fortune of this franchise changed instantly.

And now, Riley is once again leaving the bench and heading upstairs. In 2003, four days before the start of the regular season a change was made. Back then it was in favor of Stan Van Gundy, who is currently leading his young Magic team through the playoffs. Today the change is being made for a young Erik Spoelstra, a virtual unknown outside of these parts. And really only known to those of us who are hard core fans of the Heat.

Spoelstra, at 37, is now the youngest coach in the NBA - 69 days the junior to Lawrence Frank. He has been a fixture on the Heat's bench since 2003, mostly working with players on their jump shooting techniques and scouting. His coaching presence has been felt as even Dwyane Wade has paid complements to Spoelstra for helping him grown and develop his game.

Earlier in the season, Riley had stated he was committed to coaching for the remainder of his contract. A big factor in the change of heart may have come from Shaq - who was with the team at the time Riley made that statement but has now been dealt to Phoenix for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks. Most obviously, this is the reason why Stan Van Gundy got cold feet back in 2006 and why Riley stepped in - due to Shaq's pressing.

Now, Riley is free to be simply the team president and GM. Naming Spoelstra to this position has been a while in the making. Other candidates were Ron Rothstein and even Mike Fratello - and I would suggest Jeff Van Gundy - but the time is now to rebuild so it might as well go all the way.

Maybe a big influence, too, in Riley's decision was his hall of fame induction. What more does he have to prove? He won a championship in 2006 and without all the injuries and locker room drama, and some questionable offseason decisions, who knows if another one wasn't in the stars. But that isn't for him to worry about - at least not on the court anyway. That is Erik Spoelstra's job - and let's hope it is not like it was for Stan Van Gundy.

Discuss the Heat's coaching move with us here. (Thanks Wadeskywalker for breaking the news on our site!)

Further Reading
Heat.com makes announcement on Riley coaching change in favor of Erik Spoelstra.

Pat Riley To Decide Coaching Future

Look for a decision to be made very soon about Pat Riley's coaching plans.

Reports are that even as early as this weekend a decision will be made about whether or not Pat Riley will return to the bench next season. He hasn't made that decision public yet, but one could make arguments either way.

Would Riley come back to reclaim his status among the NBA coaching elite after such a horrible season? Did all the losses scare him off or make him hunger once again to prove himself?

Or will he feel sated by the Hall of Fame induction and feel less inclined to grind through another NBA season as its coach?

Watch for his announcement to be made very soon if indeed there will be a coaching change. Why? Because he will have to hire someone on as coach and the big names, Jeff Van Gundy, Rick Carlisle, may be gone if the Heat wait too long. There is, of course, the option of promoting from within but Riley's heir apparent is Erik Spoelstra, yet it isn't clear if Riley is ready to turn the reigns over to a young coach who will have to reshape and rebuild this team into a playoff contender. There is added pressure to achieve a turnaround because of Wade's contract status in 2010 - which will enable him to be a free agent.

Ricky Davis and Chris Quinn Are Miami

Shaq's stupid comments have lead to much discussion. I have been putting off commenting on his comments for a reason - others have been doing it while scrambling for a spotlight on the situation.

This is how it is with Shaq. He transcends the sport so much that even a little mumbling on his part can lead to a big "to-do". Well, it really is much ado about nothing.

Of course Shaq is going to bash the Heat. He, believe it or not, has a right to do so. And no, I am not talking about his constitutional right but rather his personal right. As a professional, he definitely overstepped his bounds by singling out Ricky Davis and Chris Quinn. Yet his frustration is nothing unusual here - most Heat fans would agree in a sense that some bad roster decisions were made.

The discussion calls for us to consider Shaq's perspective - what about his promise from Pat Riley and Mickey Arison about making a consistent championship run each year with the roster? The Heat had invested heavily in Shaq in that 2004 offseason by dealing away Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, Brian Grant and a draft pick and Shaq actually could have opted out and not returned to Miami if he so desired.

Miami took a risk. They saw it payoff in 2006. So did Shaq. It was argued that he was too old and fat and lazy and that he was incapable of helping a team win another championship. That is why the Lakers opted for Kobe over Shaq. They were mistaken at the time, but they are winning the war these days with the Lakers rising again and Miami falling back in the pack with Shaq's departure.

It didn't have to end this way. Riley made some bad decisions this past offseason but it was also Arison's fault in not letting Riley spend the money he needed to keep the championship caliber team stitched together for a few more seasons while Shaq's massive contract was on the books.

Maybe that is what Shaq is whining about. Maybe he had a gentlemanly promise with Riley that he thought meant he would be contending every year while in Miami - not trying to skate by on fill-ins.

Yet make no mistake - there is no one more Miami Heat these days than Ricky Davis and Chris Quinn. Both have been playing their hearts out in a season where the rest of the team has found numerous ways to quit - including Shaq. I think Ira Windeman said that best.

Shaq never gave this season a chance. He basically shut it down from the get-go. Wade did his best to try and put a face of effort on this season but you can't blame him for wanting to shut it down with the pain he endures both physically and mentally. His efforts are not adding up to wins which made it worse. And Shaq, meanwhile, was out in LA getting his "alternative treatments".

Shaq may have had an argument and professionally, he may not wish to disclose the entire matter but his criticism is well-noted. Still, when you are past your prime and relying on a young talent like Dwyane Wade to look good, you don't have as much credibility as you think you should to call out players like Davis and Quinn.

Both of them have something Shaq doesn't have anymore - heart, humility and desire. They don't need a giant chip on their shoulder to come out and play motivated each night. They do it because they just do. Shaq needs an adversary to get his big ass moving - he needs a Kobe, a Phil Jackson, a Pat Riley and now a Chris Quinn or Ricky Davis?

It is said that a man is defined by who his adversaries are. If that be the case, let all of mankind oppose Shaq as he has melted into a spoiled, whiny, egotistical has-been.

Too bad, too. Because I really liked the Suns and their style of basketball. I was rooting for the good guys like Nash and Stoudamire. And now I find myself in the same position that Lakers fans were in back in 2004 - they hate on Shaq for being Shaq. Still, to dis players like Quinn and Davis is low and reveals what kind of person Shaq has now become.

Devil May Care; Heat Don't

There is something very appalling about losing to a team by 20+ points. Then again, there is something even more sickening about losing to a team by 20+ points when you previously were beating them by 20+ points - in their own building.

And then, there is something just down-right disturbing about a team that goes through that, in the same game, and then doesn't seem to care about it.

Sure, Udonis Haslem, Shawn Marion, and others may care. But the rest of this team seems immune to it. Desensitized. Just another loss on the season - pile it on. Ho hum.

This might be the biggest challenge for Pat Riley to overcome as he pushes forward with the reclamation project.

Heat teams of the past had, what Riley refers to, as a culture of winning. Guys who knew how to win, expected to win, and would settle for nothing less than perfection. The biggest asset in this regard? Alonzo Mourning, who alone has exemplified the Riley era here in Miami. He was lost this season early on to knee injuries. Some suspected he was done, but in all honesty, because of the way he went out, he might actually want to come back.

Count that as a big blessing for Miami if he does. Because this team lacks a leader. Sure, Dwyane Wade is the star, the franchise. He has the commercials and the notability. And he no longer has to live under Shaq's shadow - which is quickly diminishing under the sun out in Phoenix. But Wade has to learn how to lead now. He has to go through the same maturation process most star players, on the verge of becoming great, must do. Kobe is showing you what that transition looks like on the other side coming out of the selfish, self-centered opposite end he once resided on. It split up Shaq and his tenure. Here in Miami, it is a much different circumstance.

Riley, as the architect, has to find a way to surround players that will compliment Wade's game. That process in underway. But another consideration must be to surround him with like-minded players; players who won't back away from a challenge but will fight and rise through it. Marion definitely is one. So is Haslem, although I still question his height. Who else on this roster would fit?

After this latest loss, it is disturbing to contemplate.

Yell at us.

Wade Drops 14 in All Star Game; Heat Need to Deal

With his tired old body, at age 26, Wade reached down and found a way to run with the youngins. Shooting 7/12 on the night, Wade had 14 points and a huge block that was one of the night's highlights.

"D-Wade had the unbelievable block," said Lebron James, who now has the highest All-Star Game scoring average of 24.7 per game, with Oscar Roberston second at 20.5. Which brings me to another point - 22 shots? What is with the ball hogging, Lebron? No one likes that aspect of the game. He played 30 minutes and jacked up 22 shots. Thank God he hit 12 of them because otherwise it looked like a Kobe performance - just trying to manipulate the stats for self-serving ends.

In the end, the East got the win over the West. They avenged last season's whoopin' where the West devastated the East 153-132 in Las Vegas.

Heat Need to Deal

Thursday's trade deadline is quickly approaching - but will it involve another Heat deal? It seems that it the Heat are going to make the most out of their expiring contracts, they better do it now. Jason Williams and Ricky Davis are clearly not going to be in the picture for the future of this franchise. And for Riley not to get anything in return for their expiring contracts would be a mistake.

The situation has to be right. The Heat have to get back a player they think they could develop or who just needs the right situation. Usually this means taking on a bloated contract. The Bibby deal to Atlanta was at one time something the Heat were aiming to do; must mean Riley didn't feel right about it as it is doubtful the Hawks put together a better package.

This means that Udonis Haslem or even Mark Blount could be brought into the equation also. Both players have digestable contracts, and could provide valuable depth to teams looking to get over the hump in the playoffs. Haslem, with Marion in house, is not going to be a necessary part of the equation for Miami's turnaround.

The Debut of Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks

Well, I missed the debut of the two new Heatsters, Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks, on ABC today because I was at the game.



And hey, what can I say but WELCOME!

The way this Heat team is shaping up in the rebuild here is actually more exciting than any Heat team since...the 2003-2004 team.

Pat Riley has noted that he did coach a team, if anyone can recall, for 9 years that didn't grind it out from the halfcourt. They were known as the "Showtime" Lakers, and practically refined the run-and-gun offense to an art form. Some might say, it hasn't been duplicated since.

Well, Pat, you have a chance to revisit those days again. And it does start with Marion and Banks.

All Marion did in his debut was drop 15 on the Lakers on 6/13 shooting, grabbed 14 rebounds, had three blocks and 3 steals. Two of those 15 points came on this transaction from Dwyane Wade:



Notice the nice foul Kobe put on Wade. Wow, look at that, another high sticking from the poster child for passive aggressive NBA players.

But Marion provides that spring, that electricity that until now only Wade could provide. And what makes Marion such a God-send is that he can actually play defense, can help defend and - get THIS - can rebound! When was the last time Shaq had 14 rebounds? Heck, when was the last time he had three blocks? How about putting those numbers together in a game!

Now, the Heat will miss Shaq's interior presence on the offensive side of the ball, but considering that this team does not have shooters (yet, I still contend that Cook will be an assassin from outside...), adding Marion's unorthodox shot and defense will help in two areas of weakness for Miami.

Even more interesting is to watch Dorell Wright. He seemed to be playing more power forward today, and really pushing the matchup in the Heat's favor. His length and ability to move with the ball in his hands are tangible assets, but his money will be made once he can figure out how to consistently stick that outside jumper and get a little more physical defensively. He is progressing and watching him today work with Marion and Wade can make for a potentially exciting game to watch.

The defense has gotten so bad in Miami over the course of this season, that when the PA yells for the fans to scream DE-FENSE, even the fans have forgotten how. Today, however, against a tough Lakers team, the Heat did not looked outmatched on either end of the floor. Well, except for forgetting about Sasha Vujacic. Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks both looked comfortable pushing the offense into a higher gear and playing strong, man defense.

Banks, by the way, had 7 points on 3/6 shooting and 4 assists in 14 minutes. I expect we'll see those minutes increase as he gains familiarity with Riley's (new?) system. Banks' long arms, by the way, give him more upside defensively as he is strong enough to guard taller players on the wings as well.

The Heat looked better today and seemed to have fresh legs. I still don't know why Riley is averse to playing Cook, Daequan cannot be any worse than Ricky Davis and in playing him now, he gets valuable experience.

Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks Arrive in Miami

Today the Heat held a press conference introducing the two newest members of the Miami Heat, Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks.

The deal became official on Wednesday at 5:40pm, but the players were not scheduled to be in Miami until today. Watch the press conference here.

As for the rest of the coverage with this story, there is a lot to chew on. Just take a peak at all of the following:



Pat Riley's spin on the trade:



Dwyane Wade's vision of playing with Marion:



And Tricky gives his analysis:



What a season it has been.

It's Wade's Team Now

What is interesting now is how the Heat will play out the rest of the season without Shaq. If the loss to Detroit is any indication, it might show the Heat to be a tougher team than at any other time this season.

So the Heat enter the P.S. phase - post Shaq - and move forward. Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks will join the team tonight or Friday and be ready to move. The Heat will continue to evaluate their team, but it sounds like Marion is not a short term plan.

One thing is obvious - the Heat are hitching it all to Wade.

"We simply looked at the big picture, where we are today, and we need to build around Dwyane," Riley said. "And everything we do now, moving forward is about building around Dwyane."

That will include Marion's and Banks' futures as well as the rest of the Heat's players. Any player considered to have a future must start with their ability to mesh with Wade's game. One of the biggest question marks right now has to be Dorrel Wright's future. Where will he play with Marion coming in to man the SF spot on the roster? I think his future actually is playing PF in a Chris Bosh-like role. The kid is still growing, has a very long wingspan and has the flexibility to take it outside on occasion and put it on the floor and take it to the hoop. He is athletic and can guard almost any position on the floor. He will need to bulk up some, but that is a part of him growing still. He is a very good friend to Wade, so if there is anyone with pull on this team, Wright is in with the right people.

But is Wade the right person for the rebuilding process? Should the Heat build around his game? By that, some have observed that Wade is not going to be a consistent big time scorer - he will have his 40 point games, but 50 points? 60? He lives off creating contact and bringing it strong to the hoop each night. Yet his style will get him into a higher likelihood for injury, and with a team building around his game is this a wise thought? Not to mention, Wade's defense is among the worst at the position - he has the ability, but he just doesn't bring it himself.

There is no question that the Wade we all saw in the 2005-2006 playoffs was the one to build around. Can we see that Wade again? He demonstrated himself to be really one of the only players in the modern NBA right now that could win games on his will alone. That, if anything, is the one elusive trait players must have to compare to Jordan. Some said Kobe was it. Some wanted to say Lebron. But Wade is the only player to really put it together - and it was in Shaq's shadow.

Now, can Wade raise the Heat again - this time on his own? Riley seems to think so. We'll find out.

Shaq Deal Done

So it is a done deal.

Shaq is gone. Apparently, pending a physical, the relationship between Riley and Shaq has strained so much that a deal was needed. That and the Heat would be wise to part ways with that $20 million white elephant contract.

Let's not get into whether or not this deal makes sense for Phoenix. As a Heat fan, who cares? This deal makes a ton of sense for Miami.

Shawn Marion is in the final year of his contract - he has a player option on the table for next season at $17M. Maybe he doesn't like playing in Miami and opts out. Maybe he does and keeps it. The Heat, however, drop Shaq's $20M albatross off the books which was scheduled for two more seasons after this one. Regardless of how Marion performs, this deal helps the Heat financially. Tremendous.

Marcus Banks is on the books for three more seasons around $13M total (4.2, 4.5, 4.7 respectively). If he can push this into a starting role, then it could be a valuable signing for the Heat. Well, trade, I mean.

Shaq's game has diminished. Or has it? If he passes the physical, then he is in playing shape. If he suits up immediately for the Suns, then it would be fair to say he shut it down for the Heat. Which his "people" have leaked he should do. Seems like Shaq was doing just that.


At the heart of this matter is the feud that may not be publicized. There has been observations that there is a feud between the two and this latest deal might be validation. Shaq was untradeable previously - then again, so was Marion. But given the rumors of feuds between Shaq and Riley - Riley telling Shaq to get off the court during a practice - this hurts the Heat franchise in another way.

It cost us Stan Van Gundy.

It cost us Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, and Brian Grant.

That 2003-2004 team, coached by Stan Van Gundy, may have had enough talent to win a championship. And they would still be talented enough to challenge for it today. They all liked playing in Miami. Caron Butler even named his daughter "Mia" after MIAmi.

Dwyane Wade, working in concert with Lamar Odom, Caron Butler and even Rafer Alston, may have been something to fear. We paid for that with the Shaq trade, which instantly put the Heat on the NBA map among the best franchises. A championship banner hangs atop of the AAA.

And here it is. Shaq leaves, with things busted in his wake. The warnings came from fans in LA. They said we would live to regret this deal, and although regret is still a far emotion away, Heat fans should not like the way the tenure of the Diesel fell apart.

And now the feud will be made public because the trade is going to go through. If not, then we got an even bigger mess to clean up.

Good bye Shaq. Hello Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks. Now, will we improve too much to not grab the top spot in the draft?

Pookie Not Enough

There is no reason why Wade should be in Barkley's fave five these days (thanks, TMobile, I expect that credit on my cell phone bill!) and certainly not with the way the Heat are playing. The Jordan comparisons, for now, can stop. Wade is not the one man wrecking crew he turned out to be in '05-'06. He isn't healthy and the only man to not realize this is Riley himself.

"I'm sick and tired of being asked if we have any other offensive options other than Dwyane (Wade)," the author of the book "The Winner Within" said Saturday night. "I say, "No, we don't.'"

Sure you do, Pat. You just choose not to see it.

And no, I don't mean Whaq, the 20M blackhole. Might as well be a statue of Shaq that we purchased because the real Diesel hasn't been around since after we won that championship. And even then there were weak parts to his diminishing game.

No, I am talking about Daequan Cook, Dorell Wright, and even Alexander Johnson. I am also talking about Mark Blount - yes, Mark Blount - and Earl Barron.

I am certainly not talking about Ricky Davis who all of a sudden has lost his shot. Maybe he should start yelling "fore" when shooting. Not "nachoooooo" like Gilbert "Crazy Eyes" Arenas does. Heck, at least people would be warned and there would be less injury to the spectators.

Cook, however, has shown flashes of being a star in this league. Curiously, everyone except Riley sees it. I mean, I know you drafted Jason Smith, but you did trade for Cook for a reason. You had a thought in there that was correct - get me more offense. Cook's brash young attitude may not mesh with Riley, but Smush he certainly is not. Whom we could use, by the way, but Riley doesn't believe in cornrows. The exception being Udonis and Ricky Davis - whom he had traded a few years back for precisely the same stupid rationale.

Look, I love Riley. The man is a great coach and a great tactician but frankly, when you are only focusing on one player and neglecting to explore other options simply because they are young is just plain dumb. Sun Tzu wouldn't do that. Nor would anyone else - especially the man who built the team. Might as well not sign anyone this past offseason and rolled with 8 players.

When the Heat actually played well during this 13 game losing streak, it was without its two best players - Whaq and DWade. And it was on the road against the Mavericks.

Why? The Heat played as a team and Riley coached a TEAM and not a player surrounded by supporting cast. This isn't a stiff action film where the cast is cardboard and formulaic just to support the notion of a script. This is a film that requires a bit more from its supporting cast and a bit less from its star lead. If Riley only let the team play and shifted his focus off of Wade so much it would achieve two things:

1) A team concept
2) Allow Wade to put out less effort, gain his health back and work within a team concept

In other words, Riley would have to coach and just possibly, this team might start winning again. Pookie ain't enough. Whaq's return certainly isn't going to help our defense and will in all likelihood clog up the lane as a statue with one arm frozen in the air calling for the ball.

Pookie ain't enough. And if Riley is sick enough of saying that, maybe he could go for the obvious and start playing his younger players and let them develop. Heck, this is all about next year.

Should Riley Fire Himself?

Let the fire blaze - off the court that is. Because there is certainly no fire - or smoke for that matter - on the court.

Zo is out for the season and might be done for his career. Shaq is undergoing "non-traditional" treatments for his hip in LA. Wade's injury is, all of a sudden, being characterized as worse than previously thought. Jason Williams shaved his head.

It doesn't mean the Heat were going to be this bad, but it certainly means that they are definitely as bad as their record indicates. It is almost like a curse...perhaps the curse of the Toine-bino? That is for another discussion.

The question is starting to be asked: Skolnick ponders why not just give the reins to Spoelstra now; MiamiHeatwave was asking a poll about Jeff Van Gundy's possibility as a fit here in Miami. Yet Riley himself said the replacement would come from within.

Too bad Stan Van Gundy didn't stick to that 4 year promise he made his daughter and stayed on as a consultant for the Heat another season. He could have been inheriting this team, again, for good. Then again, would that really have happened - could the players really have been able to welcome SVG back after his burnout exit? Certainly Shaq, who chased him out of town to begin with, wouldn't.

Ron Rothstein is a fixed part of this team's past - not its future.

Erik Spoelstra, long regarded as a strong coaching talent, is just about right to be plucked. Why not give it to him now and let Riley console that hip of his and work on acquiring players that he doesn't have to worry about getting along with? Skolnick is right on with calling for Spoelstra to replace Riley. And even if Spoelstra fails miserably, very few will notice and Miami can always change coaches coming into next season.

I'd do it quicker than Keith Askins can say "right on". Why is it, everytime I see Keith, I expect his bowtie to spin in a circle? Maybe that might get these players to focus a bit more.

At any rate, a prime time coach under any normal circumstances would have been fired by now or on his way out the door. But Riley is having a hard time firing himself. He is afraid of what the public might think. Here's a clue - thank God! It would show the people that Riley has some perspective and that a healthy dose of self-criticism is there.

It isn't that Riley is a bad coach - by far. But when armed with what he has on hand, there isn't much he can do - he is used to a certain style of coaching. The rules were changed while he was out - quite literally. We can't expect him to take this team in a new direction. Yet on the other hand, he can't be expected to find the best talent for this team and coach it. He is more concerned with the personalities he has to deal with as a coach and that alone keeps him from making the deals he needs to make. See Smush Parker - the only reason this guy is not playing is because Riley, for whatever reason, can't coexist with him. That is a conflict of interest at best, and at worst the picture would be of a GM and a coach that can't work well together.

A change is not necessary, it is inevitable. Riley has to figure which job he wants to keep - team president or team coach. Because he cannot do both. It just doesn't work. And frankly, a legendary coach like himself shouldn't be subjected to the mediocre roster that his "GM" currently gave him. One of them has to be fired. Riley's eye for talent has a more enduring vision at this point than does his coaching, which seems to bleed lesser players dry of their energy with his legendary practices.

The idea is sound - make the change, or be changed. Embrace it, while you still have a chance.

Deal or No Deal?

The question is becoming paramount, almost the defining point of this season - should Miami trade for help or not?

The Heat are 8-24 and even as Ira Winderman points out, it is with great optimism at this point the Heat could get back to contending for a playoff spot. Let alone a shot at the title. The Heat would have to win 33 of their remaining 50 games to get to that .500 winning percentage which basically assures a playoff spot. That means 33-17 the rest of the way and there is no reason to estimate that as probable.

The season, as it stands, is a failure. The only questions to be answered is how many games will Whaq show up for and how many games will Riley coach from here on out.

The Heat have to commit to the future - that is what Riley himself seems to be commenting about.

So the answer is obvious - the Heat are in win maybe mode. They need to refocus on the young players they have (Cook, Wright, Barron, Quinn, Joel Anthony and Alexander Johnson) and see where that takes them. Maybe even Cook, Wright and Wade could turn out to be something akin to the Odom, Butler and Wade lineup that was on the verge of shocking the world (at least Indiana) in the 2003-2004 season.

Even Isiah Thomas, the league's worst GM, realizes that today's NBA game is a small man's game. Riley, for all his coaching talents, has only begun to realize this last season. At least publicly. But let's not make the same mistake Thomas has made - taking whatever is available and forcing it to work - that seems to be what this past offseason was about.

Sure, Riley tried this offseason: yet as Yoda says, "do or do not, there is no try". And he did not improve the Heat's chances with the players he acquired. Thankfully, he did not put the Heat in as bad of a position as Isiah did with the contracts he got in return. Arison wouldn't sign off on it.

The Heat now are forced to build around what they have. What they have is a frustrated young superstar in Wade who doesn't like losing. What they have is a grumpy old center that has to find a way to recover his game as it slips from his mighty hands. Shaq's refusal to reinvent himself in his latter years is the true reason why Miami is faced with the fall from grace few championship teams have ever faced. The Heat look more like a flash in the pan than a sustaining force. A trend more than a classic.

But there is hope if one chooses to see it. Daequan Cook looks to be a legit NBA scorer with star potential - he has the mental makeup to stay in this league and build with Wade. So does Dorell Wright - when Riley actually plays the both of them which injury has forced him to.

Riley's inability to change also has been his downfall. Stan Van Gundy always showed an ability to work with whatever he was given - just look at how much his team changed from 03-04 to 04-05 and how the Heat sustained success. He did something even Riley in his rigidness could not do.

There should be no deal for Miami unless it is a deal for the future and not for the now. Any deal to try and salvage this season should be predicated on the fact that the Heat are not going to win a championship this season but look to the future instead. If Riley, proving stubborn and ever the optimist, makes the mistake of dealing for parts to win now, he is mortgaging the future on his narrow view as a coach instead of a broader view which is demanded of a GM.

There is no greater illustration of this than Riley's gamble on Jason Williams knees. The Heat's 2007-2008 season was bet on his creaky knees being healthy and as a result the Heat franchise has stumbled and now are found on their knees.

Heat Got Issues

More like Unhappy New Year.

The Heat lost to the Bucks last night 103-98. A team that had 2 road wins comes into our house and beats us. Sure, we were shorthanded, but still, we got DWade.

Well, Flash wasn't enough. In fact, it looked like he was going to only play half a game last night, starting the first quarter with 4 points and 3 turnovers. He is just pressing too much and you can tell he doesn't quite trust this team right now.

For example, to close out the first half, Wade passed the ball twice to Ricky Davis who dropped the ball both times - on the same possession! Butterfingers Davis did come through with a great effort, except at that particular moment.

The Heat showed signs of their biggest problem that has plagued them all season - no defense. During the third quarter, the Bucks just kept rattling off points while the Heat couldn't find ways to stop them or score themselves.

The Heat had some bright spots - Quinn and Blount started and put in solid efforts to replace Williams and Shaq. Quinn, I have been saying all season long, needs to be the de facto starter for this squad since he is more of an offensive threat than Williams - I know, did I really just say that? But the numbers don't lie. Quinn doesn't turn the ball over and shoots efficiently with his timid offense, but his confidence is growing and he is taking the ball to the hole and getting scores.

Blount actually helped matters - he dominated the first quarter and was the reason why the Heat jumped out to an early lead and helped the Heat shoot over 50% in the first half. His energy and movement opened up the lane and his jumper helped spread the defense. Yet, he is hardly in position to get rebounds as a result - and he had three in the first quarter but then only 1 rebound the rest of the game. In order to meet that challenge, the Heat have to find someone to rebound at PF since Udonis has been exposed as a limited, although hard working, stiff.

The issues only start there though. Riley's obsession over Luke Jackson is understandable - the kid had a great game in college. Hell, I want him to succeed and was excited at the prospect of his signing. But Kapono he is not, and although he can drive the ball he really shouldn't. His floater in the lane last night looked terrible and he looks like a JV kid trying to play with teh varsity.

What is more puzzling is why Riley won't just get over himself and trust Cook. The kid is an offensive weapon - he can light it up in a hurry. Like he did last night and helped save this anemic offense. If Riley gave the kid 25+ minutes a night, Cook might consistently score 15+ points - and help spread the floor with his shot in the process. But Riley is too smart for that.

Then there is Whaq, Shaq's alter ego/evil twin. Whaq showed up this season to pretend to be Shaq - he plants in the lane, doesn't move on offense, doesn't box out, doesn't play defense. He whines after losses and points the finger, grumbles about the team and its performance - yet never offers to take the team on his back and lead by example. Whaq, of course, doesn't sit with his teammates when he is injured, too. Calling into question just how injured he is and just how much does he really want to win.

As far as I am concerned, Whaq can stay injured. Whenever Shaq returns, who knows if he does, he can come back. Until then, keep the imposter off the floor and even off the bench for all I care.

Riley seemed to address this though, too. He seems to note that players are quitting on this team because of the losses. He wants the players to commit to the future - yet several don't have much future beyond this season: Jason Williams and Ricky Davis, for example. Davis, however, is out there playing and trying. Williams pouts about possibly being traded, and all of a sudden his knees are creaking up again. Riley was a fool, a commendable one though, for gambling the Heat's season on Jason Williams' knees. Jwill should at least take note of that and attempt to repay Riley's faith.

So the Heat have all kinds of issues - lack of trust in teammates, lack of a consistent effort, no leadership, and no vision of the future. This season, as promising as we all thought it to be, is not turning into utter blackness. A trade might not be enough to save this team - but it did work in '96. Then again, playing for the lottery is not a good idea as the Heat, even with a horrible record, are not likely to get one of the top 2 picks in the draft. Look at Boston last season. David Stern would never give Riley that kind of luck.

Heat In Need of Makeover

It could be cosmetic or even a bit more serious, but Miami is in need of change these days. Riley knows it, Wade knows it, and even Shaq now realizes it.

Right now, this team is confused. Jason Williams was cleared by Riley to get back to his "White Chocolate" style of playing, but has admitted it is something he is struggling to do. Why all of a sudden was Williams unleashed?

Shaq, frustrated over not getting enough touches, has now realized he has done a terrible job this season and vowed to change. Yet, recent comments have shown Shaq to have lowered his expectations.

What is going on? Miami has no identity - and Riley is not helping matters.

This team doesn't shoot particularly well, it doesn't play strong defense, doesn't have high energy, doesn't dominate the paint. It is a jack of all trades but a master of none. Their record, 13 games below .500, indicates that as well.

Also, there is a particular pattern you could almost bank on each game for the Heat. They come out sluggish, with no energy, and fall behind by double digits. Then the Heat pick it up and either tie it up or take the lead. When the 4th quarter rolls around, however, Miami slacks off defensively and gives up a double digit run. A loss at the end of the buzzer and Miami shakes its defiant and proud head.

So, even though there is no definite identity for the Heat and their players, their losses follow a particular pattern. What has Riley done to adjust? Too much.

Miami has to make changes, but they need to be changes that address the problems they are facing. Not enough energy to start games? Start the younger players like Cook and Wright. Bad defensive stretches at the ends of games? Play more active defenders - Shaq is not an option for two reasons now at the end of games, his horrible free throw shooting and his lack of defensive intensity.

Speaking of Shaq, he really is better suited to coming off the bench to maintain leads. He slows the game down and can control the pace of a game. He also is playing less minutes these days do to his age and wear-and-tear. Can you convince a massive ego like Shaq to come off the bench? You have to. Statistically, Shaq is not doing anything wrong. Yet chemically, in fitting in with the fabric of the team, he is not helping by becoming a statue on the offensive side of the ball, too.

The reason Zo's injury is such a big loss is because he can change a game with his defensive play - one ferocious blocked shot would result in a Heat fast break opportunity. Shaq does not have that ability - or at least, doesn't demonstrate that desire to do so.

Miami must begin games faster and with more energy. Insert Cook, Wright and Wade. Put Barron at PF and plug in Joel Anthony, a shot blocking defensive dynamo, at center to start. Hey, we are 13 games under .500, why not try something completely different? All these players will defer to Wade who will manage the ball anyway. Cook provides vitality and a scoring threat from anywhere on the floor. Wright gives the Heat rebounding intensity and an athletic presence on the wing that works well with Wade. Barron can spread the floor with his jumper, but also provides a bit of a downside in regards to rebounding - but Haslem has peaked himself and it doesn't seem like the Heat lose too much with him off the court to start games. Anthony can provide a shot blocking presence that will force teams to think twice about playing in the low block.

This allows the Heat to substitute immediately Shaq at center, if they want to hold the lead or even build on one, and Haslem can come off the bench to provide a further calming influence on the game. You could even slide Barron back and forth between center and power forward.

The Heat have to make a commitment. Based on the patterns in their losses, the Heat are looking at some tough changes or their season will be lost.

Stephon Marbury, Andre Miller or Mike Bibby?

There are some rumors swirling about that involve the Heat - and it can be somewhat scandalous.

The Heat are currently in the midst of getting the team to gel - Wade has returned and dropped 31 points on the Rockets to seal up the win. 'Bout time, that is what the Heat were missing.

Or is it?

Seems that Riley is willing to give the team a few more weeks of experimentation and then the verdict on whether or not Andre Miller, Mike Bibby or Stephon Marbury could end up on Biscayne.

There are rumors already starting about each player being linked to the Heat.

Further Reading:
Andre Miller to Miami?
Stephon Marbury to Miami?

If the Knicks decide to keep Isiah, it could happen. If the 76ers decide that the new direction they were going in after shipping off AI isn't working, then another new direction might require Miller time be in Miami.

Jason Williams is just not providing Riley with what he wants - an offensive threat. Williams looks much better, quicker and healthier, but his scoring drive is not there and his big play ability still seems somewhat diminished. Sure, he is a more mature player than ever before but the Heat just need more from him. Shooting under 40% on the season, and uner 30% from three point range is not helping matters. His FGAs per game remain at 9.3 - exactly the same as last season. Yet last season he hit 41% with chronic knee pain and this season he is shooting worse with supposedly healthy knees!

Riley has criticized JWill for his lack of agressiveness at times, opting instead to defer than take the shot. Williams needs to show a healthy dose of self interest at times and needs to initiate the offense at times by looking for his own shot.

If this trend continues, the Heat most definitely will be looking for a new starting PG. With Williams in his final year of his contract, he could be an attractive option to another team looking to clear up space whereas Miami is in win now mode.

Heat Lack of Depth Should Force Youth Movement

Riley is starting to get to me these days. Look, we don't have the greatest depth in the world and at times last season we were seen as slow, old, sluggish, apathetic and just not hungry enough to care.

Gone are Jason Kapono, arguably our best outside shooter since Glen Rice, and James Posey - the defensive dynamo that had the panache for big shots.

What are we left with, a Penny Hardaway comeback story? Riley, are you serious?

Sure, Hardaway could be a serviceable presence in tough game situations, like the playoffs. But you have to get their first.

The general consensus is that Riley would be more likely to keep Hardaway over young players like Jeremy Richardson or Devin Green. Why?! Just because it is a name that is familiar to Riley? He's thinking about 8 years ago when he should be thinking about 8 years from now.

Fortunately, players like Dorell Wright, Daequan Cook, Wayne Simien and Alexander Johnson are all in spots where the Heat need them. Joel Anthony, Marcus Slaughter, and possibly even Earl Barron could be sent packing even though each has talent enough to make the roster. Then there is the backup PG battle heating up between Chris Quinn and Brian Chase...

This bias - or is it an unhealthy fixation - has no benefit. Hardaway is not going to give the Heat more of a future than a talent like Jeremy Richardson, a player who can play in this league and contribute. Look at Allan Houston - the Knicks told him, finally, to pack it up. Doug Christie is still trying to make his comeback - or sell his blasted book about he and his wife's love life (bleck!). Christie contacted the Heat, ironically, and they said no.

So why should Hardaway get a spot that would be best served for a younger player with more upside? Because Riley doesn't want to spend his time developing players and his demands are high. He wants perfection. That is great, but frankly, a veteran might be less likely to make a mental mistake, but is going to be far more limited in what he can do on the court. It really is a tradeoff.

Yet, you can't win games if no one comes to play healthy. Hardaway's durability is just as much of a question as is how would Richardson perform in games. Hardaway might have more experience, but Richardson has less miles.

On a team that saw its two superstars miss almost an entire season's worth of games, there is little to be gained by having another high mileage presence that could be out with an injury. Wade is already going to miss at least the first month. Time to shift the thinking around here.

Heat Getting Jolt of Energy

Let's face it, Pat Riley knows what he is doing.

He is like that guy that quietly sits down at the bar, nestles on up and asks for his drink. While he does so, everyone stops what they are doing and watches for his next move.

You can feel the anticipation in the air.

Riley has not blown the doors off by simply pulling the trigger on an easy, big ticket deal that would instantly make Miami the favorites in the East. That would be too easy, and too amateur. If anything, Riley is no amateur. Besides, he has pulled that old trick before in the past - trading for Zo in the earlier heydays of the Heat team which lead to a series of successes in the mid to late 90's (and some heartbreaks) and also with the most recent trade of Shaq. Been there, done that, got the ring.

Other teams might feel the need to shortcut their way to the top - like Boston - but it is always a risky deal because you have to have the right components in place: a coach that can coach, a team culture that is about winning and pride. The Heat have that, and have always had that - except for last season the mix wasn't there. The team was bloated on its championship and believe it or not, one of the key components to last season's disaster is gone - James Posey. This isn't to knock Posey but failing to come in to camp in shape is one thing. A guy like Antoine Walker will never be that chiseled because of his body type, but the effort was there. With Posey, is just looked like complacency. This year's camp is already looking drastically different.

And it is the unsung, unknown young guys that are making the difference.

What Riley is quietly doing is taking the old recipe and infusing it with new ingredients. This is a factor that most of us mere mortals chose to ignore and instead whine about not getting the big trade that would instantly improve the team. Yet it isn't about instant gratification if you are trying to do something right, it is about a system and the process of executing that system. You need the right components.

You could add the right component by making a trade and also give up some of your talent that is currently in house.

Or you can fill the tub with your own water, and develop the talent to fit into your system.

The latter works especially well if you believe it is just a minor tweak that is needed rather than an overhaul. And this is in fact what Riley believes. Trading for a Zo or a Shaq is a statement about turning over the team's culture. When you have both of those guys on your roster, you really only need to tweak things.

The real difference between a good player and a great player is intrinsic motivation. If you have it, you don't need a guy screaming in your ear telling you to shoot 1000 more free throws or to go to the gym at 4 in the morning. You do all of that because you want to be great. You know nothing else.

In that category are players like Wade, Shaq and Zo. Others on the roster may have delusions of granduer, but because of Shaq, Zo and Wade they will be raising their play much in the same way the moon orbits the earth - because of gravity. Riley understands this principle, he has developed a system and has won everywhere he has coached. Having championship bookends on your coaching career only validates that you know what you are doing.

And Riley is up to something. He has taken this team and injected it with an infusion of youth in order to push the great players and the hoi polloi into getting back to the level they were in 2006.

It might come down to a guy like Brian Chase ultimately shaping the focus of this team more than Riley can do. And that is essentially what a great coach does - he puts things in place and stands aside while the team takes over its own destiny.

Training Camp 2007: It All Starts Here

The offseason hasn't been kind to the Miami Heat - in fact, it seems like they put the "off" in offseason.

From the misses on Mo Williams, Mickael Pietrus, Juan Carlos Navarro - even Charlie Bell - Miami was unable to add a marquee name to its roster. Heck, even a somewhat vague name would have helped.

There is hope though. After years of stacking up with veteran help signing to the bare minimum, Riley FINALLY shifted gears a bit and stocked up on young talent - signing them to the bare minimum.

There is a noted difference in camp with the younger crowd. The team seems a bit more hungry and energetic - things they definitely were not last season.

The buzz? Keep an eye on Jeremy Richardson. We have been pretty high on this guy's athletic ability and his skills offensively. He was kind of labeled a project with some upside, but he has matured physically and with the Heat's system, they may be able to fine tune him enough to get into the rotation. Riley has commented that Richardson reminds him of a young Glen Rice, which would obviously be a good thing for the Heat since they will need to find an offensive shooting presence off the bench to replace Jason Kapono.

Another young guy to keep an eye on is Alexander Johnson. If he can show his promise and deliver consistent performances, he could squeeze into the backup PF role that was envisioned for Wayne Simien. Johnson, however, has more skill, more size, more explosiveness. If both he and Richardson can show they belong, the role for Antoine Walker, the Heat's most controversial and most inefficient player, becomes diminished.

At point guard there seems to be some excitement over Jason Williams' quickness returning. He has said that he feels the best he has in about 5 years, and that his lateral quickness is back and he can actually penetrate into the paint. Everyone has been raving about J-Dub's ability to pass the ball and how his energy level is up. Shedding 15 pounds and resting some surgically repaired knees will help.

Which brings us to Williams' backup, Smush Parker. It seems an ankle injury that never healed is bugging him, keeping him limited in practice for now. Rest assured, that the Heat have a capable backup PG that could keep pushing the tempo once Williams' is resting on the bench. Riley, of course, realizes he cannot push Jason Williams as much, but if healthy, it would be more prudent to keep him minutes limited so he can endure the regular season for the post season.

Yet, if Parker is not able to practice, there is an interesting battle for the 3rd spot heating up between Chris Quinn and Brian Chase. Chase was recently signed by the Heat after Shaq recommended him to Riley. The ex Utah Jazz point guard displays great quickness and agility and proves to be a tough defensive assignment at only 5'9". He is also pushing pressure on Chris Quinn to make the final roster.

As for other tidbits from the start of camp, there is Penny Hardaway's future with the Heat, which seems to be that of veteran presence off the bench much like Shandon Anderson was or even Eddie Jones was of last season. Also, Daequan Cook continues to show promise - the good news is he is playing with confidence and he is in shape. If he can continue to develop his game, he might get some solid minutes in the regular season.

And then there is the biggest question mark of all, Dorell Wright. If he can finally live up to the promise of being the Heat's only high school draft pick ever, it would be a boon for the Heat. He has grown, he has filled out some, and he seems to be taking a much more mature and professional approach this summer as he takes on probably his more pivotal point of his career. If he can show defensive skill while at the same time controlling the ball and hitting his jumper consistently, Riley may have found his starting small forward. If not, the Heat may be pressed to make a move.

Charlie Bell: The One That Got Away?

Well, as we all know (and some of us expected) the Bucks matched the Heat's offer for Charlie Bell - which means he won't be moving to Miami anytime soon.

We could all pin our hopes on a trade, but it was more likely the Heat were going to make a trade if they retained Bell than they would actually trade for Bell.

What this means is the Heat's offseason continues to disappoint. Sure, it was a long shot and Riley basically took a shot in the dark on this, but it wasn't quite like the genius moves of the 2003 offseason where Riley dangled money for Elton Brand only to snatch up the Clippers other RFA, Lamar Odom. Mo Williams re-signed with Milwaukee, but because they are possibly even cheaper than the Clippers they had enough money to match Bell, too.

But this brings up an interesting discussion - or two rather.

1) Is the restricted free agent situation even a worthwhile pursuit? It seems like teams hold all the cards and the only negotiation ploy for an RFA is to threaten to go to Europe. This is what Bell did, and it is what Sarunas Jasikevicius is doing as is Mickeal Pietrus. Pietrus just wants to play in Miami, but it is looking like Golden State has some kind of weird vendetta against Pietrus and will stop at nothing to flounder his ideas. So, he threatens to stay in Europe - but the trick is, even if he does go to Europe, when he comes back to the NBA the Warriors still hold his rights and he is still in the same situation.

As an RFA in the NBA, you're basically screwed. Methinks that will get tinkered with come time for the next CBA.

2) Did signing Smush as an act of desperation stifle the Heat's ability to sign a guy like Charlie Bell? Yes, it did. But the real question is, who was more valued - Bell or Smush? It seems Smush is, but if he isn't, than what is the explanation for the Heat? Bell was available all summer, yet they made no overtures. They would have been better off pushing for a deal at the start of the offseason, like the Raptors did with Kapono, and we may have had him here in Miami. After all, the Bucks had to deal with the Yi situation and then the Mo money scenario. Quietly going after Bell at that time would may have been too much for Milwaukee to handle and they might have let him go since they were trying to plan on retaining the other priorities.

That is, if you think Bell was a highly coveted target at all. I think it was more of a 'hey, why not?' kind of move for Miami. No risk, all reward. And now the Bucks have to deal with that 5 year contract.