Lottery Fate for Heat Tonight

The thread is pulled and ready to be snipped. The fate of an awful 20th season for the Heat will finally be realized tonight. Will the spoiled fruits of their labors be rewarded with a #1 pick or will they slip down the slope to the #4 pick and force to rethink their quick turnaround?

The Heat are a playoff team right now, let's face it. A healthy Dwyane Wade, Shawn Marion and a solid supporting cast can get them back to the postseason. But this is not just about getting back, but about getting back on top.

The top pick would assure the Heat of a better chance of getting there.

The Heat also have limited financial options. Sure, after this season they will be rid of Shawn Marion's contract, but if they want to keep him they have to pony up. Getting a young stud at a reduced rate for a few years would help greatly in their rebuilding efforts. Even if rumors of Carlos Boozer's desire to play in Miami are true, the Heat cannot be realistically expected to make a big splash in the trade market.

Then again, no one thought Antoine Walker's contract could be moved. Or Shaq's for that matter.

So, the Heat will find out what fate awaits their draft this year. Finally, we can end the speculation about what pick the Heat will have and start focusing on the talent that is available and what effect it could have on this team. I still say with the number one pick the Heat should draft...Michael Beasley. Tonight, we find out if that is even a possibility.

Discuss with us.

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.

If Shaq Plays, Is He a Liar?

Let's face it, it has been on all of our minds.

I remember when we first traded for Shaq, members were joining our boards and screaming Shaq is a cancer and he will destroy our franchise. They were obviously siding with Kobe and whether or not it was self delusion - to deal with losing the most dominant center of his era (if not all time) - remains to be seen. Still, we were not inclined to believe them just because we gave up a lovable, young nucleus in Lamar Odom, Caron Butler and Brian Grant just for the chance at winning a title with Shaq.

So we win the title, everyone is excited and calling for a repeat. "Uno mas" was more than just a chant to get Zo to stick with it and play another season. Yet, everything quickly fell apart. Some attribute it to a team with too many injuries - the championship starting unit did not play but a handful of games together after that magical 2005-2006 season and it was shut down at the start of this season when it was apparent a change was needed.

But was Shaq really the problem all along?

I have contended in the past that the trade for Shaq may have been too high - it cost us a very good group of young players but it also cost us the coaching talent of Stan Van Gundy, who basically resigned because Shaq was tuning him out and undermining his authority as coach (Gary Payton, too).

I am glad to see that I am not the only one thinking this way. In fact, some even want to use this as a way to call out Shaq. Our friends over at Sportech started talking about this recently pointing out Bill Walton's rant on Shaq.



Basically, is Shaq's injury for real or conveniently timed? Regardless, paying a guy $20M a season and having him play basically every other game is not helping matters. The Heat, out of necessity, had to deal Shaq and move on. The guy has missed 115 games over the past three seasons! And without major surgery.

It is intriguing though to consider, if Shaq all of a sudden is playing for the Suns and scoring 20 a game and putting in effort on both ends of the floor, what should the Heat and its fans think? In Shaq's defense, the Heat didn't have enough consistent scorers around him (outside of Wade) to really warrant taking the punishment each night. He definitely is going to be rejuventated playing with Steve Nash and his haircut, the jet-like Leandro Barbosa and a tough guy like Raja Bell. Not to mention he has Amare Stoudamire at his back.

Why wouldn't Shaq change his tune? Could we really blame him?

Tell us how you feel. Burn us.

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.

The Matrix Comes to Miami

In a much more subdued press conference than the over the top PR move the Heat had when they acquired Shaq, Shawn Marion, along with new Heatian Marcus Banks, was introduced with a simple "Hello everyone.".

Marion's broad smile seemed appropriate considering the aftermath of the Shaq trade. Bitter words have been spun about regarding Shaq's departure and his relationship with Pat Riley. To get a quite smile in the middle of this is almost as bold and as loud as when Shaq rolled into town with a semi-truck and water guns.

"The sky's the limit," Marion said. "Can't get any worse. We can only get better now."

And like that, the Heat's season is summed up as well is the trade. Shaq was not fitting in with this team and that fact became painfully obvious once the Heat lost Kapono and Posey and failed to replace their shooting abilities. (Most will not realize, however, that Kapono's game thrived when Shaq was injured last season and that he actually played better with Wade - but that is another discussion.) Shaq became too crowded and like a bull in a china shoppe. And at $20M a season, the Heat need better numbers from him - 17 and 8 is not enough for a player who is eating up about 34% of the payroll.

With Marion, they get a quiet personality who does his talking on the court. His explosive athleticism allows him to create posterizing dunks and game changing blocks. He can defend any position on the floor and he also has an outside shot with very good range - despite his disturbing, unorthodox shot.

There are some who are not high on this trade and see this as a salary dump. Shaq's low numbers and inability to stay healthy is what the Heat were looking to drop. They could have added by subtraction - the Heat have played 115 games without Shaq over the last three seasons. That is practically the inverse of buy one get one free. Considering the Heat's record over these last three seasons, and how dramatically things have taken a turn for the worse, this move had to be made.

"The Matrix" is exactly what the Heat need. Shawn Marion can rebound, can score, can defend, can help defend, and has a track record of staying healthy. And he was doing it before Steve Nash showed up, and he will do it while playing in Miami without Nash.

For those of you who are cynical, let's look at the numbers. Before Nash arrived in Phoenix, in 2004-2005, Marion was averaging 19 PPG, 9.3 RBs, 2.7 ASTs, 2.0 TOs, 2.1 STLs and 1.3 BLKs. He shot 44% from the field, 34% from three point range, and 85% from the charity stripe. Once Nash arrived, Marion saw his FGAs go down (from 17.0 per game to 15.9 per game), his FG% go up slightly (44% to 47.6%) and his scoring rise marginally (19.0 to 19.4). In other words, Marion became slightly more efficient. In fact, the only real strong improvement was in rebounds where he went from 9.3 to 11.3 a game with Nash - perhaps due to increased possessions and shots taken there were more opportunities to rebound.

How about with the Heat? With Dwyane Wade, we could expect a more dynamic offense as Wade has the ability to penetrate into the paint almost at will but he also has the ability to set up his teammates - a role he seems more comfortable in. Wade can penetrate and kick, much like Nash does and that is something Marion knows how to play off of.

On the defensive side of the ball, Marion's great wingspan allows him to be a very strong help defender - something the Heat have been lacking since Zo went down: a consistent shot blocking presence to keep defenses honest.

He is a hard worker, an ideal member of the community, and can help this team win now. Which actually, might not be a good thing considering the Heat are in an ideal situation for drafting one of the top 2 picks in the draft. Considering the Heat still have very little financial flexibility going forward - assuming Marion stays - getting a franchise player in the draft would put the Heat back into serious contention almost immediately. Now we will have to sort out who is going to coach this thing...Spoelstra?

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?

Shaq Traded?

Given the cost of fuel these days, it is no wonder that the Heat are trading away their main fuel source. After all, there isn't any heat being generated and it has a lot to do with their Diesel drying up.

In what is shaping up to be a trade deadline blockbuster deal, Miami could be sending Shaq to Phoenix to help the Suns get past the Spurs. The Miami Herald is reporting that the Heat would be getting back Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks, a point guard that Riley had his eyes on a few seasons ago.

If the rumors are true, Miami just turned things around financially. This would be a tremendous lift for the franchise. Shawn Marion can opt out of his contract after this season, saving the Heat $17.1M and paving the way for the Heat to sign whatever marquee free agent they wanted. Couple that with what is looking like one of the top picks in this year's draft, and the Heat could face an immediate turnaround.

Until this deal is finalized, if there is a deal in place, we at MiamiHeatwave.com do not wish to speculate. So, stay tuned...

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.

Shaq Being Shopped?

Nothing to see here...move along...

This is what it feels like these days. Some on the boards have started questioning this about a month ago. But where there's smoke...there is some heat? Because this team lacks fire.

Still, everyone is talking about what is NOT going on. Interesting. So Riley isn't shopping Shaq we are assured. That's funny because moving a contract like Shaq's now would be very hard to do. Then again, they said the same thing about Antoine Walker's deal and the Heat not only moved his contract off the books, but also upgraded with the acquisitions of Ricky Davis and Mark Blount (which forced us to part ways with Michael Doleac and Wayne Simien).

Could the Heat pull off something similar? Not likely, unless Mark Cuban wants to gamble. And frankly, that would make sense because that team is not going to win anything unless it gets mentally tougher. Shaq at least brings a massive ego and a confidence that champions need. Funny though how the Mavs' beat writers seem to be talking a lot of trash about the Heat these days - they and their how many championships? And they have even speculated about trading for Shaq which would help them in their search for a trophy.

Still, a deal to trade Shaq isn't happening because Pat Riley said so. Right Pat? Just like SVG was going to be coaching this team for quite a while and you were done coaching.

But here is what is positive about this - a statement. Riley has said "There's going to be a time when he's going to have to play with it. He's going to have to deal with it in the future and fight through it." That means Riley is calling Shaq out. As I have dubbed him, Whaq, his 250K per game price tag is just too much to ignore. He has his money, now it is time to produce. The Heat have held up their end of the bargain, Shaq needs to do his.

Join the discussion.

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 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.

To Rebound Shaq Must Rebound

All this talk about Shaq is kind of getting old. No, he isn't the 23 year old man-child he once was, tearing down goals in enemy arenas. But he isn't done, either.

Much has been made about Shaq's demise, and as they say it is much ado about nothing. Shaq's minutes have decreased but there is good reason for that, too. He isn't as productive as he once was, but that is not to say he can't be a force in every game he sets his giant foot on the court.

He must re-think his game, re-formulate his identity and what his goals are on the court.

I have said this before, Shaq is so large and massive there is no reason why he cannot be the best pure rebounder on the court. His size has not diminished, and you can't teach strength. What Shaq has never really had was heart - by that, I mean the kind of heart a guy like Udonis Haslem has.

For Shaq, the game has always come very easy. His combination of size and strength seem almost unnatural. In fact, that is the biggest difference between Shaq and any other player in the NBA - but that is obvious. Yet, this is the source of his greatest frustration, his biggest obstacle is the massive ego that blots out the sun in his mind. The recent comments which show Shaq is starting to acknowledge his decline are indicative of an important shift: Shaq must realize that he is not as quick as he once was and does not have the same lift. After this, he can start to formulate a change, he can start to adapt his game to suit his age and skill set.

The biggest breakthrough has yet to come. Riley has already started to limit Shaq's playing time - this isn't done for punishment, but rather because Shaq is clogging the lane and slowing the game down. Wade has admitted publicly that several of his turnovers are coming from him trying to force the ball into Shaq. Defenses are defending him differently - they are now fronting him whereas before he would just spin and catch an ally. Or he was more mobile and physical and would force teams to double down or foul. Now, he plants in the lane and waits.

Shaq has to move more.

More importantly, he needs to use his assets. He needs to use that giant frame to box out and fight for the ball. This is where the heart of Udonis Haslem would benefit Shaq - since the game is easy for him, he never really had to battle and scrape and fight. He just had to flick his switch and let his will be done. Haslem, one of the smaller power forwards in the game, always gets himself into position and has great anticipation. Shaq, on the other hand, seems to not be able (or want) to get into a good position. He allows himself to be taken out of the play all too often.

If Shaq can work on getting himself into position, and stop trying to set up the post so much, he could find a way to reinvent himself. He would also generate more shot attempts. ''More than 10, so I can get into my game,'' he said. ``My son can't even get into the game with seven shots.'' But your son isn't waiting in the post for a pass, either. In fact, how many set plays are run for Zo? About as many as Chris Quinn gets. Yet Zo finds ways to get involved in the game and be a factor.

Once Shaq understands that he can no longer rely on waiting for the ball to come to him, he will be on his way to mattering once again. The longer it takes, however, is the longer it takes for this team to turn things around. If Shaq can get his rebounds over 10 a game, a feat that he should do in his sleep, but has only done 6 times in 24 games this season. He used to do it all season long.

Heat Just a Wade Away from Turning Things Around

0-5 is not time to panic. Unless of course it is a playoff series in which case it would be beyond the time to panic. The Heat have not had an easy schedule but they have been competitive. There are reasons to be encouraged:

1) Ricky Davis is adjusting. The guy is an exciting, athletic player that can be a difference maker on both ends of the floor for Miami. He could easily be that 3rd scoring option the Heat desperately need and he is showing signs of that - getting 20+ points against the Suns most recently.

2) Jason Williams looks better. He also dropped 20+ on the Suns and looks terrific moving the ball in traffic and pushing the offense. Getting used to playing with different personnel will help and with Wade set to return soon JWill's play will only get better. Will he stay healthy? This is his final contract year...

3) Shaq is starting to look good again. His first two games he was virtually non-existent offensively - as far as scoring is concerned. Of late, he too is starting to score more. Looking less sluggish, he is also showing that he can still take over a game for stretches.

4) Anfernee Hardaway is as good as advertised. Coming off the bench he has played excellent defense, provided timely and efficient scoring, and showing heady play. He could be Posey's replacement. Penny is worth much more - somewhere Abraham Lincoln is smiling.

5) Wade is coming back. Sooner rather than later.

See the difference in the margin of win or loss in the Heat's first five games has been a play or two. Even against a team like San Antonio on the road, the Heat played them tight throughout but couldn't hang in the whole game trying to adjust as a team to new personnel and a strong opponent. If Wade, healthy and ready to go, was in that game there would have been a big difference on the offensive side of the floor. That could have resulted in a win.

Put a healthy Wade in the lineup against the Pistons, the Suns, the Bobcats and you might see a win in those games as well.

What we are seeing is a microcosm of last season - the Heat without Wade is a good team, not a great team. They have to find a way to compete and win - but with Wade they could make up the difference and turn things around.

Heat fans, keep this in perspective. It is still early. A healthy Wade, set to return, could be the difference.

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.

Shaq's Divorce

Look, this is something that belongs on TMZ or some other celebrity head-hunting site. Nevertheless, it is news about a Heat player and we must cover it. So, our commentary is this - oh well. Looks like there was some marital trouble in Shaq-ra-la. It seems to be due to suspicions about finances. Looking for more?

Read:
Greg Cote's Blog
Should we all be more like Shaunie?
Sun-Sentinel

Hardaway Signing Shows Riley to Be Cheap and Lazy

Riley the GM has failed to give Riley the coach any assets to do battle with this season. At least, any significant upgrades for this upcoming season - but it really wasn't Riley the GM's fault, his hands were tied by his penny-pinching owner.

So much so that everyone is trying to figure out how much a penny is worth because the Heat just picked up a Penny.

The Hardaway signing is validation of the Heat's modus operandi - that they will rely on Riley's old, tired, and stubborn method of coaching as well as continue to waist the resource they have in Shaq and even in DWade. Instead of unleashing hell this offseason, the Heat pinned it up and went home before everyone started unfurling their tents.

If the Heat were just cheap, that would be one thing. There are other, better options on the table still: Ruben Patterson, Jumaine Jones, Dahntay Jones, Jalen Rose, Ime Udoka, James Singleton, James White even Josh Powell. All have been active NBA players over the last two seasons - which is something that cannot be said for Penny. But the Heat are lazy, too and it is evident because of this fact - there are better options available but the Heat just went for the retread, the known name.

Make no mistake, Penny will be used much more heavily than perhaps he should be. It isn't about his age or about how he torched NBA camp veteran Ron Hale, it is about Riley's mind being stuck somewhat around 1998. I mean really, why let Eddie Jones go if you were just going to sign a guy in the same age bracket with a similar skill set but is not really as good of a defender?

What this means is now Daequan Cook and Dorell Wright will not get off the bench a whole lot and that this move only retards their growth. If Riley the coach didn't want these talents on his team, he should have had a conversation with Riley the GM. I mean, they have the same agent at least, right? Penny Hardaway, who looks nothing like his puppet I might add, is going to have to fight for his spot in the rotation but he will have less to prove since he is more of a known quantity to Riley.

Yet, does this really improve the Heat? Smush Parker is an upgrade over Payton since he is young, has a pulse, and can tie his own shoes. Payton only had two out of three of those qualities. But Penny, who is he replacing?

If he is replacing Eddie Jones, then fine. But if he is replacing James Posey, we are in a world of sh*%. As nice as a story as Penny Hardaway could be, he is far from proven at this point and is only cashing in on his past accomplishments.

This Heat team needed less history and more ceiling. Riley, as the coach, is not interested in ceiling and growth but instead in what he can grasp and quantify as proof. Penny's past, for Riley, demonstrates what he can do - even if it data about 10 years outdated.

There are better options for Miami - even a potential Mickael Pietrus deal which would have made a huge splash and turned around the Heat's dreadful offseason - but Riley has been unable to pull the trigger. Again, I hope it is due to the other team's demands and not to Riley's lack of vision. I sincerely hope this is not a point in which Riley shows himself an outdated dinosaur incapable of growth himself.

But in signing Penny Hardaway, it only shows the Heat to be cheap, lazy and unimaginative.

Could the Heat Trade for Jermaine O'neal?

Apparently, Jermaine O'neal wants out of Indy and a trip to LA. That's nice. But since we are speculating here, why not see if Miami could be a suitable option for the other O'neal?

The rumor is that the Lakers have been pushing for JLo, as I like to call him due to his incessant on-court whining, but have been only offering Andrew Bynum and Kwame Brown as integral parts of the deal. The Pacers want Odom, but the Lakers want to keep Lamar to integrate further into their triangle which is the crux of Phil Jackson's "genius" label, eventhough it comes from Tex Winters.

Can the Heat trump that deal? Possibly.

Jermaine O'neal is scheduled to make 19.7M, 21.3M and 22.9M over the next three years. That is pretty sizeable.

The Heat could counter with Jason Williams (8.9M) and Antoine Walker (8.5M) for a total of 17.4M.

This leaves the Heat about 2.3M short in the financial aspect of the deal. So, throw in Udonis Haslem (6.0M) and the Heat are roughly up 3.7M. The Pacers could counter with Jamaal Tinsley, who makes 6.3M this upcoming season: Heat would be -2.6M.

Now the Heat could counter with offering Dorell Wright (1.7M) or they could take one of the aforementioned players off the board (Udonis Haslem, or even Jason Williams or Antoine Walker) and instead use James Posey as a sign-and-trade to make the numbers stick.

The question remains, is this a more attractive offer for the Pacers than Bynum and Brown? It could be because they would be getting O'neal's contract off the books and getting solid value in return. Jason Williams would come off their books and free the Pacers up to spend roughly 8M more next season. They could also get Walker off the books via a buyout or ride it out one more season and get him off the books in 2008-2009. The Pacers would also get rid of Jamaal Tinsley's risky contract - he has 4 more years left (6.3M, 6.7M, 7.2M, and 7.5M) and with injury concerns.

For the Heat, it would be an interesting move that would generate some more buzz to counter the Boston trade for Kevin Garnett. The Heat would gain that legit third star they need to take pressure off of Shaq and Dwade and it might be enough to vault them back into championship contention immediately. The Heat would also gain a floor leader whose skill set would complement Wade and Shaq's much better - a strong defender who can handle the ball and move the offense. With Jermaine O'neal, the Heat wouldn't require Tinsley to score but he could stick the open shot when needed.

Ultimately, the Heat would give up:
Jason Williams
Antoine Walker
Udonis Haslem
Dorell Wright
and/or James Posey

and recieve from the Pacers in return:
Jermaine O'neal
Jamaal Tinsley

Of course, that is 4 or possibly 3 players that the Pacers would recieve in exchange for two and roster moves would have to be made to make room.

The real question is, why couldn't the Heat get involved in trade talks with the Pacers? Couldn't they offer just as much if not more than the Lakers? Would they be willing to do so? Would it cost the Heat too much down the road? The answer to that last question is not really. Sure, they would have three players with around a combined 55M payroll, but the contracts would last until Shaq's final season 2009-2010. Both O'neals would come off the books and Wade would have a player option in place should he choose to invoke it.

It's too much of a risk to not try and make that move. Especially as how much better the East has gotten this past offseason.