Is Jalen Rose serious?

Phoenix or Miami...Phoenix or Miami...Miami or Phoenix...

C'mon Jalen, PICK ALREADY!

The choice is obvious - MIAMI!

Micheal Finley made this same mistake last year - don't you go and repeat it. Miami is the team, the place, the time. It is the sizzle in the steak, the umbrella in the pina colada. Sure, they took a butt whoopin on their season opener, but their arms were tired from trying to hold up those big ol' championship rings!

In fact, some of the Heat players complained that they couldn't see for the first half, the bling from their rings was so great it actually scolded their retinas!

So weary-armed and bleary-eyed, they took the court against a young and hungry Bulls team that was being pushed by ultra-competitive, inferior complexed and short-man syndromed Scott Skiles.

It was a recipe for disaster.

But don't think for a second that Miami has a lesser chance of contending than Phoenix. Miami has the best player in the game in Wade, and still has a two-headed dominating beast at center with Shaq and Zo. They have hall of famer Gary Payton, who can teach you a thing or two about talking trash. They have one of the hardest working big men in Udonis Haslem. They have the offensive firepower of the erratic Antoine Walker. The defense and shooting of James Posey. The magic of a healthy Jason Williams - probably the most important piece to this team's success after Wade and Shaq.

Your numbers may not improve in terms of scoring, but your efficiency will. Phoenix cannot make either guarantee. Playing with Shaq, you will have more real estate to work with than Donald Trump. Just ask #3.

You also benefit from having one of the greatest basketball minds on your bench in Pat Riley. Shaq said he would not play for anyone else at this stage of his career. And he has won, what, 4 championships now?

How many Finals appearances does Shaq have again?

And the entire Suns team?

Yeah, you think about it - as if there is anything to think about. In the meantime, I will bring the sunscreen and will be waiting for you in the Coconut Grove.

Trick - No Treat

Heat open up season with disappointment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Heat adding Rose?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Last Minute Deal in the Works?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A PG?

A SG?

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

Heat trim down roster by 2

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

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

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