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"It was no contest; we were outcoached, outran, outjumped, everything," Riley said.
"I'm like a basketball coach-aholic that bottoms out. I need to find a 12-step program, that's how I look at it. I'm going to have to do some real deep, deep searching here on how this game has got to be played for the Miami Heat to go forward."
Miami Heat head coach Pat Riley following a fourth consecutive disappointing finish to a successful regular season
This time it's not really that bad. On October 30. 2000, the Miami HEAT made their most painful transaction ever when they placed their ALL-NBA Center Alonzo Mourning on the injured
list with a kidney ailment. Zo would go on to miss all of training camp and eventually the first 69 games of the year. Considered by most to be the "Beast of the East", a Zo-less HEAT team is expected to fall flat on their faces. They begin the year at a 5-9 start.
As time has shown, Pat Riley is one of the best ever at making the best out of a dire situation. Behind Brian Grant, Eddie Jones, and All-Star Anthony Mason, the HEAT overcame their tough start by beating the likes of the Lakers, Blazers, Bucks, Knicks, Hornets, and Spurs. A shoulder injury to Eddie Jones on March 5, left the HEAT handcuffed even further. Despite missing their two top scorers, the HEAT defeated the Spurs on March 25 boosting their record to 42-27.
On March 27, two days after defeating the Spurs, Alonzo Mourning announces that he will return to the HEAT lineup. The championship expectations return to their preseason level, but as Miami finishes the season on an 8-5 run. Despite monster performances against the Bucks, Sixers, and Celtics, Alonzo never gets in his normal shape and appears winded after short stints of play.
To make matters worse, after starting all but one of the first 79 games, Tim Hardaway suffers a bruised left foot and is put on the injured list on April 15. This means that Pat Riley's preseason roster plays exactly 3 games together. For the final three games, Brian Grant is moved from his starting center position to the bench, and Zo is reinserted to the starting lineup.
April 21, the HEAT begin their playoff series with Charlotte. Riles re-inserts Tim Hardaway and Eddie Jones into the starting lineup. Jones returns to his normal All-Star form while Timmy struggles to get up and down the floor. Anthony Mason struggles playing beside Alonzo and Grant never finds his rhythym off the bench. Anthony Carter never quite finds his game, and Riles is left looking towards The Future.
Table of Contents
HEAT: In-Depth
HEAT: In-Depth: The Troops
HEAT: In-Depth: The Troops2
HEAT: In-Depth: The X-Factor
HEAT: In-Depth: An Ode to Thunder
HEAT: In-Depth: A Response To Evil
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