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NBA BASKETBALL
Rising Heat Could Generate East Movement
<January 10, 2002>
By
Tom Trush
As Miami’s
team chemistry continues to grow, injuries heal, and
a playoff possibility lingers, the rest of the NBA may
soon begin to feel the Heat
With this season’s early production more reminiscent
of the inept Chicago Bulls of recent years, the Miami
Heat have been to the bottom of NBA existence. As veterans
of a 12-game losing streak and multiple 30-point plus
losses, not only have they been susceptible to the substandard
standings reflecting their poor play, but also the criticism
that comes along with frequent losing. Only two weeks
ago, rumors surfaced involving part owner and head coach
Pat Riley and his future with the team. Fueling speculation
that Riley may be quitting, The Miami Herald reported
that he had already voiced support for his successor
in assistant coach Stan Van Gundy.
Looking for a formula to solve their playoff nemesis
- the Knicks - Riley’s desire to rebuild last year’s
team resulted in the Heat returning only five players
from the 2000-01 squad. Beginning the season, Alonzo
Mourning’s health status was in doubt, as was a consistent
lineup. Experimentation and injuries have led Riley
to use an assortment starting lineups, with 15 different
players seeing time on the floor to begin a game this
season.
Now, halfway through the season, the winning winds of
change may have finally begun to blow into South Beach.
Recent winning streaks of three and six games, respectively,
have the Heat thinking of a return to the playoffs,
with Mourning regaining his old form and leading the
charge. Miami’s recent metamorphosis comes during a
portion of their schedule that has included extended
periods away from American Airlines Arena. Since Dec.
21, they have played only five home games (which included
victories over Golden State, Indiana and Chicago), and
topped the Pacers, Celtics, Warriors, Lakers, Trail
Blazers and Cavaliers on the road.
Suffering from a frequent inability to score points,
Miami has lacked a consistent scorer this season, with
seven players - Mourning, Eddie Jones, Chris Gatling,
Eddie House, LaPhonso Ellis, Jim Jackson and Brian Grant
- holding honors as the team’s top scorer in a game.
Only three players are averaging in double figures and
Jones, who leads the team at 18.9 ppg, isn’t even in
the top 30 scorers in the league. Recently though, Jones
has emerged as team’s primary offensive weapon. He has
led the team in scoring in eight of the Heat’s last
nine wins, including a season high of 29 points vs.
Indiana on Dec. 31. During that span, he is averaging
23.0 ppg - more than four points above his season average.
Finally able to sustain stamina, Mourning’s power game
is beginning to return. The center has scored in double
figures in 16 straight games, including a season-best
28 on Jan. 16 vs. the Lakers. He has also tallied an
average of 9.1 rebounds and 4.6 blocks per contest over
the same stretch.
Currently 6.5 games out from a playoff spot in the Eastern
Conference, Miami is gaining strength and closing fast.
The team chemistry is developing, the injuries are healing,
and if a playoff position comes down to victories at
the end of the season, the schedule favors a Miami move
up the standings. The Heat play six of their last eight
games at home, concluding with the final five against
Eastern Conference foes.
Tom Trush is a freelance writer for Write
Way Solutions. You can reach him via email at writewaysolutions@yahoo.com
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