All is not well down in Miami (I'm soooo happy)

[dirt_dobber]

Walker's slump has added to woes

The ailing Heat needs Antoine Walker, who is averaging 7.9 points this season, to step up his output.
BY MICHAEL WALLACE
mwallace@MiamiHerald.com
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald...l/16371435.htm

f the first step toward emerging from a demoralizing slump is convincing yourself it doesn't necessarily exist, then Heat forward Antoine Walker might be on pace for a breakout game sometime soon.

It might even come tonight when the Heat reemerges after a three-day hiatus in a place coach Pat Riley has described as ''the bottom of the barrel'' to face the Los Angeles Clippers at AmericanAirlines Arena.

The Heat has not played since its 97-68 loss at Orlando on Saturday, which was Miami's second-worst loss of the season. It was also statistically the worst night in a brutal stretch for Walker, whose production has been spiraling since mid-November.

''I don't really know if I'm struggling. It's hard for me to judge that,'' said Walker, whose scoring average has dipped from 15 points Nov. 14 to 7.9 entering tonight's game. ``You guys [media] make it seem [like] struggles because you get into statistics. Some games, I haven't even played the second half.''

Walker suggested after Tuesday's practice that his recent decline to career-low averages is a result of several factors. They include his shooting woes, inconsistent playing time, changes in his role and position from small forward to power forward and the injuries to Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal that have affected his play and that of the team.

LOW POINT

Rock-bottom, or at least a sign pointing to it, was Walker's 0-of-5 shooting from the field against Orlando, which included an 0-of-4 clip from three-point range in his second scoreless game of the season.

It was the low point in a 23-game stretch that has seen Walker miss 49 of 53 (15.5 percent) three-pointers while shooting just 34.3 percent from the field and 35.7 from the foul line.

The Heat will play for the first time tonight since the NBA replaced its new synthetic ball with the traditional leather ball. Walker said he's glad to play with the ball he has gotten used to in his 10-year career. But will it help his game?

''Hopefully, but you never know,'' Walker said. ``It's about getting repetitions, getting shots and being confident.''

Perhaps just as inconsistent as Walker's play has been Riley's public reaction to it. After the Orlando game, Riley sounded as if he was running short on patience.

''He's just got to start playing,'' Riley said Saturday. ``You can [only] do so much.''

When asked about Walker's struggles Tuesday, Riley deflected the focus to him and other members of the team but did not mention players by name.

''You guys are all off base on this,'' Riley said. ``There are about five guys that have underperformed. As a coach I've underperformed. There isn't anybody who you can point your finger at.''

Riley then offered what appeared to be a response to center Alonzo Mourning's comments to the media after the Orlando game. Morning flashed his 2006 NBA championship ring in front of reporters and said it was a reminder that the Heat has what other teams want.

LITTLE OUTPUT

''Our entire frontline had one, two rebounds,'' Riley said of Mourning (1) and Udonis Haslem (3), who actually combined for four as the Heat was outrebounded 46-33. ``You can flash as many championship rings as you want, but if you're going to flash it and have [one] rebound next to your name, I wouldn't flash it.''

The Heat has spent the past two days of practice working on ways to get more production out of the post from Mourning, Haslem and Walker.

A boost will be needed because Wade is likely to miss a third game in a row with a sprained right wrist, and O'Neal will miss his 25th consecutive game as he recovers from Nov. 19 knee surgery.

So the Heat will look to Walker to step up.

''You can see his confidence waiver a little bit,'' Wade said. ``He doesn't shoot the open shots no more. He's trying to drive all the time. You don't try to harp on it too much.''

[dirt_dobber]

I guess the volume shooter isn't makin' the shots.

[alexamenos]

Originally Posted by dirt_dobber

It was the low point in a 23-game stretch that has seen Walker miss 49 of 53 (15.5 percent) three-pointers...

a) 4 for 53 is not 15.5 percent, it's 7.5 percent;

b) anyone who goes 4 for 53 from three should never take another three point shot--they should be hanged by the neck until dead.

[u2sarajevo]

4 out of 53? I wish he would have shot that well when he was in Dallas.

[Flacolaco]

shimmy?

[WraithXx]

Good!!! I f***ing hate hate this team with a passion

[TripleDipping]

I'll be happy if Miami misses the playoffs this year.

[Maringa]

I still can't believe we lost 4 straight against the Heat during the finals....I may finally come to terms with that if the Mavs win the championship this year, but if the Mavs never get back to the finals, I will always have that sick feeling of an opportunity wasted like not buying Dell or Microsoft stock in the early 90's....

[Flacolaco]

miami sits in the 9 spot in the east.

which prompted a further look at the standings, and there I see a #4 seed in the east with a 13-18 record.

the #4 seed in the west has a 22-9 record.

ugh

[Dirkgreatness]

Riley takes leave of absence from Heat

By Sam Smith
Tribune staff reporter
Published January 3, 2007, 11:59 AM CST


Miami Heat coach Pat Riley will take a leave of absence from the defending champion Miami Heat, NBA sources said Wednesday.

Riley informed the team of his decision Wednesday morning. No immediate successor was named.

The Heat are playing the Los Angeles Clippers Wednesday before leaving on a six-game Western Conference trip. Riley said earlier this week that injured center Shaquille O'Neal could play. O'Neal was scheduled to travel with the team and begin working out after early-season knee surgery.

With O'Neal out, the Heat are 13-17 and currently out of the top eight playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. It is just over a year since Riley returned from his front office position to relieve Stan Van Gundy of coaching duties. The Heat went on to win the NBA championship, the first for a Riley team since his 1988 Los Angeles Lakers. Many had speculated Riley would retire after the championship to leave the coaching world as a winner.

But as an owner of the franchise and with a long-term salary commitment to O'Neal, intimates say Riley felt compelled to return as well as to be with the team following the championship. But insiders say Riley grew overwhelmed with the Heat's losing, at times this season frustrated with the declining level of play and apparent interest of several players. Riley called the Heat the poorest defensive team he's ever had with players frequently missing games with injuries.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports...ck=1&cset=true

[Nemesis]

Come on D-Wade!! Do this magic everyone has stapled to your sensitive backside!! Pull them out of the depths of hell...Geezzz

[bernardos70]

And so he leaves...... I blame it on Hinrich's thuggery.

[dirno2000]

Probably just a coincidence that he's leaving right before a 6 game west coast road trip with Wade and Shaq out.

[FINtastic]

Is this the end of the Riley era? Wil the Golden Boy D-Wade be able to save Miami while dealing with injuries that would make any mere mortal beg for morphine? Will Antoine Walker ever hit a three? Man, this Miami soap opera is starting to get really juicy.

[dirno2000]

They slipped this one under the radar:

Walker, Posey don't meet conditioning goals, must sit

MIAMI -- Heat forwards Antoine Walker and James Posey were deactivated for the team's game Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Clippers because they didn't meet a team conditioning goal.

Heat coach Pat Riley, who also announced Wednesday that he was taking a medical leave of absence, said Walker and Posey may be back as soon as Friday in Phoenix -- but could face suspension by Jan. 15 if the undisclosed goal is not met.

"There's been an ongoing conditioning goal that our team has had to make since the summer. ... January was the deadline, they haven't made it, and they knew this was going to happen if they didn't make it," Riley said. "By the way, both of them are in the best condition of their lives. They're very close. But a deadline is a deadline."

Neither Walker nor Posey were available Wednesday afternoon. The team did not hold its customary game-day shootaround practice, and it was unclear when the players were told they wouldn't play against the Clippers.

With center Shaquille O'Neal (knee surgery), forward Wayne Simien (recovering from salmonella poisoning) and guard Dwyane Wade (sprained wrist) all expected to miss Wednesday's game with injuries, the absence of Walker and Posey means the Heat will dress only 10 players against the Clippers.

Posey is averaging 7.3 points and 4.6 rebounds this season, while Walker is averaging 7.9 points and 4.1 rebounds on 40 percent shooting.

[nashtymavsfan13]

Good to hear the Heat having so many problems, I don't think they'll make the playoffs this year and I'll be very happy if that's the case.

[rakesh.s]

ahahahaha

4 of 53...d-m members could probably do better in an nba game.

[Stranger]

Karma.

[nashtymavsfan13]

They got killed today, by the Clippers

[FINtastic]

Originally Posted by dirno2000

They slipped this one under the radar:

Walker, Posey don't meet conditioning goals, must sit

MIAMI -- Heat forwards Antoine Walker and James Posey were deactivated for the team's game Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Clippers because they didn't meet a team conditioning goal.

Heat coach Pat Riley, who also announced Wednesday that he was taking a medical leave of absence, said Walker and Posey may be back as soon as Friday in Phoenix -- but could face suspension by Jan. 15 if the undisclosed goal is not met.

"There's been an ongoing conditioning goal that our team has had to make since the summer. ... January was the deadline, they haven't made it, and they knew this was going to happen if they didn't make it," Riley said. "By the way, both of them are in the best condition of their lives. They're very close. But a deadline is a deadline."

Neither Walker nor Posey were available Wednesday afternoon. The team did not hold its customary game-day shootaround practice, and it was unclear when the players were told they wouldn't play against the Clippers.

With center Shaquille O'Neal (knee surgery), forward Wayne Simien (recovering from salmonella poisoning) and guard Dwyane Wade (sprained wrist) all expected to miss Wednesday's game with injuries, the absence of Walker and Posey means the Heat will dress only 10 players against the Clippers.

Posey is averaging 7.3 points and 4.6 rebounds this season, while Walker is averaging 7.9 points and 4.1 rebounds on 40 percent shooting.

Are they going to have anyone left on their roster in a few weeks?

[DavidDaMonkey]

Im not gonna lie, I kinda feel bad for them and wish them some success.

[Dirkadirkastan]

Originally Posted by DavidDaMonkey

Im not gonna lie, I kinda feel bad for them and wish them some success.

Never mind this, folks. A monkey typing random letters will generate an intelligible sentence eventually. Just be patient.

[Windmill360]

one of the most profound teams to ever win a championship. And that's not a good thing either. It should have never happened.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Antoine Walker sucks, who woulda thunk it? And the finals weren't fixed, ha! Only the refs could make Walker look good.

Why are people even writing about players like Walker and Fortson? I wouldn't touch these guys with a ten foot pole. I mean you must have to torture yourself to keep from laughing when interviewing these duds. They define why we rag on players with big contracts. Welp, big is the only word you can use to describe it. Big let downs. Big fat asses.

[kriD]

Shape up, players told

Forwards James Posey and Antoine Walker were deactivated for failing to meet Pat Riley's weight and body-fat standards.

BY ISRAEL GUTIERREZ
igutierrez@herald.com

Before he limped away to begin a medical leave, Pat Riley offered an honest, and unflattering, assessment.

''We have a championship team that is sideways right now,'' he said.

And getting the team upright again won't be easy.

Among the measures Riley took before leaving was deactivating forwards James Posey and Antoine Walker for Wednesday's game against the Clippers because they failed to meet weight and body-fat requirements by the latest deadline.

Posey and Walker were among the last players to reach their respective conditioning standards last year as well, but it never reached the point where they were deactivated as a penalty. Both will stay behind at the start of the Heat's six-game road trip to work with strength and conditioning coach Bill Foran, which means they also will miss Friday's game in Phoenix.

NOT DISCIPLINARY

Riley insisted this was not a disciplinary measure, just an enforcement of a rule that has been in place since he has been the coach. He said the fact that the team already is depleted with injuries to Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade didn't factor into the deactivations.

''This is simply about something that I believe in -- and I really don't care what they think -- I believe it is the bedrock of my philosophy, which is conditioning,'' Riley said. ``They're not bad people. They just haven't accomplished it. It sort of hurts the team, but if they want to defy that, then what they've done is they've let their teammates down, basically, because everybody else has done it. That's how I look at it.''

Riley said Posey and Walker are ''in the best shape of their lives,'' but not at the level he and his training staff had set for them. He said he anticipates Posey will be back and available ''within the next few days, and Antoine will be there, too.'' But if they don't reach the goals by Jan. 15, there would be further penalties, including what he called a suspension.

Before the game, Walker sat at his locker looking dejected and speaking quietly to teammates. According to the team, Walker is supposed to be at 10 percent body fat and is at 11 percent. Posey, who is 1 percentage point short of his 8 percent target, also was visibly frustrated as he answered questions about his situation.

''Does it bother me?'' Posey said. ``Like I said, I'm confident in myself and I'm confident in how I approach the game and what I bring to the team and things like that. So, this is a standard that he requires for the most part, and that's it. Like I said, it is what it is. I'll continue to work, to work hard and for me, just work.''

Riley emphasized that he's not entirely unhappy with Posey or Walker, but his view of the team as a whole was a bit more dramatic, pointing out his displeasure with the defense and overall effort throughout the season.

''The offensive output will be corrected when Shaq and Dwyane and everybody's healthy,'' Riley said. ``I haven't been happy with our overall defense and effort all year long, from the get-go. But I think I've already voiced that.

``We have honored our team above and beyond. So this is going to be a challenge, it's going to be a great challenge. As a matter of fact, just keep your notebooks open and we'll see how it plays out.''

TRADE INQUIRIES

Riley has hinted at change more than once this season, but the later it gets in the season, the more weight those threats seem to carry. According to league sources, the Heat has inquired about acquiring the Clippers' Corey Maggette in a trade as recently as last week, and the team also has expressed interest in acquiring Ron Artest from Sacramento, or possibly Mike Bibby if the Kings choose to trade the point guard and his large contract. Neither the Clippers nor Kings, though, have demonstrated much interest in what the Heat has to offer.

The Heat players, though, remain confident that this group can right the ship without any drastic measures. O'Neal, who spoke before the game and is expected to return from knee surgery in the coming weeks, said the season hardly is lost.

''I really haven't been looking at the record or the standings,'' O'Neal said. ``But there's still hope. There's still a chance. There'll be one day next week or one day next month when everybody will be back healthy. That's when we can start focusing on what we have, and can look forward to defending what we've got.''

Posey dismissed the idea that Riley has lost the team because of his strict standards.

''Nah, we just know we have to continue to stick together and work things out and just continue to work hard,'' Posey said. ``We've still got a positive outlook on the season. It's just going to take one game at a time, and that's the approach to it.''

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Could you imagine what a great trade Walker for Artest would be? Walker averages 20 cheeseburgers a game (sometimes fills in for the Cheeseburgler from McDonalds), and Artest is a rapper. A rapper baby! Betta watch out for da rapper!

[Flacolaco]

...Antoine Walker were deactivated for failing to meet Pat Riley's weight and body-fat standards.

LOL.

best(funniest) news I've heard all year so far

[DevinHarriswillstart]

What, did Pat Riley start his own fitness program or something? How to stay fit with your hair slicked back. See.... Walker and Posey prefer Soul Glow (see Coming to America), instead of the acid inducer thats permanently molded to Riley's weird lookin head.

You suck Miami.

[Steve13]

Why on earth would Miami pull this stuff when they have limited players anyway? surely they need all the bodies they can get. Fat or not.

[MightyToine]

Something fishy is going on here...


and I think it has to do with those rumored trades.....


Oh and I'm so glad you're all having a blast yuk-ing it up on Walker's expense but as one of you said before....If this Mavs team never makes it back to the finals(which is a possibility since the WC is eons superior), you will all look back and realize that a Team with Antoine Walker on it actually not only prevented you(the Mavs, I mean) from winning a title but actually won it against you on your own home-floor with Mr.Walker celebrating there.

Y'all better pray that the Mavs are able to get back there this year....

[Drbio]

The asshat returns.

[MightyToine]

Originally Posted by Drbio

The asshat returns.

Never been called THAT before.


Nice seeing ya again, DrBioDegradable-Dogpoo.

[nashtymavsfan13]

He's back....

[u2sarajevo]

Originally Posted by nashtymavsfan13

He's back....

No.... no he's not...

[mqywaaah]

Um... yes he is?

[Drbio]

Originally Posted by mqywaaah

Um... yes he is?

Originally Posted by u2sarajevo

No.... no he's not...

Long overdue..... although I did laugh at the Biodegradeable crack....

[SaltwaterChaffy]

Why was he banned? He's annoying, but he did nothing ban worthy, that I know of. Some explanation is necessary here, otherwise we're no better than SpursReport.

[u2sarajevo]

He was trolling.

He's only banned for a week. He was starting crap so he got kicked.

[dude1394]

Originally Posted by MightyToine

Something fishy is going on here...


and I think it has to do with those rumored trades.....


Oh and I'm so glad you're all having a blast yuk-ing it up on Walker's expense but as one of you said before....If this Mavs team never makes it back to the finals(which is a possibility since the WC is eons superior), you will all look back and realize that a Team with Antoine Walker on it actually not only prevented you(the Mavs, I mean) from winning a title but actually won it against you on your own home-floor with Mr.Walker celebrating there.

Y'all better pray that the Mavs are able to get back there this year....

I think he prevented it when he was on the mavs.

[Jerry Stackhouse]

I know people are still upset over last year, but if D-Wade can lead this team to the playoffs, he gets my vote for MVP and the Hall of Fame. Him and Kobe Bryant are my two favorite players.