Now that Heat are healthy and gaining momentum... - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

dirno2000 · 02-12-2007, 10:10 PM

...you guessed it

Riley expected to announce return Wednesday
Associated Press

MIAMI -- Pat Riley will resume coaching the Miami Heat following the All-Star break, an

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because Riley has not formally announced his plans. Riley is expected to announce his return at a news conference Wednesday morning in Miami. His first game back would be Feb. 21 at Houston.

Riley's decision was first reported by WTVJ television and on the South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Web site.

Riley left the team on Jan. 3 because of ongoing hip and knee problems, both which required surgery. He had a procedure to repair cartilage in his right knee on Jan. 5, then hip replacement surgery Jan. 11.

Miami assistant coach Ron Rothstein will coach the Heat against Portland on Tuesday night in their final game before the All-Star break.

Players were reportedly told of Riley's decision on Monday.

Saying he was "tired of the pain and the medication," the 61-year-old Riley decided to step away nearly six weeks ago to address his health issues. The Heat were 13-17 when he left, plus had been without center Shaquille O'Neal for much of the season while he recovered from knee surgery.

But now, with six wins in their last seven games, the Heat could get back to the .500 mark with a win Tuesday. And while a 25-26 record is hardly what Miami wanted at this point, the Heat are only four games behind Washington in the Southeast Division.

"We had a very, very rough, very challenging start, mostly due to our faults," O'Neal said Monday, hours before word broke that Riley's return was imminent.

The Heat are not expected to practice Wednesday, while O'Neal and All-Star teammate Dwyane Wade, along with 3-point shootout competitor Jason Kapono, get ready to head to Las Vegas for the weekend's festivities.

The team could practice in Miami next Monday, the day after the All-Star game, but it's unknown if Riley plans to run that session. He is expected to fly with the team to Houston on Tuesday, coach against the Rockets on Feb. 21, then at Dallas -- where the Heat won last season's NBA title -- the next night. His first home game back would be when Miami hosts Cleveland on Feb. 25.

Riley, who also is the Heat president, resigned as coach shortly before the 2003-04 season, then returned to the bench in December 2005, replacing Stan Van Gundy and postponing his hip replacement. In September, Riley said he didn't expect to need an operation this season, but the pain soon became too much to bear.

Dirkgreatness · 02-12-2007, 10:42 PM

Figures, Heat starting to win and Shaq is back. What a leach!

big_pth · 02-12-2007, 10:42 PM

I hate that whole team on general principal.

Underdog · 02-12-2007, 11:03 PM

I wouldn't read too much into this - they're still struggling to hit .500 in the EAST (a Dirk-less Mavs could do better than that in the East - and they played without Shaq & Riley, not Wade...)

Thespiralgoeson · 02-13-2007, 12:16 AM

What a douche. Pat Riley may be a hall of fame coach, but he's no less a disgrace.

mqywaaah · 02-13-2007, 12:21 AM

F*CK THE HEAT AND EVERYTHING ABOUT THEM!!!

Windmill360 · 02-13-2007, 12:37 AM

what a scrote.

And1 · 02-13-2007, 02:48 AM

well, then...a TX sized azz kicking is in order here....Roxs get Riley's first game back on the 21st and hopefully win and then the mavs can rip their tired( 2nd nite of b2b) legs off and get a W on the 22nd.

Amir · 02-13-2007, 07:21 AM

wow, what a personality.

WurzburgBorn · 02-13-2007, 10:20 AM

I'm going to this game. No tickets yet, but before Feb. 22, my family and I will be getting tickets. I've been waiting to make myself hoarse yelling at D-Wade for about 8 months now. Wade's going to hear me from the cheap seats dammit.

Underdog · 02-13-2007, 10:22 AM

.

Windmill360 · 02-13-2007, 10:24 AM

Ok, so we have finally established that Underdog is DrBio.

Underdog · 02-13-2007, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Windmill360°

Ok, so we have finally established that Underdog is DrBio.

Hehe - my dad jokes aren't THAT bad, are they? (but thanks for noticing my photoshop work...)

Dirkadirkastan · 02-13-2007, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Windmill360°

Ok, so we have finally established that Underdog is DrBio.

Hmmm... join date 09-03-2006...

Wait, same as me! Wow.

Underdog · 02-13-2007, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dirkadirkastan

Hmmm... join date 09-03-2006...

Wait, same as me! Wow.

I'm in your head now...

KFunk · 02-13-2007, 11:15 PM

Apparently I don't know how to attach a photo.

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com...all_aaa110.jpg

"Wade hurt his shoulder on a drive to the basket. He drove past Jarrett Jack and went airborne, collided with Portland's Joel Przybilla and immediately began writhing in pain once he hit the ground.

Wade was called for charging on the play."

KFunk · 02-13-2007, 11:20 PM

double post

And1 · 02-22-2007, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by And1

well, then...a TX sized azz kicking is in order here....Roxs get Riley's first game back on the 21st and hopefully win and then the mavs can rip their tired( 2nd nite of b2b) legs off and get a W on the 22nd.

Well, that just about sums it up. Dallas handles the part in blue.