We’re barely over a week into the off-season, but all attention remains on Miami

SCOTT JACOBS

After a year of unprecedented media attention and scrutiny, the likes of which no pro sports team in North America has ever been put under, the Miami Heat are back for more.  The mastermind behind their assembly, Pat Riley made it clear he’s not backing down one bit.

“Not one, not two, not three…” were not Riley’s words as he addressed the media a few days before the 2011 NBA Draft, in which the Heat have the 31^st pick.

Instead he said the following: “I can say this,” he began. “We will be a multiple championship-contending team. This was a great year. It was a disappointing ending.”

Like a politician Riley masked his words carefully.  Just what that quote means is up for debate, but the fact that Riley said it, means he’s willing to pour more media fire on a team that basically imploded with a championship right there for the taking.

Multiple-championship contending team?  There is no doubt in my mind, and probably anyone’s, that barring an unforeseen injury to the Big Three, that Miami will be a legitimate contender for the foreseeable future.  But does multiple-championship contending team mean that Riley is guaranteeing for all the world to hear that the Heat will win not one, but at least two titles with their current makeup?

After a season where every word they said was put under the microscope, Miami would be wise to watch their words this off-season and coming season (whenever that is).

After an embattled mostly successful year coaching sports’ most fascinating soap opera, Erick Spoelstra will be back on the bench for another go at it.  Riley said he still has the fire, but it sounds as if he is unwilling to pull the rug from beneath Spoelstra’s feet.  Thus, Spoelstra will enter the 2011-12 season in an even crazier position than he entered last year: on a contract that supposedly has one year left, with a team that has to win a championship, or else.

No pressure Erick.

Riley’s loyalty is understandable: Spoelstra was his hand picked successor after Riley retired to focus strictly on being the GM.  Spoelstra did guide the Heat to an NBA Finals appearance a year after getting ousted meekly in the first round.  Spoelstra did lead the Heat past Boston and Chicago and within 2 wins of an NBA title.

Still, the questions remain.  Is he the guy to maximize LeBron James massive potential?  Can he develop an offensive set that allows the Big Three to flourish as a team, not individually?  Can he settle on a consistent lineup earlier on in the season, so that he’s not playing scientist come Spring 2012?

Riley made it clear he expects improvement from James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh this offseason.  For James that means figuring out what wronged him in the Finals.  For Wade, it’s a little more overall consistency and a continued emphasis on conditioning, as he prepares to enter his 30’s.  For Bosh, Riley wants the former Raptor to bulk up some more and improve his physical conditioning.

That will be one of the keys moving forward with this team.  The Big Three all have room for big improvement, but can they make that leap as individuals, and as a team?  The leap is a meager 2 games, but getting back to The Finals is never guaranteed.  That’s why the Heat need to use this off-season to fine tune their team and their stars.

The draft is also coming up, with the Heat trying to buy into the first round. They could use a quality point guard to go along with Mario Chalmers, who has been extended a qualifying offer allowing Miami to match any offer he receives.  Dexter Pittman is a project at center, but the former Texas center could develop into a quality guy at the position for a team desperately in need of a quality big to man the middle and crash the boards.

Plus, with Miami’s draft picks hoarded in Cleveland for the next few seasons, youth will not be what gets the league’s oldest team a title.  Miami will likely look to more veterans this offseason, guys like Samuel Dalmbert who have had quality NBA careers and are now looking for that elusive ring.

Riley, ever the splashy wordsmen, was adamant that the Big Three was not just a big deal, but that it was “The greatest thing in the history of south Florida sports {with the exception of the 1972 Miami Dolphins}…”

Attention wise it’s hard to disagree, but South Florida has seen a handful of championship teams in the past 14 years, including this same Heat franchise winning their first NBA title, which at the time seemed like a pretty big deal.  But we live in a sports world overdosed on hype, so in that regard this Heat experiment was a really big deal.  But greatest thing in the history of South Florida?  That remains to be seen.

Quash the Dwight Howard for LeBron trade rumors too.  Riley sounds like he has no intention of breaking up this team.  If you think about it, why would he, like Jason Whitlock idiotically suggested?  It would signal that he was wrong, which is not something Riley would ever admit to after his team fell just two games short.  Also, he’s behind the scenes with these guys on a daily basis: he knows this team better than the media.

The only thing I’m not taking his word for is draft picks.  If you’re looking for Miami to land a big time player with their draft picks I’d think otherwise.  Sans Wade and Caron Butler, Miami’s draft picks this past decade have been relatively inept.  And don’t expect an international project to come in and save the day: Riley doesn’t go into those waters.

Still, it was a bold move for Riley to fan the flames on Miami’s coaching situation, and for him to stand by his team, his creation.  Riley is the mad scientist, and this team is his Frankenstein.  Given the right tweaks they can be unstoppable. Some miscalculations though, and this could be an epic failure.

Mark Cuban and the Mavs may have George Lopez Tonight to talk on, but the reality is this: all eyes remain firmly on the Heat.  Year two is underway.  Bring back the circus.

Photo: AP

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