We knew Pat Riley’s return to the NBA was big, perhaps ordained in some way. But we never could have imagined this.
“I think there’s a preconceived plan that is way beyond our total knowledge as human beings,” Heat backup center Alonzo Mourning said Tuesday about Riley coming back to coach the Heat after apparently retiring two years ago. “There’s a person that is writing the script. We just have to live our lives and let the pieces fall where they may.”
Could Riley and the Heat be on a mission from God, as the Blues Brothers were?
Yes, it seems Riley is putting the band back together. In his 2005 debut Tuesday night at the United Center, Shaquille O’Neal scored 30 points as the Heat defeated the Bulls 100-97.
“It’s going to take some time for me to get real comfortable with all the things . . . you have to do at the end of the game,” Riley said. “It’s going to take time to get up to speed. [But this team has] a chance to be great.
“I don’t think you can win it on size and talent alone. [You have to] make a great effort every single night. I like to win.”
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They are on a mission, as the pro athletes like to say, and Riley is firmly in charge.
“I’ve gone out the door in different places,” said Riley of his hasty departures from the Lakers and Knicks. “Usually when you go out, you don’t have a platform to defend yourself and all the darts come. There ain’t going to be any dart throwing from our guys for any reason. And they know the consequences if there is.”
For the record, Riley paced the sideline in a navy blue blazer, gray slacks, a white shirt and burgundy power tie. All Riley stories must have wardrobe mentions. His hair looked amazingly good too.
Everything with Riley is about power, from his personality to his clothes to his basketball philosophy.
The Heat dropped the ball into Shaquille O’Neal, playing his second game after missing 18 with a sprained ankle, on their first five possessions. That Michael Sweetney was guarding O’Neal made the strategy obvious. Regardless, there’s no mistake this comeback will be all about Riley and O’Neal.
“I know his resume,” O’Neal said. “I know the big men he has coached. Watching him as a youngster, his offense runs through his big guys. He told me [Monday], `I’m coming to you.’ I said, `Yes, sir. I’ll be ready.'”
O’Neal played only 27 minutes, as he is just getting into shape. The Heat isn’t fully in shape either as its defense was slow at times and suspect, and Dwyane Wade with 14 points, 13 below his average, said he will have to move the ball more, as he did with 11 assists.
“I have to adjust to my 17 shots, 15 shots and give the big fella more touches,” Wade said. “I feel we can have a really exciting season [if] we move inside to our leader.”
Yes, Mr. Inside and Mr. Sideline.
Riley traded for O’Neal last year and who believes Riley ever would have given up coaching if he knew there was such a chance awaiting him? For his part, O’Neal intends to be the championship bookend to Riley’s run with great centers. First it was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, then Patrick Ewing and then Mourning.
Not to be forgotten in all this intrigue–whether he pushed Stan Van Gundy out or Van Gundy left or was ordered to leave or Riley was ordered to push him out or Van Gundy really was done–is that Riley is one of the best pro coaches ever . He’s a powerful figure who has been every bit as successful as he is demanding.
It is clear listening to O’Neal that not only wasn’t he happy how last season ended but also with some of the players who helped end it. It’s no coincidence there are eight new players on the roster.
O’Neal wasn’t thrilled with his touches in the post in the playoffs, although he often isn’t. He thrives on a coach who thrives on big men. Riley went to the Knicks because they had Ewing. One of his first moves when he took over in Miami was to acquire Mourning in a major deal for Glen Rice. As soon as O’Neal came, it was inevitable, despite what everyone said, that Riley would be–and should be–coaching him.
It’s not going to come immediately, but this is a warning shot across the Wallaces’ bow in Detroit: The Heat is coming again and this time it’s not backing down.
Riley’s mantra always has been “winning or misery.” We’ll see what he brings this time.
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