yyys123
Joined: 08 Jul 2019
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 Posted: 22.02.2009 Post subject: ugh a third straight |
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MIAMI -- Pat Riley walked into the room to begin his end-of-season availability annoyed, and armed with history. There have been franchises that have enjoyed prolonged runs of greatness during his 45 years as a player, coach and executive in the NBA -- the Lakers, Celtics, Bulls, Spurs and his Miami Heat among them -- and Thursday Riley pointed out each shares a trait. They all lost sometime. "I think everybody," the Heat president said moments after smacking the table to begin the news conference, "needs to get a grip." With that, Riley was off and running on a message-sending session that lasted nearly an hour. No players were there, but they surely heard his themes: He saw his teams mental fatigue during the year, but doesnt accept it; he isnt willing to let Miami fall from the ranks of the NBA elite, and the organization will do what it can to keep LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade together. "We have a tremendous opportunity here for long-term success," Riley said. "Dont think were not going to get beat again, so just get a grip, everybody. Thats my message. Its my message to the players, also." It was one of his many messages. Riley, who gets a reported $75,000 when hired to deliver motivational speeches, worked in anecdotes on everything from sipping Johnnie Walker Blue to playing James Ingram records to how even at 69 years old he still finds himself dreaming big. He was speaking with reporters, but clearly talking to players through the cameras. "Youve got to stay together, if youve got the guts," Riley said. "You dont find the first door and run out of it if you have an opportunity. This is four years now into this era, this team. Four finals -- its only been done three other times before -- and two championships. From day one to the end, it was like a Broadway show. It sort of ran out of steam. And we need to retool. We dont need to rebuild." How to retool is the question, but the answer isnt up to Riley yet. James, Bosh and Wade all need to decide if theyre going to opt out of their contracts, a choice that was probably going to be complicated even if the Heat hadnt lost the NBA Finals to San Antonio, ending Miamis two-year reign as league champions. From those decisions, Heat free-agents-to-be -- Ray Allen, Mario Chalmers, Chris Andersen and others -- may start charting their futures. Players from other teams will listen as well. Then Riley and the Heat spring into action on July 1, just as they did four years ago when they netted James, Bosh and Wade. Other than Norris Cole, no Heat player currently is locked into a fully guaranteed deal for next season. But Riley doesnt feel the Heat need to recruit current players again. "Were prepared," Riley said. "Weve got the main-themed book all written up and its dependent on whatever the scenario were presented with on July 1. Weve got a lot of room for flexibility. Theres a tremendous amount of flexibility depending on what happens. So were ready." He offered plenty of perspective on Thursday, about how he still feels like he choked away what should have been a title for the Lakers team he coached in 1984, but how they roared back with three titles in the next four seasons. He even referenced how San Antonio got much better this season after seeing a title in 2013 get taken away by Miami in dramatic fashion. "What happened last year with San Antonio? Did they run? They faced it," Riley said. "They faced it and they came back, and we saw the result. Well find out what were made of here. Its not about options. Its not about free agency. Its not about anything. Its about what we have built over four years here." Among Rileys more impassioned defences was the one of Wade, who was widely criticized for both missing 28 games in the regular season -- mainly part of a maintenance program laid out by the team -- and for struggling in Games 4 and 5 of the NBA Finals. "For the last 10 years, this has been a Dwyane Wade-driven thing," Riley said. "Now does he have to reinvent himself a little bit? Absolutely." Riley can only hope that reinvention is in Miami, and that James and Bosh are there as well. "Im an Irish guy who believes in big dreams," Riley said. "Im optimistic. Until thats proven different, I just have a level of optimism that there isnt a better place for players to be than Miami." Fake Nike Air Max Free Shipping .com) - Roosevelt Jones had 19 points, seven rebounds and seven assists to lead No. Fake Nike Air Max For Sale . Markieff Morris and Marcus Morris, city natives, handled the catering for teammates that begged them for the tasty postgame feast. https://www.fakeairmaxwholesale.com/ . The United States clinched the final berth into the Ford Worlds, March 28-April 6 at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, on Saturday in Blaine, Minn. Fake Nike Air Max China . A broadcast source said the deal is for five years. The agreement calls for a minimum of 17 regular-season games as well as the East and West Division finals being broadcast annually on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNEWS. Fake Nike Air Max Shoes . -- Raiders wide receiver Jacoby Ford made it through a third straight practice without any setbacks and expects to play in Oaklands regular-season finale against San Diego.NEW ORLEANS - The Memphis Grizzlies, Boston Celtics and New Orleans Pelicans have agreed on a five-player trade that would send forward Jeff Green from Boston to Memphis, a person familiar with the situation said Saturday.The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade hasnt been announced and formal approval by the NBA is not expected until Monday morning.Forward Tayshaun Prince would go from Memphis to Boston and forward Quincy Pondexter from Memphis to New Orleans.The trade also would send guard Austin Rivers, the 10th overall pick in 2012, from New Orleans to Boston, and 2014 second-round pick Russ Smith, a point guard, from New Orleans to Memphis. Memphis also will send a protected first-round draft choice to Boston and a second-rounder to New Orleans.The trade is expected to provide more offence for Memphis, which is in a tight race for the Southwest Division lead. The Grizzlies (25-11) were leading the division until losing at New Orleans on Friday night, marking Memphis sixth loss in 10 games.Green is averaging a team-high 17.6 points for Boston, but the Celtics (12-23) are rebuilding. The Grizzlies are firmly in the Western Conference playoff picture and narrowly behind Dallas for the lead in their division.Pondexter started his career in New Orleans, which acquired him in a trade with Oklahoma City during the first-round of the 2010 draft.The following season, however, New Orleaans needed an experienced point guard after a trade that sent All-Star Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers, so Pondexter was dealt to Memphis in exchange for Greivis Vasquez, who now plays for Toronto.ddddddddddddThis season, however, the Pelicans had a glut at guard and have been thin at small forward, rotating several players into the starting lineup at that spot this season, including Tyreke Evans, whose more natural position is at guard. Dante Cunningham, who was signed in December, started at small forward against Memphis on Friday.Now the 6-foot-7 Pondexter returns to a team where he is expected to either start or at least be in the regular rotation with Cunningham.Pondexter is known more for his defensive acumen, making him a good fit on a Pelicans squad which already has a handful of scorers including Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday, Tyreke Evans, Ryan Anderson and Eric Gordon.New Orleans next plays Monday night in Boston, the beginning of a five-game Northeastern swing that comes as the Pelicans (18-1 try to stay within striking distance of a Western Conference playoff spot.Prince has an expiring $7.7 million contract, which should strengthen Bostons ability to bid for free agents next off-season. Rivers was struggling to earn consistent minutes on New Orleans backcourt and has an expiring $2.4 million contract after the Pelicans decided not to exercise a team option on him for the 2015-16 season. ' ' ' |
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