SportsLine.com Report
May 23, 2000

1999-2000 in review

In October, Heat coach Pat Riley billed this season "once and for all" -- the implication being that if the Heat did not make a serious run at a championship, major changes would result.

After two straight playoff losses to the Knicks, the Heat seemed on the verge of finally breaking through, taking a 3-2 lead in their second-round series against New York and grabbing an 18-point lead in the first half of Game 6. But the Heat blew Game 6 and then lost Game 7, putting the franchise at a cruel crossroads.

Although the Heat won their fourth consecutive Atlantic Division title, that's of no consolation. Riley likely will make significant changes, with Jamal Mashburn and P.J. Brown being used as bait. The Heat also must decide whether to re-sign guard Tim Hardaway, whose knee and foot injuries hampered him throughout the season and during the playoffs.

The Heat badly need a high-scoring, athletic swingman who can drive to the basket and create his own shot. It will be difficult to find one. Riley might rue the day he decided not to trade P.J. Brown and Dan Majerle to Golden State for Latrell Sprewell in January 1999.

The Heat's 52-30 regular season was tarnished by 13 losses to sub-.500 teams, including home defeats to Chicago and Vancouver and two losses at Atlanta. Had Miami won a few more of those games, the Heat likely would have played Philadelphia in the second round, instead of New York.

Instead, the Heat found themselves in the Knicks' bracket, which again proved too difficult for Miami, even after an efficient first-round sweep of Detroit.

HIGHLIGHT: The Heat won three of four regular season games against the Knicks, including an April 9 game won on Tim Hardaway's 3-point prayer at the overtime buzzer. A March 12 win at Indiana -- snapping the Pacers' 25-game home winning streak -- also was a highlight.

LOWLIGHT: After moving into their new arena, the Heat lost three of their first five, all against bad teams -- Vancouver, Chicago and New Jersey.

KEY STAT: After averaging more than 100 points the first month of the season, the Heat finished just 24th in scoring at 94.4 per game.

The Personnel File

MVP: Alonzo Mourning, who led the Heat in scoring and rebounding and led the league in blocked shots. He won defensive player of the year for the second straight season and finished third in MVP balloting.

BIGGEST SURPRISE: Undrafted rookie point guard Anthony Carter seized the backup point guard job and went 20-13 as a starter in place of injured Tim Hardaway.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: The fact Hardaway was injured and could not regain his old skills. He averaged 7.7 points and shot 29.4 percent in the Knicks series.

COACH: Riley will be under pressure from the team's fans to make roster changes. Riley next year will begin the second five-year period of his 10-year contract to coach the team. He also is the team's president and owns a minority share of the franchise. Riley's job is very secure.

Offseason tinkering

FREE-AGENT MARKET: Decisions must be made on free-agent point guards Tim Hardaway and Anthony Carter. The Heat has four free agents altogether -- Hardaway, Carter, Bruce Bowen and Harold Jamison. It's unclear whether any will be back.

The Heat likely will pursue former Hawks shooting guard Isaiah Rider. Miami, which is well over the salary cap, has two salary-cap exceptions, for $2.25 million and $1.1 million.

DRAFT: The Heat must send their No. 1 pick, 23rd overall, to Utah to complete the ill-fated Martin Muursepp trade. Miami has only one draft choice, 52nd overall.