I think (check me on this) that this is the first season ever in Pat Riley's slick hair career that he'll finish with a losing record. Should he hang it up? Does he just need a team change? He has had some extremely talented players, some very strong teams in Miami, only to be first round fodder to a lower seeded and inferior New York twice, and his Heat teams have not lived up to their playoff seeding in recent years. Why can't that Heat team win with guys like Zo, Eddie Jones, Brian Grant, etc? Even before Zo left with the kidney ailment, they never went deep in the playoffs. So like, what's the dealio?
I don't think he should retire. I doubt he wants to. He hasn't really coached any clutch players since he left LA. I like Mourning, but he was never clutch. Grant and Jones are overpaid role players.
I agree, Riley just doesn't have the players. Although i would say the team of Mourning, Grant, Jones, and Strickland looks good on paper
Well, does that say anything about Riley?? Why hasn't he gotten any clutch players? I always thought part of being a great coach was being able to get players, stars and role players alike, to help your team win. Riley had talent. He has had Mourning, Hardaway in his prime, Mashburn, PJ Brown, Majerle, Voshon Lenard (who was a top 3 point shooter w/ Miami), Ike Austin when he was playing well and was the league's MIP, Brent Barry, etc.