[Sun-Sentinel Article] We've got competition for PG w/ Heat

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/sfl-zogame19jul19,0,3689594.story?coll=sfla-sports-headlines

Shaq is talk of Zo's Groove

By Harvey Fialkov
Staff Writer
Posted July 19 2004

MIAMI -- There were no Shaq sightings at Zo's Summer Groove all-star basketball game Sunday night; his presence was certainly felt.

Bucks free-agent guard Damon Jones passed the audition for a possible spot alongside Shaquille O'Neal, hitting six 3-pointers for 18 points in a 149-134 loss to Alonzo Mourning's Blue squad. As for free-agent 6-foot-10 power forward Robert Horry, his resume with five championship titles speaks for itself.

"I'm enjoying the process," said Jones, 27, who averaged a career-high 7 points and 5.8 assists last season. "The Heat is a great organization. What has Shaq done for everybody he's played with? He takes their game to another level."

Horry, 33, who averaged 4.8 points for the Spurs last season, scored two points in a cameo appearance. Horry said he expects to meet with the Heat this week.

"I really don't get involved in all that until something is closer to being done," said Horry, who played with O'Neal during the Lakers' three-peat. "I got a lot of love for the big fellow. He makes it a lot easier for me and it would be great to play with him again. I grew up a big Lakers fan and I idolized [Pat Riley] growing up."

The Heat has the $1.6 million salary exception, also has $2.5 million left from the $4.9 million midlevel exception available for 2-3 free agents.

Among the 10,000 fans at the AmericanAirlines Arena were potential free-agent candidates, including veteran point guard Kenny Anderson and former Heat combo guard Mike James.

"They say that one should always go forward and not look backward, but with Shaq coming here, this would be a great opportunity," said James, 29, a restricted free agent who averaged 10.7 points and 4.9 assists in 55 starts with the Celtics before being traded to the Pistons.

Anderson, 33, is coming off a career-worst season in which the Pacers benched him eventually..

"I have interest in them, but I don't know if they have interest in me," Anderson said.

Zo plays

The recently retired Mourning, who scored 23 points, including a rare 3-pointer, was grateful for the support for his eighth Groove.

"It continually gets better, and that's enough inspiration to keep right on doing it," said Mourning, who danced to rap star Fat Joe during his halftime show.

Shaq reverberations

Warriors guard Nick Van Exel was one of several Western Conference players to be thankful for O'Neal's exodus to the East.

"There's a buzz on both sides," Van Exel said. "In the West, everybody is, `Whoo,' breathing a little easier now, like Minnesota, Sacramento, Denver and Dallas.

"In the East, they're like `Damn, he's over here now.'

"It's good for the game for guys to change teams and bring a little different scenery."

Mavericks swingman Antoine Walker wasn't so impressed.

"He's a very dominant player, but he's just one player," Walker said. "Miami still has a lot of work to do."

Timberwolves guard Sam Cassell won't miss O'Neal.

"We love where he's at now," Cassell said. "Who wouldn't?

"Do me a favor and get a couple of more guys out of the West."

Former Rockets guard Steve Francis thought he finally got rid of O'Neal when he was traded to the Magic.

"He caught up to me and those hard fouls he gives out, I'll be getting them more frequently," Francis said. "I was looking at Miami as a walkover team, but now, no way."

Skip returns

Former Heat spark plug Rafer Alston, who recently signed a six-year, $27 million with the Raptors, had mixed emotions on his return to the AAA.

"I was thinking last night about throwing a highlight-reel pass to Shaq, and Shaq throwing the ball out to me for a 3-pointer," Alston said. "It would've been fantastic.

"To see all of them [teammates] go in different ways, it's disappointing, but we understand it's a profession. Mine was a family decision."

Staff Writer Charlie Grau contributed to this report.

 

Good news for Rockets fans wanting Damon Jones or Mike James. Heat sign Keyon Dooling.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/sfl-dooling22jul22,0,1328034.story?coll=sfla-sports-headlines

Cardinal Gibbons, Dillard standout returns to S. Florida

By Harvey Fialkov and Ira Winderman
Staff Writers
Posted July 22 2004

It worked so well with Lamar Odom last season that the Heat will bring back hometown standout Keyon Dooling in an effort to boost a career that had also floundered in his first four seasons with the Clippers.

Unable to land its top two choices for the backup point guard position -- Damon Jones and Mike James -- because of salary differences, the Heat has signed Dooling, a spindly 6-foot-3, free-agent point guard, to a one-year contract with a player's option for the second year. Dooling starred for Cardinal Gibbons and Dillard before attending Missouri for two years.

"Words can't explain it," Dooling said. "It's a fresh start for me and my family, and most importantly I get [Shaquille O'Neal] on top of that."

As with Odom, injuries have plagued Dooling, 24, a lottery pick by the Clippers in 2000 (10th pick overall), throughout his career. Dooling has been hampered by ankle and foot injuries, causing him to miss 68 games in 2002 and 20 games in 2003.

The Heat is intent on surrounding O'Neal with players who can knock down shots from the perimeter as well as those who can get him the ball in the post. Still on the Heat's wish list are free-agent forwards Robert Horry and possibly Karl Malone.

"I'm going to feed Shaq as much as possible until he can't take it anymore or tells me not to," Dooling said.

The backcourt needed bolstering with the departure of point guard Rafer Alston to the Raptors and the possible retirement of Bimbo Coles.

Dooling will play alongside mentor and new teammate Eddie Jones, giving the Heat the only two Broward County natives playing in the NBA.

Mark Wilson, who coached Dooling for three seasons at Cardinal Gibbons from 1995-97 and is now coaching Scecina High at Indianapolis, has kept in touch with his former player.

"Keyon's problems have had to do with the Clippers' indecisiveness as to whether he was a point guard or [shooting] guard," Wilson said. "If he gets to the right system and they let him know exactly what they want him to be, he could be in this league for 10 years.

"With his long arms he can [defensively dominate] bigger point guards and would be able to get the ball into the post to Shaq."

Dooling was handed the starting job last season by Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy, starting 24 games (22 more than he had in his first three seasons). He had a career-best effort against the Pistons on March 31, when he had 20 points and 10 assists, but Dooling's erratic play led to a reduced role.

Dooling averaged 6.2 points on 38.9 percent from the field but made 8 of 46 3-pointers for an abysmal 17.4 percent. His assist-to-turnover ratio was a poor 2.2-1.1, and he eventually lost his starting job to Marko Jaric.

The Clippers, scorned by Kobe Bryant's return to the Lakers and perhaps distracted while deciding to match the Suns' six-year, $45 million offer to guard Quentin Richardson, were not interested in re-signing Dooling.

"My ankle injury lingered for about a year and a half," said Dooling, who understands his role as backup to guard Dwyane Wade. "That's all behind me and my best basketball is ahead of me."