|
|
 |
 |   |
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Video Plus Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities 
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE | |
Back in the hunt Riley gets his man and gets the Heat back in contention
You just knew Pat Riley had to be up to something. I mean, the Evil Genius couldn't just sit back and watch his Heat get disrespected by all the pundits who weren't picking them as an Eastern contender this season. The Winner Within had to think outside the box. Or, in this case, outside the highway lane dividers. By signing malcontent point guard -- and multiple DUI offender -- Rod Strickland, the Miami boss is hoping to shore up his one glaring weakness at point guard and get the Heat back in their usual place among the contenders. For if he can stay out of trouble, Strickland could be just the elixir Miami needs. Lost in all the hoopla over his boorish behavior in Washington and his legal problems is the fact that the 35-year-old veteran is a terrific player. He's practically unstoppable off the dribble, a good decision-maker in the open court and a solid defender when he puts his mind to it.
The Sixers and Pacers liked him enough to make a run at him, and there was never a doubt Strickland would find an NBA home eventually. His talent is just too, well, intoxicating. "Once he stepped between the lines, he always played hard," former Washington head coach Bernie Bickerstaff once told me. "I'd take him on my team any day." Strickland definitely would be an improvement over guard Anthony Carter. Though excellent on the fast break, Carter simply doesn't have the experience and outside shooting ability needed to replace Tim Hardaway as Miami's floor general, and his abdominal injury may be more serious than originally thought. With Strickland running the show, a healthy AC could go back to providing a much-needed energy boost off the bench. The potential drawbacks to signing Strickland are obvious. His moody demeanor can be anthrax to team chemistry. His habit of eating hot dogs before games -- he even lost his lunch on the court once in a game in New Jersey -- makes the team nutritionist break out in cold sweats. And it remains to be seen how he'll get along with the hard-driving Riley, especially since Strickland was apparently in no hurry to go through one of his grueling training camps. But given a change of scenery and a chance to play 35 minutes a night, Strickland could flourish. He also could give Miami a shot of hope. A starting unit of Strickland and Eddie Jones in the backcourt, Kendall Gill and Brian Grant at the forwards and Alonzo Mourning at center -- with Carter, LaPhonso Ellis and Ricky Davis on the bench -- suddenly doesn't look so bad. Even if it does put Riley's youth movement on hold for a while. Besides, even if Strickland doesn't work out, it won't cost the Heat much. Strickland will make only the $1 million veteran's minimum, of which the league pays a sizeable chunk anyway. Meanwhile, Riley keeps him out of the hands of one of his chief rivals, Sixers head coach Larry Brown. Somewhere the Evil Genius must be cackling in glee.
Marty Burns covers pro basketball for CNNSI.com. Click here to send Marty a question or comment.
| |||||||||||||||||||||
