12/18/24
October 24, 2003
Riley steps down as Heat head coach.: This is sudden.
posted by corpse to basketball at 12:57 PM - 17 comments
"Pat Riley resigned as coach of the Miami Heat on Friday, saying the team's rebuilding process is on track enough for him to step aside. " I don't buy that for a second. That's some odd timing, right before the season starts.
posted by corpse at 01:08 PM on October 24, 2003
Is Stan Van Gundy related to Jeff? Anyway, I think Riley realized that as his age, all the courtside sweat was gonna start affecting his hair.
posted by billsaysthis at 01:09 PM on October 24, 2003
That is sudden, what with all the new acquisitions and all. There's got to be more than meets the eye here.
posted by Ufez Jones at 01:11 PM on October 24, 2003
Wow, didn't see this coming at all. You could tell the last few (losing) seasons really took a toll. There really seems to be a "changing of the guard", if you will, in the coaching ranks. There are still some "Riley disciples", as in the Van Gundy boys (yup bill, they're brothers), but other than them (and possibly Byron Scott), who's going to bang the drum and utter the mantra,"No rebounds, no rings." Or, "No easy shots." On preview:Ufez, those new acquisitions were Loren Woods, John Wallace, and Samaki Walker. I think I'd retire too.
posted by lilnemo at 01:21 PM on October 24, 2003
Yes, Stan is Jeff's older brother. The last 2 seasons were Riley's first below .500 coaching seasons. I don't think they are going to turn it around anytime soon either. Maybe he just had enough. Career Coaching Stats
posted by usfbull at 01:24 PM on October 24, 2003
By the way Bill, those Van Gundy boys don't quite get along, they share a love for basketball, but they tend to argue alot. SI interviewed them both for a feature in their NBA preview a few years back. Actually I think that issue came out the year that Jeff ditched the Knicks. Odd that they argue about basketball, they seem to have very similar philosophies. Hard headed I guess.
posted by lilnemo at 01:24 PM on October 24, 2003
Is Riley the only coach who was gellin'?
posted by jasonspaceman at 01:51 PM on October 24, 2003
I read somewhere that Riley had a clause in his contract where he got a percentage ownership of the Heat if he coached for a certain amount of time. Perhaps it's that time? I can't see any other reason why he didn't quit a long time ago. The team is going nowhere.
posted by dusted at 01:52 PM on October 24, 2003
That's some odd timing, right before the season starts. There's got to be more than meets the eye here. Perhaps. A little while ago some of thought he was losing his mind.
posted by jasonspaceman at 02:21 PM on October 24, 2003
Whaaaaa? Talk about abandonment - and way to waste a training camp. Taking 3-1 odds on the Heat having the worst record in the L.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 02:33 PM on October 24, 2003
Taking 3-1 odds on the Heat having the worst record in the L. Have you looked at the Hawks lineup recently?
posted by trox at 02:38 PM on October 24, 2003
A little while ago some of thought he was losing his mind.
I would like to take my "Pat's crazy" winnings and funnel them directly into Bucks have worst record in the L bets. Sorry, the Hawks have 2 proven 20ppg scorers in Terry, and Abdur Rahim. Diaw ain't bad either. Eddie, Lamar, Caron, and Dwayne may outscore a few people. The Bucks aren't going to outscore anyone. The Bucks aren't going to outdefend anyone. The Bucks aren't going to outrebound anyone. The Bucks are just going to run. And I don't mean the break.
posted by lilnemo at 02:46 PM on October 24, 2003
Van Gundy screwed up Michael Finley's senior season at Wisconsin pretty nicely. He was Stu Jackson's top assistant and stepped in when Jackson took the GM job with the Grizzlies. He proceeded to waste a team that included Finley and Rashard Griffith and was shown the door pretty quickly, giving way to Dick Bennett. In the process, Stan earned the nickname "Van Gone-dy." I'm guessing he might play a similar role in Miami.
posted by joycey at 11:18 AM on October 25, 2003
I remember that. Good times. Finley's senior season caused him to drop in the draft a la Mark Price. Not that Mike's complaining now. The most interesting facet of this melodrama, is that it happened so soon before the season. What happened to the love fest at Odom's signing. Weren't we asking, not too long ago if this match:Odom-Riley,would rejuvenate the pair? What happened?
posted by lilnemo at 01:54 PM on October 25, 2003
lilnemo, didn't rejuvenate the pair. 'nuff said?
posted by billsaysthis at 03:31 PM on October 25, 2003
Nope, apparently Lamar is none too happy that Pat has left with Van Gundy. More on this as it develops.
posted by lilnemo at 02:39 PM on October 27, 2003
Holy crap on a hand grenade!