Historical Moments:
1988/89: Miami who once played home to an ABA team known as the Floridians, got its first
NBA team in 1988 as the Heat were the first of 2 teams heading to the Sunshine
state over a 2-year 4-team expansion. The expansion Heat would not find much help
in the expansion draft but in the entry draft the Heat were able to select Syracuse
star center Rony Seikaly. The Heat would make their debut on November 5th
losing to the Los Angeles Clippers 111-91 at the Miami Arena. Miami fans would
have to wait a while for the Heats first win as they got off to an ice cold
start losing a NBA record 17 games to their inaugural season. Finally on December
14th the Heat got their first win beating the Clippers in LA 89-88. The Heat
would get their first home win 5 games later when they beat the Utah Jazz 101-80.
The Heat would go on to finish their first season with a terrible 15-67 record,
as their leading scorer Kevin Edwards managed just 13.8 ppg.
1989/90: The Heat had a productive draft selecting both Michigan star Glenn Rice and Syracuse
Sherman Douglas, but still suffered the pains of an expansion team finishing
in 5th place in the Atlantic Division with an 18-64 record. Providing a glimmer
of hope would be Ronny Seikaly who was named NBA's Most Improved Player while
leading the Heat in scoring with 16.6 ppg.
1990/91: Sherman Douglas, Glen Rice, and Ronny Seikaly all have solid seasons as the Heat
continue to show improvement despite finishing in last place with a 24-58 record.
1991/92: Under new Coach Kevin Loughery the Heat would get their first taste of success snuck
into the playoffs on the final day of the season by finishing in 4th place
with a 38-44 record. The Heat were extra tough at home as the posted an impressive
28-13 record at Miami Arena, as Glen Rice leads the way with 22.3 ppg. In the
playoffs the Heat would be overwhelmed by the Chicago Bulls who were on the
way to a 2nd straight NBA Championship losing in 3 straight games.
1992/93: The Heat would get off to a sluggish start as they are bitten by the injury bug with
Steve Smith missing the first 34 games of the season. By mid January the Heat
were stuck at 13-27, as their playoff hopes were slim at best. When Rice returned
the Heat would get hot [posting winning months in February and March. However,
it was too late to make it back to the playoffs as the Heat finished in 5th
place with a record of 36-46.
1993/94: Led by the scoring of Glen Rice, the shooting of Steve Smith, and the rebounding
of Ronny Seikaly the Heat continued to improve posting their first ever winning
season as they finished in 4th place with a 42-40 record, to edge out the Charlotte
Hornets by 1 game for the final playoff spot. In the playoffs the Heat would
throw a scare into the top seeded Atlanta Hawks as they grabbed a 2-1 series
lead. However, the Hawks would bounce back to win the next 2 games and take the
series in 5 games.
1994/95: The Heat would suffer a major setback in a year of change, as they finished in 4th
place with a disappointing record of 32-50. During the season the Heat would
trade away Ronny Seikaly, Steve Smith, and Grant Long while acquiring Billy Owens
and Kevin Willis, as the team decided to retool. Following the season the Heat
would make another major move by hiring Coach Pat Riley away from the New York
Knicks. To lure Riley away from New York the Heat would give Riley total power
in personal decisions, while giving him part ownership of the team.
1995/96: Under Pat Riley the restructuring of the Heat would continue as they acquired Alonzo
Mourning, Pete Myers, and LeRon Ellis from the Charlotte Hornets on the day
before the start of the season for Glen Rice, Matt Geiger and Khalid Reeves. Mourning
would become an imposing presence in the middle as the Heat got off to
a fast start winning 11 of their first 14 games. However over the next 2 months
the Heat would struggle winning just 9 of their next 32 games. However, Pat Riley
would jump start the Heat by making another 3 big deals at the trading deadline
acquiring Tim Hardaway, Chris Gatling, Walt Williams, Tyrone Corbin and Tony
Smith. With an almost completely different roster that started training camp
the Heat would get hot at the end of the season and would sneak into the playoffs
by beating out the Charlotte Hornets by 1 game for the final playoff spot with
a record of 42-40. In the playoffs the Heat would provide no challenge, as
they are swept in 3 straight games losing by double digits in each game to the
Chicago Bulls who set a NBA record with 72 wins in the regular season.
1996/97: Tim Hardway had a career season hitting several clutch shots while leading the Heat
in scoring with 20.3 ppg. Meanwhile Alonzo Mourning and P.J. Brown provided
the strong defense that had become the trademark of Pat Riley coached teams. Adding
the final touch was a group of role players led by Isaac Austin would be named
Most Improved Player as the Heat won their first division title with a solid
61-21 record. In the playoffs the Heat would get off to a fast start winning
the first 2 games against the Orlando Magic at the Miami Arena. However, as the
Sunshine State showdown shifted to Orlando the Heat would go cold losing both
as they were pushed to a 5th game. The Heat would bounce back to win Game 5 at
home 91-83. In the second round the Heat were matched up against Pat Riley's former
team the New York Knicks. Through the first 4 games the Knicks were dominating
the Heat taking a 3-1 series lead. The Heat had successfully staved off elimination
in Game 5 leading late, when P.J. Brown got into a fight with Charlie
Ward that changed the entire series. While the Knicks players came off the bench,
earning an automatic suspension the Heat stayed put as the discipline of Coach
Riley had gotten the best of his former team. The Heat would go on to beat
the undermanned Knicks in 7 games establishing one of the most heated rivalries
in the NBA in the process. However, in the Eastern Conference Finals the Heat
would be cooled off as they are beaten by the Chicago Bulls in 5 games.
1997/98: Despite losing Alonzo Mourning for the first 22 games to off season knee surgery
the Heat would continue to play solid basketball as backup Center Isaac Austin
played string coming off the bench. Mourning would eventually return as Austin
is traded at midseason to the Los Angeles Clippers Brent Barry, as the Heat feared
they would lose him to free agency following the season. The Heat would go
on to cruise to their second straight Atlantic Division title with a solid 55-27
record. In the playoffs the Heat would face the New York Knicks in another hard
fought war in the first round. However, the tables would be turned on the Heat
as Alonzo Mourning was suspended for Game 5 after fighting with Larry Johnson,
a former teammate with the Charlotte Hornets now playing for the Knicks. The
fight would attract national attention when Knicks Coach Jeff Van Gundy ended
up riding Mourning's leg while trying to break up the fight. Despite hosting Game
5 at the Miami Arena the Heat would be extinguished by the Knicks 98-81.
1998/99: Alonzo Mourning would have a career year in a season cut short by lockout as he led
the Heat to a 3rd straight Division Title while, winning Defensive player of
the Year honors, and finishing second in MVP voting with 20.1 ppg and 11.0 rebounds
per game. The Heat entered the playoffs with the top seed in the Eastern
Conference with a record of 33-17 as they faced the New York Knicks again. Once
again the Heat and Knicks battled back and forth going to a decisive 5th game.
Game 5 would be a defensive struggle as the Knicks and Heat carbon copies of each
other would not give an inch. Up 77-76 with 5 seconds left the Heat appeared
to be on their way to the second round. However, hearts across South Florida
would end up being broken as Alan Houston won the game with a running one-hander
with 0.8 left on the clock to give the Knicks a dramatic 78-77 victory as the
Heat became only the second top seed to be planted in the first round.
1999/00: The Heat would begin the new Millennium with a new arena, as they opened the America
Airlines Arena with a 111-103 win over the Orlando Magic on January 2nd. In
their new home the Heat would continue to play strong defensive basketball as
Alonzo Mourning won his second straight Defensive Player of the Year award leading
the Heat to a 4th straight division title with a solid 52-30 record. In the
playoffs the Heat would get off to a fast start as they swept the Detroit Pistons
in 3 straight games to set up another showdown with the New York Knicks. The
Heat would jump out to a 3-2 series lead. However, once again their season would
end in heartbreak as the Knicks won Game 6 by 2 points then beat the Heat 83-82
at the AAA in Game 7.
2000/01:The Heat were dealt a major blow before the season even started as Alonzo Mourning
with the kidney disorder focal glomerulosclerosis after returning home from the
2000 Sydney Olympics with a gold medal. Pat Riley would reach a milestone, as
he became just the second coach to win 1,000 games as the Heat beat the Orlando
Magic on opening night 105-79. Riley would do perhaps his best coaching job
as the Heat continued to play strong basketball posting a 42-27 record, before
Alonzo Mourning returned for the stretch run and playoffs, as the Heat went on
to finish in 2nd place with a solid 50-32 record. However, in the playoffs the
Heat would become ice cold, as they are blown out by the Charlotte Hornets in 3
straight games.
2001/02: The Heat brought in veteran free agents Rod Strickland, LPhonso Ellis and Kendall
Gill to support stars Eddie Jones and Brian Grant, while trading away Tim Hardaway.
The return of Alonzo Mourning would give the Heat an air of optimism. However,
Mourning was not able to play up to the same level before getting sick; as
the Heat's new addition didn't click. The Heat would go on to miss the playoffs
for the first time in 7 years with a disappointing 36-46 record. It would also
be the very first time in Pat Riley's coaching career that he failed to get
his team into the playoffs.
2002/03: With the continued effects of his kidney ailment Alonzo Mourning is forced to sit
out the entire season. Without their big man in the middle the Heat endure one
of the most frustrating seasons in franchise history, as their normally cool and
collected coach, Pat Riley is fined several times for lashing out at referees
following games, as the Heat finish in last place with an awful record of 25-57.
Providing the only reason to cheer is Caron Butler who is named to the All-Rookie
team with a solid 15.4 ppg. Although he was cleared to play medically Alonzo
Mourning chose to start anew and signed a Free Agent deal with the New Jersey
Nets following the season.
2003/04: Prior to the start of the season the Heat were stunned when Coach Pat Riley decided
to move into the front office letting longtime assistant Stan Van Gundy took
over on the bench. However the Van Gundy era did not get off to a good start as
the Heat dropped their first 7 games on the way to an awful 5-15 start. Quietly
the Heat began to play better as Rookie Dwayne Wade began to get used to the
NBA game. After not sinking any further over the next 3 months the Heat who were
in the playoff chase in the Eastern Conference caught fire, posting a 12-3 record
in March to climb within 1 game of .500. The Heat continue playing well in
April as they won 5 of 7 to finish in 2nd place with a record of 42-40, which
was good enough to earn them home court in the first round. Helping to guide them
down the stretch was a 12 game home winning streak to close the season. Facing
the New Orleans Hornets in the first round the Heat got the early jump in the
series thanks to getting the 4th seed and the first 2 games at home winning
both. However, as the series moved to the Bayou the Heat turned cold losing both
games. The Heat would rebound to win Game 5 at home only to lose Game 6 on the
road as the home team continued to win each game. With Game 7 in Miami the Heat
continued their winning streak on their won floor beating the Hornets 85-77
to advance to the 2nd Round. In the 2nd Round the Heat faced the Indiana Pacers
and appeared to be on the way to a quick exit as they lost the first two games
on the road by double digits. However coming home reenergized the Heat as even
the Pacers who posted the best record in the NBA were burnt at American Airlines
Arena as the Heat won Games 3 and 4 to even the series. After losing Game 5
in Indiana the Heat had a chance to force Game 7 by winning at home again. However
the Heat would run out of gas 73-70 as the Heat took the series in 6 games.
Following the season the Heat would stun the world when they acquired Shaquille
O'Neal from the Los Angeles Lakers in a blockbuster deal for Lamar Odom, Caron
Butler and Brian Grant, as the Heat who entered the season as a franchise on
life support became one of the NBA's top franchises in less then a year.
2004/05: The addition of Shaquille O'Neal immediately elevated the Heat to elite status in
the NBA. However, the biggest effect came to the game of Dwyane Wade who established
himself as one of the NBA up and coming young stars league the team in scoring
with 24.1 ppg. Wade would lead the Heat in scoring each of their first 4
games, in which they won all on the way to a solid 10-6 November. The Heat would
be even stronger in December as the won 14 of 15 games on the way to dominating
the Southeast Division and finishing with the top seed despite missing Shaquille
O'Neal most of the final month with a thigh injury. During O'Neal absence
the Heat were not without a solid center as they reacquired Alonzo Mourning after
he had refused to play for the Toronto Raptors and was brought out of his contract.
In the playoffs Shaq returned and the Heat stayed red hot easily knocking
off the New Jersey Nets in 4 straight. In the 2nd Round it was more of the
same as the Heat swept their way past the Washington Wizards with Dwayne Wade stealing
the show by scoring over 30 in each of the last 3 games. In the Eastern
Conference Finals the Heat would face the defending Champion Detroit Pistons.
The Heat would learn right away this would not be a walk over as they were beaten
at home in Game 1. The Heat would rebound to win Game 2 behind Wade who scored
40 points and Game 3 as Wade led the way again with 36. After losing Game 4
the Heat took a 3-2 series lead as Shaquille O'Neal led the way in an 88-76 win.
However it would prove to be costly as Dwayne Wade suffered a rib injury. Without
Wade the Heat would lose Game 6 in Detroit 91-66. Wade would return for Game
7 in Miami, but he would not be 100% as the Heat losing 88-82.
2005/06: After their heartbreaking Game 7 loss the Heat looked to add balance by adding outside
shooting with Antoine Walkers, while adding play making point guards Jason
Williams and Gary Payton. However, early in the season the team did not gel as
they got off to a mediocre 11-10 start. On December 12th Coach Stan Van Gundy
suddenly resigned as Pat Riley came from the front office to run the team he had
built. Riley had hinted earlier he wanted to coach the team, but insisted he
had nothing to do with Van Gundy stepping down. Under Riley the Heat began to
play better as they closed December strong. In January the Heat began to play considerably
better rolling off to a 10-5 record, as they played their strongest
basketball in February and March to lock up their second straight division title.
Despite a terrible April in which the Heat appeared disinterested at times
while winning just 4 of 11 games they would still post a solid 52-30 record. In
the playoffs against the Chicago Bulls the Heat got off to a strong start winning
the first two games at home. However, some of their struggles reappeared as
they lost two straight in Chicago and were tied after four games. With Dwyane
Wade suffering a bruised rib and coming back to score game-high 28 points the Heat
regained control of the series with a 92-78 win as they went on to win the
series in six games. In the second round against the New Jersey Nets the Heat would
take a huge blow on the chin in Game 1 trailing 38-21 at the end of 1 period
as the Nets took the opener in Miami 100-88. Game 2 would be a polar opposite
as the Heat jumped out to a big lead and never looked back on the way to evening
the series with a 111-89 win. The Heat would carry the momentum on the road
with them as they won both games in the Meadowlands to take a 3-1 series lead,
as they went on to win the series in five games to set up a rematch with the Detroit
Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals. Taking advantage of a Pistons
team that battled trough a seven game war the rested Heat got off to a solid start
winning Game 1 on the road 91-86. After losing Game 2, the series shifted to
Miami, as Dwyane Wade took over scoring 35 points in a 98-83 win in Game 3 and
31 in a 89-78 win in Game 4 as the Heat took a 3-1 series lead. The Pistons would
not go down without a fight as they beat the Heat by 17 in Game 5. The loss
would only sting temporally as it allowed the Heat to come home for a celebration
as Shaquille O'Neal had perhaps his best game of the playoffs scoring 28 points
while pulling down 16 rebounds, as the Heat won 95-78 to clinch their first
ever trip to the NBA Finals.
2005/06: In the NBA Finals there was something special in the air, as the Heat faced the Dallas
Mavericks in a match up of two teams that had never been to the Finals. The
Finals would not start well for the Heat as they dropped the first two games
in Dallas, with everyone playing poorly. In Game 3 as the series shifted to Miami
the Heat continued to struggle, as they trailed by 13 points with just six
minutes to play. No team in NBA history had ever rallied from down 0-3 in the playoffs,
so the Heat's season was on the brink that warm June night in Miami, when
suddenly Dwayne Wade found his shot and led the Heat on an improbable comeback,
as Wade scored 42 points as the Heat won the game 98-96. Wade stayed red hot
in Game 4 as the Heat evened the series at two games apiece with a 98-74 win.
Game 5 would be another key game for the Heat as the final two games were set
to be played in Dallas, and the winner of the game would be one game away from
a championship. Game 5 would also be the best game of the series as the Heat and
Mavericks battled into overtime with neither side giving an inch. Down 100-99
with two seconds left the game was in the hands of Dwayne Wade who was strong
again, dribbling free Wade was fouled by Dirk Nowitzki with 1.9 seconds left in
OT, calmly and coolly Wade hit both free throws to give the Heat a 101-100 win.
Game 6 back in Dallas saw the Heat fall behind early as the Mavericks scored
30 points in the first quarter. However, the Heat withstood the early and bounced
back nicely to take a lead at halftime. From there the game would go back and
forth as Wade continued to be the best player on the court with a game high
36 points, while the Heat defense led by the old veteran Alonzo Mourning blocked
10 shots, as the Heat won the game 95-92 to bring the NBA Championship to Miami.
Dwyane Wade would be named NBA Finals MVP, and would later go on to earn Sportsmen
of the Year from Sports Illustrated for his playoff heroics.
2006/07:
Coming off their first NBA Championship, the Heat started the season
ice cold, as the Chicago Bulls spoiled the opening night cermonies highlighted
by the raising of the championship banner, by blitzing the Heat 108-66, handing
the defending champs the worst loss to start a season after winning a NBA Finals.
Shaquille O'Neal started teh season with a sore knee, that would land him on
the injured list missing 30 games as the Heat struggled early in the season,
entering the New Year with a sub .500 record of 13-17. Through out the first half
it seemed as if the Heat were still feeling the bruises of the NBA Playoffs,
as Dwyane Wade missed a few games with a wrist injury while James Posey and Antoine
Walker were decativated for showing up to training camp out of shape. The
sluggish start took its toll on Pat Riley who took a brief leave of absence from
the Heat's nench to deal with knee and hip problems. While Riley rested the
Heat truned to their past, with Ron Rothstein, their original coach running the
team. Under Rothstein the Heat improved as Posey and Walker were reinstated, while
Eddie Jones was re-signed after being released by the Memphis Grizzlies. Also
helping the Heat's resurgence was the return of Shaq. By the time Pat Riley
returned the Heat were surging as they climbed back to .500. However, on the day
Riley returned the Heat took another hit as Dwyane Wade dislocated his left
shoulder and had to leave in a wheelchair during a 112-102 loss to the Houston
Rockets. Shortly after the injury, Wade announced that he would opt for rehabilitation
instead of surgery, with the hope of returning to the lineup for the playoffs.
In Wade's absence, Shaquille O'Neal stepped up his play leading the Heat
to a nine game winning streak as they surged back to the top of the Southeast
Division. The Heat would go on to win the division with a record of 44-38, as
Dwyane Wade returned to play in the playoffs. However, it was clear Wade was not
100%, as the Heat forced to start the playoffs against the Chicago Bulls on the
road found themselves in a quick hole losing the first two games. As the series
shifted to Miami things did not improve as the Heat continued to struggle losing
104-96 in Game 3, as the Bulls went on to complete the sweep. Marking the
first time in 50 years that a defending champion was swept in the first round.
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