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aka remember the TEAM you root for, we'll be alright whether LeBron stays or goes.

In the 26 seasons of existence of the Miami Heat franchise, there is a clear demarcation point between two eras in ownership and front office; the founding era and the present era. During the founding era, the Miami Heat were owned by Ted Arison and the day-to-day business of the franchise was run by Billy Cunningham and Lewis Schaffel. In February of 1995, Ted's son Micky Arison bought the shares from his father and assumed full control of the franchise with Cunningham and Schaffel also leaving. Mickey Arison then brought in Pat Riley during the 1995 offseason following Riley's unceremonious departure from the New York Knicks. Pat Riley immediately put his stamp on the team with acquisitions of Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway during the 1995-96 season. It is in that season, where the present era of ownership and front office begins. During this era spanning 19 seasons, the Miami Heat have become an elite standard-bearing organization in the NBA.

1995-96 season: 42-40, 8th seed, First Round L to Bulls
1996-97 season: 61-21, 2nd seed, division title, ECF L to Bulls
1997-98 season: 55-27, 2nd seed, division title, First Round L to Knicks
1998-99 season: 33-17, 1st seed, division title, First Round L to Knicks
1999-00 season: 52-30, 2nd seed, division title, Second Round L to Knicks
2000-01 season: 50-32, 3rd seed, First Round L to Hornets
2001-02 season: 36-46, we got Caron Butler in the '02 draft at 10th overall
2002-03 season: 25-57, we got Dwyane Wade in '03 draft at 5th overall
2003-04 season: 42-40, 4th seed, Second Round L to Pacers
2004-05 season: 59-23, 1st seed, division title, ECF L to Pistons
2005-06 season: 52-30, 2nd seed, division title, conference title, NBA Champions
2006-07 season: 44-38, 4th seed, division title, First Round L to Bulls
2007-08 season: 15-67, we got Michael Beasley in the '08 draft at 2nd overall
2008-09 season: 43-39, 5th seed, First Round L to Hawks
2009-10 season: 47-35, 5th seed, First Round L to Celtics
2010-11 season: 58-24, 2nd seed, division title, conference title, NBA Finals L to Mavericks
2011-12 season: 46-20, 2nd seed, division title, conference title, NBA Champions
2012-13 season: 66-16, 1st seed, division title, conference title, NBA Champions
2013-14 season: 54-28, 2nd seed, division title, conference title, NBA Finals L to Spurs

That's an overall record of 880-640 (.579). The overall playoff record under them is 114-83, same winning percentage. In 19 seasons under Micky Arison's and Pat Riley's leadership the Miami Heat have accomplished

16 playoff appearances
11 division titles
7 trips to the conference finals
5 conference titles
3 NBA titles
A 27 game win streak, second longest in all professional North American sports

The following players have been named to All-NBA teams, NBA All-Star teams, or All-NBA defensive teams, or won major individual awards when playing for the Miami Heat in this era:

P.J. Brown (defense)
Alonzo Mourning (multiple)
Bruce Bowen (defense)
Tim Hardaway (multiple)
Anthony Mason (all-star)
Dwyane Wade (multiple)
Shaquille O'Neal (multiple)
LeBron James (multiple)
Chris Bosh (all-star)

We've missed the playoffs only 3 times under their leadership. Of the 3 lottery picks, we nailed 2 of them. The Zo and Hardaway contender fell apart due to Zo being diagnosed with a rare kidney disease. The Heat eventually rebuilt to a champion with Wade and Shaq. The Wade and Shaq contender fell apart due to roleplayers getting old, Shaq demanding a trade, and Wade getting injured. The Heat eventually rebuilt to a two-time champion with LeBron, Wade and Bosh. Unlike a lot of long-tenured GMs in many sports who "see the game pass them by" and they win less as they get older, we've bounced back stronger than ever after every contending window built here falls apart. You compare this 19 season stretch with every single other team in the league during that same 19 season era and only the Lakers and Spurs have fared better than us. These are FACTS. Hold your head high and strong Heat fans regardless of what happens, because our leaders definitely do.

we were a joke under silly billy and screwy louis

night and day since Mickey took over.

I remember because I became a Heat fan in 1995 when Riley and Zo came. I wanted to see how Zo would change under Riley's style. Very impressive change in Zo.

You forgot a handful of three point champions!

Sc0pe92 wrote:You forgot a handful of three point champions!

I left out stuff like that, rookie team selections, and NBA statistical leaders in various categories because I simply don't have the time. I gotta be at work in an hour and a half lol.

The point I wanted to hammer home is that Micky and Riley are the real MVPs and as long as we have them both, we have been, are, and will continue to be an elite organization.

1996
2000
2003
2005
2010

The man is great at reinventing this team.

Um, hello? We introduced the world to Chris Quinn. That alone should put Arison in the HOF.

HEAT got this!! In Riley we trust (^_^)V


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Lebronnees wouldn't understand, so you are preaching to the converted.

I agree with every word.

Lebron is the only guy to win an MVP here, but Zo finished second one year, Shaq finished second one year, and Wade finished third one year...which is to say, he's brought in four different legit MVP-level players in 19 years. That's boss.

he brought in the 2 most dominant players since michael jordan..
shaq, and lebron..

that itself is amazing

Preaching to the choir, I've been saying this all over the place, can't believe we have behaved with all this panic. Then again like HIF said, it's the LeBron fans putting us through this headache.....smh

mopper8 wrote:Lebron is the only guy to win an MVP here, but Zo finished second one year, Shaq finished second one year, and Wade finished third one year...which is to say, he's brought in four different legit MVP-level players in 19 years. That's boss.

You could argue for Shaq in 2006, Wade was definitely the best player in 2009 (but had a crap team) and it was a joke (and proof of how much hatred there was for him) when Lebron didn't win it in 2011.

And I personally would have taken 2006 Wade over anyone else playing in the league at the time. ANYONE !!!

So you (or at least I) could argue that Miami had the real best player 5 or 6 out of the past 10 years.

That's even more amazing considering we're not talking about one guy like Jordan dominating for his entire career, but about 3 different players having great years for this team.

I just hope Riley can still do his magic because, let's face it, nobody can keep it up forever. At one point he's gonna lose it, become too old or too set in his ways or just get tired/bored and retire.

That will be the real turning point for Miami as a franchise, just like the moment Pops retires will be the turning point for the Spurs.

Great post. Reading over that record makes me really pissed the Knicks didn't give Riles what he wanted in 96. Anyway you'll be fine long-term as the fundamentals of the franchise are still very strong. Miami has built three contenders already in the Miami era and successfully rebuilt after the first two. The rebuild after the Alonzo era was very impressive because of how sudden and unexpected the need for a rebuild was due to the kidney issue.

Down but not out. We'll get through this, I truly believe we can still compete in the East with Bosh, Wade, and roleplayers.

El Alonzo scowl wrote:Down but not out. We'll get through this, I truly believe we can still compete in the East with Bosh, Wade, and roleplayers.

I am confused. Losing Bron is one thing. That is not something we can control. But I really don't know what to make of those bone-head re-signings of Birdman and Rio for $5m and $4m per respectively. Those are good money that could have gone to better rotation players. We could have signed 3 decent young guys instead.

Does Riles know something about Rio and Birdman we do not know? Or has he gone nuts?

Really great post, so in 19 years we achieved
16 playoff appearances
11 division titles
7 trips to the conference finals
5 conference titles
3 NBA titles
A 27 game win streak, second longest in all professional North American sports

While in 44 years the Cavs achieved
1 conference title
3 division titles

Great stuff guys. I'm very happy that Miami traded for Zo. That trade made me a Heat fan. Awesome at what THAT moment did for this franchise. We are a lucky bunch.

Temuhjan wrote:

El Alonzo scowl wrote:Down but not out. We'll get through this, I truly believe we can still compete in the East with Bosh, Wade, and roleplayers.

I am confused. Losing Bron is one thing. That is not something we can control. But I really don't know what to make of those bone-head re-signings of Birdman and Rio for $5m and $4m per respectively. Those are good money that could have gone to better rotation players. We could have signed 3 decent young guys instead.

Does Riles know something about Rio and Birdman we do not know? Or has he gone nuts?

Only Birdman's caphold of $900K+ will count against the cap...Chalmers well he didn't get a raise.

SoFlaKingReal wrote:

Temuhjan wrote:

El Alonzo scowl wrote:Down but not out. We'll get through this, I truly believe we can still compete in the East with Bosh, Wade, and roleplayers.

I am confused. Losing Bron is one thing. That is not something we can control. But I really don't know what to make of those bone-head re-signings of Birdman and Rio for $5m and $4m per respectively. Those are good money that could have gone to better rotation players. We could have signed 3 decent young guys instead.

Does Riles know something about Rio and Birdman we do not know? Or has he gone nuts?

Only Birdman's caphold of $900K+ will count against the cap...Chalmers well he didn't get a raise.

Isn't it better if we use the $4m to sign Kevin Seraphin and then use the TPE to sign Jordan Crawford instead? Having Rio back can only stun the development of Shabazz Napier. He is our PG of the future.