Dark Days for Heat Fans.

[EHL]

I've seen some of the recent coverage on Shaq's hip injury possibly being more serious than originally thought, as well as news that Wade's injuries are still lingering with his shoulder more serious than publicly revealed. Heat obviously aren't doing well this season. But as a longtime Laker fan who vividly remembered Magic abruptly retiring in 1991 with HIV, a virus that at the time wasn't nearly as treatable or well known as it is now (in fact, I was "certain" Magic would die within a few years), I'd just like to say that things can change quickly. Bright side: you've still got Pay Riley, whose record making picks/deals should inspire hope. You've got Dwyane Wade, who when healthy simply speaks for himself. And you've still got a chance at a high pick this season to bring Wade some help. Same boat my Lakers were in in 2005, and that turned out very well. Even after Magic's retirement, Lakers were back in contention just 5 years later with Shaq and Kobe, with a title 4 years after that.

So while this sort of post would be blasphemous to some of the Lakers fans who hold a grudge against Shaq and by association the Miami Heat, I'm not one of those guys (life is too short). There is reason to perk up. If the NBA has taught us anything, it's that it can be very unpredictable at times.

Cheers!

[DBurks2818]

[CoolD]

Stop rubbing our misery in our faces.

[Oosh]

Nothing but class, thanks for the post EHL.

[TheGreatPooter]

if we get a good draft pick well be fine

[HEATVols865]

Somebody pinches Shaq's leg and Wade's shoulder area and we call it season ending injuries and say hello to the ping pong balls!

[Number34]

I've seen some of the recent coverage on Shaq's hip injury possibly being more serious than originally thought, as well as news that Wade's injuries are still lingering with his shoulder more serious than publicly revealed. Heat obviously aren't doing well this season. But as a longtime Laker fan who vividly remembered Magic abruptly retiring in 1991 with HIV, a virus that at the time wasn't nearly as treatable or well known as it is now (in fact, I was "certain" Magic would die within a few years), I'd just like to say that things can change quickly. Bright side: you've still got Pay Riley, whose record making picks/deals should inspire hope. You've got Dwyane Wade, who when healthy simply speaks for himself. And you've still got a chance at a high pick this season to bring Wade some help. Same boat my Lakers were in in 2005, and that turned out very well. Even after Magic's retirement, Lakers were back in contention just 5 years later with Shaq and Kobe, with a title 4 years after that.

So while this sort of post would be blasphemous to some of the Lakers fans who hold a grudge against Shaq and by association the Miami Heat, I'm not one of those guys (life is too short). There is reason to perk up. If the NBA has taught us anything, it's that it can be very unpredictable at times.

Cheers!

Classy mate.

I think that the hardest part with being a heat fan right now is that we couldn't see this coming, I mean we never thought that we couldn't up with the suns and spurs (now boston) but like hell did we see missing the playoffs by the start of January! Cripes........

Stop rubbing our misery in our faces.

Mate, did you even read his post? Not all lakers fans are out to get us

[djericho]

Just wanted to check in and for the best of your franchise, really Wade should sit out rest of the season and wait for the ping pong balls. But he's a man and prolly play through the pain. I really hoped we would have gotten Wade in that trade but it worked out really well for you guys.

I would have thought Shaq would have been at the very least motivated to try to start a championship era and was scared of that when he came into your championship year in shape. Something he wouldn't do after the laker 3-peat.

Shaq is personable media darling but he really is a cancer IMO. see Orlando (media issues about fathering child and issues w/ Penny) and Lakers (Kobe and Shaq were both to blame for that fiasco)

That said, I would have rather seen you guys win than the spurs any year. All I do is root for Horry....

[DEEP3CL]

Count me in too as one of the guys who didn't hold a grudge when Shaq left LA, I mean the situation was very delicate at the time. I've seen maybe about 4 or 5 Heat games this year and I can't figure out what or why it went wrong this season.

The media has questioned the decisions Riley made such as letting go of Walker or not resigning Kapono but in reality they were the right moves no matter what they thought. Maybe he could have kept Kapono, but it was obvious he was looking to get some deep cash.

Drafting Cook was money as far as I was concerned, he's a good shooter who's only going to get better. I'm not going to sit here and say what the Heat need to be better, but it's not as bad as everyone makes it seems.

[D-Wade]

I'm not a moderator or anything, but you guys are welcome here any time in my book. Great display of class. FYI, I will cheer you guys on in the playoffs as Kobe is my favorite player, Dwyane Wade aside of course.....

[Tommy Trojan]

if we get a good draft pick well be fine

You guys will be fine.

[FANOFNBA]

Count me in too as one of the guys who didn't hold a grudge when Shaq left LA, I mean the situation was very delicate at the time. I've seen maybe about 4 or 5 Heat games this year and I can't figure out what or why it went wrong this season.

The media has questioned the decisions Riley made such as letting go of Walker or not resigning Kapono but in reality they were the right moves no matter what they thought. Maybe he could have kept Kapono, but it was obvious he was looking to get some deep cash.

Drafting Cook was money as far as I was concerned, he's a good shooter who's only going to get better. I'm not going to sit here and say what the Heat need to be better, but it's not as bad as everyone makes it seems.

I think alot of laker fans still respect and thank shaq (me included) for what he has added to our franchise , and we all love riley. nothing but respect, so with that said good luck guys...

[EHL]

Thanks guys, and good luck with the season.

[tanat-0s]

Championship hangover can be brutal.
It still was well worth it, no?

[dflash3]

Championship hangover can be brutal.
It still was well worth it, no?

Despite the current situation the Heat at least achieved what every single team in the NBA plays in the league for. Many teams have spent decades trying to win that first elusive championship, and its a relief to finally achieve that goal.

Things could have been a lost worse than the Heat's record this season. They could be in a situation where they wasted Wade's prime, because the GM was too inept to surround him with decent players. And than have the organization have to trade him away to another team.

[Iputsomepantson]

Posts like these invite trolls to act up on the boards. So please don't.

[EHL]

I'd just like to say that things can change quickly. You've still got Pay Riley, whose record making picks/deals should inspire hope. You've got Dwyane Wade, who when healthy simply speaks for himself. And you've still got a chance at a high pick this season to bring Wade some help.

*cough*.

[Cracked Fingers]

Hell you guys are going to be in a similar situation as LA when we traded Shaq which lead to our crappy season and the Bynum pick.

If you guys could keep Shawn and draft Beasley. Personally not a Rose fan with Wade. Wade's similar to Kobe in that he has the ball a lot. Probably do better with a Fisher type of PG.

[RJM]

I've seen some of the recent coverage on Shaq's hip injury possibly being more serious than originally thought, as well as news that Wade's injuries are still lingering with his shoulder more serious than publicly revealed. Heat obviously aren't doing well this season. But as a longtime Laker fan who vividly remembered Magic abruptly retiring in 1991 with HIV, a virus that at the time wasn't nearly as treatable or well known as it is now (in fact, I was "certain" Magic would die within a few years), I'd just like to say that things can change quickly. Bright side: you've still got Pay Riley, whose record making picks/deals should inspire hope. You've got Dwyane Wade, who when healthy simply speaks for himself. And you've still got a chance at a high pick this season to bring Wade some help. Same boat my Lakers were in in 2005, and that turned out very well. Even after Magic's retirement, Lakers were back in contention just 5 years later with Shaq and Kobe, with a title 4 years after that.

So while this sort of post would be blasphemous to some of the Lakers fans who hold a grudge against Shaq and by association the Miami Heat, I'm not one of those guys (life is too short). There is reason to perk up. If the NBA has taught us anything, it's that it can be very unpredictable at times.

Cheers!

I agree. You guys are gonna be fine. I dare Shaq to talk low about the franchise that took him in after we decided investing in him would be a bad move. Good luck in the future. Just keep thinking capspace!

[theFRANCHISE]

MIAMI should look to get another big man from an la team hahaha BRAND