Anybody else endure the Miami Heat's 0-17 1988-1989?

[HeatFanSince87]

The hardest season for me to experience was the 2000-01 season. We had a big offseason in remodeling the failed Morning, Hardaway and Mashburn as the big three team. Riley had instantly transformed the Heat in to what I thought was going to win a title for us with Tim Hardaway, Eddie Jones, Ricky Davis, Brian Grant and Alonzo Mourning, with Carter, Dan Majerle, Bruce Bowens and Anthony Mason coming off the bench. And then it all crumbled before it started Zo gets sick and Tim Knees give out. My emotions went from High to Low all in one summer. Wondering even to this day, what could have been.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6R-adJCteBs[/youtube]

OT but agree with you..one of the toughest seasons ever as a Heat fan. After losing for the 3 time in a row to the Knicks, Riley finally knew he had to make a move. Swapping out Jamal Mashburn and PJ for essentially Eddie Jones, Brian Grant, Anthony Mason.. To to with Zo, Timmy, Bowen, Thunder, AC, Voshon etc... I felt it was our year. Then to lose Zo like that just killed our chances. Then he comes back, we get the 3 seed.. I'll never forget Thunder throwing out of bounds pass for the game winning dunk to Zo to clinch the 3 seed. Then, of all teams.. Matched up with the Hornets, Mash and PJ. Then we just get embarrassed.. And of course Mash goes off against us like he never could for us!

[LEIF]

i started watching the Heat and following in 1990 so i missed the inagural year but my uncle (who has many ties to the franchise) would often remind me of what that felt like and how as each year we got better (making playoffs that first time with Rice and Tricky vs Chicago, our first playoff win vs ATL, becoming a contender with Riles, Zo and Timmie) that it was a tough stretch but not the worst ever because we werent expected to win anything.

Zo getting sick before that team in 2000-01 had a chance to come together was gut wrenching, Zo was coming off of a MVP caliber season (I think he might have finished 2nd behind Malone the year before) and the additions of EJ, Mason, BG etc seemed to make us the type of team that could finally win the title.I thought it was going to be Heat-Lakers that year.

then I went to the scrimmage at FAU and I remember the team coming out and ZO wasnt there, it was weird. then the press conference came announcing that he had to retire and he was sick. I was devastated, it hurt worst then ANY of those Knicks losses. by far.

that is why 2006 felt so good because Riley and Zo got to get it done together with both playing a huge role. didnt go to plan but it worked out.

another 2 year stretch that was really tough was the 2001-02 time when we had Strickland, Laphonso ellis, Travis Best, Jim Jackson etc. ugh we were bad, it was brutal to watch. in some ways even worse then the most recent 15 win season.

makes our two titles in 06 and 12 SO much sweeter to have made it through those times though.

[twix2500]

Zo getting sick before that team in 2000-01 had a chance to come together was gut wrenching, Zo was coming off of a MVP caliber season (I think he might have finished 2nd behind Malone the year before) and the additions of EJ, Mason, BG etc seemed to make us the type of team that could finally win the title.I thought it was going to be Heat-Lakers that year.

that is why 2006 felt so good because Riley and Zo got to get it done together with both playing a huge role. didnt go to plan but it worked out.

makes our two titles in 06 and 12 SO much sweeter to have made it through those times though.

Yes thats why 06 title had that extra enjoyment to it because of Zo. I understood and supported Zo deciding to go to Nets because of all the things he was going through. I also knew that Zo leaving allowed us to go after Elton Brand and Lamar Odom. And Zo coming back to allow us have one of the greatest centers dou of all-time in Shaq and Zo.

Back to the 2000-01 season, many didnt know much about Ricky Davis when we acquired him from Charlotte. One of Riley biggest demands in that trade was Ricky Davis. In training camp Rily spent a lot of one on one time in developing him. If he stayed as a Heat and worked under Riley, Davis would of been a helleva player. Riley did admit that he panicked trying to figure out what to do without Zo, and traded Davis for Chris Gatling who did nothing for us. And then getting Cedris Ceballos who did nothing as well. We could of really used a Riley trained Ricky Davis agianst Charlotte in the playoffs.