Skip navigation
Site powered by
Latest news:
msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines: Foos win 4 Grammys, overshadowed by Houston

Heat's Riley is in no-win situation

Coach got what he wanted, now he must do better than Van Gundy

Image: RileyGetty Images
Pat Riley is in a no-win situation, in that he will be deemed a failure if he doesn't get the Heat at least to the NBA Finals.

Okay, it’s nice to say that, but Van Gundy took the Heat to the conference finals. If Riley thinks he’s better, than he’s at least got to get them to the NBA Finals. That’s a tall order, given that the Detroit Pistons, who are playing better than they did last year when they took the Spurs to a seventh game, stand in the way.

It’s almost a no-win situation for Riley. It’s all but required that he get to the Finals, which is like managing the Yankees; even when you win, you lose.

You have to admire Riley for taking on that kind of challenge, just as you have to give him credit for still having the kind of supreme confidence a coach has to have to thrive in this league.

And you have to admit that if the Heat has another level to get to, it’s hard to think of anyone better than Riley to get them there. It’s not that Van Gundy wasn’t a good coach. It’s just that players listen to guys who have won titles, guys who are certified legends.

Certainly O’Neal, who first struck gold with the legendary Phil Jackson, has to respect Riley in a way he could never respect Van Gundy. And in his first game back, Shaq looked positively frisky. Heck, he even hit six of his nine free throws.

Afterwards, it was smiles all around. The legend had returned and he won his debut. And even though he won’t be judged on what he does in his first game of the season, but by what he does in his last game, Riley had established his presence.

“He wants to add to his legacy,” Shaq told the cameras and notepads after the game. “I want to add to my legacy. I think it’s a good match.”

Yes, it is, big guy. But only if you both win.

Mike Celizic is a frequent contributor to NBCSports.com and a free-lance writer based in New York.


< Prev | 1 | 2

advertisement
More news
Image: Kobe Bryant
AP
Kobe's shot lifts Lakers

Kobe Bryant hit a baseline jump shot with 4.2 seconds left and the Los Angeles Lakers wrapped up a six-game road trip by holding on to beat the Raptors 94-92 on Sunday, their eighth victory in nine meetings with Toronto

  ProBasketballTalk tweets

  1. Loading the latest posts…

Source: Twitter. For more, follow @basketballtalk.

Video: NBA from NBC Sports
Knicks, Lin still streaking
Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni and point guard Jeremy Lin discuss the team and Lin's recent success.

Slideshow
Washington Wizards v Charlotte Bobcats
  Get your cheer on
Check out some of the dancers from the NBA.

more photos

  Ask the NBA expert: Ira Winderman

Do you have a burning NBA question? Submit it now, and then check back for our reader mailbag.

Special feature
Image: LeBron James
Who will be MVP?
Interactive: Rank each player on a scale of 0 to 10 (10 = best player, 0 = barely worthy of consideration).

NBCSports.com

Slideshow
Image: Blake Griffin
  NBA All-Star starters
A look at the starting lineups for the East and West teams.

more photos