<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Once again, health has emerged as a major concern for the Heat late in the season. Coach Pat Riley said Wednesday that the Heat has decided to keep point guard Jason Williams sidelined for the final eight games of the regular season because of right knee tendinitis, a condition that has plagued him this season. Miami wants Williams ready for its playoff opener April 22 or 23. The news on Williams came on the eve of tonight's fourth and final regular-season game against defending Eastern Conference champion Detroit, and also as the Heat is dealing with injuries to center Alonzo Mourning (who could miss the rest of the regular season with a partially torn calf muscle) and forward James Posey (who didn't practice Wednesday and is questionable for tonight with right Achilles' tendinitis.) Riley said Williams' knee ``flared up to the point where it's now every other game. The last time we shut him down, he had a good run of games. He'll be very diligent in . . . conditioning.'' Moments before Riley's announcement, Williams -- who has missed the past two games -- said he hoped to play tonight. But he conceded that he's in constant discomfort -- ''especially after the game, when it's really sore'' -- and the injury ''hurts'' every aspect of his game. Riley suggested that Williams ''probably'' will have surgery this summer. He said there was no indication of Williams' knee problem when the Heat acquired him from Memphis in August: ``Nothing came up on the X-rays.'' Williams, who has played 57 games (his lowest total since his rookie season in 1998-99) has said he never had knee tendinitis before this season. Riley said Dwyane Wade, Antoine Walker and perhaps Derek Anderson will handle the ball when Gary Payton is resting. ''We will not be conventional at all,'' Riley said. The coach said he is considering signing another point guard but, ``I'm not so sure at this time.'' Kenny Anderson and ex-Heat guard Travis Best are among playoff-eligible point guards available. Former Heat guard Gerald Fitch, cut by Houston last month, would not be playoff-eligible. The Heat had not called Fitch as of Wednesday afternoon. ''It's going to make me have to play a little bit more minutes and play a smarter game,'' Payton said. ``As long as [Williams] keeps himself in shape, we're going to be fine.'' Said Riley: ``The only thing I can really hope for is complete health around April 23.''</div> <a href="http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/14274415.htm" target="_blank">Source </a>
The Good news is that he should well rested for the playoffs. The Bad news is that he will most likeyl need surgery and we will be without for our last set of games which are very important heading into the playoffs.
They need to just split the minutes at point between GP and DA. There is no way that Travis Best or Kenny Anderson could help the Heat. Riley needs to set it up so that either GP or Wade is on the floor at all times, at least until Williams gets back. DA can handle the ball but is great at taking bad shots.
