<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Heat Lose Mourning 23rd March, 2006 - 5:00 am Miami Herald - According to the Miami Herald, Heat coach Pat Riley said after the team's loss to the Detroit Pistons that backup big man Alonzo Mourning had a torn calf muscle and that he would be out an indefinite amount of time. 'It's a tremendous loss to us, man,'' Udonis Haslem said of Mourning. ``He's one of the guys that we can count on every night, whether he's making shots or how much time he gets.'' [READ]</div> I'm sorry but this ends their title hopes...What a blow.
This is a serious blow to them, I agree that it makes the championship much harder to attain, if it's even still possible.
I hear it's only a partial tear, so he should only be out about 2-4 weeks. (thank god!) I agree though if he was done for the season, I can't see us winning a champion and proabably not even the east either.
I just read this as well, it was first reported as a full tear. Who would have thought that Alonzo Mourning would be so vital to this team at his age? Something else. You Heat fans can breath again.
Ah man this sucks. Even if it's for 2-4 weeks that his conditioning will be affected right before the playoffs. His calf is probably his most valuable asset considering that is the main muscle for jumping and Mourning is a blocking machine. Hope he gets better soon. I hate when injuries affect a series outcome.
Sucks to see a older Player that is doing good get hurt like this because you know they never have much more left in them and that rehab takes alot out of them
This sucks for them. Zo was a great thing for the Heat. Shaq is old now and when he got tired they just put Zo in. Zo played great interior D for the Heat. Now they will play Doleac I guess.
Doleac isn't half the player Zo is even at Zo's age. Zo was the key to Miami's defense. Without him they are going to struggle much more in that department.
This really sucks for the Heat. Everybody will have to step up (DWade and Shaq even more than usual) if they're even going to attempt to get to the finals. Zo is one of their best defenders and it's really going to hurt them.
As BCB said, it is amazing to see the impact this man has on his team with his age and injury factors. Zo is a hall of famer and the Heat can't win a title without him. Thank god it was only partial.
He is supposed to be out the rest of the regular season but should atleast be able to play in the playoffs.
I know he'll be back, but it's gonna be tough once he returns, he's been working so hard all season to get to the point where he was and in such good condition. He won't be the same when he returns. It's just a shame to see him get this kind of a setback, because I know he wants a title more than anyone on the team.
Mourning doesn't play heavy minutes so I think he can handle it. Also the Heat probably won't be challenged that much until the second round. Defense is vital in the playoffs to be successful and Mourning brings that to the Heat.
