<span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:100%">Riley expected to announce return Wednesday</span> MIAMI -- Pat Riley will resume coaching the Miami Heat following the All-Star break, an official within the NBA said Monday.The official spoke on condition of anonymity because Riley has not formally announced his plans. Riley is expected to announce his return at a news conference Wednesday morning in Miami. His first game back would be Feb. 21 at Houston.Riley's decision was first reported by WTVJ television and on the South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Web site.Riley left the team on Jan. 3 because of ongoing hip and knee problems, both which required surgery. He had a procedure to repair cartilage in his right knee on Jan. 5, then hip replacement surgery Jan. 11.Miami assistant coach Ron Rothstein will coach the Heat against Portland on Tuesday night in their final game before the All-Star break.Players were reportedly told of Riley's decision on Monday.Saying he was "tired of the pain and the medication," the 61-year-old Riley decided to step away nearly six weeks ago to address his health issues. The Heat were 13-17 when he left, plus had been without center Shaquille O'Neal for much of the season while he recovered from knee surgery.Read Rest HereGood for the Heat, they need there coach back, and with them starting to do very well, this is only getting good for the Heat.
Great news for the Heat as I think they thought that he would be out longer than this. They are getting all their pieces back together and have been one of the hotter teams in the NBA as of late and you have got to remember they are being coached by Ron Ronsthein an interim coach for Pat Riley. The Heat's future for the season keeps looking brighter and brighter.
I think this will just help the team continue to be successful. Ever since Riley took his break, they've been missing one of their main "vocal" motivators. I mean, I'm not saying Rothstein did a bad job because he didn't but Riley is the better coach and he is one of the main pieces that the Heat needs in order for them to succeed for the rest of the season and in the playoffs.