Kapono Gets a Chance With Posey Injured

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">NASHVILLE, Tenn. ? In a departure from the Heat's defensively driven approach, coach Stan Van Gundy has turned to a scorer to replace injured James Posey in the starting lineup.

With Posey likely sidelined for at least the first two games of the regular season, Van Gundy opened Monday's exhibition game against Atlanta with Jason Kapono at small forward.
Van Gundy said it is essential to have an outside threat on the floor alongside center Shaquille O'Neal and guard Dwyane Wade.

"It gives us the shooting that we would like to have," Van Gundy said. "I think if you look right now, our concern, from an offensive standpoint, our whole thinking right now, is with James or without James, getting the people on the floor that are the best complements to Dwyane and Shaq."

The ultimate chemistry test was put on hold for a night, with O'Neal sidelined by a strained left calf. O'Neal is scheduled to return tonight against the Hornets in an exhibition at Baton Rouge, La.

With just over a week to go before the Nov. 2 season opener at Memphis, the Heat's rotation is in flux.

Trainer Ron Culp told Van Gundy that Posey would need to have his sprained right thumb in a removable cast for at least two weeks. Culp said the apparatus should allow Posey to practice, but would prevent him from appearing in games.

"Ron was pretty confident it would be two weeks in a cast," Van Gundy said. "I don't see it getting better any sooner from that standpoint."

With Kapono starting in place of Posey, it leaves Wade as the lone proven defensive quantity among the perimeter starters, a group that also includes point guard Jason Williams.

"It'll be a big challenge for me," Wade said of routinely being matched up against the opposition's top scorer. "But it'll be a bigger challenge for [Kapono] than me."</div>

Source