The Miami Herald With training camp beginning Tuesday, the popular question concerning the 2005-06 Miami Heat is not whether it has enough talent, but if it has too many egos. Can last year's leaders give up some of the responsibilities? Can former All-Stars settle for supporting roles? The man who assembled this group, which is probably the most talented Heat team ever, said the answer to both of those questions better be a resounding ``yes.'' ''The one thing that I really emphasized with a lot of guys that have made it -- in other words they've produced -- that this is only about winning,'' Heat president Pat Riley said. 'I have no interest whatsoever in hearing one word about, `I've never done this before,' or 'I've never come off the bench before,' or 'This is hard for me.' I don't want to hear that. Not at this stage of their careers, because I've seen it happen so many times with players who have come to championship-caliber teams and have changed, and their contributions have helped those teams win championships. That's what we're looking for.'' That means Antoine Walker could have to come off the bench and be OK with it. That means Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal might not get as many touches as last year and must live with it. That means Gary Payton will be a backup point guard and can't complain about it. And that means if Jason Williams ends up on the bench in fourth quarters, as he has at times with his two previous teams, he can't sulk about it. Not as long as the team is winning. Riley has coached loaded Lakers teams, on which players such as Bob McAdoo and Mychal Thompson have had to make sacrifices for the betterment of the team. And he's confident it can happen again, even in today's NBA. ''You're investing a tremendous amount to acquire them -- they have to make an investment also in us,'' Riley said. ``Because players come from different cultures and different programs and different philosophies, it takes a full half a year for them to really understand the kind of commitment that our guys make on the offseason, getting ready for camp, during the course of the season. It's a learned experience, whereby you break other habits.'' Source
I think it was a very good move by Riley. He doesnt want another Laker type disapointment with the Heat. He doesnt want a selfish egotistic team. There's a reason its a team. J-Will, Shaq, Wade, Payton, A-Walk all have to realise their roles on this team and not be selfish. There's alot of talent in the heat. But with talent comes ego's and thats something Van Gundy and Riley will not put up with. I still question the move for Williams. I know they needed to replace Dooling but the glove was on the market and he already expressed his desire to win a title and be a backup to do it. Jason is a starting pg and should'nt be on the heat.
I think Pat Riley knows what he is doing, I think this could be the Showtime Heat and not the Lakers.
