HEAT History - For the new fans...

There is no doubt that the free agent acquisitions of this year by Pat Riley will expand the Miami Heat's fanbase.

As such, as a longtime Heat fan, I thought it may be beneficial to give the newer members of the Heat family a bit of background - A "Miami Heat 101" if you like.

Here I'll attempt to give a break down the Heat's successes, failures, players and rivalries so that we can all know what it means to put on the Heat jersey...

TEAM HISTORY

Early Years

The Miami Heat entered the NBA as an expansion team in 1988 with a similarly new and inexperienced roster.

They started the season losing their first 17games and finished 15-67 playing from the Western Conference.

The next year they added Glen Rice in the draft and moved to the Eastern Conference but still only won 18games in the season.  It wasn't until 91/92 that the Heat with a new coach made the playoffs with a 38-44 record.

In 93/94 the Heat posted their first ever winning season with the help of Steve Smith and finished 42-40.

New Ownership and Direction

In 94/95 the Heat overhauled their roster but more importantly they changed hands and were bought out by the Arison family, a stable and professional ownership group that continues to this day led by Micky Arison.

The next big step for the franchise came in the 95/96 season when Pat Riley was made the Coach and Team President. Riley traded Glen Rice for Alonzo Mourning and during multiple in-season trades also acquired Tim Hardaway, two players who would go on to shape the franchise for years to come.

The next season the Heat improved by 19 games and finished atop the Atlantic division with a 61-21 record eventually succumbing to the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference finals after eliminating Riley's previous team the NY Knicks (the rivalry we will discuss later)

This was a successful period for the Heat, making the playoffs every year until 2001 and playing some epic playoff series against Jordan's Bulls and Ewing's Knicks.

The next 2 seasons were tough for a number of reasons - the Heat failed to make the playoffs (the first time Riley as Coach had missed the postseason ever), Alonzo Mourning was diagnosed with a rare kidney disorder and the aging core of players was gradually disbanded.

The Heat draft #3

In 2003/04 a new era began - Stan Van Gundy became the coach, Pat Riley remained as Team President and Dwyane Wade was drafted. The Heat improved by 17 wins before being knocked out in the Eastern semifinals by the Pacers.

Pat shook things up the next season when he traded Lamar Odom and Caron Butler to the Lakers for Shaquille O'Neal. The Heat were also solidified with the return of Alonzo Mourning. The improved Heat went to game 7 against Detroit only to succumb 88-82 despite DWade playing injured.

The next season Riley was at it again - trading for veteran savvy. They got off to a slow start though (11-10) and with Coach Van Gundy seemingly at odds with O'Neal he "decided" to step down leaving the door open for Pat Riley to assume coaching duties again. They went 41-20 under Riley and became NBA Champions despite falling behind 0-2 to the more favored Nowitzki-led Dallas Mavericks in the finals. DWade was a deserved finals MVP with a stellar performance. Unfortunately injuries to Shaq and Wade would ultimately doom their chance to repeat.

Rearming the Franchise

With injuries derailing DWades production and Shaq already gone via trade for Shawn Marion the Heat finished 15-67 in 2007/08. Riley again stepped aside for assistant Eric Spoelstra and began to structure the team to take advantage of the 2009/10 free agent class - trading for players to enable the Heat to clear as much salary cap space as possible. The Heat also turned the poor season into the #2 pick in the draft choosing Michael Beasley.

The 2009/10 offseason of course landed the Heat the big 3. Resigning Dwyane Wade and adding Chris Bosh before Lebron James announced his intentions to play in South Beach.

RIVALRIES

New York Knicks

The Knicks-Heat rivalry was born in the second round of the 1997 playoffs - there was already bad blood between the teams due to Pat Riley's defection to the Heat previously. The Knicks had a 3-1 series lead when Game 5 happened. PJ Brown reacted to Charlie Ward during a contested rebound causing a brawl between both teams with Patrick Ewing, Larry Johnson, John Starks and Allan Houston leaving the bench and receiving suspensions over the next 2 games - which the Heat capitalised on - winning the series 4-3.

The next season the teams met in the first round with a fight between Mourning and Larry Johnson in Game 4. With the series tied 2-2 (it was a best of 5), without the suspended Mourning in game 5 Miami fell behind by 20 at halftime before rallying. It wasn't enough and the #7 seeded Knicks beat the #2 seeded Heat.

In the 1999 playoffs the Heat and Knicks faced off for the 3rd year in a row and again it came down to a deciding game 5 in the first round. Allan Houston hit a game winner with 0.8 seconds left and the Heat were eliminated.

The 2000 playoffs saw the teams fight out a close series that again would come to a deciding game. Game 7 was won by the Knicks 83-82.

Needless to say that when these teams meet there is history that both sides want to avenge...

Chicago Bulls

Whilst this rivalry has simmered in recent years - you can be sure that DWade and Lebron spurning the Bulls will reignite the flames. There were multiple playoff series against Jordan's Bulls (you can guess how they turned out) and some heated exchanges between the teams in the 2006 playoff series.

Nocioni fouled DWade hard in the 2006 series and Udonis Haslem was suspended after coming to his defense. James Posey was also suspended for a flagrant foul on Kirk Hinrich. Comments from Pat Riley the next season that Kirk Hinrich was a dirty player did not go over to well either.

PERSONNEL

A quick list of the most-beloved figures in Miami Heat history (apologies to those left off)

Pat Riley

Coach of the showtime Lakers in the 80's led by Magic Johnson he joined the Heat as Coach and Team President in 1995.  Riley coached the Heat to their lone championship and now fulfills the role of Team President only. He has never been shy about facillitating trades if it is for the best interests of the franchise. He has never been a firm believer in building through the draft which may explain his fairly patchy record in the draft process, regardless he got it right the one time he needed to when he selected Dwyane Wade from Marquette.

Also, the only GM with the guts to make a play at all three of the top free agents in 2009/10.

Alonzo Mourning

'Zo was a shotblocking menace and Defensive POY twice. After being traded to the Heat he became a stalwart 20pt 10reb guy who gave it all on the court personifying the work ethic of the Heat. That's why he is "the ultimate warrior".

In 2000 he was diagnosed with a rare kidney disorder that caused him to miss 5months of the current season. During this time as he concentrated on his health his contract would expire and he took the entire 2002/03 season off and underwent a kidney transplant in late 2003. After returning to the league (yes he's that tough) he struggled with the New Jersey Nets before returning to the Heat and being the emotional heart of the team (and getting a championship ring) before retiring due to injury in 2008.

His jersey #33 was the first to be retired by the Heat organisation and he continues to work with the Heat whilst maintaining peerless  charitable efforts off the court.

Tim Hardaway

Tim Hardaway came to the Heat via trade after spearheading the "Run TMC" trio at the Golden State Warriors with Chris Mullin and Mitch Richmond. He was the second fastest player (after Oscar Robertson) to reach 5000pts and 2500 assists. He was also famous for his "Killer Crossover" - a lightning fast crossover dribble that left defenders looking foolish - check it out on youtube...

Like 'Zo, Hardaway was a 20-10 guy - points and assists and further personified the grit and swagger that has embodied the best players that have pulled on a Heat jersey. His #10 jersey was the second retired by the Heat.

Dwyane Wade

DWade, nicknamed "Flash" was acquired as the 5th pick in the 2003 draft.

A peerless competitor in his prime with amazing talents he has been embraced by fans of the Miami Heat like no other. Wade paired with Shaq to take the Heat to a finals victory earning him Finals MVP honours in his 3rd season.

Despite 2 injury plagued seasons after, Wade quickly reminded everyone that he belongs in the discussion of best players, leading the league in scoring at 30.2ppg in 2008/09. He is one of the premier clutch players in the game and able to dominate offensively or defensively. Don't let his lack of expression on court fool you - each game matters to D-Wade - as evidenced by the way he erupts after a big play reminding everyone that "This is MY house!"

His #3 will be the third retired by the Heat when the curtain closes on his remarkable career.

Lebron James and Chris Bosh

Stay Tuned Heat Fans :)

YES.WE.DID