From: lee@hcx1.csd.harris.com (Lee Brown)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
Subject: Miami Heat report
Date: 14 Oct 92 17:28:04 GMT
Reply-To: lee@hcx1.csd.harris.com (Lee Brown)
Organization: Harris Computer Systems Division, Fort Lauderdale, FL
NNTP-Posting-Host: hcx1.ssd.csd.harris.com

With training camp started and the exhibition season about to begin, here's
a rambling report on the Miami Heat.  I haven't heard too much about what's
been going on at camp, but for what it's worth, here's some info:

Lock on a roster spot (IMHO, but Coach Loughery hasn't asked me):
	Rony Seikaly C
	John Salley F/C
	Matt Geiger C
	Grant Long F
	Willie Burton SF
	Glen Rice SF/SG
	Harold Miner G
	Steve Smith G
	Brian Shaw G
	Bimbo Coles PG

Also at camp and in the running:
	Alan Ogg C
	Alec Kessler F/C
	George Ackles F
	Keith Askins F
	Kevin Edwards G
	John Morton PG

I don't recall hearing if Jon Sunvold is in camp.  I think Isiah Morris
is going to play in Europe, but I'm not sure (he might be in camp now, I
haven't heard).  I do remember hearing that Morris did well in the summer
league (as did Geiger).  I've probably overlooked some others.

Of the ten I've said have a lock, only Geiger and Coles are likely always
to come off the bench.  Loughery has all sorts of starting line-ups to
play with, and I'd have a hard time predicting which way he'll go.

But I'll try anyway.  How about these starters and back-ups:
	C  Seikaly / Geiger
	PF Salley / Kessler or Askins or Ackles
	SF Long / Burton
	SG Rice / Miner
	PG Smith / Coles
with Shaw backing up Rice and Smith, Long moving to PF when Salley is
out, Rice moving to SF when Long and Burton are on the bench, ....
Or maybe they start Seikaly, Long, Rice, Miner, Smith.  Or maybe Seikaly,
Salley, Burton, Rice, and Smith.  I dunno.

At the moment, of course, who fills the last two roster spots is the
real question.  Edwards would be a sentimental favorite (one of the
original Heat team, along with Seikaly, Long, and Coles).  I figure
there's a big investment in Kessler, but also a history of disappointment
(too bad, I've seen him play really well at times).  I like Askins'
hustle, and I think Loughery does too.  Ackles certainly merits a
serious look.  The Ogg-man is out, probably, after the acquisition of
Salley and Geiger (Geiger is supposed to be all but announced as having
made the roster).  Morton is a long shot because there are still too many
good guards (especially if Edwards makes it).  My prediction, based on
almost no information about what's really been happening at camp, is
Askins and, uh, Ackles.  Or Edwards.  Or Kessler.

Grant Long is not yet signed, but I'm sure he will be.  Everyone in
South Florida wants him on the team.  He wants more money than the Heat
is willing to give, and he probably deserves it (he wants to be paid
comparable to Salley, and he has the stats and attitude to back that up).
Miner and Coles were signed recently, and there are no other hold-outs
of note, and everyone but Long is in camp and playing.

No one has any major injury.  Geiger got 5 stitches the other day after
a collision with Kessler, Smith's knee is sore, Askins (or is it Ackles?)
has a jammed finger or something, and someone is limping.  Standard
beginning of the season wear and tear, I suppose.

There have been many public expressions of glee about the acquisition
of John Salley from the Pistons.  He's apparently joined the team with
great enthusiasm, and the team members are reciprocating.

Apparently, the word for the season is "defense", something that could
certainly stand improvement.  But then, every team says they're going
to improve their defense at the start of every year.  Adding Salley
and Geiger should help, though.

Just for grins, how about these match-ups?

	Seikaly - Cartright		Seikaly - Mourning
	Salley - Grant			Salley/Long - Gattison/Reid/?
	Rice - Pippin			Long/Burton - Johnson
	Miner/Shaw - Jordan		Rice - Gill
	Smith - Paxson			Smith/Coles - Bogues

I think that shows that the Heat stacks up pretty well at all positions.
Sure, there's no Jordan/Pippin/Magic/Bird/Robinson/etc., but I think the
team sports solid starters and back-ups at every position.
-- 
Lee Brown, a.k.a. lee@ssd.csd.harris.com or ...!uunet!hcx1!lee
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