Miami
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
Malik Allen went under the knife and has lived to tell about it. He underwent successful micro discectomy surgery on his back yesterday morning and is expected to be sidelined six to eight weeks. Meanwhile, head coach Stan Van Gundy's words after Tuesday's loss to the Raptors cut like a knife, and Van Gundy was in full bandage-mode yesterday as he tried to soften some of his words.
It's not that Eddie Jones wasn't trying, it turns out. The film shows that everyone on the Heat was competing like crazy but just weren't able to hit any wide-open shots. Van Gundy is not upset with his team's effort, he is simply feeling the frustration of a coach who sees so much more potential in his team.
As he puts it, with Shaq-sized expectations, even a 50-win season seems low. And Van Gundy knows the dangers of relying on just two guys the whole season. Other people have to step up, especially when all that stepping up requires is hitting the open shot.
Shaq has also talked to his teammates, trying to get them to understand that patience is a virtue but there's no time for it now. The Heat start their road trip this Friday and with a Shaq-sized chip on their collective shoulder, expect them to dominate even the lowliest of competition.
NEXT GAME
The Heat (10-6, tied for first in the Southeast division) go on a four-game road trip starting this Friday, the first of a back-to-back, against the Chicago Bulls (2-10, fifth in the Central), who have just beaten Shaq's old team, the Lakers. The game starts at 8:30pm Eastern / 7:30pm Central. It will be broadcast on the Sunshine Network and NBA League Pass.
TEAM NOTES
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INJURY UPDATE
Jerome Beasley(back),Malik Allen(back) andDorell Wright(abdominal) are on the Heat's injured list.
Ira Winderman ofThe South Florida Sun-Sentinelwrites: Van Gundy said he did not regret Tuesday's harsh tone, which included calling out guard Eddie Jones, but he said he had a different perspective by the time he returned Wednesday to AmericanAirlines Arena."Watching the film last night, I didn't see a team that wasn't trying," he said, with the Heat 6-6 in its last 12. "I saw a team that was fighting like crazy and was tied with 15 seconds to go in a game they couldn't make a shot."
Stephen F. Holder ofThe Miami Heraldwrites: ``We haven't played anywhere near as well as we think were capable of playing, yet were 10-6. We're on pace to win 50 games. Because our own expectations are high, and everyone else's are high, there's a frustration setting in over being 10-6. It's a little bit crazy, and it's leading to people playing a little bit frustrated.''
Linda Robertson ofThe Miami Heraldwrites: Van Gundy, as irked as we've ever seen him, didn't go Bobby Knight on his players after the troubling 94-92 loss to Toronto, but he was brutal in his criticism of them.You got the sense that lava was flowing in his veins. ''Everybody's going to have a bad night here or there, but it's getting ridiculous with some of these guys, quite honestly,'' Van Gundy said as he dragged his palm from forehead to nape. The Heat's recent struggles have exposed the greatest dread of Shaqification: The Heat is a two-man outfit. As the Detroit Pistons proved in the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers, a team always beats a dynamic duo.
The Sports Networkwrites: Miami Heat forward Malik Allen underwent successful micro discectomy surgery Wednesday morning and is expected to be sidelined six-to-eight weeks.Allen was placed on the injured list November 23 with back spasms. He has played in 10 games this season and is averaging 7.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per contest. The 26-year-old Allen has career averages of 7.4 points and 4.3 boards over 147 games, all with the Heat.