No surprise the best players on the summer league team were Cole, Harris, Pittman, and Gladness
It's about Damn Time: The Official Offseason Thread of YOUR World Champion Miami Heat
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He Who Posts Well
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HoopsHype - Rashard Lewis: "I feel the competitive drive already back"
Good Rashard Lewis interview.
Miller is coming back
Miami Heat's Mike Miller hopes to avoid back surgery
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By TIM REYNOLDS
The Associated Press
HIALEAH, Fla. —
Mike Miller believes his balky back can improve without surgery, and he's planning to help the NBA champion Miami Heat defend their crown next season.
Miller limped through much of this past season, his back pain so severe at times that he couldn't even sit on the Heat bench during games. He has been consulting with Miami neurosurgeon Dr. Barth Green throughout this offseason, and the expectation now is that a combination of rest and rehabilitation should be enough to get him ready to play again.
"No retirement," Miller said Tuesday.
Miller made an appearance for about 600 children at a basketball camp he sponsored, walking in to roars from the kids and chants of his last name. And when told that Hialeah, a city just north of Miami, believes it was the epicenter of the biggest party to celebrate the Heat championship, Miller tipped his hand as to his future plans.
"Then let's party again next year," Miller said.
Miller was 7 for 8 from 3-point range in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against Oklahoma City, helping the Heat clinch the franchise's second championship.
Miller has three years remaining on his contract with the Heat, but considered retiring after two injury-filled seasons in Miami. An array of thumb, wrist and shoulder injuries plagued him in the 2010-11 season, and this past year was marred as well, first by offseason hernia surgery, the issue with a disc in his back, and a sprained ankle.
If back surgery was needed, Miller might have been sidelined for months and said that would have prompted him to lean toward retirement.
"The plan is to avoid surgery," Miller said. "We're doing everything we can. The doctor says it looks fantastic. So we're going to continue to go in that direction, continue to rehab it, see how it goes."
Miller is scheduled to visit Green again Wednesday to discuss more rehab plans. Green is widely considered one of the world's top surgeons, and Miller said it was somewhat frightening to have to see him and essentially decide his basketball future.
"I was nervous. There's no question about it," Miller said. "But you know what? People that are the best at what they do also know how to do alternatives and what it takes to prevent having surgery. That's what I liked about him from the get-go. Even though he's known for being the best as a surgeon, he was trying to avoid it, which is a credit to him."
Miller wants to be ready for training camp, though he suggested that if his body isn't ready by then, he will not force the issue.
Adding two other shooters in Ray Allen — the NBA's all-time leader in 3-pointers made — and Rashard Lewis certainly figures to make life a bit easier for Miller, if for no other reason than the Heat should have plenty of options from the outside. Miller said he couldn't believe that Heat President Pat Riley, managing general partner Micky Arison and CEO Nick Arison managed to get Allen and Lewis to sign relatively low-number contracts with the Heat.
"You're not just adding two more shooters, you're adding the best shooter of all time when it comes to makes, and then Rashard Lewis is right up there, too," Miller said. "The Arison family and Pat continue to do an unbelievable job. ... This is a special organization to be a part of. It starts from the top and goes down and whenever you've got players who take less money that means you're doing something right."
Miller made 45 percent of his attempts from 3-point range this season, averaging 6.1 points in 39 games. It's been a whirlwind summer — "everything changes as a champion," Miller said — with promotional appearances and plans to be involved in the release of an energy drink called Let It Fly on Aug. 10, but he's sounding confident in the plan to be able to play again.
"Rest is the whole thing," Miller said. "The inflammation gets out of there, the pain goes down, now it's about strengthening it and sustaining."
Miami Heat's Mike Miller hopes to avoid back surgery | www.palmbeachpost.com
Good Rashard Lewis interview.
Miller is coming back
Miami Heat's Mike Miller hopes to avoid back surgery
Share
favorite
Vote (0)
By TIM REYNOLDS
The Associated Press
HIALEAH, Fla. —
Mike Miller believes his balky back can improve without surgery, and he's planning to help the NBA champion Miami Heat defend their crown next season.
Miller limped through much of this past season, his back pain so severe at times that he couldn't even sit on the Heat bench during games. He has been consulting with Miami neurosurgeon Dr. Barth Green throughout this offseason, and the expectation now is that a combination of rest and rehabilitation should be enough to get him ready to play again.
"No retirement," Miller said Tuesday.
Miller made an appearance for about 600 children at a basketball camp he sponsored, walking in to roars from the kids and chants of his last name. And when told that Hialeah, a city just north of Miami, believes it was the epicenter of the biggest party to celebrate the Heat championship, Miller tipped his hand as to his future plans.
"Then let's party again next year," Miller said.
Miller was 7 for 8 from 3-point range in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against Oklahoma City, helping the Heat clinch the franchise's second championship.
Miller has three years remaining on his contract with the Heat, but considered retiring after two injury-filled seasons in Miami. An array of thumb, wrist and shoulder injuries plagued him in the 2010-11 season, and this past year was marred as well, first by offseason hernia surgery, the issue with a disc in his back, and a sprained ankle.
If back surgery was needed, Miller might have been sidelined for months and said that would have prompted him to lean toward retirement.
"The plan is to avoid surgery," Miller said. "We're doing everything we can. The doctor says it looks fantastic. So we're going to continue to go in that direction, continue to rehab it, see how it goes."
Miller is scheduled to visit Green again Wednesday to discuss more rehab plans. Green is widely considered one of the world's top surgeons, and Miller said it was somewhat frightening to have to see him and essentially decide his basketball future.
"I was nervous. There's no question about it," Miller said. "But you know what? People that are the best at what they do also know how to do alternatives and what it takes to prevent having surgery. That's what I liked about him from the get-go. Even though he's known for being the best as a surgeon, he was trying to avoid it, which is a credit to him."
Miller wants to be ready for training camp, though he suggested that if his body isn't ready by then, he will not force the issue.
Adding two other shooters in Ray Allen — the NBA's all-time leader in 3-pointers made — and Rashard Lewis certainly figures to make life a bit easier for Miller, if for no other reason than the Heat should have plenty of options from the outside. Miller said he couldn't believe that Heat President Pat Riley, managing general partner Micky Arison and CEO Nick Arison managed to get Allen and Lewis to sign relatively low-number contracts with the Heat.
"You're not just adding two more shooters, you're adding the best shooter of all time when it comes to makes, and then Rashard Lewis is right up there, too," Miller said. "The Arison family and Pat continue to do an unbelievable job. ... This is a special organization to be a part of. It starts from the top and goes down and whenever you've got players who take less money that means you're doing something right."
Miller made 45 percent of his attempts from 3-point range this season, averaging 6.1 points in 39 games. It's been a whirlwind summer — "everything changes as a champion," Miller said — with promotional appearances and plans to be involved in the release of an energy drink called Let It Fly on Aug. 10, but he's sounding confident in the plan to be able to play again.
"Rest is the whole thing," Miller said. "The inflammation gets out of there, the pain goes down, now it's about strengthening it and sustaining."
Miami Heat's Mike Miller hopes to avoid back surgery | www.palmbeachpost.com
Idk..If Mike is back JJ maybe gone. That or Harris isn't making the final roster, which would kind of be bad because this team needs to retain as much young talent as possible to groom into eventual role players. Gonna be a tough decision, JJ's the hometown kid and took less money to sign, Money Mike also took less money, does more than shoot the ball and was one of the warriors to help win Game 5 against OKC, and Harris is just in his 2nd year and has shown flashes in real gametime.
He Who Posts Well
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It would be nice to actually develop some players instead of having to rely on vets all the time. Harris is nice but I don't think he has a very high ceiling nor a consistent jumper.
edit: so Mike's NOT getting surgery and is gonna let it heal on its own 
C'mon dawg..
C'mon dawg..
they both will be back. JJ said weeks ago he will be back, and harris will probably make the team as well. that would still leave one roster spot open for another big man.
Chalmers/Cole
Wade/Ray/JJ/Harris
Bron/Shane/Miller
Bosh/Rashard/UD
Joel/Pittman
+ a Big Man to come..That's a pretty deep team
Chalmers/Cole
Wade/Ray/JJ/Harris
Bron/Shane/Miller
Bosh/Rashard/UD
Joel/Pittman
+ a Big Man to come..That's a pretty deep team
but def need a big man because I can def see a Heat/Lakers finals.
He Who Posts Well
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edit: so Mike's NOT getting surgery and is gonna let it heal on its own
We only need him for the playoffs anyway. Back surgery is a big decision and it should be used as a last resort, IMO. So let it heal naturally or Riley can use some amnesty gel to speed up the 'healing' process.
edit: so Mike's NOT getting surgery and is gonna let it heal on its own
yeah I agree, that is a little
but getting Ray Allen makes it ok. Hopefully he will be able to play about 60-70 regular season games, and be healthy for the playoffs.
Chalmers/Cole
Wade/Ray/JJ/Harris
Bron/Shane/Miller
Bosh/Rashard/UD
Joel/Pittman
+ a Big Man to come..That's a pretty deep team
I can just imagine all the idiotic rotations we'll see from Spo next season. It's an wonder the team develops any kind chemistry with his weird ass rotations.
He Who Posts Well
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My head already hurts thinking about what the rotations will be like. I can only imagine what Spo is already dreaming up.
He Who Posts Well
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Chalmers/Cole
Wade/Ray/JJ/Harris
Bron/Shane/Miller
Bosh/Rashard/UD
Joel/Pittman
+ a Big Man to come..That's a pretty deep team
That Dosey kid wouldn't be a bad pickup. I just wish he was a bit taller.