Hall-of-Famer names protege Spoelstra as replacement

Associated Press Apr 28, 08 10:33 PM CDT
(Newser)
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On the night of his last game as an NBA head coach, Pat Riley heard the final buzzer, looked straight ahead and briskly walked away. Deep down, he knew it was over. "I didn't have to look back," Riley said. "I know that's behind me." And now, Riley's past becomes Erik Spoelstra's future.
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Miami avoids worst record in franchise history

Associated Press Apr 16, 08 10:06 PM CDT
(Newser)
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If this was Pat Riley's final game, it was a victorious one. Jason Williams scored 17 points, Mark Blount and Daequan Cook each added 16 and the Heat ended their disappointing season with a 113-99 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night. Miami finished 15-67, matching the 1988-89 expansion team for the worst record in franchise history.
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Toronto close to securing sixth seed after 91-75 frolic

Associated Press Apr 14, 08 10:05 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Rasho Nesterovic scored 20 points, Chris Bosh had 15 and the Toronto Raptors beat the Miami Heat 91-75 on Monday night. Anthony Parker had 13 and Jason Kapono scored seven of his 11 points in the fourth quarter as the Raptors moved one step closer to locking up the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference.
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Cleveland one win away from home court advantage in first playoff round

Associated Press Apr 13, 08 9:32 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Daniel Gibson made a 3-pointer and three straight free throws early in the fourth quarter to give Cleveland some cushion while LeBron James rested, and the Cavaliers moved closer to the East's No. 4 seed with an 84-76 win over the Miami Heat on Sunday. It was the Cavs’ first sweep of the season series against Miami since the 1989-90 season.
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Day after coach enters Hall of Fame, D-League MVP Powell scores 18

Associated Press Apr 8, 08 11:16 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Kasib Powell scored a career-high 18 points, leading the Miami Heat to a 95-88 victory over the Chicago Bulls that snapped a seven-game losing streak. Ricky Davis and Chris Quinn each added 16 points as five players scored in double figures for the Heat, the day after coach Pat Riley was elected to the Hall of Fame.
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Riley, Vitale, Dantley among others honored

Associated Press Apr 7, 08 9:51 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Dick Vitale cried when he heard he was selected to basketball’s Hall of Fame. The former NBA coach turned college basketball analyst joins Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing and Pat Riley, among others, in the Class of 2008. "I can't run, can't jump, can't shoot, but just have had a tremendous…passion about the game," said Vitale, according to the Associated Press.
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Stuckey scores 19 as Detroit tops Miami, 91-75, and Heat helps its lottery chances

Associated Press Apr 6, 08 9:21 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Rodney Stuckey scored 19 points, Tayshaun Prince added 14 on 6-for-7 shooting and the Detroit Pistons wrapped up the No. 2 seed for the Eastern Conference playoffs by beating the Miami Heat 91-75 on Sunday. Jarvis Hayes, Jason Maxiell, Juan Dixon and Arron Afflalo each scored 10 points for the Pistons, who won their fifth straight.
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Four straight postseasons for the first time since mid-80s

Associated Press Apr 5, 08 12:13 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Caron Butler scored 29 points and the Washington Wizards beat the Miami Heat 109-95 on Friday night to clinch a playoff spot for the fourth straight season. It's the first time the team has qualified for the playoffs in four consecutive seasons since it made five straight appearances from 1983-88.
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Cavs win, best in west tops least in east as Hornets beat Heat

Associated Press Apr 2, 08 11:48 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Agent Zero’s return to the Wizards’ lineup after missing 66 games was spoiled by Ramon Sessions, who hit a buzzer-beater to give the Bucks a 110-109 victory. Milwaukee never led by more than a point but executed a perfect inbounds play with 1.1 seconds to give them the victory. Arenas scored 17 points in just 20 minutes, reports the Associated Press. Elsewhere in the Association:
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In race for playoff spot, Hawks, Pacers rout Grizzlies, Heat

Associated Press Mar 31, 08 10:17 PM CDT
(Newser)
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In a rollercoaster of a contest, the Raptors took control of the East's coveted sixth seed, defeating the Bobcats, 104-100. Chris Bosh's 32 points led all scorers. Toronto capitalized on 17 straight baskets in the first quarter, then went cold, trailing at halftime, 63-58. T.J. Ford put the game out of reach late. Also in hoops:
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Miami scores fewest baskets in history as Boston's backups romp, 88-62

Associated Press Mar 30, 08 10:27 PM CDT
(Newser)
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In a season of ignominy, Miami reached a new level of embarrassment, setting the modern NBA record for fewest baskets scored with 17 in an 88-62 loss in Boston. After jetting to a 27-4 advantage early, the league-leading Celtics trotted out their backups for much of the rest of the game; no starter played over 25 minutes in the rout.
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Detroit pulls away from Miami in second half to clinch 6th title in 7 years

Detroit News Mar 28, 08 12:39 AM CDT
(Newser)
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The Detroit Pistons tired to keep the Miami Heat in the game last night, but even an injured starter, too many turnovers, and bad shot selection couldn't stop the Pistons from winning the Central Division title with an 85-69 win over the Heat, reports the Detroit News . Arron Afflalo played for an injured Richard Hamilton and scored 15 points while grabbing eight rebounds, as the Pistons clinched a sixth division title in seven years.
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