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Saturday, March 10, 2001
Riley leaves door open for Mourning
Associated Press
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MIAMI – Alonzo Mourning will have a spot on the Miami Heat
playoff roster, even though he's still not expected to play this
season.
Coach Pat Riley said he would make the move as a precaution
because he has been burned before by the NBA freeze on postseason
rosters. Mourning is being treated for a kidney ailment discovered
last October.
Riley said his comments don't reflect any change in the
prognosis that Mourning will miss the entire regular season and the
playoffs.
"I have not coached this team at all with any plans of Zo
coming back," Riley said.
But if the Heat left Mourning off the roster at the start of the
playoffs, the All-Star center would be unavailable for the rest of
the postseason, even if he were later given medical clearance to
play.
For Riley, the situation brings back memories of the 1994 NBA
Finals. He left Doc Rivers off the New York Knicks' playoff roster
that year because the veteran point guard was sidelined with a knee
injury. Six weeks later, Rivers was deemed fit to play in the
finals, but league rules prevented him from being activated.
"He was ready to go in the finals, and to this day I kick
myself in the butt, because he could have made a huge difference in
that series," Riley said.
The Knicks lost to Houston in seven games.
Mourning has practiced with the Heat's second team on a regular
but limited basis in recent weeks. Mourning is at his playing
weight of 260 pounds but not close to playing shape.
"He has his good days and bad days" on the court, Riley said.
"He looks like a guy who hasn't played basketball for a year."
Playoff rosters must be filed with the NBA on April 19 and can't
be changed unless a team is hit with a multitude of injuries or
illnesses.
Including Mourning on the 12-player playoff roster involves
little risk for the Heat, because Riley rarely uses more than eight
players in his rotation. Riley said he'll also save a playoff
roster spot for guard Eddie Jones, who is expected to be sidelined
for several weeks at least with a dislocated shoulder.
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ALSO SEE
Garnett on Heat 'D': 'They're like roaches on bread'
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Heat's Jones out until April after dislocating shoulder
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