Pat Riley stepped back in as Heat Head Coach, because he realized the
veteran club he put together would not play the tenacious defense, and
never-say-die type of ball for Stan Van Gundy, that was needed to win a
championship. Van Gundy is a good, rah-rah type of coach, but isn't even
in Avery Johnson's league yet.
Having put together a team of solid stars, he realized it needed a star
coach for that type of team to be motivated and convinced to play the
type of ball it took to rally from 0-2 in a championship round to a
championship.
Looking around, there was only one close, and qualified, and not
working, himself. And, he didn't have to clear the decision with
anybody, he is President, part-owner of the team.
It wasn't being selfish - Riley postponed hip surgery, which has kept
him in pain most of the season, to step back into the grind of an NBA
full season, and playoff run as coach.
For one reason - to get this Heat team to the heights and over. It took
a lot to do it, and most particularly the players listening to Pat
Riley.......
That's the reason the victory parade went down Biscayne Blvd. in Miami
instead of Main Street in Dallas.
When faced with the adversity of being down 0-2, Riley and the Heat team
knew what they had to do and more importantly how to get out of the
woods,
Avery Johnson and the Mavs didn't know how to navigate that territory,
and are still lost in the deep dark forest (Lions and Tigers and Bears,
OH MY), with the Scarecrow, Tin Man, Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion
(Cuban)..... .....Stan
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