2007 Miami Heat

The Miami Heat finished the 2006-07 season at the top of the Southeast Division, but that was little comfort to fans expecting a repeat of 2005-06 (when they took home the Championship title). Head Coach Pat Riley is determined to leave a winning legacy and to that end he added point guard Smush Parker and veteran guard Penny Hardaway to assist superstars Shaquille O'Neal and Dwayne Wade on the court – and as long as the aging O’Neal and Wade avoid injury, the Heat are in an excellent position for real playoff contention in 2007-08. Get your tickets to American Airlines Arena and watch the Miami Heat reclaim their throne in 2007-2008!

The Miami Heat came into the NBA in 1988 as part of the league's expansion program that included the Orlando Magic, the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Charlotte Hornets. The team, like most expansion teams, struggled at the onset. The Heat failed to have a winning record in their first five seasons. In 1989, the Miami Heat struggled on the court, but they did see success that season. A productive draft left them with the rights to Glenn Rice. Rice became the all-time scoring leader in Big Ten Conference history en route to leading his Michigan Wolverines to the NCAA Championship. The Heat would struggle, but not for long.

In 1991, the Heat made a coaching change, bringing in 29-year basketball veteran Kevin Loughery to become the head coach. That season the Miami Heat made it to the NBA playoffs, becoming the first of their 1988 expansion peers to do so. In 1991, the Heat drafted Steve Smith. Smith was a versatile player who complemented Glenn Rice well. Smith and Rice led the team to the playoffs for the first time in their history as they met Michael Jordan and the tremendously talented Chicago Bulls. The Bulls swept right through Miami in three games.

In 1995, the Heat hired Pat Riley. Riley brought 13 years of coaching experience to Miami. In all of those years he never once failed to make the playoffs. His first move as President and head coach was a blockbuster trade that sent Glenn Rice and others to Charlotte in exchange for Alonzo Mourning and two other players. By the end of the season, Riley acquired many other players, including Tim Hardaway, leaving only one player left on the Heat from his predecessor. In 1996, just one year after Riley's arrival, the Heat found themselves in uncharted waters. They won 61 games that season and reached the Eastern Conference Finals, only to be cut down once again by Michael Jordan and the Bulls.

In 2000, the team changed venues and moved into a beautiful, state-of-the-art, waterfront American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. Today they remain at American Airlines Arena, but the face of the team is much different. In 2003, Pat Riley stepped down as head coach, paving the way for Stan Van Gundy, whose brother Mike coaches the Houston Rockets. 2003 also brought outstanding scorer and rebounder Lamar Odom to the team. There Odom was joined by Eddie Jones. Though Jones has changed jerseys several times in his career, his numbers have never faltered. Jones averages nearly 17 points per game for his career.

Miami is home of the NFL's Miami Dolphins. Dolphin Stadium hosts the Dolphins at home. Dolphin Stadium is also the home of the 2003 World Series Champion Florida Marlins. The Marlins, led by veteran Pudge Rodriguez and youngster Josh Beckett, shocked the baseball world by taking down the New York Yankees in the World Series. The NHL's Florida Panthers skate at Miami's BankAtlantic Center.