2008 Miami Heat

Even as we say “Congratulations” to the Atlanta Hawks, who beat the Heat 4 games to 3 to advance to the Conference Semifinals in the 2009 NBA Playoffs, we want to say a big “Thank you” to the Miami Heat for the electrifying season they had!

If there’s a team that comes in first, then there has to be team that comes in last, and unfortunately for the Miami Heat, they were that team in the 2007-08 season. How could a team that won the Championship in 2006 come in dead last just 2 years later? Well, an injured Dwayne Wade for starters. As Wade is beginning the 2008-09 season in full health, the future for the Miami Heat is bright – they have nowhere to go but up anyway! Wade proved that he’s back to his old self this summer during the 2008 Olympics; as the team’s leading scorer he helped them take home the gold. In fact, Wade’s performance in the 2008 games was so impressive that experts are predicting that he can lead the Heat to the 2009 playoffs. With the capable trio of forwards Michael Beasley, Udonis Haslem, and Shawn Marion backing Wade up, and new head coach Erik Spoelstra bringing a fresh outlook to the team, the new season should be a complete turn around from last season. Heat fans pack American Airlines Arena through good times and bad, so if you want to see Wade lead his team to victory, get your tickets today!

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 the 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 coached 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. In 2005 Riley became the Heat’s head coach once again, a post he held until 2008 when he stepped down and named former Heart assistant coach Erik Spoelstra as his replacement.

Miami is home of the NFL's Miami Dolphins. LandShark Stadium hosts the Dolphins at home. LandShark 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.