Defending champions Miami struggling for playoff berth
(Reuters)Updated: 2007-03-01 14:52
WASHINGTON - Miami Heat center Alonzo Mourning bristles at the thought of the defending NBA champions having to sneak into the postseason.
"Sneaking won't do it," he snapped in a locker room interview.
"I hate sneaking. I hate cats. I hate anything that sneaks. Our goal is to win games and position ourselves for the playoffs."
 Miami Heat center Shaquille O'Neal (R) battles San Antonio Spurs center Fabricio Oberto of Argentina for a loose ball during their NBA basketball game in Miami, Florida February 11, 2007. [Reuters] |
The Heat surprised many with their improbable run to the NBA crown last season but this year have stunned just as many by struggling to maintain a winning record.
Injuries to stars Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade have left the defending champions on the brink of having to watch the playoffs on TV.
Miami must make the top eight in the Eastern Conference to qualify for the postseason and has been toggling between the eighth and ninth spots.
The Heat defeated the Southeast Division-leading Washington Wizards 92-83 on Wednesday to climb within one game of the .500 mark at 28-29.
The Heat will need to have Wade, the team's leader who averages 29 points a game, back in the line-up if they are to have any chance of advancing deep into the playoffs.
INJURY WOES
Wade dislocated his shoulder against the Houston Rockets last week and is weighing up whether to rehabilitate and return for the playoffs or have season-ending surgery.
"Whether he's going to make the decision to rehab and delay surgery or whatever, we have to play," said coach Pat Riley.
"We know it's going to be an extended period of time without him."
O'Neal, limited to just 17 of Miami's first 56 games this season because of a knee injury, will have to pick it up at both ends of the floor if the Heat are to make another run.
But the 13-times All-Star center still believes the Heat can win back-to-back titles.
"Our goal is to always win the whole thing," said O'Neal, who scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds against the Wizards.
"It's never been a goal of ours to just to make it to the playoffs."
Most of the Eastern Conference is mired in mediocrity, giving the Heat a chance to grab a high seed if they can shake the injury bug and return to their winning ways.
"I think we can win it," said O'Neal. "If everyone sticks to the script, we can win it. I'm 100 percent sure."
The Heat met with U.S. President George W. Bush at the White House on Tuesday, a reminder of last year's success.
"To have the president and the White House recognise us, it was a great sense of accomplishment," he said.
"But based on what's been going on this season with us, the doom-and-gloom, it dampened the experience."
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