|
|
In the 1995 offseason, the Miami Heat hired Pat Riley from the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers and the 1990s New York Knicks to be their new president and coach. Riley was the mastermind behind the blockbuster deal that sent Glen Rice , among others, to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for All-Star center Alonzo Mourning. Riley acquired Tim Hardaway on February 22, 1996 . The Heat finished with a winning record with Mourning leading the league in scoring and rebounding but lost in the playoffs in a 3-game sweep against the 72-10 Bulls. The following season, the Heat finished with a franchise-best 61-21 record with new additions, Dan Majerle , Jamal Mashburn, and Voshon Lenard . The Heat were ousted from the playoffs by the Bulls for the second consecutive time, in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
The Miami Heat celebrated their 10-year anniversary in the 1997-98 season and captured their second straight Atlantic Division title. However, they lost in the first round against Coach Riley 's former team, the New York Knicks. The next year, a lockout-shortened season, provided identical results with the Heat losing to the Knicks.
As a result of their success on the court, the Heat moved into the American Airlines Arena in 1999 with seats for over 20,500 fans. The Heat again lost in a deciding Game 7 to the Knicks by a single point. The subsequent season, the Miami Heat missed Mourning for 69 games, due to his diagnosis of a rare kidney disorder. The Miami Heat managed to win 50 games with help from Eddie Jones and emotional leader, Tim Hardaway but lost in the first round of the playoffs.
|
|
|
