MIAMI • Forwards Stephane Lasme and Kasib Powell are sad the most forgettable season in Heat history grinds to a halt Wednesday.
And they're not alone. Guard Blake Ahearn doesn't want it to end, either.
MIAMI • Forwards Stephane Lasme and Kasib Powell are sad the most forgettable season in Heat history grinds to a halt Wednesday.
And they're not alone. Guard Blake Ahearn doesn't want it to end, either.
MIAMI • Forwards Stephane Lasme and Kasib Powell are sad the most forgettable season in Heat history grinds to a halt Wednesday.
And they're not alone. Guard Blake Ahearn doesn't want it to end, either.
Being a new guy in the NBA," said Ahearn, the D-League Rookie of the Year, "you don't want it to end."
But thankfully for most, it will end.
With Monday's 91-75 loss at Toronto, the Heat (14-67) has to win Wednesday against Atlanta to avoid posting the worst single-season record in franchise history. A victory ties the franchise-worst 15-67 record posted by the inaugural team in 1988-89.
"It's been one of those years," coach Pat Riley said.
But for Lasme, the D-League Co-Defensive Player of the Year, Ahearn and Powell, the D-League MVP, the Heat's nightmare has been their dream.
Playing time. Charter airplanes. Four-star hotels. And there's also the standard NBA $109 per-day meal money on the road. Everything, including visiting new cities, is great.
"I haven't been to Toronto; I haven't played in this gym," Powell said. "Every time is the first time."
Indeed, the NBA cycle of life is happening in the Heat locker room.
As trainer Ron Culp prepares to end a 37-year career, and Riley at least considers ending a Hall of Fame coaching career, the trio of Ahearn, Lasme and Powell represent rebirth.
"I wish I could play 20 more games," Lasme said.
As veterans such as swingman Ricky Davis and guard Jason Williams look toward the off-season, the young guys hope it never arrives. Lasme has at least one block in 14 of his 15 games with the Heat. Powell has scored in double digits in four of his last eight games.
"Every game you look forward to playing," said Ahearn, even though he's struggling with a 26.3 field-goal percentage. "I've grown up watching these teams, and now being able to play against them is great."
Center Mark Blount, who played with Yakima in the Continental Basketball Association and Baltimore in the International Basketball Association, can relate.
"I love watching them," he said, "because I was that guy."
But Blount never got a mid-season call-up.
"I told these guys they're ahead of me," he said.
It all comes to an end Wednesday, however. Then again, Wednesday might just be another step in the NBA journey.
"It's the next step," Ahearn said.
Doing work: Riley said the Heat is in the process of preparing for the draft by doing everything from looking at the top 30 players and potential second-round picks to identifying teams that might make good trade partners.
"I think we'll have all this stuff compiled by the middle of May," he said.
Sections
Archive
Syndication
Newsletter
Poll: POLL
