Earlier today, Miami Heat President Pat Riley shook up the NBA world in a big way with comments he made towards his team. He was relaxed yet calculating in his approach. In a short description, Riley’s seemed furious today all while keeping that cool-demeanor he always seems to possess. He challenged his all-world superstar with a few choice words and phrases.
Now the 2014 NBA off-season is officially red-hot.
Riley started his rant by saying this: "You want to trend something? I'm pissed,” (as he wanted to let the new-age world know he was “hip” to the Twitter times), according to USAToday.
He also went on to say "This stuff is hard. And you got to stay together, if you've got the guts. And you don't find the first door and run out of it," Riley said today at his end-of-year news conference.
It was a straight-up challenge to LeBron James, pure and simple.
Riley brought up certain NBA dynasties such as the Lakers and Celtics throughout the years. He played the only hand he knew how to today, which was tough-love. He basically said to LeBron: it is now your move to make, so go ahead and respond through social media.
All of this is in response to some of the media reports about LeBron James and other Heat players being angry with front office about some of the recent personnel decisions. It has led to major speculation about LeBron’s future with the franchise. While most coddle the mega-ego of LeBron James (like Riley did in 2010), today he fiercely fueled it.
It’s funny though, what Pat Riley preaches is not always what he’s always practiced.
Isn't this the same guy, that almost 19 years ago to the day (June 16th, 1995), faxed in a letter of resignation to the New York Knicks. He told the team he would be resigning and heading to Greece, according to articles.latimes.com. A very strong message was spoken from a guy who knows how to walk out of that door, and very cowardly might I add with a fax.
That, on top of Riley convincing James to “walk out of that door” in his hometown of Cleveland, makes for interesting contrast of past-actions against present-words. Although the statement by Riley was bold, as nobody dare talks to “The King” like this, it seems to hold very little water as seen by Riley’s and LeBron’s past actions.
We live in a different world today. A world where LeBron already screwed up that “one team” legacy. James knows because it is now a different world that he could make the dynasty of “LeBron,” and does not need the dynasty of a single team. Knowing this leads to many open doors.
If James actually listens to Riley’s outstanding advice, he would do the right thing: which is to reverse a wrong into a right by rejoining “his” team, “his” franchise, “his” hometown, the Cleveland Cavaliers. Re-enter that door LeBron so suddenly exited, and finish a remarkable career off as a winner in Cleveland.
If Riley’s tactics today actually work, and LeBron comes back to Miami, it just then increases the legend of Pat Riley. If the tactics do not pay off though, it is the end of the Miami Heat franchise as we know it today.
Hold your breath Miami, you are now in anxious times.