Respect Jeff Van Gundy? No question. He is a tireless, ceaseless worker.

Like Jeff Van Gundy? Away from the power structure of Madison Square Garden, he is a pleasant, personable sort.

See Jeff Van Gundy as the Heat's next coach? No way.

When Pat Riley does step aside -- and it appears more and more likely that will be after this season -- what the Heat will require is a change of pace, not Pat Riley Jr.

Assuming an inevitable revamping period at the bottom of the standings, the last thing the Heat needs is a halfcourt-, defensive-minded leader. If you're going to struggle, struggle with flair, preferably at more than 85 points per game.

With what Riley likely will leave behind, Van Gundy would only revisit the frustration he had suffered through in New York.

In some ways, Van Gundy taking over for Riley would evoke what Ron Rothstein endured at the franchise's inception. Like Van Gundy, Rothstein stood as one of the brilliant defensive minds of his time. But getting marginal talent to achieve defensive excellence can be demoralizing.

Like Riley, Van Gundy projects a winning-or-misery aura. The problem is the Heat already has regressed into a "come-see-us-be-miserable" affair.