Q: I heard you this past week with Hank Goldberg on WQAM, which, by the way, is the best hour of sports talk on the radio. You mentioned that after he retires Pat Riley will be remembered for his "Showtime" days with the Lakers. You also admitted that he changed his philosophy to this knockout, sluggish, halfcourt basketball we see now. Why do you think he changed? Robert M. Fojo, Miami, FL
A: Because of the players he inherited in both New York and Miami. With Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley and Anthony Mason, there was only one way to go with the Knicks -- the physical way. With Alonzo Mourning and P.J. Brown, that also proved the better path taken with the Heat.
Q: What are the Heat's chances now of making the playoffs? Do you really think there will be sub-.500 teams that make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference? DeVonte Pearson, Clinton, NC
A: I do think one or two teams will sneak into this season's East playoffs with rotten records. While it is too early to overstate the Heat's chances, just the fact that this still is an issue speaks volumes about the opportunities the state of the conference has left the Heat.
Q: Are you surprised at how well Alonzo Mourning has been playing? It looks like he's getting closer to the Zo of old. Matt Davidson, Tecumseh, NE
A: I'm not surprised, nor was I expecting it. I'm not a doctor. Those who are apparently have found the right combination of medicines and lifestyle changes to make this work. Still, this all remains a house of cards. Should Mourning's health turn, then Eddie Jones again will have to emerge as the sole featured scorer and Brian Grant will again face massive expectations inside. As goes Zo, so will go the Heat.
Q: What is the likelihood of the Heat acquiring Lamar Odom from the Clippers before the trading deadline? What other players might end up in Miami? Also, what would the Heat have to give up? Chris Watson, Pompano, FL
A: I'm not prone to speculation, but the reason I mentioned Odom in a recent column was that the Clippers seem to have an overload of young and impetuous players. The franchise is sorely in need of a veteran presence, something the Heat has in abundance. When I initially wrote the piece, I was wondering about Eddie Jones for Odom. Now, I'm not so sure that would be in the Heat's best interest. I would, however, like to see the Heat obtain a veteran, defensively capable, reserve center.
Q: Is it fair to say that Brian Grant has been a bust, considering the HUGE contract he signed? Scott Weathers, Conewango Valley, NY
A: Usually, I put the numbers aside and simply ask if a player can play. But I agree, in this age of the cap, you can't have someone eating up one-third of the payroll and contributing one-fifth of the results. I just think Grant has turned into mental mush. I mean, this team was concerned about P.J. Brown's fragile nature, and it seems as if Grant is even more prone to give in to adversity.
Q: Any chance of the Heat getting Latrell Sprewell now that the Knicks have packed it in? Also, how did he get so bad all of a sudden? Shawn Hicks, Lula, GA
A: I don?t think there is much interest on the Heat's end for yet another aging perimeter player who has a questionable outside shot. I think with Sprewell it comes down to a dramatic loss of speed, quickness and athleticism, the elements that had made him a special player. What happened? He got old in a hurry.
Q: Would you consider Eddie Jones a superstar, being one of the top 10 players in the league? Lance Centers, Pennsauken, NJ
A: Nah, can't go there. I mean Top 10 would include Shaq, Kobe, Iverson, Garnett, Webber, Duncan, Kidd, Carter, McGrady and Pierce, among others, not even mentioning Jordan and Ray Allen. I think Jones has settled into the next tier, of very good, but not great players. Still, that should be good enough for a team to succeed.
Q: Is it any coincidence that the Heat's resurgence began when Kendall Gill came off the injured list? Or is it more of a coincidence that the Heat started winning when Anthony Carter went on the injured list? Brett, Tampa, FL
A: Both are good points. Gill, as a starter, has given the Heat a defensive presence that has allowed Jones to concentrate more on his scoring and has kept Jones out of foul trouble. As for Carter, it became obvious that the Heat was a better team when Rod Strickland was moved into the starting lineup. I think it will be a real conundrum for Pat Riley when Carter is able to return.
Q: Could Vladimir Stepania be a legitimate NBA center if he put on about 25 pounds? Stephanie Topchick, Aventura, FL
A: Nah. If he put on 50, maybe. The thing is, there is absolutely no strength in his game. Opponents swarm him after he grabs a rebound, and often wrestle it out of his hands. He is a decent offensive player, but not what you want directly behind Mourning. The Heat could use additional muscle at that position.
Q: Has Kendall Gill filled the void left by Bruce Bowen as the Heat's defensive stopper? Marty Black, Miami, FL
A: Only recently has Gill found his form, so it will be interesting to see what upcoming games deliver. Gill is a different type of defender than Bowen. He is more steals-oriented, not as much "up and into him" as Pat Riley likes to say. But Gill is committed to defensive success, and that is something the Heat had lacked in the starting lineup in his absence.
Q: Do you think Jimmy Jackson will get consideration for the NBA's Comeback Player of the Year Award? Shelly Berger, Van Nuys, CA
A: No. (That is the short and simple answer. The longer answer would be something along the lines of -- and don't take offense here -- ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND!) Look, Jackson certainly has helped, but he also has dropped off appreciably in his production since his arrival, and commits some of the most gruesome turnovers you'd ever want to see. Officially, the NBA does not have a "comeback" award, instead going with a Most Improved Player designation. Among those who would merit such consideration this season would be Jermaine O'Neal, Kenyon Martin, Wally Szczerbiak, Todd MacCulloch, Richard Hamilton and Kenny Thomas.
Q: Why doesn't Alonzo Mourning get the respect he deserves? The man is playing with a serious illness and is one of the best centers in the league, yet he gets called for more horse crap fouls than half the stiffs in the NBA. Harold Robertson, Hershey, PA
A: Hey, is "Harold Robertson" a pseudonym? Is this really Mark Cuban? In general, the bigger, the more muscular you are, the harder you are to officiate. Yes, Zo gets some tough calls, but he also gets away with plenty of rough stuff, at least one unnoticed elbow hack a game.
Q: Where the heck did Pat Riley find Mike James? Do you see him really helping the Heat off the bench? Jeremy Greene, Jacksonville, FL
A: Riley and the scouting staff found him through their intensive offseason tryout program, and through broadcaster Ed Pinckney, who had James at his pro-am summer league the year before. I think he is a tough, smart kid who might develop into far more than Anthony Carter has been able to become.
Q: If the heat makes the playoffs, will this be Pat Riley's greatest coaching job ever? Has any NBA team ever made the playoffs after having such a horrible start like Miami's? Jay Friedman, Sunrise, FL
A: It could be close, but let's not overstate it. Riley also was part of the reason the team struggled at the start. Teams have come from farther down in the standings, but that was when 36 wins were good enough to advance. Remember, the Suns started 0-13 in 1996 and still made the 1997 playoffs at 40-42. So it has been done before.