There has been surprisingly little indignation. The locker room is a tomb not only after the losses but also before the games. There has not been a single noteworthy, closed-doors, no-holds-barred, players-only meeting.

The silence regarding the Heat's 5-22 start has been deafening.

Perhaps it also should have been expected.

With a roster featuring a variety of 30-somethings, many with nearly a decade in the league, the leader-follower dynamic in the Heat locker room has been muted. It is not the easiest thing to tell a long-term veteran what he is doing is wrong, that his approach must be changed.

The result has been a popgun attack on the court and not a single player popping off in the locker room.

"Basically, I think we're all sitting back, trying to let the dust settle, and then give some input," 34-year-old forward Chris Gatling said. "For the most part, I think we're really tentative to say something, because right now, I think everybody is really on eggshells."

When it comes to strategic issues, the conversation flows. But when it comes to critiquing the play of a fellow 30-year-old, that is where it gets dicey.

"It's not hard to give advice," 33-year-old swingman Kendall Gill said. "It's probably hard to take it, because you've been around so long, you say, `What is this guy going to say to me?' But I'm not so sure we've got that on this team."

In the wake of Friday's 91-86 loss to Memphis, coach Pat Riley noted that he does not have "a bunch of jerks in that locker room." For the most part, players have been numbed by the situation.

By contrast, when the "jerk" factor was higher, at least the locker room was alive, whether it was Voshon Lenard sniping at Tim Hardaway, Hardaway venting at Jamal Mashburn or Anthony Mason brooding about why teammates were launching so many long-range shots.

This season, among the most reserved voices on the roster is Rod Strickland.

"I'm not a real vocal person," the 35-year-old point guard said. "I've never been a real vocal guy. I'm just trying to be here, playing ball.

"Everybody doesn't need to have a voice. We have a coach who is the most vocal. I don't necessarily think everybody needs to be vocal."

Center Alonzo Mourning, one of three captains and the longest-tenured Heat player, has tried his best, but his energy continues to be sapped by kidney illness.

"There isn't any leadership by example," he said.

Jim Jackson, known for his outspokenness at his previous NBA stops, said a different tone is required on such a veteran-laden roster.

"I think it's the way you put it, more than anything else," the 31-year-old swingman said. "To me, I'm open to any advice. I think it's how you tell them. It's subtle ways you can do that. And I think guys who are older in this league still want to learn, still want to grow as a player."

Even on the court, the silence is palpable.

"First you have to gain the trust of your teammates," Jackson said. "Once you get the trust, then it becomes more vocal."

At 5-22, trust hardly is in abundance.

"Maybe that could be the problem, the guys not knowing each other as well as some teams that have been together for a while," Gill said.

Unless the dialogue starts, it could get even worse.

"No one's here that has mastered the game," Gatling said. "There's no Jordans here. I think, collectively as teammates talk, you should listen, whether it's Kendall, whether it's Alonzo, whether it's a rookie speaking, because they have some input."