Having lost his spot in the rotation several weeks ago, power forward/center Chris Gatling admits this is the most difficult season of his 11-year NBA career.

But Gatling, 34, said Sunday that while he's surprised he's not playing much, he's determined not to make an issue of it.

''In some instances, I'm surprised, and I think a lot of people are,'' said Gatling, who has played a total of 26 minutes in February. ``This is my toughest year professionally, by far, the first time I've gone through this.

``It messes with you a little bit mentally. I have to be a professional about it and keep working on my game. A lot of people wouldn't take this situation like this. They would always be in Coach's office talking to him. I don't need to talk to him about anything. I need to prove it on the court.

``When I get in a game, if I ever do, I have to be ready. This time of the season, you don't need any negativity.''

Gatling was out of shape when he joined the Heat five days before the regular-season opener. He lost 30 pounds, but even that hasn't been enough to earn coach Pat Riley's trust. Gatling lost his spot in the rotation to Vladimir Stepania in mid-January.

Gatling is averaging 5.9 points -- down from 11.4 for Cleveland last season -- and shooting a career-low 42.7 percent.

In addition to a five-game early-season stint on the injured list to work on his conditioning, Gatling has been held out of 15 games this season, including 10 of the past 16.

''I know I'm a good player in this league,'' he said. ``I just have to wait my turn. If Coach sticks with this rotation, so be it. My confidence is so high, because I'm a scorer.''

Gatling signed a three-year, $8.5 million contract, but only this season is guaranteed.

''Hopefully, if I stay around and learn the system a lot better, I can start out from scratch and be in training camp,'' he said. ``I'm not worried about [being retained]. I'm worried about getting to the playoffs.''

? Riley said he's ''concerned'' about Alonzo Mourning's back spasms, which bothered him Saturday. ''It has been very tight,'' Riley said. Mourning said he's fine.

? Tim Hardaway, who lashed out at Riley when the Heat didn't re-sign him last summer, expressed disappointment in Mavericks coach Don Nelson for Thursday's trade that sent him, Juwan Howard, Donnell Harvey and a No. 1 pick to Denver for Raef LaFrentz, Nick Van Exel, Avery Johnson and Tariq Abdul-Wahad.

''[Nelson] turned his back on me and traded me,'' Hardaway told The Dallas Morning News. ``A lot of people don't like the trade. Nellie's got to deal with that.''