This is how times have changed: Before Wednesday night's game against the Hornets, conversation was not about Pat Riley's success, but rather about the first season the Heat coach will carry a losing record in his 20 on the sidelines.

Riley said he does not look at the year in any way as tainting his image.

"Obviously, that's up to the media," he said. "I don't think about it. I've been honored to have a lot of great players. So the asterisk next to my wins are all those names of great players. I mean, I've never won a game in my life, never made a basket. I get all those numbers next to my name. That's what coaches get.

"But I don't think about it anymore. Maybe when I was younger, I wanted to establish something. But I don't think about it anymore. I've coached too long."

Hornets forward P.J. Brown, among Riley's strongest admirers, said it is a surprise to see a losing record as part of his former coach's legacy.

"It's kind of weird to see that. He's been so successful for so many years," Brown said. "You're due for one, I guess. It'll probably be his only one. I don't think he'll let that happen again."

Riley said his focus remains on this season, including turning around his team's struggles at home.

"We've tried everything. I don't know. It's going to have to be something outside of the box," he said. "I don't know what it's going to be. Maybe it's going to be something absolutely different, like flying to Miami and staying at a hotel and don't let them go home."