Heat coach Pat Riley wasn't quite caught up in nostalgia when he watched the San Antonio Spurs receive their championship rings before Tuesday's opening-night victory against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Instead, Riley pointed out what he believes was a bit of unfair scheduling. Last season, the Heat received their championship rings before playing the Bulls, who spoiled the ring ceremony with a 42-point victory.

"They sent our most bitter rival for ring ceremony night, and San Antonio got, basically, the worst team in the league," Riley said, half-jokingly, about the Trail Blazers, who used the first pick in the draft on center Greg Oden, who is injured. `"Thank you [commissioner] David [Stern]. We got the shark eater who wanted us badly. I would have liked to have seen maybe Atlanta or somebody."

The Bulls also swept the Heat in the first round of the playoffs.