Post by Heat on Mar 23, 2008 18:53:26 GMT -5
Forward Karl Malone, sidelined by a pulled abdomin since the 16th game of the season, returned from a 34-game absence and will start in the Miami Heats' next game against the Cleveland Cavs.
The Starting line-up will once again look like: Malone starting alongside Lamar Odom and Vlade Divac in the frontcourt, and Grant Hill started alongside Mike Bibby in the backcourt. This will end the run of second year big men Eddy Curry or Samuel Dalembert as a regular starter in the Heats' line-up.
"I'm ready to play right now," Malone said Tuesday, according to the Plain Dealer. "It hurts a little bit when I'm in the triple threat position, because I'm squeezing the part I hurt. But they told me it's going to feel like that a couple more weeks, so I'm just going to have to play over the pain because there's nothing I can do about it.
Malone was hurt in a victory over Philadelphia, back in the begining of the season. Despite that long layoff, coach Boomer Purser said he went with his "gut" in deciding to put Malone right back in the lineup.
"Sometimes I'd start a guy if he was out a couple of games or something like that," Purser said. "Obviously Karl's been out longer, but you know it's just a feel and we don't have that many games to kind of sit back and ease anybody in, so it's best to throw him in the mix and let him get his feet wet as quickly as possible and see what happens. He's maybe the greatest of all-time in the LBA, and he very bluntly told me, HE'S READY. So I'll trust the Hall of Famer."
Malone's return may help the Heat immensely. They're really lost at the 4 with out Malone. Sammy and Curry can come of the bench for good relief, but lack the expierence to really be an effective starter. The Heat really lack true starter veteranship, besides their actual starting five. So have the 5 time LBA MVP Malone back will add some of the leadership needed to get the Heat back on track.
"You have one guy come back and you have another guy go out," Odom said before the last game. "It's been like that for us the last two, three months. I'm very excited that Karl's back. He gave some of the most valuable advice, while playing. He was the most productive Small forward ever in the league. He bumped down to the 4 to let me develop. That's a true team player. We just play better all around with him."
Mike Bibby points out: "We now have those three scorers again. Opponents can't just man-up hard on Odom and Hill, know that Vlade and who ever's at the 4 can't really step out to shoot any ranged shots. Now we'll be able to keep em honest."
One thing's for sure, The East gets more interesting by the day. Seeing as how the Heat only dropped 4, before Malone's injury; and 11 since he went down. The Heat just hope to make the climb back to the top of the East now. Malone just hopes to make full recovery from the worst injury of his career.
The Starting line-up will once again look like: Malone starting alongside Lamar Odom and Vlade Divac in the frontcourt, and Grant Hill started alongside Mike Bibby in the backcourt. This will end the run of second year big men Eddy Curry or Samuel Dalembert as a regular starter in the Heats' line-up.
"I'm ready to play right now," Malone said Tuesday, according to the Plain Dealer. "It hurts a little bit when I'm in the triple threat position, because I'm squeezing the part I hurt. But they told me it's going to feel like that a couple more weeks, so I'm just going to have to play over the pain because there's nothing I can do about it.
Malone was hurt in a victory over Philadelphia, back in the begining of the season. Despite that long layoff, coach Boomer Purser said he went with his "gut" in deciding to put Malone right back in the lineup.
"Sometimes I'd start a guy if he was out a couple of games or something like that," Purser said. "Obviously Karl's been out longer, but you know it's just a feel and we don't have that many games to kind of sit back and ease anybody in, so it's best to throw him in the mix and let him get his feet wet as quickly as possible and see what happens. He's maybe the greatest of all-time in the LBA, and he very bluntly told me, HE'S READY. So I'll trust the Hall of Famer."
Malone's return may help the Heat immensely. They're really lost at the 4 with out Malone. Sammy and Curry can come of the bench for good relief, but lack the expierence to really be an effective starter. The Heat really lack true starter veteranship, besides their actual starting five. So have the 5 time LBA MVP Malone back will add some of the leadership needed to get the Heat back on track.
"You have one guy come back and you have another guy go out," Odom said before the last game. "It's been like that for us the last two, three months. I'm very excited that Karl's back. He gave some of the most valuable advice, while playing. He was the most productive Small forward ever in the league. He bumped down to the 4 to let me develop. That's a true team player. We just play better all around with him."
Mike Bibby points out: "We now have those three scorers again. Opponents can't just man-up hard on Odom and Hill, know that Vlade and who ever's at the 4 can't really step out to shoot any ranged shots. Now we'll be able to keep em honest."
One thing's for sure, The East gets more interesting by the day. Seeing as how the Heat only dropped 4, before Malone's injury; and 11 since he went down. The Heat just hope to make the climb back to the top of the East now. Malone just hopes to make full recovery from the worst injury of his career.
I honestly hope he never gets a ring. It would be just like his real life counterpart. 
