Wiley ol’ Pat Riley is not taking the shots from critics of the Miami Heat and Lebron James too well these days, and now he’s lashing out against them in public fashion…
Pat Riley and LeBron James already have one thing in common. They’re keeping track of what’s been said about how this Miami Heat team got put together this summer.
It seems to be fueling both of them. Speaking at length with reporters for the first time since the Heat acquired James and Chris Bosh to play alongside Dwyane Wade this summer, Riley revealed he thought some critics of Miami’s roster moves should “get a life.” He is also certain it’ll be a motivating point for his team throughout the season.
“I know one thing,” Riley said. “We will show up and we will play games. And our team will be ready. And I think that’s the way we can answer all the critics.”
Riley specifically cited Orlando Magic general manager Otis Smith and former NBA star turned analyst Charles Barkley as examples of people who took what the Heat president thought were unwarranted shots at the way the Heat went about business this summer. He also mentioned Magic coach Stan Van Gundy — Riley’s former protege in Miami — as well.
On the day after Miami signed James to a six-year contract that lured him away from the Cleveland Cavaliers, Smith said, “I thought he was, I guess, more of a competitor.” Riley responded to that Friday, saying Smith made, “an absolutely stupid remark. He never made any kind of comment like that when he signed Rashard Lewis and he brought him down from Seattle with an $128 million contract.”
There have been countless other critics of James, Wade, Bosh and the rest of the Heat in recent weeks, and Riley said he’s having trouble understanding the need for venom.
Read more details via NBA.com
