Pat Riley offered his thoughts Wednesday on the state of the Miami Heat, expressing disappointment over failing to make the playoffs and stressing an offseason emphasis on retaining the Heat's core players.
"We're going to focus on our guys," Riley said, with Dion Waiters, James Johnson, Wayne Ellington, Luke Babbitt and Willie Reed among the team's impending free agents.
Among thoughts from the Heat president during his session at AmericanAirlines Arena:
_He said of the season that ended at 41-41, with no playoff berth, "I think the table is set. It was a great disappointment, but at the same time it was a lot of success."
_But he also said he did not overstate the 30-11 finish over the second half of the season, "I'm not all goose-bumpy and fuzzy-haired. That's not my makeup."
_He said bigger things remain the expectation for the franchise. "While I feel great about what happened, you all know me, I'm not happy about not being in the playoffs at all."
_He nonetheless said he believes the Heat are positioned for improvement. "While we're not in the playoffs, I think we're ahead and set with the pick. We have flexibility."
_He said part of the offseason focus will be on retention, "We're going to focus on our guys. We are going to focus on this group of guys."
_He downplayed adding a "whale" in free agency, and distanced himself from the term he had previously coined, "I regret ever making that statement."
_Of what the Heat added in free agency last summer, he said, "I don't think there's any doubt, three or four guys emerged we feel good about. While we're not in the playoffs we're ahead of the game."
_He declined to discuss the Chris bosh situation, but did say, "That's being discussed, but there's no resolution to it right now."
_Of coach Erik Spoelstra recovering from the team's 11-30 first half of the season, Riley said, "I think he learned a lot about himself."
_Riley said he appreciated the perspective Spoelstra offered throughout the season, "He's measured. Unlike me, he's measured."
_And. "He coached the hell out of them."
_Riley, on the issue around the league of resting players, "I don't believe in that. It's getting to the point where it's a travesty. I just think it's wrong."
_Of the Bulls beating out the Heat at 41-41 for the playoff tiebreaker, with Chicago visiting only once, he said, "We should have had two games here against Chicago."
_Of Hassan Whiteside, Riley said, "For us to beat Golden State or the world champions in Ohio, we're going to need a championship center. He's capable."
_More Riley on Whiteside, "I'm proud of him and I'm glad we made him a priority last summer. I think he's taken on that responsibility."
_And, "Can he be a 25-17-6 player? I think he can be that. But you have to carve out something more offensively."
_Riley said he is comfortable that Waiters showed enough to be counted upon going forward, "We think Dion is more than a sample size at 46 games."
_And of the chemistry between Waiters and Goran Dragic, Riley said, "I don't know if there are two more tougher-minded guards in the league than Goran and Dion."
_On Udonis Haslem, "We have 15 roster spots and I hope Udonis fills one of them. He is invaluable."
_Riley, on his future, "I just want to have a great summer, come back and have a great team."
_But he mused, "I don't know how many more non-playoff years I can take."
_On Justise Winslow, "He ain't going anywhere."
_And, "I try to tell him not to read anything."
_Because? "We're measuring this guy off 75 games and that's not fair." Called him a "glue guy."
_He also said of Winslow, "He's got something to prove and there's no doubt."
_And on Winslow, "He's more than just a shooter. He's a player, warrior and defender. He cares about winning. We're glad to have him."
_Of the D-League, where the Heat's affiliate currently is based in Sioux Falls, S.D., "I believe in that immensely. Can't wait for the day every team has a team within 100 miles from where they are."
_On the draft, he said, "We're in purgatory. Either win a championship or you get the first pick in the draft. Everybody else is in purgatory." The Heat hold the No. 14 pick in the lottery.
_But, he said, "we like twelve through 20."
_He said Heat already has begun scheduling workouts.
_And of watching the playoffs instead of being a part, "This would have been fun. It would have really validated everything they had done."
