Posted by rojasmas:
Riley traded Hardaway to the Mavs. He didn't retire with the Heat. Suffice it to say that Riley and Hardaway had their differences. Underachieving in the playoffs causes that. Marbury isn't valuable if his team stinks when he plays. The Knicks stink when he plays. They are pathetic when he doesn't play. Big deal.
1996-97
Hardaway's first full season with Miami was a brilliant one and earned him a spot on the 1996-97 All-NBA First Team. He led the Heat with 20.3 points (17th in the NBA), 8.6 assists (seventh) and 1.86 steals (15th) in 38.7 minutes (19th). His 203 three-pointers also topped Miami and were the fourth-most in the league, and his assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.02-to-1 ranked 10th in the NBA. Hardaway started 81 games for Miami, sitting out the season finale as Coach Pat Riley rested some of his players for the playoffs, and led the team in assists (or tied for the lead) in 77 of those games. He reached double figures 27 times, posting a season-high 16 assists in a 108-99 victory at Detroit on March 4. He scored in double figures 74 times and had 25 double-doubles. He tallied a career-high 45 points, shooting 13-for-25 from the field, 6-for-12 from three-point range and 13-for-14 from the foul line, in a 108-105 victory at Washington on March 7. At the 1997 All-Star Game in Cleveland, Hardaway scored 10 points including a pair of three-pointers, and also had three rebounds and two assists. In the playoffs, Hardaway topped Miami with 18.7 points, 7.0 assists and 1.59 steals in 41.2 minutes. He scored a playoff career-high 38 points, including 18 points in the third quarter, and added 7 assists and 5 steals in a 101-90 victory over the New York Knicks in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
1997-98:
Named to the 1997-98 NBA All-Interview Second Team. Named to the 1997-98 All-NBA Second Team. Placed on the injured list on 4/18 due to inflammation in his right knee. Totaled team-highs of 22 points and 11 assists and grabbed 5 rebounds against the Minnesota Timberwolves on 4/15. Registered a game-high 28 points and 12 assists in a 111-105 victory over the Toronto Raptors on 4/10. Posted 22 points, a game-high 14 assists and 4 rebounds in a 105-91 victory over the Boston Celtics on 3/25. Recorded 20 points, a game-high 13 assists and 5 rebounds in a 112-80 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on 3/22. Totaled a game-high 32 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds and 3 steals against the Indiana Pacers on 2/11. Registered 8 points and 6 assists in the 1998 NBA All-Star Game in New York. Scored 15 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter, adding 8 assists and 5 rebounds, in an 86-82 win over the New York Knicks on 1/28. Posted a game-high 33 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds and 3 steals against the Cleveland Cavaliers on 1/26. Recorded 24 points, a game-high 11 assists, 5 rebounds and 4 steals in a 92-87 victory over the Phialdelphia 76ers on 1/21. Totaled a game-high 29 points (5-10 3FG), 7 assists and 4 rebounds in a 90-78 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on 12/30. Registered 18 points, a game-high 13 assists, a club-record 8 steals and 6 rebounds in a 99-92 win over the Atlanta Hawks on 12/20. Posted game-highs of 22 points and 14 assists and grabbed 5 rebounds in a 91-84 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on 12/19. Recorded 21 points, 11 assists, 9 rebounds and 3 steals in an 87-84 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on 12/13. Totaled team-highs of 33 points, 11 assists and 3 steals in a 122-113 victory over the L.A. Clippers on 11/19. Registered a game-high 26 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists in a 96-93 victory over the Denver Nuggets on 11/15. Posted team-highs of 25 points and 12 assists and grabbed 4 rebounds in a 114-106 win over the Washington Wizards on 11/8. Recorded 26 points, driving the length of the court to hit the game-winning jumper at the buzzer, and 11 assists in a 109-108 win over the Washington Wizards on 11/1.
2/18/2006 4:32 PM
