Riley really the answer?

"It's been a long time. I shouldn't a left you, without a strong blog to step to. Think of how many weak blogs you slept through. Time's up, sorry I kept you."
Just a little old school Eric B. and Rakim to kick things off for all you hip hop headz out there.

Anyway, I missed you cats. Don't get me wrong, I had a great time. First, I took my last vacation of the year; then I went on assignment out of the country. Can't say where my travels took me, but rest assured, it will all be revealed within the next few months.

I spoke with a lot of NBA executives and coaches (pro and college) during my time away and, without naming names, I'll share some of the more interesting info with you guys.

Let's start off by addressing the story of the summer: Pat Riley and the Miami Heat.

Most of the people I spoke with around the league believe Riley's revamping of the Heat is about more than winning a championship; they think it's also about making sure he's on the bench when Miami captures its first title.

The prevailing sentiment is that Riley has purposely assembled a potentially volatile roster that will run Stan Van Gundy out of town long before season's end. Riley's talk of his desire to return to coaching earlier this summer has stripped Van Gundy of all authority in the locker room, so how is a coach without clout supposed to keep four guys who all want the ball (J-Will, D-Wade, 'Toine and Shaq) happy?

Once the players' complaints start being lodged publicly in the newspapers, followed by a losing streak or two, the drumbeat for Riley to take over will be louder than some ol' 2Live Crew Miami bass.

With a disgruntled locker room, more losses than expected and Heat fans clamoring for Riley's return, Showtime can make it look as though he had no choice but to move from his president's perch to the sidelines.

At least that's the theory of many NBA front-office types.

My view is that Van Gundy has done an excellent job in Miami, and that it's shameful if Riley is planning to replace him. Have folks forgotten how Van Gundy resurrected the Heat two years ago, leading them to a 42-40 record and a stunning second-round playoff berth, where they gave Indiana all it wanted before falling in six games?

For those who dismiss what Van Gundy did last season because Diesel was in town, Shaq wasn't around for the 42-40 turnaround. And is there anyone on the planet who believes the Heat wouldn't have reached last season's Finals if Dwyane Wade hadn't hurt his ribs -- even with a banged-up Shaq?

I hear all this talk about Van Gundy's not getting the ball to Shaq in the closing moments of Game 7 against Detroit, but what's that got to do with Riley? I recall his letting John Starks hoist brick after brick instead of getting the ball to Patrick Ewing in Game 7 of the Finals against Houston in 1994. So who's to say Riley would've done any better than Van Gundy did?

Before I go further, let me put this qualifier on what I'm about to say: Pat Riley is one of the greatest coaches in NBA history. That said, he hasn't won a ring without Magic and Kareem. And let's be honest, Magic, Kareem, Worthy, Michael Cooper, Byron Scott, Jamaal Wilkes -- they would've won titles with me pacing the sidelines.

Riley proved his greatness in New York when he took Ewing and the Knicks to new heights. Still, they never won it all.

In Miami, the word was that Riley got his teams to play playoff-level basketball during the regular season. That's why the Heat usually had great regular-season records (before collapsing his final two years).

But because of that, the Heat didn't have another notch to go to in the postseason. Their opponents raised their games a level and thus, lower seeds upset Riley's clubs the last four times he made the playoffs.

The Knicks upset Miami three times -- twice in the first round as a seventh and eighth seed -- and sixth-seeded Charlotte swept Riley's third-seeded, 50-victory Heat in the first round in 2001. After showings like that, most coaches would've been fired.

Am I saying Riley's washed up as a coach? No way. But I am saying there's no reason to believe he'll do a better job than Van Gundy.

The lakers would not give the ball to Shaq either!