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Miami Heat president Pat Riley gave us a press conference for the ages. He told everyone to settle down and not act as if the sky was falling. He seemed optimistic about bringing the Big Three back but also was a realist in case it doesn't happen. He bigged up the Spurs, bigged up Dwyane Wade, and spoke on the number of times the greatest champions have lost.
He realizes that the Heat need more than just a collection of talent; they need to be a team. The Heat have to fail together as a unit the same way they win together. Riley had a bunch of quotables worthy of being tatted on your person. Check out the 15 best.
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"I'm not dropping championship rings on the table for those guys. They can drop their own."
He has a point. The Big Three united with the Heat to stack rings, and they've done just that. It's up to them to keep the legacy going.
"I had kisses all over my face when we won. Yesterday, it was just a good handshake."
Cuffin Season officially over, but Riles is getting nothing but the curve in SoBe without a chip. No one remembers second place.
"I think we need to have a perspective about things. I think everybody needs to get a grip...Don't think we're not going to get beat again, so get a grip. That's my message to the players."
No, it's not the end of the world, and yes, Miami will lose more basketball games in the future. It hurts now, but Riley is doing his best to covnice his guys that there's no need to overreact.
"All of those guys stayed together and in their worst moments, they allowed management to re-tool."
When the Spurs went title-less from 2007 through 2013, there was a ton of transition within the organization. They added pieces like Danny Green, Patty Mills, Kawhi Leonard and others that perfectly complement Duncan, Parker and Ginobili.
"This stuff is hard, And you've got to stay together if you've got the guts. And you don't find the first door and run out of it."
Pat understands that a team this talented have to stay together and go through the ups and downs. He mentioned teams like the Celtics, Lakers, Bulls, and Spurs.
"I didn't come down here 19 years ago to get a quick trip to South Beach and to get a sun tan."
He faxed in his resignation as coach of the Knicks to go down to Miami and build champions. He did exactly that and he has no plans of stopping.
"Mickey (Arison) will do anything to get those guys to come back," Riley said. Riley added its "BS" to think Arison won't pay luxury tax.
This comment was made likely in response to the slew of media reports, like one from well-connected ESPN.com reporter Brian Windhorst, that LeBron is very concerned about Heat ownership moving forward. Cost-cutting measures taken over recent offseasons has reportedly led to severe concern on LeBron's end, so consider this Riley saving face.
"Wanna trend something? I'm pissed. Get that trending."
Yeah, Riley isn't exactly accustomed to falling short of expectations, especially over recent seasons. He cares. The fanbase, on the other hand...
"Welcome to the NBA and the world of world championship basketball. Ask Bill Russell about that."
This one came in response to the notion that his guys were mentally exhausted after a fourth consecutive Finals quest. Riley wasn't playing around this afternoon.
"We'd have to get in a room with boxing gloves."
Riley gave this answer after being asked whether or not Wade would be open to coming off the bench. Very telling by Riley here, admitting publicly for the first time that the Dwyane Wade we used to know is no longer with us. When on the floor, his ability at the offensive end is still among the league's best. But the guy can't stay on the court, and Riley dropped this not-so-subtle hint that his career may be in for a transition period.
"[Spoelstra] needs to take stock...He's got somebody to talk to who knows something about coaching."
At 69 years old, Riley has left his coaching days in the past. He handed the keys to the bench over to Erik Spoelstra in 2008, and Spoelstra has in turn grown into one of the league's most successful coaches.
However, Riley is making it clear that Spo's got adjustments to make, and without being overbearing, Riles has a way with finding solutions.
"That's a pipe dream...but 2010 was a pipe dream."
When the talking heads on ESPN told you in 2010 there was a possibility that Miami would be able to land James, Wade, and Bosh, you laughed. You underestimated the effect Riley's aura had on prospective free agents, particularly ones looking for rings...lots of rings.
A Big Four with Carmelo Anthony seems far-fetched, but don't forget how improbable Miami's offseason maneuvers were just four years ago.
"It is time for everybody to take heed of the message that was sent to us by the Spurs."
He's looking over at San Antonio, and the perdicament they found themselves in last summer. Off a seven-game Finals outster, especially at that point in their respective careers, they could've packed it in and closed the era. But one year later, they're champions once again.
"Mario, God bless him, we don't win a championship last year without his Game 6 and 7 performance."
Chalmers may have been the gazelle to Tony Parker's lion throughout the 2014 NBA Finals, but Riley refused to throw his point guard under the bus. Chalmers is now a free agent, but he has said that he wants to remain in Miami.
"You don't pander and you don't punish. And there's a fine line in between."
Riley and Spoelstra have always been under the microscope while leading LeBron and the rest of the Heat, and Riles didn't hold back when describing how he keeps the players focused while dealing with the constant attention.