ORLANDO -- Heat point guard Norris Cole experienced a wave of emotions on Wednesday.
He learned he would be starting against the Magic when the Heat meet inside Amway Center's visiting locker room before game. A few hours earlier, Cole found out he was left off the NBA's Rising Star Challenge, the rookie-sophomore exhibition game that coincides with All-Star weekend.
I couldn't help but notice during the pregame open-locker-room session that Cole was lost in thought and trying to ignore the media. He was seated with his face towards his locker the entire time. His large, noise-cancelling headphones muffled the sound of the noisy locker room. In hindsight, this was clearly a player preparing mentally for the first start of his NBA career.
Maybe he over thought it a bit.
Cole had nine points, shooting 4 of 8 from the field, in 31 minutes against the Magic. He was a completely different player than the fearless rookie we've come to know. I mean, there were games earlier in the season when Cole would have taken eight shots in eight minutes!
He said afterwards that he's not sure if he'll be starting against the Wizards on Friday but added, "I'll be ready if my number's called."
As for not making the cut for the Rising Stars Challenge, Cole indicated he was disappointed but added, "It's not the end of the world. My job is focus on getting better and help this team win a championship. That's the ultimate goal. It would have been nice to go but I didn't, so, hey, it will give me something to strive for next year."
Cole was up against some tough competition for an invitation to the Rising Stars Challenge. Five rookie guards were selected: Ricky Rubio, Kyrie Irving, MarShon Brooks, Kemba Walker and Brandon Knight. Heck, even the great Jimmer Fredette was passed over!
-joe
For starters...Dwight needs to shut his mouth and just play.
Couldn't watch another fatigued, entitled, unmotivated, unfocused Heat game...so I switched over to NBA TV to watch the Linning is winning show. Hard to believe this kid was passed over. I remember even posting on this blog two years ago when Lin was on the Dallas summer team. Knicks will be a tough out going forward...they play with so much heart.
Back to the Heat...I agree with the Big O.
Posted by: RP | Thursday, February 09, 2012 at 07:51 AM
sad to see the game....... we are abused on rebounding........
is there an update of PRZYBILLA.........
would he to HEAT?
JOEL ANTHONY & PITTMAN is not the answer at center....
i wonder why coach spo did not play BIG ED???
how can we know if coach spo did not giving time playing this guy..... as well as let JAMES JONES OUT IN THE DOGS HOUSE....
HE IS A 3 POINT DEFENDING CHAMPION!!!
WE NEED JONES PRESENCE.........
COACH SPO GET STUCK ON BATTIER & MILLER........ JONES IS NOT A BAD DEFENDER!!!
SO FOR ME...., TRADE THIS GUYS:
JOEL ANTHONY, MIKE MILLER + PITTMAN
FOR A DECENT CENTER & SG...
HEAT GO HARD TO *PRZYBILLA
THEN WE ARE SET TO BACK TO FINALS!!!
Posted by: rockstarjc | Thursday, February 09, 2012 at 09:25 AM
I hate when we come out with this lackluster of an attitude. Wade is the 1 that started it. Y do we always have to play so much help defense? A players man won't even be beat and everybody is cheating off there man flying over to come help instead of sticking there man which leaves the everbody now flying around on defense to chase guys off the 3 point line. There's a reason y a lot of teams attempt a lot of 3 point Ghana against us. Simple game plan to beating the magic. Let Howard get his and lock everybody else down. Guys have played with no energy lately and we need to pick it up unless we want the Thunder to have homecourt advantage in the Finals. We can't forget about the Bulls either to make it there...
Posted by: Sporty-j | Thursday, February 09, 2012 at 10:29 AM
BUMS!
Posted by: Heat1 | Thursday, February 09, 2012 at 11:20 AM
I just wanted to say that anybody calling for Wade to be traded cannot be a true Heat fan. That's all.
Carry on.
Posted by: No Loyalty | Friday, February 10, 2012 at 05:20 AM
WOW, HE GOes NOWHERE.... dumn ass... we have three all stars... they aren't the problem... need help to sure up the roster.... not far... but don't start with the wrong players...
Posted by: black the trucker | Friday, February 10, 2012 at 09:27 AM
damn, got me upset this morning... come on man....
Posted by: black the trucker | Friday, February 10, 2012 at 09:31 AM
Black, feelin' ya.
Relax, we've got the Wizards tonight. That should help right the ship, not that 10-3 in our last 13 is that skewed.
Posted by: Greg Gembe | Friday, February 10, 2012 at 10:19 AM
Hopefully get to see the next 3 Heat games. Wizards game because I live in within their 'home team' area. Hawks, nationally televised. Tuesdays's game vs Pacers will probably get picked up on NBATV fan night voting. I'm excited. Not living in the MIA area has it's drawbacks when you are a Heat fan.
What's the word on 3RIO's injury?
Posted by: Greg Gembe | Friday, February 10, 2012 at 03:42 PM
Look I'm a Heat fan since 88 and the Celtics are a older team and they are one of the top defensive team in the league, they give up only 29% from three and 89 points per game
Shooting percentage I don't know, they don't have a good or even above average center and they play great defense...so what is it???
In my humble opinion it's coaching philosophy, it's not working at this time, they playing the percentage as far as the defensive end of things. The three point play is a low percentage and I guess that's the thinking on Spoelstra defend the paint and if the hit The three they better not miss!!
Posted by: ray | Friday, February 10, 2012 at 06:33 PM