1996–97 Miami Heat season

The 1996–97 NBA season was the ninth season for the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association.[1] During the offseason, the Heat signed free agents Dan Majerle and P.J. Brown. The team also signed All-Star forward Juwan Howard to a 7-year $100 million contract, but was voided by the league claiming that Miami exceeded their salary cap. Howard then quickly re-signed with the Washington Bullets.[2]

1996–97 Miami Heat season
Division champions
Head coachPat Riley
General managerRandy Pfund
PresidentPat Riley
Owner(s)Micky Arison
ArenaMiami Arena
Results
Record61–21 (.744)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Atlantic)
Conference: 2nd (Eastern)
Playoff finishConference Finals
(Lost to Bulls 1–4)
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionSunshine Network, WBFS
RadioWIOD

Tim Hardaway had a career season with the Heat as he led the team in scoring with 20.3 points per game, and was selected along with Alonzo Mourning for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game, although Mourning did not play due to a heel injury.[3] Hardaway finished fourth in MVP voting behind Karl Malone, Michael Jordan and Grant Hill. On the defensive side, Mourning and Brown provided leadership, while on the offensive side Jamal Mashburn, who was acquired from the Dallas Mavericks at midseason gave the team a spark. The club also had a group of role players led by newly acquired free agent Isaac Austin, who was honored with the NBA Most Improved Player Award.[3] The Heat won their first Division title with a record of 61 wins and 21 losses, which stood as the franchise mark until the 2012–13 season. Head coach Pat Riley was named Coach of The Year for the third time.[4]

In the first round of the playoffs, the Heat won their first ever playoff series by defeating their in-state rivals, the Orlando Magic in five games. In the semifinals, they defeated the New York Knicks in a full seven game series after trailing 3–1. However, they would lose in five games to the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Off-season

NBA draft
Main article: 1996 NBA draft

The Heat did not have any draft picks in 1996.

Roster
Roster listing
1996–97 Miami Heat roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY-MM-DD)From
SG 35 Anderson, Willie 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1967-01-08 Georgia
SF 2 Askins, Keith (C) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 197 lb (89 kg) 1967-12-15 Alabama
C 8 Austin, Isaac 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1969-08-18 Arizona State
SF 3 Bowen, Bruce 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1971-06-14 Cal State Fullerton
F/C 42 Brown, P. J. 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1969-10-14 Louisiana Tech
PG 11 Crotty, John 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1969-07-15 Virginia
C 22 Fish, Matt 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1969-11-18 UNC Wilmington
PG 23 Grant, Gary 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1965-04-21 Michigan
PG 10 Hardaway, Tim 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1966-09-01 UTEP
SG 22 Lenard, Voshon 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1973-05-14 Minnesota
G/F 9 Majerle, Dan 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1965-09-09 Central Michigan
SF 24 Mashburn, Jamal 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1972-11-29 Kentucky
C 33 Mourning, Alonzo (C) 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1970-02-08 Georgetown
PF 54 Pinckney, Ed 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1963-03-27 Villanova
PF 30 Strickland, Mark 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1970-07-14 Temple
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Roster
Last transaction: March 25, 1997

Regular season

Season standings
Atlantic Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Miami Heat 6121.744–29–1232–916–8
x-New York Knicks 5725.695431–1026–1519–6
x-Orlando Magic 4537.5491626–1519–2213–11
x-Washington Bullets 4438.5371725–1619–2214–10
New Jersey Nets 2656.3173516–2510–3111–13
Philadelphia 76ers 2260.2683911–3011–3011–14
Boston Celtics 1567.1834611–304–371–23
1996–97 NBA East standings
# Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Chicago Bulls6913.841–
2 y-Miami Heat6121.7448
3 x-New York Knicks5725.69512
4 x-Atlanta Hawks5626.68313
5 x-Detroit Pistons5428.65915
6 x-Charlotte Hornets5428.65915
7 x-Orlando Magic4537.54924
8 x-Washington Bullets4438.53725
9 Cleveland Cavaliers4240.51227
10 Indiana Pacers3943.47630
11 Milwaukee Bucks3349.40236
12 Toronto Raptors3052.36639
13 New Jersey Nets2656.31743
14 Philadelphia 76ers2260.26847
15 Boston Celtics1567.18354
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents
1996-97 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIA MIL MIN NJN NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA TOR UTA VAN WAS
Atlanta —3–11–31–33–12–01–11–32–01–13–12–01–11–24–02–03–11–33–14–01–12–02–02–01–14–01–12–02–1
Boston 1–3—0–40–41–21–11–10–41–10–21–20–21–10–41–30–20–40–40–41–31–11–10–21–10–23–10–20–20–4
Charlotte 3–14–0—0–43–11–12–02–22–02–02–21–11–11–22–22–04–03–11–24–01–10–22–02–02–02–20–22–03–1
Chicago 3–14–04–0—3–12–02–03–12–01–14–02–01–12–24–02–03–12–23–04–02–02–02–02–02–03–11–12–02–1
Cleveland 1–32–11–31–3—2–01–12–21–10–23–12–01–10–42–22–04–01–32–23–01–11–12–00–20–23–11–12–01–3
Dallas 0–21–11–10–20–2—3–10–20–40–41–12–20–40–20–21–31–11–11–12–01–31–32–21–31–30–21–33–10–2
Denver 1–11–10–20–21–11–3—0–21–31–30–21–30–40–21–10–41–10–20–21–12–20–42–22–20–41–10–43–11–1
Detroit 3–14–02–21–32–22–02–0—2–01–13–12–01–10–43–12–04–01–22–22–10–21–11–12–01–13–11–12–04–0
Golden State 0–21–10–20–21–14–03–10–2—0–41–11–30–40–21–11–32–00–21–12–00–42–21–34–00–42–00–43–10–2
Houston 1–12–00–21–12–04–03–11–14–0—1–13–13–10–21–14–02–01–10–22–02–22–24–03–13–11–12–23–12–0
Indiana 1–32–12–20–41–31–12–01–31–11–1—2–01–11–32–22–02–21–31–33–01–11–11–11–11–14–00–22–01–3
L.A. Clippers 0–22–01–10–20–22–23–10–23–11–30–2—2–20–22–01–31–10–21–11–12–20–42–24–01–32–01–34–00–2
L.A. Lakers 1–11–11–11–11–14–04–01–14–01–31–12–2—1–12–03–12–01–11–12–04–01–34–02–23–11–11–34–02–0
Miami 2–14–02–12–24–02–02–04–02–02–03–12–01–1—4–01–13–11–32–23–12–01–12–02–00–23–10–22–03–1
Milwaukee 0–43–12–20–42–22–01–11–31–11–12–20–20–20–4—0–22–11–22–23–11–10–20–21–11–13–11–12–01–3
Minnesota 0–22–00–20–20–23–14–00–23–10–40–23–11–31–12–0—2–01–11–11–13–12–20–44–00–41–11–34–01–1
New Jersey 1–34–00–41–30–41–11–10–40–20–22–21–10–21–31–20–2—2–21–32–21–10–21–12–01–10–30–22–01–3
New York 3–14–01–32–23–11–12–02–12–01–13–12–01–13–12–11–12–2—3–13–21–11–12–02–00–23–01–12–04–0
Orlando 1–34–02–10–32–21–12–02–21–12–03–11–11–12–22–21–13–11–3—2–21–12–01–11–11–14–00–21–11–3
Philadelphia 0–43–10–40–40–30–21–11–20–20–20–31–10–21–31–31–12–22–32–2—1–11–10–21–10–21–30–22–01–3
Phoenix 1–11–11–10–21–13–12–22–04–02–21–12–20–40–21–11–31–11–11–11–1—1–34–03–12–20–21–32–21–1
Portland 0–21–12–00–21–13–14–01–12–22–21–14–03–11–12–02–22–01–10–21–13–1—2–24–01–30–22–24–00–2
Sacramento 0–22–00–20–20–22–22–21–13–10–41–12–20–40–22–04–01–10–21–12–00–42–2—3–11–31–10–44–00–2
San Antonio 0–21–10–20–22–03–12–20–20–41–31–10–42–20–21–10–40–20–21–11–11–30–41–3—0–41–11–31–30–2
Seattle 1–12–00–20–22–03–14–01–14–01–31–13–11–32–01–14–01–12–01–12–02–23–13–14–0—2–01–34–02–0
Toronto 0–41–32–21–31–32–01–11–30–21–10–40–21–11–31–31–13–00–30–43–12–02–01–11–10–2—1–11–12–2
Utah 1–12–02–01–11–13–14–01–14–02–22–03–13–12–01–13–12–01–12–02–03–12–24–03–13–11–1—4–02–0
Vancouver 0–22–00–20–20–21–31–30–21–31–30–20–40–40–20–20–40–20–21–10–22–20–40–43–10–41–10–4—1–1
Washington 1–24–01–31–23–12–01–10–42–00–23–12–00–21–33–11–13–10–43–13–11–12–02–02–00–22–20–21–1—

Schedule
GameDateOpponentResultHeat pointsOpponentsRecordStreakNotes
1

Playoffs

In the first round of the playoffs, the Heat confronted their in-state rivals, the Orlando Magic. The Heat won the first two games. In Orlando, the Magic defeated the Heat to force a fifth game. The Heat won the decisive Game 5 at home, 91–83. Winning their first ever playoff series.[3] In the following round, the Heat were matched up against Pat Riley's former team, the New York Knicks. After the first four games, the Knicks had a 3–1 series lead. The Heat won Game 5 although the game was remembered for P. J. Brown fighting with Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward.[3] Some Knicks players came off the bench and earned automatic suspensions, and Brown was suspended for the rest of the series. The Heat players stayed on the bench and gained an advantage for the rest of the series. The Heat eliminated the undermanned Knicks in seven games and one of the most heated rivalries in the NBA was born.[3] In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Heat were defeated by the eventual NBA champion Chicago Bulls in five games.

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals

(2) Miami Heat vs. (7) Orlando Magic – Last Playoff meeting: Not available (first playoff series)

Game Date Home Score Visitor Score Record

(MIA–ORL)

 Venue Recap Television
1 April 24 Miami 99 Orlando 64 1–0 Miami Arena, Miami 1 TNT
2 April 27 Miami 104 Orlando 87 2–0 Miami Arena, Miami, Florida 2 NBC
3 April 29 Orlando 88 Miami 75 2–1 Orlando Arena, Orlando, Florida 3 TBS
4 May 1 Orlando 99 Miami 91 2–2 Orlando Arena, Orlando, Florida 4 TNT
5 May 4 Miami 91 Orlando 83 3–2 Miami Arena, Miami, Florida 5 NBC
Miami wins series 3–2

Eastern Conference Semifinals

(2) Miami Heat vs. (3) New York Knicks – Last Playoff meeting: Not available (first playoff series)

Game Date Home Score Visitor Score Record

(MIA–NYK)

 Venue Recap Television
1 May 7 Miami 79 New York 88 0-1 Miami Arena, Miami, Florida 1 TNT
2 May 9 Miami 88 New York 84 1-1 Miami Arena, Miami, Florida 2 TNT
3 May 11 New York 77 Miami 73 1-2 Madison Square Garden, New York City 3 NBC
4 May 12 New York 89 Miami 76 1-3 Madison Square Garden, New York 4 TNT
5 May 14 Miami 96 New York 81 2-3 Miami Arena, Miami, Florida 5 TNT
6 May 16 New York 90 Miami 95 3-3 Madison Square Garden, New York 6 TNT
7 May 18 Miami 101 New York 90 4-3 Miami Arena, Miami, Florida 7 NBC
Miami wins series 4–3

Eastern Conference Finals

(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (2) Miami Heat – Last Playoff meeting: 1996 Eastern Conference First Round (Chicago won 3–0)

Game Date Home Score Visitor Score Record

(CHI–MIA)

 Venue Recap Television
1 May 20 Chicago 84 Miami 77 1–0 United Center, Chicago, Illinois 1 TNT
2 May 22 Chicago 75 Miami 68 2–0 United Center, Chicago, Illinois 2 TNT
3 May 24 Miami 74 Chicago 98 3–0 Miami Arena, Miami 3 NBC
4 May 26 Miami 87 Chicago 80 3–1 Miami Arena, Miami, Florida 4 NBC
5 May 28 Chicago 100 Miami 87 4–1 United Center, Chicago, Illinois 5 NBC
Chicago wins series 4–1

Player statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Awards

References
  1. 1996-97 Miami Heat
  2. "An Angry Pat Riley Insists the Heat Broke No Salary Cap Rules". New York Times. August 13, 1996. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  3. Miami Heat (1988-Present)
  4. "Riley Coach of Year for the Third Time". Los Angeles Times. May 9, 1997. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
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