Ira Winderman: Quarter century later, devastation in Charlotte again requires rebuild
CHARLOTTE, N. C. — As he exited the arena bowl into the unknown of the offseason late Tuesday night, it was as if Miami Heat president Pat Riley had been here before.
Because he had. A quarter century ago. Also in Charlotte.
As aware then, as he must be now, that change was necessary, inevitable, mandated by the moment. That was in 2001, when then, as in now, the Heat found themselves devastated at the start of the postseason by the Charlotte Hornets, Riley in the bowels of the arena those 25 years ago questioning the direction of what led to that moment and what had to come next. Then, it was as coach.
Now, it solely is as team president. Then, it was being swept out of the best-of-three first round by the Hornets, the instant death by playoff lightning at the time. Now, it was Tuesday night’s gut-wrenching overtime loss to the Hornets in a win-or-go-home play-in game.
Then he said, “We haven’t been able to handle the expectations. ” Now the reality is there aren’t even expectations, just a team that for the second consecutive year tried to advance as a No. 10 play-in seed and was slammed back to postseason reality.