1996–97 Miami Heat season

1996–97 Miami Heat season
Division Champions
Head coach	Pat Riley
Arena	Miami Arena
Results
Record	61–21 (.744)
Place	Division: 1st (Atlantic) Conference: 2nd (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Conference Finals (Eliminated 1–4)
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	Sunshine Network, WBFS
Radio	WIOD

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]

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 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

The Heat did not have any draft picks in 1996.

Roster

Miami Heat roster

Players

Coaches

Pos.	No.	Name	Height	Weight	DOB (YYYY-MM-DD)
3.0 !SF	35	USA !	Anderson, Willie	7000200659999999999♠6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	Georgia
3.0 !SF	2	USA !	Askins, Keith	7000200659999999999♠6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	197 lb (89 kg)	Alabama
6.0 !C	8	USA !	Austin, Isaac	7000208279999999999♠6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)	255 lb (116 kg)	Arizona State
3.0 !SF	3	USA !	Bowen, Bruce	7000200659999999999♠6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	Cal State Fullerton
4.5 !PF	42	USA !	Brown, P. J.	7000210820000000000♠6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)	225 lb (102 kg)	Louisiana Tech
1.0 !PG	11	USA !	Crotty, John	7000185420000000000♠6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	Virginia
6.0 !C	22	USA !	Fish, Matt	7000210820000000000♠6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)	235 lb (107 kg)	University of North Carolina at Wilmington
1.0 !PG	23	USA !	Grant, Gary	7000190500000000000♠6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	Michigan
1.0 !PG	10	USA !	Hardaway, Tim	7000182880000000000♠6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	Texas–El Paso
2.0 !SG	21	USA !	Lenard, Voshon	7000193040000000000♠6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	Minnesota
2.0 !SG	9	USA !	Majerle, Dan	7000198120000000000♠6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	Central Michigan
3.0 !SF	24	USA !	Mashburn, Jamal	7000203200000000000♠6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)	240 lb (109 kg)	Kentucky
6.0 !C	33	USA !	Mourning, Alonzo	7000208279999999999♠6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)	240 lb (109 kg)	Georgetown
4.5 !PF	54	USA !	Pinckney, Ed	7000205740000000000♠6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	Villanova
4.5 !PF	30	USA !	Strickland, Mark	7000205740000000000♠6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	Temple

Head coach

Pat Riley (Kentucky)

Assistant coach(es)

Legend

(C) Team captain
(DP) Unsigned draft pick
(FA) Free agent
(S) Suspended
Injured

Roster • Transactions

Depth chart

Pos.	Starting 5	Bench 1	Reserve	Inactive
C	Alonzo Mourning	Isaac Austin		Matt Fish
PF	P.J. Brown		Ed Pinckney Mark Strickland
SF	Jamal Mashburn	Keith Askins	Willie Anderson	Bruce Bowen
SG	Voshon Lenard	Dan Majerle
PG	Tim Hardaway	John Crotty		Gary Grant

Regular season

Season standings

Atlantic Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Miami Heat	61	21	.744	–	29–12	32–9	16–8
x-New York Knicks	57	25	.695	4	31–10	26–15	19–6
x-Orlando Magic	45	37	.549	16	26–15	19–22	13–11
x-Washington Bullets	44	38	.537	17	25–16	19–22	14–10
New Jersey Nets	26	56	.317	35	16–25	10–31	11–13
Philadelphia 76ers	22	60	.268	39	11–30	11–30	11–14
Boston Celtics	15	67	.183	46	11–30	4–37	1–23

#	Eastern Conference
#	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-Chicago Bulls	69	13	.841	–
2	y-Miami Heat	61	21	.744	8
3	x-New York Knicks	57	25	.695	12
4	x-Atlanta Hawks	56	26	.683	13
5	x-Detroit Pistons	54	28	.659	15
6	x-Charlotte Hornets	54	28	.659	15
7	x-Orlando Magic	45	37	.549	24
8	x-Washington Bullets	44	38	.537	25

9	Cleveland Cavaliers	42	40	.512	27
10	Indiana Pacers	39	43	.476	30
11	Milwaukee Bucks	33	49	.402	36
12	Toronto Raptors	30	52	.366	39
13	New Jersey Nets	26	56	.317	43
14	Philadelphia 76ers	22	60	.268	47
15	Boston Celtics	15	67	.183	54

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	—	3–1	1–3	1–3	3–1	2–0	1–1	1–3	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	1–2	4–0	2–0	3–1	1–3	3–1	4–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	4–0	1–1	2–0	2–1
Boston	1–3	—	0–4	0–4	1–2	1–1	1–1	0–4	1–1	0–2	1–2	0–2	1–1	0–4	1–3	0–2	0–4	0–4	0–4	1–3	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	3–1	0–2	0–2	0–4
Charlotte	3–1	4–0	—	0–4	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	2–0	2–0	2–2	1–1	1–1	1–2	2–2	2–0	4–0	3–1	1–2	4–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–2	0–2	2–0	3–1
Chicago	3–1	4–0	4–0	—	3–1	2–0	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	4–0	2–0	1–1	2–2	4–0	2–0	3–1	2–2	3–0	4–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–1
Cleveland	1–3	2–1	1–3	1–3	—	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–1	0–2	3–1	2–0	1–1	0–4	2–2	2–0	4–0	1–3	2–2	3–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	3–1	1–1	2–0	1–3
Dallas	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	—	3–1	0–2	0–4	0–4	1–1	2–2	0–4	0–2	0–2	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–3	1–3	2–2	1–3	1–3	0–2	1–3	3–1	0–2
Denver	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–3	—	0–2	1–3	1–3	0–2	1–3	0–4	0–2	1–1	0–4	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–2	0–4	2–2	2–2	0–4	1–1	0–4	3–1	1–1
Detroit	3–1	4–0	2–2	1–3	2–2	2–0	2–0	—	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	0–4	3–1	2–0	4–0	1–2	2–2	2–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	1–1	2–0	4–0
Golden State	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	4–0	3–1	0–2	—	0–4	1–1	1–3	0–4	0–2	1–1	1–3	2–0	0–2	1–1	2–0	0–4	2–2	1–3	4–0	0–4	2–0	0–4	3–1	0–2
Houston	1–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	2–0	4–0	3–1	1–1	4–0	—	1–1	3–1	3–1	0–2	1–1	4–0	2–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–2	2–2	4–0	3–1	3–1	1–1	2–2	3–1	2–0
Indiana	1–3	2–1	2–2	0–4	1–3	1–1	2–0	1–3	1–1	1–1	—	2–0	1–1	1–3	2–2	2–0	2–2	1–3	1–3	3–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	0–2	2–0	1–3
L.A. Clippers	0–2	2–0	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–2	3–1	0–2	3–1	1–3	0–2	—	2–2	0–2	2–0	1–3	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–2	0–4	2–2	4–0	1–3	2–0	1–3	4–0	0–2
L.A. Lakers	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	4–0	1–1	4–0	1–3	1–1	2–2	—	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	4–0	1–3	4–0	2–2	3–1	1–1	1–3	4–0	2–0
Miami	2–1	4–0	2–1	2–2	4–0	2–0	2–0	4–0	2–0	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	—	4–0	1–1	3–1	1–3	2–2	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	0–2	3–1	0–2	2–0	3–1
Milwaukee	0–4	3–1	2–2	0–4	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	2–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	—	0–2	2–1	1–2	2–2	3–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	3–1	1–1	2–0	1–3
Minnesota	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	0–2	3–1	4–0	0–2	3–1	0–4	0–2	3–1	1–3	1–1	2–0	—	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–2	0–4	4–0	0–4	1–1	1–3	4–0	1–1
New Jersey	1–3	4–0	0–4	1–3	0–4	1–1	1–1	0–4	0–2	0–2	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	1–2	0–2	—	2–2	1–3	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–3	0–2	2–0	1–3
New York	3–1	4–0	1–3	2–2	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–1	1–1	2–2	—	3–1	3–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	0–2	3–0	1–1	2–0	4–0
Orlando	1–3	4–0	2–1	0–3	2–2	1–1	2–0	2–2	1–1	2–0	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–2	1–1	3–1	1–3	—	2–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	0–2	1–1	1–3
Philadelphia	0–4	3–1	0–4	0–4	0–3	0–2	1–1	1–2	0–2	0–2	0–3	1–1	0–2	1–3	1–3	1–1	2–2	2–3	2–2	—	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	0–2	2–0	1–3
Phoenix	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–1	2–2	2–0	4–0	2–2	1–1	2–2	0–4	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	—	1–3	4–0	3–1	2–2	0–2	1–3	2–2	1–1
Portland	0–2	1–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	3–1	4–0	1–1	2–2	2–2	1–1	4–0	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–1	—	2–2	4–0	1–3	0–2	2–2	4–0	0–2
Sacramento	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–2	2–2	1–1	3–1	0–4	1–1	2–2	0–4	0–2	2–0	4–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	0–4	2–2	—	3–1	1–3	1–1	0–4	4–0	0–2
San Antonio	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–0	3–1	2–2	0–2	0–4	1–3	1–1	0–4	2–2	0–2	1–1	0–4	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–3	0–4	1–3	—	0–4	1–1	1–3	1–3	0–2
Seattle	1–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	2–0	3–1	4–0	1–1	4–0	1–3	1–1	3–1	1–3	2–0	1–1	4–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–2	3–1	3–1	4–0	—	2–0	1–3	4–0	2–0
Toronto	0–4	1–3	2–2	1–3	1–3	2–0	1–1	1–3	0–2	1–1	0–4	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–3	1–1	3–0	0–3	0–4	3–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	0–2	—	1–1	1–1	2–2
Utah	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	3–1	4–0	1–1	4–0	2–2	2–0	3–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	3–1	2–2	4–0	3–1	3–1	1–1	—	4–0	2–0
Vancouver	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–3	1–3	0–2	1–3	1–3	0–2	0–4	0–4	0–2	0–2	0–4	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–2	0–4	0–4	3–1	0–4	1–1	0–4	—	1–1
Washington	1–2	4–0	1–3	1–2	3–1	2–0	1–1	0–4	2–0	0–2	3–1	2–0	0–2	1–3	3–1	1–1	3–1	0–4	3–1	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	0–2	2–2	0–2	1–1	—

Schedule

Game	Date	Opponent	Result	Heat points	Opponents	Record	Streak	Notes
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 vanquished by the eventual world 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
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

Tim Hardaway, All NBA First Team
P. J. Brown, All NBA Defensive Second Team
Pat Riley, Coach of the Year
Isaac Austin, NBA Most Improved Player Award

References

↑ 1996-97 Miami Heat
↑ "An Angry Pat Riley Insists the Heat Broke No Salary Cap Rules". New York Times. August 13, 1996. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
1 2 3 4 5 Miami Heat (1988-Present)
↑ "Riley Coach of Year for the Third Time". Los Angeles Times. May 9, 1997. Retrieved July 24, 2017.

External links

1996–97 NBA season by team

Eastern

Atlantic	Boston Miami New Jersey New York Orlando Philadelphia Washington
Central	Atlanta Charlotte Chicago Cleveland Detroit Indiana Milwaukee Toronto

Western

Midwest	Dallas Denver Houston Minnesota San Antonio Utah Vancouver
Pacific	Golden State L.A. Clippers L.A. Lakers Phoenix Portland Sacramento Seattle

1980s

1990s

2000s

2005–06

2010s

2011–12

2012–13

Bold indicates NBA Finals victory

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