The Truth Posted March 21, 2011 Report Share Posted March 21, 2011 Mario Chalmers attended the Miami Heat's annual Family Festival on Sunday afternoon. And while he wasn't doing the Electric Slide with Pat Riley or his teammates on stage, he was walking and smiling. The right knee injury that he suffered Saturday night - and which left him "frightened" and caused him to be carried off - will keep him out only about two weeks. "I was just hoping it wasn't too serious," Chalmers said. Or, as Riley said, "We don't need that right now." An MRI showed no significant damage. Chalmers was able to move around Sunday without a brace or crutches. "The main thing right now is just try to get 100 percent before the playoffs," Chalmers said. Those are four weeks away. In the interim, the Heat will start Mike Bibby, with James Jones and Eddie House getting more time off the bench. "And we have two primary ball-handlers with Dwyane (Wade) and LeBron (James), so they can handle it," Riley said. The Heat is already without Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Udonis Haslem and rookie Dexter Pittman. Ilgauskas, recovering from a foot infection, did not attend the Family Festival. Haslem (foot surgery) is practicing, but still at least two weeks away from playing. Chalmers' prognosis was just one reason that Riley was in a good mood Sunday. The Heat raised nearly $450,000 on tickets for the Family Festival, with the proceeds going to the team's favored charities. "Today has always been sort of the DMZ day," Riley said of the event. "We try to bring everything down now, as we head toward the playoffs, and try to get them replenished mentally." Riley hasn't done much scouting this season, but saw 10 collegiate games in two days with Chet Kammerer, the Heat's VP of player personnel. "We do feel our (second round) pick, No. 31, 32, wherever it might be, will be a pretty good pick," Riley said of the selection he acquired for Michael Beasley. Wade had joked on Friday night, as a television camera caught Riley in the stands in Charlotte, that the team president must be scouting second-rounders, since the Heat doesn't have many first-round picks left over the next few years. "Very nice," Riley said, laughing. "That's right. Well, when they come to me, they say, 'OK, coach, we need some help.' I say, 'No, you don't. We gave away all that help away to be able to get you here. But we are going to try to accumulate assets over the next few years. Next year, we'll have our first I think anybody that we do draft, and you put them in the environment with Dwyane, and you put them in the environment with Chris and LeBron, they will raise their level of play." Riley spoke of the scrutiny that has faced the team. "I think it is subsiding now," Riley said. "The reality has come, and all the stories have been written from that standpoint. I don't look at it that way, and I don't follow the circus. I do think it has had somewhat of an effect on everybody, because it is a story that is fatiguing, and some of the things that have been written have been derogatory and you have to deal with it every day. I would just like to have the team be able to play a game in normal circumstances, and normal press coverage, but this has been a little bit over the top. And now we have to replenish the troops and get them ready for the playoffs, and forget about all the prognostication."http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/heat/heat-point-guard-mario-chalmers-to-miss-two-1336045.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash Posted March 21, 2011 Report Share Posted March 21, 2011 Thankfully its not that significant and he'll be ready for the playoffs. He's been great as of late. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Truth Posted March 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2011 Thankfully its not that significant and he'll be ready for the playoffs. He's been great as of late.have you perused our remaining schedule recently? it actually looks extremely manageable. we have 12 games left and I think we can win at least 8 even without Chalmers and Haslem. it might serve us best to rest those guys until the start of the playoffs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash Posted March 21, 2011 Report Share Posted March 21, 2011 have you perused our remaining schedule recently? it actually looks extremely manageable. we have 12 games left and I think we can win at least 8 even without Chalmers and Haslem. it might serve us best to rest those guys until the start of the playoffs. I'd like Udonis to have a few games under his belt before he starts up in the playoffs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clutch Posted March 21, 2011 Report Share Posted March 21, 2011 this might be a blessin in disguise, bibby has been playin decent too (even defensively which is a shocker...well ok mostly in the passing lanes but its still something) we might see that mike miller-wade-bron-bosh-center lineup now at some more stretches, hopefully MM steps up. dude is doing everything all the dirty work and rebounding and what not for us except he gotta start scoring more consistently - hopefully some more shot attempts now, he has been more aggressive lately though so thats a great sign Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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