A couple of weeks ago I watched highlights of Reggie Miller's iconic 25-point 4th quarter against Pat Riley's "Knicks" in 1994. Although I had come to see Reggie I was "starkly" (pun intended) reminded of Riley's roster. Patrick Ewing, Anthony Mason, Charles Oakley, John Starks--one Hall of Famer and 11 mudders. It explained why Riley never won a championship in MSG and why Riley's recent "Heat" teams have been discounted, this year's edition relegated by CBS to third tier "In the mix" to win the East. Famously, Riley once said, "Hard work guarantees you nothing, but without it you have no chance." Elite talent gets you much closer but, as CBS explained, the "Heat" don't have it. Riley bumped up against his teams' talent ceiling every year in New York, losing the East twice to Michael Jordan and Chicago then, when Michael retired the next season, losing game seven of the Finals to Houston (with Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler)--when mudder John Starks shot 2/18. Thus Riley has experienced the bitter taste of trying to win with a talent-challenged roster, and the sweet taste of champagne (five times as coach) when he had elite talent: Kareem, Magic and James in L.A., D-Wade and Shaq in Miami. Yet it is the team of mudders, of discovered, previously-hidden gems, for which Riley and disciple Erik Spoelstra openly express greater appreciation. Thus the 2021/22 "Heat" have a starting lineup of two aged, oft-lamed, once all-star caliber players, one aged but game mudder, one young all-star type and one John Starks. God did not intend a championship there.