The bench was starting to get to him. Heat forward Dorell Wright was confident he'd get another shot at the starting job. He just didn't know where, when or how.
Opportunity knocked again during the Heat's six-game Western Conference trip. Wright, who turned 22 last Sunday, made his fourth consecutive start Monday night against the Suns.
This time, he insists he won't let the job slip away. Wright started the season's first four games but struggled and was replaced by Ricky Davis. Penny Hardaway then took over until Wright reemerged last Thursday.
Coach Pat Riley eventually reached a compromise by starting Wright for defensive purposes and going with Davis as the second-half starter.
''Sitting is the worst feeling in the world. I know why it happened. I had my role confused a little bit. Coach did a good job of making me hungry again,'' Wright said Monday.
Wright has averaged 10.3 points and 7.3 rebounds in three starts leading into Monday. Riley said he has seen improvement in Wright's maturity -- current Mohawk haircut not withstanding.
CREDIT MOURNING
Reserve center Alonzo Mourning actually accomplished more than he initially was given credit for in Sunday's 100-94 win against the Clippers.
The NBA on Monday corrected the game's box score and awarded two points to Mourning that were incorrectly credited to Dwyane Wade. The discrepancy stems from two free throws Mourning made in the second half. Wade finished with 33 points instead of 35, and Mourning had eight.
PARKER UPDATE
Riley said Monday he has received daily reports on Smush Parker's workouts in Miami and that a decision would be made on the guard's future when the team returns from the trip. Parker has not been with the team since his Nov. 27 altercation with a Miami valet parking attendant.
kaynak : NBA
