Payton’s Suspension Depletes Heat’s Point Guard
By Michael Williams (3/5/2007)
On February 5, 2007, Gary Payton was suspended for one game without pay for talking back to an official who ejected him during the game with Milwaukee Bucks. The ejection happened on Saturday, February 3, 2007
Two days later, Payton served the suspension against Charlotte Bobcats in a game hosted by Miami.
The Heat’s interim coach Ron Rothstein said he was expecting the suspension as the Heat had received a call to that regard.
This season, Payton is averaging 5.6 points and 2.9 assists. Both are his career’s lowest. Payton has been playing for 16 years and in the game against Milwaukee Bucks, Payton started in the place of Jason Williams, who was injured. Payton was ejected from the game by Mark Davis when he started arguing a call just before half time. Even without Payton, the Heats managed to win the game 117-98.
Already Heat’s point guard has taken severe beating because of so many injuries and the suspension does not help them. Williams has strained his abdominal muscles and has missed the last three game. This gave an opportunity to rookie Chris Quinn to start for the first time. By using Quinn to start, the Heat’s could free Dwyane Wade to take over as point guard.
Ron Rothstein is very happy at the moment with Quinn and he has a lot of confidence in him. He feels that Quinn knows how to play the game besides being a good mover of the ball. Rothstein is of the opinion that Quinn is one of the best movers of the ball in the team and he is also very sure when he would be using Williams. According to him, Williams would be used just in emergencies.
Miami Heat fans can now wait and hope that the team can get its act together and tide over all the injuries and suspensions. |