Parker struggling to fit in with Heat
Moments after he finished interviews with reporters Tuesday, Heat guard Smush Parker walked back to the security door that leads to the team locker room.
It was locked. He didn't have an access card and, he said, his fingerprint wasn't on file yet in the arena's sophisticated system.
Simply put: Smush Parker was on the outside looking in.
''I hope they're not trying to tell me something,'' Smush Parker joked. ``I don't know if that's a bad sign or what.''
The situation might best describe Smush Parker's status at this point in the season. Smush Parker, a former Los Angeles Lakers point guard who was the Heat's biggest free agent acquisition, enters his fourth game of the season still uncertain of his role with Miami.
He has not played in the past two games. And he is not guaranteed to be in the rotation Wednesday night, when the Heat (0-3) visits the defending champion Spurs.
The Heat faces a difficult stretch as it tries to overcome a slow start without leading scorer Dwyane Wade, who traveled with the team but is not expected to play as he continues his recovery from knee and shoulder surgeries. His absence has left a huge void in the backcourt.
When Smush Parker signed his two-year deal in July, there was talk he would push incumbent Jason Williams for the starting job. But four games into the season, Smush Parker has yet to supplant undrafted second-year guard Chris Quinn as the top backup.
A TOUGH FIT
Heat coach Pat Riley said Tuesday that Smush Parker still has yet to factor into the mix at point guard and is better suited as a reserve shooting guard -- where minutes also are tough to come by behind Ricky Davis and rookie Daequan Cook.
''No, he hasn't [shown enough],'' Riley said when asked why Smush Parker has remained on the bench the past two games. ``That's the reason. He'll get his chance. He's more of a scoring point [guard]. I really don't need that right now. What I want is somebody who'll get us organized.''
That, apparently, has been Quinn.
Smush Parker said he met with Riley on Tuesday to clear up issues regarding his role. Riley's assessment was blunt.
''He said he didn't like the way I was running the point, running the offense,'' Smush Parker said. ``I'm a point guard at heart, but he's playing me at [shooting guard]. I just have to reboot my system.''
SHAQ IN FOUL MOOD
Whereas Smush Parker is having a tough time getting on the court, center Shaquille O'Neal is struggling to stay on it. O'Neal's constant foul trouble has forced him to the bench for extended stretches all three games this season.
O'Neal failed to score in double figures in the first two games of the season -- only the second time that has happened in his career. He was more productive in Sunday's 90-88 loss to the Charlotte Bobcats, scoring 17 points on 8-of-11 shooting.
He has had at least five fouls in all three games, and he fouled out of last week's 87-85 loss at Indiana. Riley said the Heat's struggles this season rest largely on O'Neal's inability to stay on the court in key moments.
''He's got to stay on the court,'' Riley said. ``He's averaging five and a half fouls per game. He's forever always on the bench at some time when we need him on the court. I'm going to probably get to the point where, when he gets [into foul trouble], I'm going to [continue] to play him.''
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