Mourning Tears up Knee

Unfortunately, the Miami Heat's dismal season has just gotten worse. During the first quarter of tonight's game vs the Hawks (now trailing by 4 at halftime), Mourning injured his right knee, tearing the patella tendon. The injury is said to possibly take 3 months to recover from, but thats probably an optimistic estimate considering Alonzo's age and kidney condition.

Basically his season is done barring some insane comeback by the Heat where they can sneak into the playoffs. It's a sad situation because Mourning has given his body and soul to this franchise and this sport. Honestly I wish he had retired after the Finals victory, it was the perfect way to go out for him. Aside from the Jeff Van Gundy fight, my lasting memory of Zo, if this is really it for him, will be his performance in Game 6 of those Finals. He played like a man possessed and had a series of defensive possessions that took our team to another level emotionally.

This leaves the Heat without a true backup center and forces us to play training camp fodder there unless Riley decides to rotate Blount and Haslem at the position behind Shaq. It kills our interior defense, something our team wasn't exactly excelling at before his injury. It probably increases the chances that this team will not make the playoffs and instead will be vying for a lottery spot, which honestly is probably what is best for the franchise. A talent like Michael Beasley or Roy Hibbert would be valuable in the future success of the Heat, as well as another reason for Wade to stick around after his contract is up.