Van Gundy said he heard about the fine from his brother, Stan, the Heat coach, who called him Monday afternoon.

Stan Van Gundy, the second-year Heat coach, is apparently not a fan of motivational slogans.

"Everybody goes about their business a certain way," said Riley, the Heat coach.

Or rather, it was a picture of the championship trophy that Riley, the Heat coach, had printed on a laminated playing card.

Pat Riley, the Heat coach, had this take on the situation: "Rodman had a death grip down there under the baseline.

"Uh, let's see," Checketts said when asked if he knew who the Heat coach was.

"This series is beyond everyone's control," says the Heat coach, Pat Riley.

The Heat coach insisted Jordan was the beneficiary of love taps rather than genuine fouls before Game 3.

Before the beginning of the 2003-04 season, he did step down as Heat coach, to fully dedicate his attention to his duties as general manager.

I detected some signs of leg weariness in the fourth quarter, the Heat coach added.