Fezlington
Years ago
Walker,Posey Deactivated Over Conditioning Issue
With Wade & Shaq out, Riley must be nuts to leave these 2 out as well...lol
MIAMI, Jan. 3 (AP) -- Heat forwards Antoine Walker and James Posey were deactivated for the team's game Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Clippers because they didn't meet a team conditioning goal.
Heat coach Pat Riley, who also announced Wednesday that he was taking a medical leave of absence, said Walker and Posey may be back as soon as Friday in Phoenix - but could face suspension by Jan. 15 if the undisclosed goal is not met.
"There's been an ongoing conditioning goal that our team has had to make since the summer. ... January was the deadline, they haven't made it, and they knew this was going to happen if they didn't make it,' Riley said. "By the way, both of them are in the best condition of their lives. They're very close. But a deadline is a deadline.'
Neither Walker nor Posey were available Wednesday afternoon. The team did not hold its customary game-day shootaround practice, and it was unclear when the players were told they wouldn't play against the Clippers.
With center Shaquille O'Neal (knee surgery), forward Wayne Simien (recovering from salmonella poisoning) and guard Dwyane Wade (sprained wrist) all expected to miss Wednesday's game with injuries, the absence of Walker and Posey means the Heat will dress only 10 players against the Clippers.
Posey is averaging 7.3 points and 4.6 rebounds this season, while Walker is averaging 7.9 points and 4.1 rebounds on 40 percent shooting
