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In the Miami HEAT media sessions it seems like everyone wants to talk to stars LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. Sometimes they want to talk to Mike Miller or James Jones, or some of the veteran players like Zydrunas Ilgauskas.

But while those players are great, they can’t tell the whole story. Recently Coach Erik Spoelstra made a major change, moving Mario Chalmers into the starting lineup at point guard and moving Carlos Arroyo – who had started all season long – to the second unit. The Big Three may get all the press, but the point guards are a major key to Miami’s success.

Arroyo took his demotion in stride and says his role won’t really change.

“My responsibility has always been to play hard, be a leader out there, control the tempo of the game, find guys who are open – pretty much what I’ve been doing my whole career,” said Arroyo. “I’ve done it a little bit different this year because of the players we have, so it’s hard when you have two or three All-Stars you have to provide to and to make sure they are in position to be effective.

“I’m positive. It’s Coach’s decision and I respect it. What I have to do is stay ready, keep myself in shape, get in a rhythm, and everything will in place.”

Chalmers doesn’t talk like someone who is going to give up the job.

“It was something I had as a rookie and with this team right now it’s a great opportunity,” he said.

In the case of Chalmers he may have been handed too much too early, starting alongside Wade as a rookie. He admits he took that for granted.

“Lost focus, I would say,” Chalmers said about his long time not starting. “When I got here I wanted it so bad and I worked hard for it. Then I stopped working for it. I kind of got lackadaisical and lost my position. Now it’s just working back. I got it back and I have to keep working hard.”

This time he will not take it for granted.

“Definitely, because I lost it before. I know for a fact I could lose it again. I’m trying to just go out here every day with a mind set of trying to get better and working hard.”

These two point guards – Arroyo the well-traveled veteran and Chalmers the still-learning youngster – push each other hard every day.

“We always push each other,” said Arroyo. “I always push whether it’s here or any other team I’ve been on, like the national team. We have to push each other. That’s the only way we are going to get better.”

Of course it’s impossible to talk about HEAT – or to the HEAT – without talking about their three All-Stars in Bosh, Wade, and James. Their mere presence has changed everything about the approach to this team, from the opposing coaches to the media to the fans to the league itself. These players know they are living in a fish bowl, but if you aren’t one of the stars they say it’s really not that bad.

“To be honest, at this point in the season, we really don’t think about it as much,” said Arroyo. “It’s part of what we do. Everywhere we go there is a lot of media – it’s part of the players we have. They attract a lot of media and a lot of attention; great teams bring that on themselves. I’ve been on great teams and I know this is just part of success.

“As long as we continue what we are doing on the court and stay together, we’re going to be great.”

{AUTHOR_BOX}”We have a lot of media directed to us,” said Chalmers. “A lot of media is talking to those three guys, so it’s not really a hectic thing for us. We know what’s going on, we know we have three stars on the team, leading our team, and we just try and do our part.”

Those big names help out a lot by being good teammates. They pull for their own and Chalmers especially appreciated that as he pushed back into the starting lineup.

“With those three guys always having my back, it makes you want to do good and it makes you want to be a part of this team, to give it all you’ve got.”

Both players insist the attention doesn’t help or hurt the team or their chemistry. They’d play the same way even if everyone wasn’t watching their every move.

“Not really,” said Arroyo. “I think we can all say that we respect each other enough to give 120% out there for each other. That’s what great teams do.”

“I feel I can be productive in different ways for this team and hopefully they can see that and put me in that position.

“I’m here to win. I’m a competitor and hopefully this season we can be in that position to win a championship. We have the tools, everyone is on the same page, and we all enjoy playing together. We have great chemistry. We need to build that up, keep building that chemistry towards being effective in the playoffs.”

“I just have to be ready every night – I think that’s the main thing,” said Chalmers. “I have to have the mindset that we are going to go out here and win, and I have to lead my team.”

Miami has come a long ways since the doom and gloom bestowed upon them very early in the season. Still, Arroyo says this team is still a work in progress.

“I’d say we’re still in the growing process right now,” Arroyo said. “We changed our rotations a little bit and we gave some guys who weren’t playing that much a little time on the court. Obviously with the addition of Mike Miller – he’s trying to get back to the player he is – is helping us right now. That’s big.”

And there is one thing this team really needs to do in order to fulfill their predicted destiny as a title contender.

“Keep everybody healthy,” said Chalmers. “If we do that then everybody is going to get in a rhythm so I’ll know where everyone is at on the court and what everyone likes to do.”

Health has been an issue lately with each of the big three all banged up here and there. Add in the aforementioned Miller returning from injury and the fact Udonis Haslem has missed most of the season and as Chalmers said, it could be the most important point of all.

Still, Miami is 35-14 after topping the Orlando Magic last night, so it’s hard to get too down on them. Chalmers and Arroyo understand their role and they seem to understand how rare this opportunity is. Both players are also free agents this summer and because of their strong roles on this team could be in high demand after the new collective bargaining agreement is signed. Arroyo plans on keeping his options  open, but Chalmers emphatically wants to be in Miami.

“Definitely. I love it here. It’s a great opportunity for me and I just try and make the most of it.”

Chalmers and Arroyo may be flying under the radar because of the giant shadows cast by Bosh, James, and Wade, but they are still very important to this team’s success and understand their roles.

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