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HEAT centers Erick Dampier and Zydrunas Ilgauskas were each selected in the 1996 NBA Draft, which is a roundabout way of saying that Miami is really, really old at the position.

Both 35 year olds are big (Ilgauskas stands 7-3 while Dampier measures 6-11), so it goes without saying that their legs have a lot of hard miles on them. That’s why HEAT coach Erik Spoelstra has limited the pair to about 16 minutes per game apiece this season. Any more and Miami could be without them for the playoffs; any less, and the two wouldn’t be properly conditioned.  

But with the postseason right around the corner, Spoelstra seems ready to kick the tires and Dampier says he is up to the challenge. In fact, the former Mississippi State big man doesn’t think this is his last postseason.

“Who knows what’s in store for next season,” Dampier told HOOPSWORLD. “I think I can play another two or three years if I wanted to. It’s not like I’m playing a lot of minutes at this point, especially when we’ve got four centers, so we’re sharing the minutes. Go out there and play 12 minutes a game. That’s what I’ve been playing, I’m sure it will pick up a little bit more when the playoffs start. I definitely think I have some more left in the tank. It just depends on whether I want to play or not.”

After receiving interest from contenders such as the Lakers, Dampier signed with the HEAT in November and has spent the year gradually building toward the playoffs. His numbers haven’t been what he’s accustomed to, but Dampier was tested against the Nets on Sunday and responded with 10 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks in 28 minutes of action.

When HOOPSWORLD asked how much Dampier could play down the stretch, Spoelstra said “probably about what you saw tonight. Maybe a little bit less—a night-to-night basis.

“Damp still has some gas in the tank,” Spoelstra continued. “As the season is closing down, he’s starting to play his better basketball.”

HEAT captain Dwyane Wade agrees with Spoelstra’s assessment, but added his own caveat.

“It’s like when you have a car and it has a reserve tank at the end,” Wade said after beating the Nets in Newark on Sunday. “He’s in the reserve tank, but it’s all good. You know you’re gonna get home.

“It was a great contribution,” Wade continued. “He rebounded the ball. He did a good job of setting screens and rolling to the basket, putting the pressure on the opposing teams.”

One of the major issues for the HEAT heading into the playoffs is going to be who gets the bulk of the minutes at center. Obviously Ilgauskas and Dampier have the experience—as does Jamaal Magloire—but Joel Anthony has averaged 19.1 MPG this year, and will definitely factor into the playoff rotation. Spoelstra’s projected postseason lineup is still a bit of a mystery to the players, who largely haven’t been healthy enough for their coach to set anything in stone.

“We’re having guys get in and out of the lineup,” Wade said. “We’ll see how coach works it. We had a rotation going for a while, but a lot of it is situational with us. It’s how the game is going. It’s how guys are playing. It’s good that we can go to other guys.”

While the HEAT centers didn’t threaten to make this year’s All-Star Game, Dampier feels the platoon could be serviceable in the playoffs, even against an All-NBA center like Orlando’s Dwight Howard.

“We’ve proven we can beat those guys,” Dampier said. “Like I said, we have four guys at the center position that we can use just to give them different looks. I don’t think any one else in the league has that many centers they can play. Hey, whoever we’re matched up with down the road, I think we’re looking forward to it.”

Miami currently has a -3.2 Player Efficiency Rating differential at the center position, according to 82games.com, which means Ilgauskas, Anthony and Dampier have been slightly outplayed by their opponents. Of course, since none of the three are really expected to score much, that particular statistic may not be the best way to measure their collective performance. Instead, the HEAT centers have been asked to set picks, grab rebounds, and clear the paint when Wade, LeBron James or Chris Bosh want to drive to the hole.

And even though he’s been a pivotal player on an NBA Western Conference Champion team, Dampier has no complaints with the reduced role.

“Very happy with it,” he said about choosing the HEAT over the Lakers. “I just waited for the last minute. It gives teams an opportunity to see what they’re going to have at that center position. When I came to the team they were 9-8. We’ve turned a lot of things around since then. So, hey, I’m just happy to be a part of it and hopefully there’s going to be something big waiting for us down the road.”

“This is an opportunity of a lifetime,” he continued. “We have three of the best guys at their positions. We have an opportunity to do something special. That’s just how I see it. I’ve been to the Finals with one team. I left empty handed. This is a chance to get back there and come away with a ring.”

So You Still Want to be a Coach?

Charles Oakley is in pain. The Bobcats assistant hasn’t seen a basketball court since aggravating a sciatic nerve issue in a team practice last month, writes Mike Cranston of the Associated Press.

In fact, this has been a recent trend among NBA assistants and head coaches. Orlando assistant Patrick Ewing broke his foot and Blazers coach Nate McMillan missed games last season after rupturing his Achilles’ tendon. Even Bobcats owner Michael Jordan can be seen icing his knees after practicing with his players, Cranston goes on to write.

Nets coach Avery Johnson was asked if he ever steps on the floor with his players, but he told a group of reporters that those days are over. He mentioned that assistant Doug Overton isn’t above throwing on some gym shorts and playing, but that’s the extent of it.

Some coaches like Celtics assistant Roy Rodgers are required to be on the floor, which is why he can be seen defending Boston’s big men before games. However the vast majority of coaches are putting their health at risk by trying to hang with today’s players. Maybe the NBA should follow the NFL’s lead and allow teams to hire a practice squad—sort of a franchise’s very own version of the Washington Generals.

{AUTHOR_BOX}Blatche Finds His Groove

Andray Blatche is about the most frustrating player in the NBA.

He is loaded with talent, ability and size (6-11), but too often comes away with lackluster performances.

“Dray’s caught a lot of criticism from people that he doesn’t play hard,” Wizards coach Flip Saunders told Carla Peay of The Washington Times. “But since he’s come back [from a shoulder injury], he’s worked as hard and done more fundamental things these last few games than he has since he’s been here.”

The native of Syracuse, NY has come to life over the last four games, scoring 36 points and grabbing 19 rebounds in a win over Cleveland and dropping 25, 26 and 23 points over his next three outings. He even had six steals in Tuesday’s win over Detroit

“He’s had great energy,” said Saunders, who has had more than a few public spats with the power forward. “It’s not a coincidence that he sat out a lot of games and got his legs back under him… That’s something we’re going to talk to him about – trying to find a way to lose some weight for the beginning of next year, come in here 10 pounds lighter. It’s like taking a weighted vest off.”

Blatche, who battled shoulder issues before going on this four-game tear, thinks the opposition starting to take notice.

“It’s probably going to be a little bit tougher,” he told The Washington Times after the win over Cleveland. “Guys are probably going to key on me. But I’m still going to attack the board and try to do the things I did tonight… When I came back, I just came with a lot of energy. I’m happy to be playing again.”

Blatche is averaging career highs in points (16.6 PPG) and rebounds (8.3 RPG) this year.

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