2004–05 Miami Heat season
The 2004–05 NBA season was the 17th season for the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association. The Heat entered the season with high expectations following the acquisition of All-Star center Shaquille O'Neal from the Los Angeles Lakers, plus signing free agents Christian Laettner, three-point specialist Damon Jones, and Shandon Anderson. O'Neal was traded away from the Lakers following recurrence of bad blood with former teammate Kobe Bryant. Despite their numerous conflicts during their 8 years as teammates, the duo led the Lakers to 3-straight championship titles from 2000 to 2002. The team played solid basketball posting a 14-game winning streak between December and January winning 25 of their first 32 games, then winning twelve straight between February and March. At midseason, the team re-signed free agent All-Star center Alonzo Mourning, and re-acquired former Heat guard Steve Smith from the expansion Charlotte Bobcats. The Heat finished in first place in both their division and conference with a 59–23 record, which was the franchise's best since 1996–97.
| 2004–05 Miami Heat season | |
|---|---|
Division champions | |
| Head coach | Stan Van Gundy |
| General manager | Randy Pfund |
| President | Pat Riley |
| Owner(s) | Micky Arison |
| Arena | American Airlines Arena |
| Results | |
| Record | 59–23 (.720) |
| Place | Division: 1st (Southeast) Conference: 1st (Eastern) |
| Playoff finish | Eastern Conference Finals (lost to Pistons 3–4) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
| Local media | |
| Television | Sunshine Network/Sun Sports |
| Radio | WIOD |
Second-year star Dwyane Wade led the Heat in scoring averaging 24.1 points per game, while O'Neal finished second on the team in scoring with 22.9 points per game. Both players were selected to play in the 2005 NBA All-Star Game at Denver, which marked Wade's first All-Star appearance.
In the first round of the playoffs, the Heat swept the New Jersey Nets in four straight games, then swept the Washington Wizards in four straight in the semi-finals. However, the Heat were eventually eliminated in seven games during the Eastern Conference finals by the 2nd-seeded, and defending NBA champion Detroit Pistons. The Wade and Shaq-led Heat were expected by many to face the Spurs in the Finals (They would eventually meet 8 years later). Following the season, Eddie Jones was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies, Damon Jones signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Laettner and Smith both retired.
This was the first and last time the Heat would be eliminated in the Conference Finals until 2022.