Walker and Posey deactivated by Heat

[DocHolliday]

I found this interesting.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2718996

Walker, Posey don't meet conditioning goals, must sit

Associated Press





MIAMI -- 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.

Walker

Posey
​

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 player will travel with the Heat to Phoenix on Thursday, instead staying behind to work with team strength and conditioning coach Bill Foran. Miami opens a six-game Western road trip against the Suns on Friday, and it's possible both could join the team sometime during the swing.
Walker declined comment before Wednesday's game, which the Heat lost 110-95.
Posey said his deactivation stemmed from a rule the Heat has about body fat. He said his body fat is 9 percent, but Riley wanted it to be 8 percent.
"He wants the weight to be down and he has his standards, I guess, for the bigs and the perimeters or whatever," Posey said. "It's the weight and for the perimeters [it's] 8 percent body fat. ... I'm at 9 percent body fat. And, that's not eight."
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.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

 

[kennadog]

I'd take 9% body fat in a heartbeat!

That's a pretty stringent goal. And body fat is determined as much by DNA as anything else. So to achieve that type of goal is going to be much harder for some people than others.

Hopefully, there is a more context to that goal that is not disclosed here. Someone at 9% could be in far better than condition than someone at 8%. Presumably there were multiple "goals," and this is the last one they have to meet.

 

[most_casual_observer]

I found this interesting.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2718996

Walker, Posey don't meet conditioning goals, must sit

Associated Press...snip

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."...snip Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

This is the way some coaches are able to deal with those Texas Size Egos that exist in the NBA. At least the coaches with credibility and Rings to back it up. There is a reason why Riley wins.

 

[hoopsfan]

So is Shaq gonna be de-activated too?? Not that I believe him but, Riles said Shaq's at 13%....will he bench him too?

 

[Bricklayer]

Silly, although 8 is not out of the question by any means for a pro athelete. Same thing as with Muss, but maybe worse here since its midseason and the guys are playing every night. The quesions would be can the guy play basketball? If he can, then this is silly. If he can't, then this is just an excuse.