2004–05 Miami Heat season

2004–05 Miami Heat season
Division Champions
Head coach	Stan Van Gundy
Arena	American Airlines Arena
Results
Record	59–23 (.720)
Place	Division: 1st (Southeast) Conference: 1st (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Lost in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Detroit Pistons 4-3
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	Sunshine Network/Sun Sports
Radio	WIOD

The 2004-05 Miami Heat season was the 17th season of the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Heat entered the season with high expectations following the acquisition of Shaquille O'Neal, and finished in first place in both their division and Conference. They were eventually eliminated in seven games during the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2005 NBA Playoffs by the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons.

Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal were selected to play in the 2005 NBA All-Star Game. This was Wade's first All-Star Game appearance.

Key dates

• June 24 - The 2004 NBA Draft took place in New York City.
• July 8 - The free agency period started.
• October 5 - The Heat played their first preseason game on the road against the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center.
• October 27 - The Heat's regular season began with an away game versus the New Jersey Nets at the Continental Airlines Arena.

Offseason

2004 NBA Draft

Main article: 2004 NBA Draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	School/Club Team
1	19	Dorell Wright	Forward	United States	South Kent Prep HS (CT)
2	47	Pape Sow	Forward	Senegal	Cal State Fullerton
2	53	Matt Freije	Forward	United States	Vanderbilt

Free agency

Additions

Re-signings:

• Rasual Butler

Signings:

• Michael Doleac (from Denver)
• Keyon Dooling (from L.A. Clippers)
• Damon Jones (from Milwaukee)
• Christian Laettner (from Golden State)
• Wesley Person (from Atlanta)

Trades:

• Shaquille O'Neal (from L.A. Lakers)

Subtractions

Free agents:

• Rafer Alston (to Toronto)
• Samaki Walker (to Washington)

Trades:

• Caron Butler (to L.A. Lakers)
• Brian Grant (to L.A. Lakers)
• Lamar Odom (to L.A. Lakers)

Expansion draft:

• Loren Woods (to Charlotte)

Pre-season

2004 Pre-season Game Log: 4–3–0 (Home: 3–0–0 ; Road: 1–3–0)
#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	OT	Decision	Venue	Record	Recap
1	October 10	Miami Heat	75–85	Houston Rockets		Loss	Toyota Center	0–1
2	October 15	Orlando Magic	89–95	Miami Heat		Win	St. Pete Times Forum (Tampa, Florida)	1–1
3	October 16	Detroit Pistons	74–83	Miami Heat		Win	ALLTEL Arena (Little Rock, Arkansas)	2–1
4	October 18	Atlanta Hawks	82–92	Miami Heat		Win	American Airlines Arena	3–1
5	October 22	Miami Heat	113–82	Atlanta Hawks		Win	Philips Arena	4–1
6	October 26	Miami Heat	74–82	Charlotte Bobcats		Loss	Charlotte Coliseum	4–2
7	October 27	Miami Heat	103–109	Orlando Magic		Loss	TD Waterhouse Centre	4–3

Regular season

Standings

Southeast Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div	GP
Miami Heat	59	23	.720	—	35–6	24–17	15–1	82
Washington Wizards	45	37	.549	14	29–12	16–25	10–6	82
Orlando Magic	36	46	.439	23	24–17	12–29	6–10	82
Charlotte Bobcats	18	64	.220	41	14–27	4–37	7–9	82
Atlanta Hawks	13	69	.159	46	9–32	4–37	2–14	82

Playoffs

Heat clinched a 1st seed in the Eastern Conference for the 2005 NBA Playoffs.

Transactions

Trades

Shaquielle O'Neal from L.A. Lakers