Former Tiger Keyon Dooling scores first NBA playoff experience with the Heat
Missouri fans used to seeing Keyon Dooling back in Columbia this time of year will have to be understanding.
The former Tiger guard can’t help it if he plays for one of the best teams in the NBA.
After four frustrating years with the inept Los Angeles Clippers, a perennial league doormat, Dooling is getting his first exposure to the postseason with the Miami Heat.
Los Angeles finished a combined 78 games under .500 when Dooling was there from 2000-2004.
He had grown accustomed to starting his summers in late April when the regular season ended.
Dooling, who played one year each under Norm Stewart and Quin Snyder at Missouri from 1998-2000, spent much of his offseason in Columbia, visiting friends and helping at Snyder’s camps.
“I had the most fun I ever had in Columbia,” Dooling said. “So it’s always great to come back.”
Miami’s success has delayed his homecoming this year.
The Heat had the best regular season record in the Eastern Conference (59-23) in 2005. They play in Detroit tonight in Game 4 of the conference finals, leading the series 2-1.
As was the case in his Clippers’ career, Dooling served Miami in a reserve role this year after signing as a free agent. He didn’t start any games and averaged 16 minutes off the bench.
Dooling, a point guard, is third on Miami’s depth chart behind Dwyane Wade and Damon Jones.
Wade, a second-year player from Marquette, enjoyed a break-out year. His 24.1 points-per-game was ninth in the NBA.
Tiger fans still remember the 24 points Wade scored in the second round of the 2003 NCAA tournament, helping defeat Missouri in overtime.
But Dooling said he doesn’t mind coming in off the bench. He can watch Wade and nine-time All-Star Shaquille O’Neal from that spot every night.
Being on a star-studded team also gives him bragging rights over former teammate Kareem Rush, who played with O’Neal on the Los Angeles Lakers.
Rush is a member of the Charlotte Bobcats.
“I used to sit and envy Kareem since he played with Shaq,” Dooling said. “But now I get to play with both him and D-Wade.”
Dooling had his strongest game of the playoffs in a second-round game against the Washington Wizards on May 8. He scored 15 points in 23 minutes. Not a bad outing on his 25th birthday.
“The playoffs are such a different game that you’ve just got to step it up,” Dooling said. “We’re doing that right now.”
Dooling said that no matter where Miami’s run ends, it has been exciting to be part of a winning team.
The challenge of playing Detroit, the defending league champion, only makes it better.
“We want what they have,” Dooling said. “We have to go through them.”
Dooling said he is still looking forward to spending time in Columbia when the season is over.
“I’ve got to go eat at Shiloh,” he said.