All-Star Game


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Tim Hardaway says there's only one reason he's back at the All-Star Game.
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Magic Johnson says the real Tim Hardaway is finally back.
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By Phil Green
ESPNET SportsZone

CLEVELAND -- Tim Hardaway is finally back in high gear ... both on and off the court.

On the floor, Hardaway has re-emerged as one of the premier point guards in the NBA. The super-quick 6-footer, who is making his fourth All-Star Game appearance, is one of the driving forces behind the Heat's 36-12 record.

At age 30, Tim Hardaway has proven he hasn't lost his quickness.

The dazzling moves and frenetic pace that some thought the 30-year-old might have lost forever, have returned. In fact, the only thing that might be quicker than Hardaway these days is his new royal blue Ferrari; the one he takes out for 110 mph spins after games.

"I just love it. I can't stay out of it because it's a Ferrari," he said with a big grin. "I get in it about 1 a.m. when we come back in town and just fly home. I really look forward to just getting off the plane and just flying home because I can really open it up then."

Over the last few years, there was increasing skepticism about Hardaway's ability to "open it up" on the court. The questions started after his season-ending knee injury in October, 1993. During the following year and a half he never recaptured his All-Star level of play, and at last season's trading deadline, the Warriors shipped the disgruntled free-agent-to-be to Miami.

Though he helped lead the Heat into the first round of the playoffs, the team sought a new point guard through the free agent market this year. After Gary Payton re-signed with the Sonics and Chris Childs joined the Knicks, Miami settled on re-signing Hardaway.

"They wanted me, but they had to see who they could get," Hardaway explained. "That's understandable, but they had to come back to me. I just sat back and really didn't get too involved with it until they called me. That's when I got involved with it, and now I'm back with the Heat."

Confident and happy in Miami, the former UTEP star used some offseason weight work, shooting drills and running to shed some extra weight that also slowed him during the past few seasons. As a result, he's regained the form that used to leave defenders clutching at air while he cruised to the hoop.

"Tim is just outstanding," said Magic Johnson, with whom Hardaway has been compared by Heat coach Pat Riley, and who is a past victim of Hardaway's trademark cross-over move. "He's back to being Tim Hardaway: fast, quick, pulling up for the three.

"He cut the weight down. Now he's in excellent condition. He's back to being the old Hardaway: cross-over, go by you and score, or dish the ball off. He's the real leader. How Tim goes, Miami goes."

And through the first half of the season with Hardaway at the helm, Miami has travelled far -- all the way to the top of the Atlantic Division. He has demonstrated his old aggressiveness with his frequent trips to the foul line, where he's going at a rate equal to his prime years with the Warriors. Though his scoring (19.3 ppg) and assist (8.2) numbers don't rank among his career best, his teammates recognize all the intangibles he brings to the floor.

"Timmy has been the sparkplug for the team this year," said center Alonzo Mourning. "He has been our floor general. He's accomplished a great deal out there on the court and has opened up a lot of things for other players. I really feel that we can go along way with Timmy if he stays healthy."

While that knock of durability hangs over Hardaway, it's a bit unfair. After playing 80 games last year he hasn't missed a game this season. Regardless, he doesn't let questions about his health bother him.

"I don't have anything to prove," he said. "Everybody knows what I can do. I just go out there and do it. The only thing I have to prove is to myself that I can still play this game the way I used to play it. And I have done that, and that's satisfaction to me."

Although he has never advanced farther than the second round in the playoffs, Hardaway still limits his long-term team goals to the short term -- winning the division title. With that outcome still a few months away, this weekend marks a personal achievement.

"I'm proud to be back here," he said of returning to the All-Star Game for the first time in four years. "It's a personal goal of mine. It's got nothing to do with trying to get back at anybody or trying to show people anything. It's just for me and I'm going to enjoy it like that too."

Much in the same way he enjoys his quick rides home from the airport.