But he was matter-of-fact in voicing his consideration that the reigning back-to-back NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers deserve to be the favorites to win the crown again next season. And, no, he doesn’t think of the Heat as the Lakers’ primary challenger.

“As far as the East,” Rondo said, “we’re the champs.”

And while we’re talking about the Heat, Pat Riley had this to say about Mike Miller: “We consider him to be the finest perimeter shooter in the NBA.” Yeah, and Mikki Moore’s the league’s finest rebounder.