2004–05 Miami Heat season

The 2004–05 NBA season was the 17th season for the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association. The Heat entered the season with high expectations following the acquisition of All-Star center Shaquille O'Neal from the Los Angeles Lakers, plus signing free agents Christian Laettner, three-point specialist Damon Jones, and Shandon Anderson. O'Neal was traded away from the Lakers following recurrence of bad blood with former teammate Kobe Bryant. Despite their numerous conflicts during their 8 years as teammates, the duo led the Lakers to 3-straight championship titles from 2000 to 2002. The team played solid basketball posting a 14-game winning streak between December and January winning 25 of their first 32 games, then winning twelve straight between February and March. At midseason, the team re-signed free agent All-Star center Alonzo Mourning, and re-acquired former Heat guard Steve Smith from the expansion Charlotte Bobcats. The Heat finished in first place in both their division and conference with a 59–23 record, which was the franchise's best since 1996–97.

Second-year star Dwyane Wade led the Heat in scoring averaging 24.1 points per game, while O'Neal finished second on the team in scoring with 22.9 points per game. Both players were selected to play in the 2005 NBA All-Star Game at Denver, which marked Wade's first All-Star appearance.

In the first round of the playoffs, the Heat swept the New Jersey Nets in four straight games, then swept the Washington Wizards in four straight in the semi-finals. However, the Heat were eventually eliminated in seven games during the Eastern Conference finals by the 2nd-seeded, and defending NBA champion Detroit Pistons. The Wade and Shaq-led Heat were expected by many to face the Spurs in the Finals (They would eventually meet 8 years later). Following the season, Eddie Jones was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies, Damon Jones signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Laettner and Smith both retired.

This was the first and last time the Heat would be eliminated in the Conference Finals until 2022.

Key dates

 * June 24 - The 2004 NBA draft took place in New York City.
 * July 8 - The free agency period started.
 * July 14 - The Heat traded Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, Brian Grant and a 2006 first round draft pick (Jordan Farmar) to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Shaquille O'Neal.
 * 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.

Additions
Re-signings: Signings: Trades:
 * Rasual Butler
 * Michael Doleac (from Denver)
 * Keyon Dooling (from L.A. Clippers)
 * Damon Jones (from Milwaukee)
 * Christian Laettner (from Golden State)
 * Wesley Person (from Atlanta)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (from L.A. Lakers)

Subtractions
Free agents: Trades: Expansion draft:
 * Rafer Alston (to Toronto)
 * Samaki Walker (to Washington)
 * Caron Butler (to L.A. Lakers)
 * Brian Grant (to L.A. Lakers)
 * Lamar Odom (to L.A. Lakers)
 * Loren Woods (to Charlotte)

Game log

 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 1
 * November 3
 * @New Jersey Nets
 * 100–77
 * Continental Airlines Arena
 * 1–0
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 2
 * November 4
 * Cleveland Cavaliers
 * 92–86
 * AmericanAirlines
 * 2–0
 * - style= "background:#cfc;"
 * 3
 * November 6
 * @Washington Wizards
 * 118–106
 * MCI Center
 * 3–0
 * - style= "background:#cfc;"
 * 4
 * November 9
 * Washington Wizards
 * 103–93
 * 4–0
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 5
 * November 11
 * Dallas Mavericks
 * 93–113
 * AmericanAirlines Arena
 * 4–1
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 6
 * November 12
 * @San Antonio Spurs
 * 84–93
 * 4–2
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 7
 * November 14
 * Milwaukee Bucks
 * 112–110
 * AmericanAirlines Arena
 * 5–2
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 8
 * November 16
 * @Minnesota Timberwolves
 * 97–108
 * Target Center
 * 5–3
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 9
 * November 17
 * @Milwaukee Bucks
 * 113-106
 * Bradley Center
 * 6–3
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 10
 * November 19
 * Utah Jazz
 * 107–105
 * AmericanAirlines
 * 7–3
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 11
 * November 21
 * Philadelphia 76ers
 * 93–83
 * 8–3
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 12
 * November 23
 * Portland Trail Blazers
 * 87–99
 * 8–4
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 13
 * November 24
 * @Atlanta Hawks
 * 99–93
 * Philips Arena
 * 9–4
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 14
 * November 26
 * @Detroit Pistons
 * 77–78
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills
 * 9–5
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 15
 * November 28
 * Boston Celtics
 * 106–104
 * 10–5
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 16
 * November 30
 * Toronto Raptors
 * 92–94
 * AmericanAirlines Arena
 * 10–6
 * 8–3
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 12
 * November 23
 * Portland Trail Blazers
 * 87–99
 * 8–4
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 13
 * November 24
 * @Atlanta Hawks
 * 99–93
 * Philips Arena
 * 9–4
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 14
 * November 26
 * @Detroit Pistons
 * 77–78
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills
 * 9–5
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 15
 * November 28
 * Boston Celtics
 * 106–104
 * 10–5
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 16
 * November 30
 * Toronto Raptors
 * 92–94
 * AmericanAirlines Arena
 * 10–6
 * 15
 * November 28
 * Boston Celtics
 * 106–104
 * 10–5
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 16
 * November 30
 * Toronto Raptors
 * 92–94
 * AmericanAirlines Arena
 * 10–6
 * Toronto Raptors
 * 92–94
 * AmericanAirlines Arena
 * 10–6
 * AmericanAirlines Arena
 * 10–6
 * 10–6


 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 17
 * December 3
 * @Chicago Bulls
 * United Center
 * - style=
 * 18
 * December 4
 * @Denver Nuggets
 * Pepsi Center
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 19
 * December 6
 * @Utah Jazz
 * Delta Center
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 20
 * December 8
 * @Milwaukee Bucks
 * Bradley Center
 * - style=
 * 21
 * December 10
 * Memphis Grizzlies
 * AmericanAirlines Arena
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 22
 * December 12
 * Toronto Raptors
 * Air Canada Centre
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 23
 * December 13
 * Washington Wizards
 * AmericanAirlines Arena
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 24
 * December 15
 * @Washington Wizards
 * 98–93
 * MCI Center
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 25
 * December 17
 * Denver Nuggets
 * 107–100
 * AmericanAirlines Arena
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 26
 * December 19
 * Orlando Magic
 * 117–107
 * AmericanAirlines Arena
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 27
 * December 21
 * Boston Celtics
 * 108–100
 * AmericanAirlines Arena
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 28
 * December 23
 * 109–107
 * ARCO Arena
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 29
 * December 25
 * 104–102
 * STAPLES Center
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 30
 * December 27
 * Atlanta Hawks
 * 116–102
 * AmericanAirlines Arena
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 31
 * December 30
 * @Detroit Pistons
 * 89–78
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills
 * 25
 * December 17
 * Denver Nuggets
 * 107–100
 * AmericanAirlines Arena
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 26
 * December 19
 * Orlando Magic
 * 117–107
 * AmericanAirlines Arena
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 27
 * December 21
 * Boston Celtics
 * 108–100
 * AmericanAirlines Arena
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 28
 * December 23
 * 109–107
 * ARCO Arena
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 29
 * December 25
 * 104–102
 * STAPLES Center
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 30
 * December 27
 * Atlanta Hawks
 * 116–102
 * AmericanAirlines Arena
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 31
 * December 30
 * @Detroit Pistons
 * 89–78
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 29
 * December 25
 * 104–102
 * STAPLES Center
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 30
 * December 27
 * Atlanta Hawks
 * 116–102
 * AmericanAirlines Arena
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 31
 * December 30
 * @Detroit Pistons
 * 89–78
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills
 * AmericanAirlines Arena
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 31
 * December 30
 * @Detroit Pistons
 * 89–78
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills
 * @Detroit Pistons
 * 89–78
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills

Playoffs

 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 1
 * April 24
 * New Jersey
 * W 116–98
 * Dwyane Wade (32)
 * Haslem, O'Neal (11)
 * Dwyane Wade (8)
 * American Airlines Arena 20,212
 * 1–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 2
 * April 26
 * New Jersey
 * W 104–87
 * Alonzo Mourning (21)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (10)
 * Dwyane Wade (10)
 * American Airlines Arena 20,276
 * 2–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 3
 * April 28
 * @ New Jersey
 * W 108–105 (2OT)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (25)
 * Udonis Haslem (19)
 * Dwyane Wade (8)
 * Continental Airlines Arena 20,174
 * 3–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 4
 * May 1
 * @ New Jersey
 * W 110–97
 * Dwyane Wade (34)
 * Udonis Haslem (11)
 * Dwyane Wade (9)
 * Continental Airlines Arena 20,174
 * 4–0


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 1
 * May 8
 * Washington
 * W 105–86
 * Dwyane Wade (20)
 * Eddie Jones (8)
 * Dwyane Wade (7)
 * American Airlines Arena 20,151
 * 1–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 2
 * May 10
 * Washington
 * W 108–102
 * Dwyane Wade (31)
 * Udonis Haslem (13)
 * Dwyane Wade (15)
 * American Airlines Arena 20,205
 * 2–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 3
 * May 12
 * @ Washington
 * W 102–95
 * Dwyane Wade (31)
 * Alonzo Mourning (13)
 * D. Jones, Wade (6)
 * MCI Center 20,173
 * 3–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 4
 * May 14
 * @ Washington
 * W 99–95
 * Dwyane Wade (42)
 * Udonis Haslem (13)
 * Damon Jones (6)
 * MCI Center 20,173
 * 4–0


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 1
 * May 23
 * Detroit
 * L 81–90
 * Eddie Jones (22)
 * Eddie Jones (8)
 * Damon Jones (5)
 * American Airlines Arena 20,203
 * 0–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 2
 * May 25
 * Detroit
 * W 92–86
 * Dwyane Wade (40)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (10)
 * Dwyane Wade (6)
 * American Airlines Arena 20,228
 * 1–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 3
 * May 29
 * @ Detroit
 * W 113–104
 * Dwyane Wade (36)
 * D. Jones, Wade (7)
 * D. Jones, O'Neal (5)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076
 * 2–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 4
 * May 31
 * @ Detroit
 * L 96–106
 * Dwyane Wade (28)
 * Eddie Jones (10)
 * Dwyane Wade (6)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076
 * 2–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 5
 * June 2
 * Detroit
 * W 88–76
 * Shaquille O'Neal (20)
 * Udonis Haslem (13)
 * Damon Jones (6)
 * American Airlines Arena 20,225
 * 3–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 6
 * June 4
 * @ Detroit
 * L 66–91
 * Shaquille O'Neal (24)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (13)
 * Damon Jones (6)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076
 * 3–3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 7
 * June 6
 * Detroit
 * L 82–88
 * Shaquille O'Neal (27)
 * Udonis Haslem (10)
 * Dwyane Wade (4)
 * American Airlines Arena 20,241
 * 3–4

Player statistics
Bold designates team leader.

Playoffs
Bold designates team leader.

Week/Month
Shaquille O'Neal "32" Dwyane Wade "3"

Trades
Shaquielle O'Neal from L.A. Lakers