Miami Heat took on the visiting Los Angeles Clippers and got waxed 110-95, but the real story was coach Pat Riley announcing that he is taking a leave of absence to have knee and hip operations.

The day started in Miami with Dolphins head coach Nick Saban announcing that he would be leaving the NFL and going back to the college game as the head coach for Alabama. Only hours later, Riley told reporters that he would be stepping down for an undisclosed amount of time to have two operations that he has been putting off for a couple of years. Coach Riley promised that he would return to the bench at some point, and left the team to assistant coach Ron Rothstein.

That wasn't the only news that Riley fed the media, he also stated that both James Posey and Antoine Walker were inactive for tonight's game because of failing phyiscal requirements set by the team. That left the Heat with only ten players for tonight's game and of those ten, two were not named Shaq or D-Wade, who continued to miss games due to injuries.

Not much to report on the actual game. Jason Williams jacked up a bunch of bad 3's. Udonis Haslem did basically nothing for his second game in row, Zo blocked about 49 shots. Jason Kapono actually had a good game. He went 7 for 10 (3 for 3 from 3), and led the team in scoring with 19.

Miami should have won the game. Sure, they were playing without a bunch of guys, but they were playing at home against at terrible road team and the Clippers were without Sam Cassell and Cuttino Mobley. Instead, they lost their fourth game in row and fall five games below .500.

Riley leaving this team is devistating for Miami. He's their identity. He's their leader. He claims that that he is going to stay closely connected to the team as he rehabs, but unless he's there everyday it's not going to be the same. They need him in the practices, on the sidelines and in the trenches.

In two weeks, the Heat should be at full strength on floor, hopefully Shaq and the other verterns can band together and get this team back on track. Otherwise, this year is going to be an embarrassing follow up to what was a magical championship run.