Last year Miami Heat guard Mario Chalmers was talking about improving his brand around this time. Now, it's more of a survival approach. Much has changed for Chalmers after a poor performance in last season's playoffs, especially the NBA Finals. It has led to a different outlook entering training camp. He's focused solely on proving his struggles were a fluke, not on shoe endorsements or commercials. "My situation is a little bit different," Chalmers said. "Coming into this season, I'm a lot more hungry. I'm very focused for this camp." Chalmers said he has completely overhauled his approach, starting with his physical conditioning. He spent the summer in Santa Barbara, Calif., training with P3 (Peak Performance Project) so he would arrive in top shape.
The facility incorporates science into athletic training. "I thought it was interesting," Chalmers said. "You put your body through all this but you don't really know what for. It was good to actually learn that and understand it." Chalmers said the program helped him drop "10 or 15 pounds." He also feels quicker and more explosive after the training sessions. "You know how for the video games they put the stickers on you," said Chalmers, who said his vertical leap and squat improved. "It's just like that. It just shows you everything you're doing. It shows how everything works." The improvement comes during a season Chalmers will receive the stiffest competition of his career for playing time. Guard Norris Cole, who said is he ready to compete for the starting job, and rookie Shabazz Napier are expected to push him for minutes.
"I don't want to let anybody down," Chalmers said. "And since there is a lot expected of me, I'm going to go out there and give it the best I've got."
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The Heat may not have to take things slowly with forward Danny Granger. Granger will likely be in a "maintenance program" similar to what guard Dwyane Wade endured last year. Wade sat 28 games to rest his knees in preparation for a long postseason run. Granger, who has battled knee issues the past two seasons, recently underwent knee surgery. The Heat were encouraged by Granger being able to complete the first day of practice. "I actually wanted him to go through about 70 percent of the practice and I forgot about it," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "He ended up going through the entire thing. ... This has probably [been] the most training he's been able to do in the offseason in a while."
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Heat forward Josh McRoberts played for five teams in his first six NBA seasons. Now, he's in search of more stability. And he thinks he's found it in Miami. He considers this more than just another pit stop, with hopes of finding a home. "I could be part of this team for a while and find a home," McRoberts said. "I think that is something that really drew me here." McRoberts played last year with the Charlotte Hornets, who lost to the Heat in the first round. He left the improving Hornets for a chance to play with an established organization. "My decision was based on what was best for myself and my career moving forward," he said.
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