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Riley takes shot at LeBron: 'No more smiling faces with hidden agendas'

Joe Skipper / REUTERS

Miami Heat president Pat Riley held his season-ending media conference Monday, and it was a pretty solid performance from the man who devised Showtime in L.A., and trademarked the term "three-peat."

The Heat missed the playoffs for only the second time in 12 years this season, and Riley said he won't go into this summer being misled by anybody.

"Oh that could be for anybody," added Riley, who was believed by no one.

A year ago, the Heat drafted Connecticut point guard Shabazz Napier based at least partly on LeBron James' endorsement. James then bolted for the Cleveland Cavaliers

Speaking on the failure of the Heat's subsequent season, Riley rejected the curse of the injury bug that knocked Chris Bosh, Josh McRoberts and Napier out for the year and cost Dwyane Wade, Luol Deng and Hassan Whiteside plenty of games.

"I don't want to hear any excuses about anybody," Riley told reporters. "I'd like to change the narrative for our team and get back to the reality to what being a professional athlete is about. You might not always feel well."

He also issued a challenge of sorts to Heat lifer Wade, which could be construed as an ill-natured message aimed at the 33-year-old.

He's got to change the narrative himself on his body and missing games. There's no doubt we're going to need Dwyane every single night that he's available.

Wade missed 20 games, although that was eight less than in 2013-14.

As for June's draft, Riley is hoping for luck in the lottery. 

"I hope May 19 we don't have any more buzzard's luck," he said. 

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