The skinny: It was a frustrating off-season for Miami Heat president and coach Pat Riley, who watched three solid role players – Eddie Jones, Jason Kapono and James Posey – leave in free agency while adding very little in return. Ex-Pistons castoff Smush Parker was brought in to compete for minutes at point guard and one-time All-Star Penny Hardaway, whose career was derailed by a series of injuries, is coming out of retirement. The Heat team that comes to The Palace will be further depleted by the absence of the two players that still make them a feared commodity – superstars Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal are still rehabbing from injury. Wade, in fact, is expected to miss the first few weeks of the regular season after undergoing surgeries on his shoulder and knee.

What to watch: Flip Saunders’ rotation figures to be a work in progress for much of the season, but the preseason opener might offer the first hints as to which way he’s leaning. Flip Murray’s strong training camp has put him in the mix to be Rip Hamilton’s backup, freeing Rodney Stuckey to concentrate more on learning the nuances of becoming an NBA point guard. Nazr Mohammed, likewise, has increased his chances of earning significant frontcourt minutes despite the mandate to find opportunities for third-year forwards Jason Maxiell and Amir Johnson. Johnson is unlikely to play tonight after twisting his left ankle in Friday’s final session of two-a-days. Jarvis Hayes’ training camp has the Pistons feeling even better about their summer free-agent foray.

Probable Starters

Prince Wallace McDyess Hamilton Billups Forward Forward Center Guard Guard Walker Haslem Doleac Wright Williams