Jordan Shoes - Heat prepared to move forward without Alston

Jordan Shoes - Suspended point guard Rafer Alston did not practice again with the Miami Heat, and his second stint with the team appears over. His lone communication with the team in several days has been through text messaging.

It is unfortunate because we are going through a major playoff push right now, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Monday. And what we have emphasized the Jordan Shoes since the very first day of training camp is purity. You are either in or you are out. And I guess he-s declared that he is out. So we know who our group is now. Spoelstra said the Heat have spent the past few days deciding who, if anyone, they would sign to replace Alston, who remains on the roster. Without him, the Heat have only two point guards, Carlos Arroyo and Mario Chalmers, though Dwyane Wade logs plenty of minutes at the position.

Alston has not responded to requests for Jordan Shoes. He said before Thursday-s game against the Los Angeles Lakers that he had been removed from the starting lineup, but gave no indication he planned to leave the team. The Heat entered Monday holding the No. 7 spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race, games behind No. 5 Milwaukee and a game ahead of No. 9 Charlotte. Miami visits the Bobcats on Tuesday night.