 Throughout the 1996–1997 season, Riley drastically transformed the new-look Miami Heat into a defensive-minded juggernaut with an emphasis on unselfish work ethic, hustle and cooperation.Quickly becoming championship contenders, the Heat clinched a winning record of 32–9 on the road, earning the epithet of "Road Warriors".The Heat were the biggest surprise and the league's most improved team in the season; they won their first-ever Atlantic Division title with a 61–21 record, the best regular season record in Heat history at the time.