Tag Archive for: Erik Spoelstra

5 Comments from Media Session with Spoelstra, Robinson, Budenholzer

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Erik Spoelstra and Duncan Robinson talked with media today, following an overtime loss in game 4 against the Giannis-less Milwaukee Bucks. All of the players shared a mutual theme post-game, which was the Bucks deserved to win. Here’s what was said today…

Post-Practice Comment #1:

Erik Spoelstra talked a little about yesterday’s game, but mentions that now it’s time to focus on the next game. He says, “It’s about getting to our game more consistently.” Some of that had to do with their stagnant offense yesterday, which many players noted post-game. Another reason for that was the fact that Jimmy Butler waited a little too long to get in a rhythm with the ball in his hands, which then it was too late. Spo also mentioned that they are now preparing for the Bucks with and without Giannis. This was a big reason Miami struggled on defense. Miami had to adjust mid-game from a Giannis centric defense scheme to a Khris Middleton and perimeter stopping defense. Now that Miami has time to prepare, they should be in much better shape either way.

Post-Practice Comment #2:

Tyler Herro did a bunch of Tyler Herro things late in yesterday’s game, hitting big shot after big shot. Erik Spoelstra discussed Tyler for a little bit, saying “His game continues to grow, and we’re going to ask more of him as the series goes on.” It truly is amazing that they are putting so much trust in a 20 year old rookie in the playoffs, but Tyler truly is built for this. One of his main attributes with his scoring that puts him over the top is his high level confidence. He wasn’t having the best game early, but still had the mental toughness to shoot those shots in stride in overtime. This is why Tyler Herro plays so many fourth quarter minutes. The coaches believe in him. His teammates believe in him. And most importantly he believes in himself.

Post-Practice Comment #3:

Milwaukee Bucks head coach, Mike Budenholzer, talked about the current status of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s injury. He said that he’s “getting treatment around the clock.” It was also reported that Giannis was seen at practice today with a boot on, and was walking with a hint of a limp, which is much expected. Budenholzer also mentioned that Giannis is doing “everything he can to make himself available.” Andre Iguodala mentioned today that Miami expects Giannis to play. Either way, Miami is now prepared for the Bucks with or without Giannis as Spo mentioned earlier, but this status will be something to keep an eye on over the next 24 hours.

Post-Practice Comment #4:

After Coach Erik Spoelstra touched on Tyler Herro’s play, Duncan expanded on it a little more. He said, “His confidence is special for sure, but the are he’s grown a lot is his feel.” He mentioned that the game is beginning to slow down a lot for him, and his decision making continues to stand out. He says that although he’s made a bunch of big shots throughout this series, some of his passes he’s made have been much more impressive. He finishes the conversation with “The best is yet to come with him.” And that’s indeed the truth. This team knows the upside that he has, which is why they trust him with the ball in his hands at the end of games.

Post-Practice Comment #5:

Duncan Robinson talked about the aggression he must bring on the offensive side of the ball every game. He said, “They’ve made adjustments to take away certain things that I like to do, but you must make adjustments to the adjustments.” He follows that saying that the most important thing for him is to continue to search for open shots. He also credited Milwaukee’s defense on him, but he knows he is still able to do what he has done all season. He finishes saying that he’s been very focused on trying to improve in that area, which is why he won’t get away from it. Duncan hit six threes in yesterday’s game against Milwaukee, which means he will be watched closely yet again in game five tomorrow.

5 Post-Practice Comments from Spoelstra, Crowder, Dragic

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The Miami Heat had another early practice on Thursday, following Wednesday’s crazy finish against the Milwaukee Bucks. Erik Spoelstra most likely focused on late game execution today in practice, since it was pretty choppy for Miami down the stretch. Anyway, here’s what was said in today’s media session…

Post-Practice Comment #1:

Erik Spoelstra mentioned Goran Dragic’s winning mentality that was displayed yesterday. He said, “He’s one of the more skilled, experienced winners in this league.” It’s been pretty clear that Goran has yet to have a bad game in the playoffs thus far. He has the ability to attack the rim at will, which he constantly uses his backboard floater, and also his elite shooting ability makes him that much more of a threat. But most of all, as Spo mentioned, Goran is a winner. That’s why he fits in so well with teammate Jimmy Butler. For example, though he’s not a great defender, Goran made a crucial steal in game one which iced the game, and even poked the ball loose from Khris Middleton in game two, which slowed the game down. That’s why he will be on the court to close games no matter the situation.

Post-Practice Comment #2:

Erik Spoelstra was asked about an update on veteran Andre Iguodala, after he turned it pretty severely in yesterday’s game. Erik responded with “there’s no new update.” That definitely isn’t the best news, considering there was supposed to be an update today. If Andre was to be out a few games, that would mean Derrick Jones Jr would be back in Miami’s rotation. Derrick gave some pretty solid minutes in game two, especially with his scrappiness on the defensive end. It did seem as if he may be too small to guard Giannis one-on-one, which is why we will see him in lineups with Jae Crowder or Bam Adebayo. This will allow him to play off the ball, and do what he does best, which is utilizing his instinctive help defense.

Post-Practice Comment #3:

Jae Crowder was asked about his current feeling on this Heat team being up 2-0 on the Milwaukee Bucks. He said, “It’s definitely nothing right now.” The key for this Heat team now is to not get complacent. The reason I don’t think Miami will is because they have still yet to play their best game in this series. Jae also mentioned that he’s been down 2-0 before and still won the series. And honestly, Jae doesn’t seem to get enough credit for what he is doing in this Milwaukee series. For one, he’s knocked down some big shots for Miami down the stretches of both games. And second, he’s been an absolute Giannis stopper. Well, sort of. There’s no way to stop Giannis, but Jae Crowder does as good of a job as anybody guarding him, due to his size and physicality.

Post-Practice Comment #4:

Goran Dragic talked a little about the controversial call when he fouled Khris Middleton on a three point attempt. He said, “You can’t give a referee a chance to put the game in their hands.” He then mentioned how he needs to do a much better job to avoid fouling jump shooters, especially at the end of a game. He also mentioned, “You have smart players, too. They know how to flop.” This comment may have a little something to do with that Khris Middleton shot as well, when Khris made sure to absolutely sell the foul call. But, if Miami can win a game like this, they can win any game.

Post-Practice Comment #5:

Goran Dragic capped off his media session with the quote of the day. He said, “I’m 34 years old. I feel awesome.” As I’ve mentioned previously, some of the reason for Goran’s current play is because of the huge break, which seemed to get him back to his early season self. Another factor could be because of the current environment, which Goran mentioned today feels very similar to his summer three years ago when Slovenia won EuroBasket. Either way, Goran is 34 years old playing 34 minutes a game, and these are very quality minutes. Some also thought it had something to do with the match-ups, but Goran proved that wasn’t the case since he did pretty much whatever he wanted against Eric Bledsoe as well. If Goran keeps up this hot streak, this Miami team is a tough team to beat.

5 Post-Practice Comments from Spoelstra, Dragic, Nunn

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The Miami Heat talked with some media after practice again today, after their huge game one win over Milwaukee.  Goran Dragic talked about his relationship with his teammates, while Kendrick Nunn discussed his adjustment to his new role. Here’s what was said…

Post Practice Comment #1:

After Kendrick Nunn seems to have locked up the ninth man in the rotation, Erik Spoelstra touched on his importance. He said, “He’s been one of our most important players all season long.” He was pretty solid yesterday in game one scoring 6 points, but was a plus-8 in the game. And as talked about many times, if he can knock down some jumpers in this series, that may be the difference maker. Tyler Herro was the only player on the team for a stretch that utilized the mid-range, which is something Kendrick has done well all season. Goran praised Kendrick for adjusting to his new role, saying “We tell him, stay with it, we’re going to need you in the series.” Spo also mentioned how happy he is for Kendrick, saying “These are not easy circumstances…Covid is real.”

Post-Practice Comment #2:

When Goran Dragic was asked about yesterday’s game, he began with “We didn’t do anything yet.” He knows that although both him and Jimmy are playing at an elite level, the rest of their team hasn’t even gotten started. Goran mentioned that “This is the best basketball I’ve played in the playoffs.” He said he was a bit worried with the week layoff after the first round sweep, saying “I didn’t want to lose that consistency and everything.” Well, that hasn’t proved to be an issue after Goran put up 27 in game one. Not even that is enough for Goran and this Heat team, since he said they haven’t done anything yet.

Post-Practice Comment #3:

It’s clear that Goran Dragic is having the time of his life playing basketball this season. He reiterated that point after practice, saying “I’m just enjoying myself…I love my teammates. For me, it feels like I’m back with the national team.” This starts with his relationship with Jimmy Butler, who continue to improve their on-court play the longer they play together. And it’s a good thing Goran likes his teammates, since that’s all he has around him for this long stretch of time. Goran mentioned that both him and Jimmy will not have their families come to the bubble, since “It’s a business trip.” He followed that with “The focus is to win a championship,” and if they sustain their current play, there’s a possibility it could happen.

Post-Practice Comment #4:

Kendrick Nunn talked about trying to adapt to his new role off of the bench. He started off saying that Spo told him heading into the series that he would be in the rotation, since he was a key contributor in the regular season wins against Milwaukee. Kendrick also touched on the difference between his starting role and rotational role. He said, “It’s a little bit different. Everything is more limited. You’ve got to pick and choose when to be aggressive.” Another part of the adjustment is that he’s playing with the bench unit, which he didn’t play much with all season. But as long as he gets back to his regular season self, which was a pure scorer, he will fit in with anybody. And like he said, “I’ve been able to get my rhythm back.”

Post-Practice Comment #5:

Kendrick Nunn spoke about the lineup that included him, Goran Dragic, and Tyler Herro that was used in game one. He said, “It gives us an advantage because obviously our speed kills. I love playing with two guards.” This lineup also benefits Kendrick since he doesn’t have to be the primary ball handler. He also seems to have a bit of a connection with Tyler Herro, since they played for a bit in summer league and throughout the regular season. Goran also discussed the three guard lineup, saying “All three of us can shoot the ball. It’s not tough because nobody is selfish on this team.” And obviously shooting will be needed as much as possible in this Bucks series, due to their defensive drop scheme.

5 Comments from Spoelstra, Iguodala, Adebayo of Miami Heat

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The Miami Heat officially returned to practice yesterday morning, but cancelled the post-practice media session. But today they got to speak with media, mostly about their current mental state due to what has been going on. Here’s what was said…

Post-Practice Comment #1:

Erik Spoelstra, coach of the Miami Heat, started off the media session saying that everyone on the team practiced today, including Jimmy Butler and Jae Crowder. He also talked about the team getting back to normal, both physically and mentally. He said, “We had a couple really good days of work. Nobody was in the mood to work on Wednesday or Thursday.” But now, they are back to their focused routine, since Spo mentioned they will be watching the Bucks-Magic game this afternoon. If the Milwaukee Bucks win, Miami will be facing them in the second round starting on Monday.

Post-Practice Comment #2:

Andre Iguodala touched on the current movement that is being led by the NBA. He said, “I think it’s a simple message: We just want to stop being targeted.” Spo also applauded the player’s leadership lately, saying “The league is in a great place moving forward with our players leading the way.” Andre Iguodala has played a huge part in what the league is doing, since he is the union’s Vice President. Bam also gave his opinion on what has been going on, saying “Our people are being harmed. So it’s kind of difficult to focus on basketball because we all have families at home.” Bam also mentioned that it’s “hard to stay in a positive place” at the moment, especially being in the bubble away from his family. He also said that he’s been telling his family to “stay safe and do the things necessary.”

Post-Practice Comment #3:

Bam Adebayo talked a little about the basketball side of things, which clearly hasn’t been discussed in a while. He said, “As a team, I feel like we have a great balance.” Not only does he mean a balanced roster, but balanced personalities. He mentions that they are at a stage where “anybody can go talk to anybody,” which is great since no one will take it personal. We have seen this with Bam a few times during games in the bubble, where he would be vocal if someone like (Miami Heat rookie) Tyler Herro messed up. But that is true leadership, which is why there’s a whole lot of mutual respect in that locker room.

Post-Practice Comment #4:

Bam also mentioned that he doesn’t really have a huge voice right now on these topics since he’s so young. But mentions that for him, “It’s if we have a chance to speak our minds every single night on national TV and keep bring awareness to it.” That’s the reason it was important for many to continue the season, so they could use their platform to make people aware of what is going on. He also said he was “on the fence” about continuing the season. He said that he wanted to go back home to help people, but ultimately thought the right decision would be to bring awareness through media and TV.

Post-Practice Comment #5:

Bam Adebayo, one of the Miami Heat’s two All-Stars, finished the media session talking about the importance of using American Airlines Arena as a polling place. He mentions that it’s important “so you don’t have to go out of your way to vote.” He then related this topic to his personal life, mentioning how voter suppression has affected his family. He says it was as simple as a polling place being too far from a workplace and a boss not letting his mother vote. This is why this clearly hits home for Bam, which is why him and the team will continue to use their voices to make change.

5 Post-Practice Comments from Spoelstra and Iguodala

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The Miami Heat talked with media after practice again today, but there wasn’t much talk about basketball. Both Erik Spoelstra and Andre Iguodala spoke on the recent incident involving a police officer and Jacob Blake, which they discussed trying to reform police training. Here’s what was said…

Post-Practice Comment #1:

Andre Iguodala spent all of his time with media speaking on the recent shooting involving a police officer and Jacob Blake. Andre just kept reiterating the fact that people have become senseless to police violence. He also mentioned the recent notion of the Black Lives Matter movement losing steam, saying “We’re going to continue the good fight.” This is coming from the union’s vice president, which is why this is such valuable information. He lastly mentions that their platform in the bubble is “one of the largest platforms in the world,” which is why he will continue to shed light and deliver the much needed messages on these issues.

Post-Practice Comment #2:

Andre Iguodala also touched on the recent talk upon a potential boycott for the playoffs. He said, “I don’t think that’s something that’s agreed upon.” These talks were said to be between the Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors, but Andre Iguodala was very active in these discussions with them. There’s also been some talk of some players possibly leaving the bubble, since they are mentally traumatized. Andre said, “We haven’t spoken about it openly, but I’m sure guys have had those thoughts.” While the Heat players are focused on approaching the situation by using their platforms, other players feel they can impact it more by not playing.

Post-Practice Comment #3:

Erik Spoelstra touched on the actual video involving Jacob Blake. He started off saying that he made himself watch it multiple times since he didn’t want to allow himself to avoid it. He then said, “It’s pretty heavy. It’s pretty raw. It’s on all of our minds for sure.” He made this point to make sure everyone understands how much this weighs on the minds of the guys in their locker room, and across the league. He also said, “If you really take the time to watch that video over and over, it’s incredibly horrible and discouraging to see that still happening.”

Post-Practice Comment #4:

Erik Spoelstra got asked about today’s firing of Nate McMillan of the Indiana Pacers. Spo said, “It’s ridiculous. It seems like you’re talking out of both sides of your mouth.” This is because they just gave him an extension two weeks ago, then fired him. It seems as if they used him as the scapegoat, when truly there was no reason to. He took that team to the 4 seed, and was left with no Domantas Sabonis and Victor Oladipo who wasn’t 100%. And though they got swept, they battled to the end in each and every game against Miami. As Spo said, it truly seems “totally ridiculous.”

Post-Practice Comment #5:

Erik Spoelstra ended the media session on the talk of the possible boycott, which Andre Iguodala touched on prior. He said, “I’m just going to observe and see what’s going to happen over the next 24 hours.” It was said that the Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors will have another meet up tonight to discuss it further, which is why Spoelstra said he will wait 24 hours. He will of course get the news first since Andre Iguodala will be at the front-line of those talks, which Spo said “Andre gives us the update with what was discussed. From our end, there hasn’t been any discussions of that.”

5 Post-Game Comments from Spoelstra, Butler, Adebayo

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The Miami Heat completed the sweep over the Indiana Pacers tonight, which gives Miami a couple extra days of rest. Erik Spoelstra spoke on Tyler Herro’s play and Bam Adebayo mentioned how long he has to enjoy this win. Here’s what was said…

Post-Game Comment #1:

Erik Spoelstra talked a little about the injury of Jimmy Butler. He said once again that it’s just soft tissue in his right shoulder. He than says, “What he needs more than anything is just rest.” Well, that’s exactly what Jimmy Butler will get since they will have a few days of rest before the start of the second round. Erik Spoelstra also mentioned that Jimmy Butler’s low free throw attempts may have had something to do with Jimmy being precautionary of his injury. He said that he was not trying to attack people as much today. Either way, Jimmy Butler will hopefully be back to 100% by game 1 of the second round, which will most likely be against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Post-Practice Comment #2:

Bam Adebayo was asked about enjoying this round one win over Indiana, and responded with a very Bam like answer. He said, “I got until midnight to enjoy this. And then it’s back to business in the morning.” He clearly has the Miami Heat winning mentality, especially due to his play tonight that included 14 points, 19 rebounds, and 6 assists. Spoelstra mentioned his tough play this series, which he continually reiterated the impact of Bam. He also said, “I don’t care what the stat sheet says.” But tonight, it was clear that Bam filled up the stat sheet to his liking, which translated to a big Heat win.

Post-Practice Comment #3

Bam Adebayo touched on Kendrick Nunn’s return tonight. He said, “Don’t tell him I said anything but I’m proud of him, staying ready.” Bam also talked about trying to keep him in good spirits, since he was in the same situation a few years ago. Bam also reiterates, “I’m truly proud of that kid, to stay locked in, didn’t get discouraged from the situation.” For starters, it’s a little odd for Bam to be calling Kendrick a “kid” when Bam is younger. But when you play a mentoring role in someone’s career, it must feel that way. Although Bam is so young, he’s a star on this team, which means he is a major voice for guys to look for in any situation.

Post-Practice Comment #4:

Erik Spoelstra spoke about some of the big play Tyler made down the stretch, including some huge offensive rebounds. He began saying that it clearly isn’t his job to grab those rebounds, but he has such a feel for the ball. He followed that saying, “He’s a serious weapon.” This was evident tonight since he has the confidence to make big plays in big games. It’s not very common for a 20 year old rookie to be in the closing lineup in his first playoff series, but with Tyler it’s different. He is truly a trusted piece for this team, that will continue to be looked to in tight games.

Post-Practice Comment #5:

Jimmy Butler spoke on the team’s happiness for other people’s success. He said, “We love when other guys are successful.” This was on display in the second quarter when Kendrick Nunn hit a three pointer as soon as he entered the game. The bench absolutely loved it on the sideline, which was what Jimmy was referring to. He also said, “You should have fun. You should enjoy the game. And you can see that in how we play.” This team has the ability to flip a switch in certain circumstances. They can have fun and be excited on big plays, but they also know how to get down to business and be physical. This is why this team is so dangerous.

5 Main Comments from Media Session with Spoelstra, Herro, Olynyk

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The Miami Heat are coming off a big game three win over the Indiana Pacers, as they prepare to try and sweep the Pacers tomorrow. Erik Spoelstra talked with some media about these past few playoff games, while Tyler Herro discussed some of their defensive issues. Here’s what was said…

Comment #1:

Erik Spoelstra talked about the recent success of his veteran Goran Dragic on the offensive side of the ball. He said, “If he shot 8 to 10 three-pointers a game, his coach would love it.” The same goes for Duncan Robinson. Spoelstra, Jimmy, and Bam have continually talked about wanting their shooters, including Duncan Robinson, Goran Dragic, and Tyler Herro, to shoot as much as possible. Spo also praised Goran’s work ethic when he mentioned the first playoff series against Charlotte a few years back, saying “their strategy was to go under on him…He’s put in such diligent work off the catch, not just the dribble.” Goran has been a much better shooter off the catch and shoot this season, since he’s never played this role before. This leads into Spo’s comment on his leadership, saying “I just think he’s gotten a lot more comfortable with his stature, not only within the league but within this organization.”

Comment #2:

Erik Spoelstra also took some time to reflect beack on the late great Kobe Bryant, since today would have been his 42nd birthday. Spo said, “I imagine Kobe Bryant would have figured out a way to have his own gym time at 5am…when everyone else was sleeping.” This was something that the Heat always took note of, since their star Dwyane Wade got his work ethic from Kobe as well, since he was the one he was chasing. Spo also mentions that “It’s just tragic seeing a lot of the stuff on the news today. I still can’t believe that this happened.” It still seems a bit surreal for everybody, since he was such a mentor in not only basketball, but in life.

Comment #3:

Tyler Herro discussed the way that Indiana has attacked him on defense through isolation. Tyler said, “It’s no secret who they’re going at, they’re going at me and Duncan.” It seemed as if Malcolm Brogdon was having a field day yesterday on offense, when he saw Tyler Herro matched up with him and no help defense around. After a couple late buckets from Brogdon, Jae Crowder was consequently subbed into the game for defensive purposes, and was the main reason that they came away with the win. Tyler also adds, “That’s something I’m not going to run from.” Although this was a problem yesterday, Tyler has shown some major defensive improvements in the bubble, mostly through his IQ on help defense. While the one on one stuff still seems to be an issue, Spo mentions that “They both really work at it, study it, and that why they improve. I love their approach.”

Comment #4:

Kelly Olynyk mentioned his role of being Miami’s single big, and consequently “doing Bam’s job.” Kelly said, “You’ve got to set screens, make sure the offense is flowing, moving side to side.” This is something that he’s continued to do in the bubble off the bench, which is why he made the cut for the 9 man rotation. And not only does he have to do Bam’s job, but he has to take the role as the spacer who can hurt the defense from beyond the arc. Kelly also mentioned that since Miami’s running smaller lineups, “you’ve got to rebound.” This is something Kelly put on display yesterday, when he grabbed 9 rebounds in only 13 minutes. Kelly ended with, “I’ve got to make sure I’m contributing.”

Comment #5:

Jae Crowder has clearly shown some major improvements in his three point shooting since joining the Heat. Kelly Olynyk spoke about Jae’s shooting compared to Boston, saying “I was looking at his shot the other day, and it’s really pretty…One thing you don’t want to do is ask what he’s doing, so he will think about it.” The reason you don’t want Jae to think about it is because he’s shooting with the utmost amount of confidence. This is mostly due to Spo’s confidence in him, when he would tell Jae to shoot them contested. Kelly also got asked if he has tried Jimmy Butler’s coffee, which he responded “No, I’m not a coffee drinker. But if he comes with some Jimmy Butler spicy tuna rolls, I’ll be right on it.”

5 Post-Practice Comments from Spoelstra, Iguodala, Leonard

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The Miami Heat talked with some media after practice on Friday afternoon, heading into game 3 of the first round. Erik Spoelstra talked about the offensive production of Duncan Robinson and Goran Dragic, while Andre Iguodala gave many intellectual answers about this team and the game of basketball in general. Meyers Leonard also spoke about his feelings towards his new role. Here’s what was said…

Post-Practice Comment #1:

Erik Spoelstra was asked about the conversation that he had with Goran before making him a starter. He said, “In a perfect world, he probably would have liked to stay on the bench.” He notes that this was because of their rhythm throughout the season. Although Goran has been starting for the first two games, he still gets plenty of minutes with the second unit. And it seems as if he is more productive at times with the lineup of Tyler Herro, Andre Iguodala, Derrick Jones Jr, and Kelly Olynyk. That is because he’s the offensive leader without Jimmy on the floor, and due to the versatility of this lineup, it allows him to do what he does best which is attack the basket. This is why you see him take more floaters and mid-ranges with this lineup, since he can just truly be his best self.

Post-Practice Comment #2:

Erik Spoelstra also discussed Duncan Robinson’s consistent elite shooting abilities this season. He said, “It’s a great quality of this team where guys want to help other guys get shots.” This was shown prior to yesterday’s game, when Jimmy specifically said that his purpose for game 2 was to get his shooters like Duncan and Tyler more involved. This seems to be a huge plus for Spo as well, when he said “Bam and Jimmy really get that.” He also mentioned that they truly understand how important Duncan is for their team. And as I mentioned previously, their offense seriously revolves solely around the production of Duncan Robinson, since this opens up so many other things.

Post-Practice Comment #3:

Andre Iguodala talked about his relationship with Coach Erik Spoelstra, and how it grew over the hiatus. It was speculated for a while, but Andre indeed confirmed it. It seemed as if Andre hadn’t found his place yet when he first joined the team, but in the bubble, he knows his role on this team and plays it to perfection. He’s not a guy that’s going to drop 20 points on multiple nights, but he can bring defensive discomfort and make crucial plays down the stretches of games. Andre also mentioned that him and Spo spent a lot of time talking about Bam Adebayo, and how “he can go above his own expectations.” Andre has seemed to play a pretty big role for Bam’s improvements, since he’s been apart of the closing front-court with Bam for the playoffs.

Post-Practice Comment #4:

Andre Iguodala also touched on the topic of Tyler Herro, which he was asked for a viable comparison for him. He responded, “None yet.” He then gave a deep description of Tyler’s game, talking about his tight handles and other aspects. But the thing he continually harps on is his confidence. He said, “The thing I like about his confidence is he’s a very hard worker, wants to be great.” And well, hard work is the what gives you the ability to be confident, since you are totally invested in yourself. Tyler also has the confidence from his teammates to be the offensive leader that he is. Andre ends with, “That you can’t teach.”

 

Post-Practice Comment #5:

Meyers Leonard touched on his feeling towards going from starter to out of the rotation. He said, “I’m not gonna say it’s been easy. I love competing with this team.” Although he’s not playing a role on the court right now, he still plays a major role for this team. He’s a leader that will do whatever it takes to win, which is why he says he is staying ready, especially since Coach Spo has said many times that their depth will be needed down the line. Meyers also mentioned the success of this team as of late, saying “We’re so damn deep. We have so much talent. And I absolutely love it.” He also has talked to Kendrick Nunn since they share the same situation, which he told him “We are going to need you, period,” and finishes with “He will be ready for the moment. All of these things are things that a leader says, and something a leader would do is donate $100,000 to the city of Miami due to Covid and voter suppression. Which he did as well. This team truly understands the importance of Meyers Leonard.

5 Post-Game Comments from Spoelstra, Crowder, Robinson, Butler

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The Miami Heat took a 2-0 lead today, after a big win in game 2 against the Pacers. There seemed to be a mutual topic in each player’s media session, Jimmy Butler. Here’s what was said…

Post-Game Comment #1:

Erik Spoelstra was asked about the second half aggressiveness of both Goran Dragic and Jimmy Butler. He started off saying that it’s mainly because they are both “veteran leaders.” He then began to talk about Jimmy Butler’s importance, saying “Everyone knows why we got Jimmy Buter, it’s for these kinds of moments.” It’s pretty clear that this is why the Miami Heat brought Jimmy in, but this is finally the time it can be showcased. And Jimmy has not shed away from showing it, after having two big games to start the series. But, he impacted both games in different ways. One by completely taking over by scoring, and the other by every aspect. This whole team is 100% invested in their leader Jimmy Butler.

Post-Game Comment #2:

Jimmy Butler used a phrase that he’s been talking about a lot lately. He said, “As long as we keep fighting like the dogs that we are, we’ll come out on top.” Not only has Jimmy continually spoke about the amount of “dogs” on this roster, he also continually talks about “coming out on top.” The thing about this is that he truly believes. Actually, the whole team believes it. They have an absolute different mentality than these other teams, which gives them the edge they need.

Post-Game Comment #3:

Jimmy Butler also talked about what is so different about the Heat. He responded, “They let me be me…to cuss people out.” He then talked about nobody taking it personal. Bam Adebayo talked about this yesterday as well, saying that he’s able to yell at Jimmy Butler and others since they all want to win. We saw this in today’s game when Bam wanted Tyler Herro to clear out, but he didn’t. Bam consequently made sure to let him know. But once again, nobody takes it personal. This is truly what separates this Heat team from the rest.

Post-Game Comment #4:

Jae Crowder also talked about the big topic of the day, Jimmy Butler. Jae said, “I’ve been with Jimmy in some of the biggest games of his life back in college.” Jae notes that this has been Jimmy’s mentality for a while now. He mentions “his level of play rises to the occasion.” This is indeed true, since Jimmy has struggled from three all season, but has become truly confident in taking them now. Many have questioned Jimmy Butler’s offensive ability, even approaching the post-season, but he’s showing them all that he’s a different breed in the playoffs.

Post-Game Comment #5:

Duncan Robinson quickly mentioned after the game that he had some elite shooters reach out to him over the hiatus, including Mike Miller and Reggie Miller. Obviously they aren’t giving Duncan huge pointers on how to shoot, but shooters like this have the important insight on the small things. And it seems as if Duncan has picked up on some things since returning, including a side step dribble and an eagerness to attack the basket. And since this is basically Duncan’s rookie year, he has much more time to develop his game even more.

5 Post-Practice Comments from Spoelstra, Adebayo, Robinson

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Erik Spoelstra, Bam Adebayo, and Duncan Robinson talked with some media today after practice. Erik talked a little about people’s opinions on Bam, which led to Bam speaking about it as well. Here’s what was said…

Post-Practice Comment #1:

Erik Spoelstra seemed to want to get this off of his chest when regarding people’s opinions on Bam. He said that all of the people outside of the organization who give their opinion can “stick it up you know where.” He also mentions that people continually talk about how aggressive he needs to be, but “he is doing the right things for our team.” Spoelstra has always been a coach that puts full trust in certain players. Bam is one of them. He knows how much Bam wants to win, and what he will do to help this team win. It doesn’t have to be a scoring display either, since one of Bam’s biggest things is bringing the amount of energy he brings every night.

Post-Practice Comment #2:

Erik Spoelstra gives a quote that fits their current situation perfectly. He said, “The goal is bigger than the role right now.” This was referring to Kendrick Nunn going from starter to out of the rotation, just as Meyers Leonard did. Spoelstra also mentioned that he will need the depth of this team as they go along, saying “You have to be ready for anything in the playoffs.” And if anybody will be ready for anything thrown their way, it’ll be Erik Spoelstra. He continually recognized the importance of Kendrick Nunn this season, and said that these are not easy decisions. But, says they must stay ready, which “K-Nunn is mentally tough enough to understand that.”

Post-Practice Comment #3:

Bam Adebayo seemed to like Erik Spoelstra’s comment on people’s opinions about him. Bam said, “In October, nobody even knew who I was.” He then mentioned that now everybody wants to tell him how he should do things. He then talked about how much he respects Erik Spoelstra’s comments, since all Erik wants from him is to impact winning. While many people discuss the relationship of Jimmy Butler and Erik Spoelstra being so strong, Bam’s relationship with Erik is just as strong. This is because all three of them share a mutual mindset on the game of basketball. A winning mindset.

Post-Practice Comment #4:

Duncan Robinson talked about Indiana’s defense targeting him throughout game 1 of the playoffs. He said, “I definitely give them some credit, but I still feel I’m able to be impactful in this series.” He’s definitely seen this quite a few times during his time in the bubble, but he’s never had to face a team this many times in a row. But with Erik Spoelstra’s creative adjustments and Duncan’s ability to make a defense uncomfortable, they should be able to overcome this situation. The last time Duncan was being blanketed against Toronto, he came out the next game with a purpose to attack the basket. Don’t be surprised if you see Duncan being more active with the ball in his hands in game 2 tomorrow.

Post-Practice Comment #5:

Bam Adebayo seemed to be much more aggressive with the ball in his hands in the second and third quarters than he was in the first yesterday. Bam discussed why he thinks this is. He basically said once guys get glued to their man after guys like Duncan get going, it opens up the floor to take guys off the dribble. This definitely was the case yesterday, since after Goran and Tyler began to score, he took initiative to take Myles Turner to the basket. This also led to a Bam Adebayo mid-range jumper, which opens it up for him even more. This further shows that although Duncan relies on Bam a lot on offense, Bam relies on Duncan just as much.