Erik Spoelstra Reveals Why He Revamped Miami Heat Offense After Most Embarrassing Moment Of Career

Erik Spoelstra Reveals Why He Revamped Miami Heat Offense After Most Embarrassing Moment Of Career

Welcome on in guys. Tobin here with you and happy Thanksgiving everybody. Thank you for tuning in. Thank you for all of you who uh tune in to this the radio show, you know, support uh all the work that I’m doing. I appreciate you guys. It means the world to me. Um not lost on on me uh how crazy it is that uh that you get to do something like this. And um it’s been awesome. It’s been a fun year, especially for the Heat fans here who are tuning in each and every game. So, I appreciate you guys. The Heat riding right now a sixgame win streak. You got six fireballs on Tyler Heroes Twitter as uh the team is absolutely rolling right now. They got a couple of days off. Well, they’ll be off today on this Thanksgiving. They’re back at it with a practice session tomorrow. And uh big- time matchup coming up on Saturday night against the Detroit Pistons. And then they got the Clippers to close out their home stand on Monday. We’ll be boots on the ground for that one. Um then there was some great stuff that came out of the uh the post game yesterday that was absolutely a delight and Eric Spolstra got his 800th career win and the team as he comes in they just douse him with water and he’s just like confused like for what? For what? and they’re like 800 and it just like he just it it like it didn’t even dawn upon him where he was at. He thought that they had clinched the NBA cup which they have not done yet. They’re in very good position to do it. They did what they had to do yesterday. So if the Heat if the Knicks lose, the Heat are in. So that’s what they need. It’s going to be interesting to see if Giannis will be back. Um you know I’m sure the one thing I’d say with the Bucks is like look they got to get it going. They have not been very good without Giannis. Um, Miami can also advance as a wild card if the Knicks end up winning because the Knicks got them in an NBA Cup game, which everybody’s kind of looked at as the pivot point where all the rebounding stuff got fixed. Khal Wear played awesome and uh the team really really took off and went in a in another direction since that loss in group play to the New York Knicks. So, uh that’s what we’ll be watching out for and also seeing, you know, how this all comes together. Look, there was plenty of talk yesterday after the game about the chemistry, getting everybody situated, getting everybody involved and getting everybody comfortable. Once again, I do think that Heat fans um re I think there’s a couple things that when I was listening to the guys yesterday afterwards, the two things that stood out, one, I don’t think that they were very happy with their performance defensively, and I think everybody’s kind of focused on the points and the offense and everything not look like looking great. I I I do feel like a lot of that’s kind of come down to a couple of guys had bad shooting nights. You know, two guys were coming off of injury. Um there were some new rotations for sure, but you know, for the most part, I think that there were shots that just weren’t going down and you’re going to hit you’re going to hit slumps at certain points of the year. And I do think that the Heat need to be able to find other ways to win. And the good thing about it is like as good as Miami’s pace has been, they’re still like on the fringes of outside the top 10 of an offensive team, the thing that they could really lean into always is their defense. And I think that was one of the things where they weren’t too happy with that performance um and that it wasn’t up to snuff. Now, was that a little bit of hey, they thought Giannis was going to play. There’s a little bit of letup. We have seen that from Miami this year where, you know, maybe the matchup hasn’t been uh what they thought it was going to be, whether it be the Warriors game, the Cavs game, or this game. The good news is is they they’re able to hold on squeaky cheeks on the last couple of games, I give you, but you know, from my perspective, you know, taking the tone of like what they’re upset about and what is really the issues, I think the offense is going to work itself out. like the idea that they’ve already found something that clicks um and that they’re trying one to get everybody back from injury and two figure out rotations and responsibilities and where things are at, who’s at, who’s not, what matchup works. It is going to take a little bit of time. You do have to give it a little bit of of grace. Like, you know, Tyler was saying this yesterday, like I didn’t even have a training camp with these guys. So, I do think that the team is owed a little bit of that by everybody’s measure. It is November. There is a lot of basketball to go. The beauty of it is the Heat are in a good spot right now being seven games over 500 riding this win streak and where they’re at right now. Those are the positive things um as they get into this month of December that’s a little bit softer of a landing. I mean, the the the thing that I think is also great about the Heat is damn they’ve probably been through one of their tougher parts of the schedule already. Now, it’s you could probably flip back and look at and be like, “Ah, the Knicks, the Cavs aren’t maybe what we thought they were.” But that’s just they’re not off to maybe the start everybody expected because they thought that the the the East was going to be absolute dog bleep. So, I am uh I I I think that everything in perspective of this like the Heat are going to have a practice on Friday to get some of this stuff worked out. Um not just kind of in the fly of things of, hey, Tyler’s back and Norm was out, Norm’s back, now everybody’s back. This is our first game, everybody together. let’s figure this all out. The Heat have been practicing a bunch, especially when they’re at home. So, that’s been a good thing for them and now they can have a full workout of everybody and knowing what the responsibilities are and line up for a big time game coming up on Saturday. You know, Detroit’s going to want to make that that was always, always, always a really tough game. I think you could almost look at Detroit games as like the scene of the crime last year between Spo for getting the timeouts, the last really great Jimmy Butler game before Oh, Jimmy Butler. Oh, we got to talk about the Warriors for a second. Um, the last great Jimmy Butler game before he packed it up. Um, and and Tim Hardaway going crazy in overtime and them not winning that game. So I I I think this is all going to be okay. Like for everybody, you know, who get I’m not saying that there’s nothing there. I get it. I get everybody’s, you know, on edge about this because they have this great feeling of how this season has gone, but I I think in perspective like this is this is all going to be okay. And again, you got to trust the coach. The coach who has come down here, 800 career wins. All right. Doing this since since 2008. Um, all these years under his belt. And man, he had these comments this week. It was really, really cool. I talked about this a tiny bit on the radio show, but this was like it was such a cool moment to see like how last year ended and what it’s led to and the pain because I look I was tough on Spo last year. I think a lot of people looked at and said, “Who is this guy? What is he going through?” Also like, you know, felt publicly I know that wasn’t going on behind the scenes, right? like, you know, that he’s got his stuff buttoned up, but like publicly wasn’t necessarily showing um you know, didn’t feel like he was really given the tone of the everything going on around the organization and you know, it was just a disaster. It was a disaster and then they got absolutely crushed. But like seeing the seeing what a maniac this guy is, right? Like when Spo’s really been humbled, when Spo’s really been embarrassed in the past, he usually is o he usually comes back at his best. Whether that be, you know, whether that be the the 2011 finals and, you know, changing the way that the Heat go about things or, you know, whether that be the first year before Jimmy Butler or whether that be this year where every time he does seem to have the tone of when an when an era needs to change and and you just got to believe in that guy’s work ethic to go get it done. But like looking at what he was going through when he was talking about this was absolute insanity cuz you could see the pain, some shame, anger, um reflection, and I was like, damn, dude. Like he could be taken back to that moment immediately and think about how much they got their butts kicked against the Cavaliers and why something had to be done about it. Eric, for those who have not seen you guys a whole lot this year, what what was the moment or is there an epiphany that you know last year 27th in pace? This year you’re first like you know historically like the fastest paced in 44 years. What what what brought you to that moment where you said we got to change? Uh yeah, I mean what uh I’ve told everybody uh in this room several times uh you know we were absolutely outclassed and embarrassed uh in a really bad way uh in the playoffs. Um last time we walked off this floor we uh got beat by 55. It was almost like a misprint. Um it’s the most embarrassing thing I’ve ever been a part of. Um the locker room felt the same way and we had plenty of time uh to re-evaluate things uh during the offseason. We were we were done and wasn’t even May and we were done. Um so we had plenty of time to to uh to work on things. Um and then we just wanted to be open-minded. you know, the the first day of uh the of uh camp, I I said I would just want to embrace, you know, the unknown. And I viewed that as a good thing. You know, that there’s uh some possibilities here, but I also want to do for there to be and continue to be surprises as the season goes along. Was there someone specific? So, that was asked by uh Chuck Cooperstein, who is the longtime voice of the Dallas Mavericks. um legendary voice of the Dallas Mavericks. But uh you you know most embarrassing thing I’ve ever been a part of embracing the unknown. But it was really like the hearkening back of like man look how we didn’t even put up a fight. Look how quick our season is done. No, no, not even game not even gentleman’s sweep like they did the year before to the to the Celtics. that Celtics teams felt inevitable that they were going to win the title, but at least the Heat put up a game, you know, like felt confident going into the game where, you know, uh, they thought, hey, you got a home game. Let’s turn this thing around. Let’s get it going. Let’s wrap our arms around this. No. Done in four. It’s a man who’s been swept. What? This is his third time in his career he’s been swept. I think I think it was three. Three times he’s been swept in his career. Crazy. this is not something that he was uh he was used to and you know to be in a spot where all of a sudden it’s uh it’s just over. But I liked it. I like the fact that like he knew it wasn’t good enough. So many coaches are set in their ways. So many coaches are going to find their method. And also this has been a team that still I think the thing that’s been great is they haven’t sold out on their defensive principles and what he believes in as a coach. They still are a defensive-minded club and you’ve seen that in the way that they’ve leaned into Kell and getting everything that he’s been doing. Obviously, Bam is having, you know, finally, you know, getting a lot of the respect that he deserves defensive not being an all defensive team last year, which was in his words crazy. Um, but also now you have this new thing and these new guys around who are really fueling the heat in a new direction which is really really awesome to see and just speaks to what a coach this guy is and and I think everybody knew that you know but I think that everybody can get burnt burnt out by moments and um just things and wear and tear and all that type of stuff but here he is. So, I think if Heat fans have anything to be thankful for this uh this Thanksgiving day is uh seeing just how this year has gone out and that yeah, last year as awful as it was at least like don’t let it be in vain. Like let something good come out of what was one of the worst heat seasons of all time and it feels like it is. And look, it’s not even like the Heat are looking loud wrong on the Jimmy Butler thing because you could look right now and the Warriors felt basically like they had to spend an extra 60 million guaranteed on Jimmy Butler to bring him in to do right by Steph and to see if they can get like one last glimmer of light of playoff Jimmy. And Steph hasn’t been able to hold up healthwise. And right now, the Warriors feel like a bit of a disaster. Like they’re dealing with all their other drama. a lot of people like looking at this Kaminga thing and side eyeing his injury and there was this whole thing that Jimmy Butler came out with and he’s like he he oh he’s taking him under his wing and he doesn’t feel wanted and he goes that’s a bad place to be you know publicly Jimmy Butler’s giving up uh all these these these complimentary you know quotes about hey we want him we want to embrace him but also this guy’s the master he’s the he’s the Mr. from Miyagi of making a stink. And so like if he did truly take it under his wing and he didn’t feel like if he really was giving Kaminga the advice and he goes, “Didn’t get the contract you wanted? Don’t feel uh loved and wanted. Maybe that knee doesn’t feel so good.” He goes, “What do you mean, Jimmy?” He goes, “Maybe it doesn’t feel so good, Jonathan.” Then it dawns on you. So I don’t know. All I know is he looks absolutely miserable there. It’s hilarious to see. Um Draymond Green, they’re just they’re just two old men yelling at the young guys that they don’t defend well enough. Which by the way, I didn’t stay for that game, but I’m like look, I’m like this wasn’t like they didn’t get give up 150. But that is the thing with Jimmy Butler is like he’s always gonna lean into that. I think Warriors fans who are just discovering this get used to when things aren’t well. even if he scores 15 20 points and you probably need 30 40. Um he’s always going to say the defense is the problem. That’s what he always does. But they’re 10 and 10 right now. And Steph just announced right before I got on here to record, Steph Curry is going to be out at least another week. Could get dicey. Could get kind of dicey. They’re going to need uh they’re going to need Jimbo to dial it up to even stay somewhat afloat with where they’re at right now. Uh that’s that’s that’s that’s absolutely that’s absolutely the case. And then meanwhile across the country and look this was part of the thing like he didn’t get his dough. Now he does. He didn’t get his dough from Miami. He got his dough from the from the Warriors. And I’ve said this like there’s there’s a little part of me that’s disappointed. not in the the the behavior which was atrocious the way things ended in Miami, but when he even got to the Golden State Warriors, it’s like, oh, he’s embracing the Robin, and I’m just like, who is that guy? That’s that’s not even that’s not even the guy I recognize from 2023, you know, the guy who said he’s the best player in the world. And it’s it’s kind of a question of like, yeah, you you kind of resigned yourself. You were able to finagle your way into getting what you wanted and thought you deserved. No hate on it, but the the other side of it is there’s no young guys upholding you here that you really really trust, right? Like all the young guys that maybe he didn’t feel like had all the buy in. Well, I mean, even in the Warriors case where there’s no agendas, it’s uh it’s not looking so great. It’s not looking so great. And meanwhile, over here in Miami, the vibes by my count quite high. quite high and uh and that’s exciting. That’s exciting. It’s exciting. Spoke gets a moment like that last night where his team’s embracing him. It’s excite It is exciting that Tyler Hero has come back absolutely on fire and to see when these guys are all clicking on all cylinders and to see what Khal Wear is is doing this year and DaVon Mitchell. I mean, dude, as as has been pointed out and and not wrong, like they have come out of the other side of this Jimmy Butler fiasco with two guys in DaVon Mitchell and Noran Powell who look like absolute steals. Andrew Wiggins um has been really really effective this year and now you’re getting just really strong performances from P that last year’s draft class of Pella Larson and Kel Wear just absolutely shining like a couple of just just bright lights of heat culture and everything they embody. I think Pella’s like among the leader in charges taken his poor face. I mean his poor face. Um I saw a graphic. I think that DaVon Mitchell is fourth amongst all total assists in the league. What? This is crazy. This is crazy to see how things are going. So, when you sat sit and gather around the turkey, maybe it’s, you know, you you think and they you need that one thing to be thankful for your favorite basketball team. You know, if if nothing else comes to mind, your aunt Mindy, you know, your your your job, whatever. Maybe things aren’t going. At least you got this. This thing is is looking quite right right now.

Tobin discusses Erik Spoelstra getting his 800 career win and not even realizing it. The Heat were more upset with their defense than offense against Milwaukee. Will the team advance in the NBA Cup? Erik Spoelstra earlier in the week got deep on why the Heat needed to completely revamp their offense after the sweep to the Cavs. Jimmy Butler sounds miserable with how the Warriors are playing…oh well! Happy Thanksgiving, Heat Nation.
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