Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Spoelstra: ‘Heat Lifer’ in the best of ways
MIAMI — It sounds cute, like flipping through an old yearbook, how Erik Spoelstra walked coaches’ dogs in his role as video coordinator, worried over penmanship before a promotion to advance scout and didn’t own a single suit when named an assistant coach.
Pat Riley, in fact, reached into his legendary closet and gave his new assistant three suits back in 2001 to dress for games. Problem was, Riley was taller, and wore his suits longer to begin with.
“I looked like a character out of the movie ‘Big,’ or the singer in Talking Heads, coming out for my first few games as an assistant coach,’’ Spoelstra said. “Finally, friends said, ‘It’s great you have three suits from the legendary Pat Riley, but you’re better off having him sign them and put them in a frame.’ ”
There were more lessons to come. Like packing clothes.
“I’d stuff my suits in a duffel bag,’’ he said. “[Riley] noticed one day when I pulled out this crumpled shirt that I wore the previous road game. I was double-wearing. It was so wrinkled. He said, ‘Seriously, that’s what you’re wearing tonight?’ ”
Nothing has changed all these years later. Not really. Except somewhere along the way, Spoelstra became the Heat Lifer the team tried to market players as being. He grew up and grew great as he did.
He’s still more substance than style, too. Oh, his clothes fit these days and look NBA nice. But he minimizes thinking about them by organizing suits by color — black, charcoal gray and blue — in his closet.
Below them hang dress shirts and simple ties that match any suit.
“There’s a President Obama quote I like: “I have to make so many decisions in this
position I don’t want to make decisions on suits and ties,’ ” Spoelstra said. “That’s exactly how I feel.”
All this trip down memory and fashion lane came up, because someone told Spoelstra, a couple weeks from 47, he’s now spent half his life with the Heat. He had a normal reaction. “That’s scary,” he said. By now, though, you know there are two reasons the Heat have a chance to be something more than just another team this year. The first reason is they have a roster full of good players whose talents mix well and think they can be great.
Hassan Whiteside has to prove he’s an All-Star. Goran Dragic has to prove last year was who he is. Dion Waiters has to prove he can stay healthy. On down the line, all of them wanting to prove something, mainly that their 30-11 finish last year was no fluke.
The second reason the Heat has a chance is Spoelstra. For years, he’s been one of the top coaches in the league. He’s the longest-tenured one after San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich and only one of three to win more than one title.
The mark of Spoelstra’s team is simple: They get substantially better as every season moves along. The only difference this year is they’re expected to hit the court winning like they went off it last year.
“Hopefully we’ll be better,’’ he said, not meaning so much by the record as by the level of play. “I hope we’re not the same.”
That’s the challenge this year, too. All anyone’s saying is it’s the same team. The roster is almost the same. The roles are the involved players are, too.
“We have to make sure we’re not trying to re-create last year,’’ Spoelovertime stra said. “I loved last year’s team. I loved the way we finished up. At the end of the day, in a bottom-line business, we didn’t make the playoffs.
“We’re not wired in this building just to play sentimental seasons. I love the building blocks we created last year and in this offseason, but we’re looking for more. We have great expectations.”
It’s a few minutes after the final practice before the seasons starts. Riley is off to the side talking with Nick Arison, the Heat’s CEO. Justise Winslow remains on the court, going on shooting. The plane to Orlando was coming.
Spoelstra had just talked about how, “You’d better have goose bumps before a new season.”
Time’s a curiosity. It’s a half a life getting goose bumps in some role for Spoelstra. His clothes are better, and contract is richer. But the thrill remains the ball going up in the air.