South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Heat prepare for non-contact NBA
Spoelstra reacts to crackdown on ‘tough’ ‘D’: ‘You cannot just hit people out there’
MIAMI — “We’ve already made those adjustments,” Erik Spoelstra says. “We’ve had to.”
The comment on the practice court at Georgetown University is not offered as forlornly as might be expected.
Because if nothing else, the Miami Heat’s coach is a pragmatist.
And now will have to be again.
Even if it cuts to the core for the team with the mantra of “hardest working, best conditioned, most professional, unselfish, toughest, meanest, nastiest team in the NBA.”
This is not about the more publicized rules changes the NBA has adopted for the coming season, such as the shot clock resetting to 14 seconds on an offensive rebound or broader latitude to assess clear-path fouls. This is about rules already in place, or, more to the point, about a crackdown.
When it comes to “freedom of movement,” the NBA is pulling no punches — by making sure that all punches are pulled.
What it means is that all the clutching and grabbing, the bumping of cutters, the “blowing up” of screens — basically all the stuff that Pat Riley had insisted upon since his South Florida arrival more than two decades ago — has reached the point of zero tolerance.
Against that backdrop, Spoelstra has found himself having to run typically aggressive Heat defensive drills despite stricter rules interpretations that leave players with hands tied behind their backs.
“We still want to bring a physicality with great discipline,” Spoelstra said, intent on giving no quarter amid a revised interpretation that insists on doing so. “It’s a disposition. It’s an effort. It’s a presence. But you have to be masters of technique. You cannot just hit people out there.
“Some of the things we have to adjust the way we used to defend it. We don’t bump people through the lane. And pick-and-rolls, we’re not hitting people. We’re just getting to our spots and being disruptive.”
The league has spent recent years cleaning up mayhem in the post. Now, with so many teams playing switching defenses, the focus has turned to the perimeter. Spoelstra said that actually could help teams with muscled big men, such as the Heat, with Hassan Whiteside.
“The biggest adjustment with the league right now is all the switching,” he said. “And so you’re switching. It’s not a post-up league any more. It still can be, but when people talk about grappling and holding, it’s now switch and a hold to get in front of the big, which was happening to Hassan the other night.
“And unless that’s legislated, that’s a very tough thing to execute against. So we made changes to our defensive system based on Steals needed in the regular season by Dwyane Wade to pass fellow Marquette alum
Doc Rivers for 34th place on the NBA all-time list.
those rules, and hopefully that’ll be legislated so you can’t hold on to Hassan or our big when you switch a small onto him and you throw to him at the rim.”
The upshot for the Heat potentially could be less physicality on defense, and more on offense, provided officials adhere to the revised interpretations of freedom of movement.
“These are the rules that they said they’re going to emphasize,” Spoelstra said, “so we have to adjust accordingly.”
Including having Whiteside dragging into the lane undersized opponents who dare to switch into the post.
“I think your technique, again, becomes really important,” Spoelstra said, “to get the right leverage points so teams can’t hold you, especially those pick and rolls, where everybody’s switching.”
Spoelstra’s preference remains letting the players play, which is why he finds the final two rounds of the playoff particularly appealing.
“Because it becomes just about the players,” he said. “When less is called, it’s more about the brilliance and greatness of what players can do at the highest level. But I get why you can’t do that all season long.” The Heat still plan to be defensively disruptive this season, just in different ways.
In the lane THE WHIRLWIND
Okaro White is living proof of the whirlwind of life as an NBA journeyman, from being dealt by the Heat at last season’s trading deadline to the Atlanta Hawks, then catching on with the Cleveland Cavaliers for their run to the Finals, and then being left with only a non-guaranteed invitation to camp with the San Antonio Spurs. For the former Florida State forward, it is a case of whatever it takes. “After the Cleveland stint, I looked for the best fit for me,” he said before the Spurs’ preseason opener against the Heat. “I had come to San Antonio to play pickup with the guys and that’s how it kind of came about. It’s very similar to Miami — everything is tight knit, everything is run well. It was kind of like an easy choice.” Of making it to the NBA Finals, albeit as an inactive participant, White said, “It was good and bad. As a player you want to be out there. But just having an opportunity to be there, I was able to be around LeBron James. That was amazing.” White was dealt by the Heat while recovering from foot surgery, using the time with the Cavaliers to rehabilitate to what he now says is full health.
BREATH OF NEW AIR
With his offseason shift from the Atlanta Hawks bench to taking over as Milwaukee Bucks coach, Mike Budenholzer injected himself back into the Eastern Conference playoff race. He appreciates he is not alone — for one significant reason. “I think Boston, Philly, Toronto, Indiana, Miami, Washington — you just keep on going down, Detroit — everybody feels like they have a chance,” Budenholzer told ESPN, “maybe more so because LeBron is in the West now.” Of this brave, new James-less world in the East, Washington Wizards coach Scott Brooks said before the start of the preseason, “A ‘LeBron-less East,’ that’s a good way to put it. He’s gone. He got a lot of players cut, traded, coaches fired.’’
NEXT CHALLENGE
Held out of the San Antonio Spurs exhibition against the Heat due to a nagging groin issue, former Hurricane Lonnie Walker had been earning the seal of approval from coach Gregg Popovich. “He’s got speed. He’s aggressive. He’s really intelligent,” Popovich said of his one-and-done first-round pick. “He’s just trying to figure out the game. He wasn’t in college very long. Just diving into the NBA is going to take a bit. We’ll be patient. He’s
got a lot of qualities that are going to help him in the NBA, for sure.” Now the Spurs will have to be patient, with Walker sustaining a knee injury in a Friday exhibition, with surgery and a six- to eight-week absence to follow.
ADDED BONUS
Ruth Riley Hunter said the timing could not be better for her move into a broadcast analyst role with the Heat, arriving as Dwyane Wade is playing out his farewell season. “I’ve been playing with him since his rookie year and on; we were in the Olympics together in 2004,” the former WNBA star said. “He’s someone I’ve had great admiration for and I’ve followed throughout his career. His legacy is so rich, not just what he’s done in bringing championships to Miami, but because of what he’s been able to do with his platform in sports. I think this is going to be a great celebration of what he’s done and the people here in Miami have great affection for what Dwyane has done here for this city. It’s going to be great to call the games and honor him throughout the entire season.” Riley Hunter’s Heat debut is Monday as radio analyst for the preseason game against the Orlando Magic at AmericanAirlines Arena.