Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Spoelstra on Sweet 16 Hurricanes: ‘They’re like must-see TV’
PHILADELPHIA — Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra took time Sunday night to get emotional about basketball. No, not his team or even the NBA playoff race. Rather the increasingly compelling story of the Miami Hurricanes’ run the Sweet 16 of the NBA Tournament.
“It was a lot of fun,” he said of the success of Jim Larrañaga’s team. “We all watched it as a staff [Sunday] night, and all the games. UM has a really fun team to watch.
“I even texted that Coach L after the game. They’re like mustsee TV. I love how they play. I love how they defend, and share the ball offensively. It looks like they’re having a lot of fun, as well they should be.
“It’s a great time of year and well-earned for them to get on to that next round.”
The weekend provided to be a split-screen experience, with Heat assistant coach Chris Quinn focused his alma mater Notre Dame losing in the Round of 32.
“I had to watch the Notre Dame game, too, because of somebody on my staff,” Spoelstra said with a wry grin, as he prepared for Monday night’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. “He’s in a poor mood after that.”
A day earlier, Spoelstra watched former Heat championship forward and assistant coach Juwan Howard guide Michigan into the Sweet 16.
“It also was really cool to see Michigan advance, as well,” Spoelstra said.
“And you just see how much of an impact Juwan is having on young men in a leadership role. That doesn’t mean everything is perfect. But he is a true mentor, a leader, somebody that’s invested in young players’ lives. And you just see it every single one of their games, how much they respect him and how hard they play for him, how they play together, because of the culture and style of play that he’s created there. That’s not a coincidence.”
The true Juwan
Spoelstra said he was particularly heartened about the moment when Howard, in the wake of his team’s upset victory, provided a shoulder to lean on and a consoling hug to sobbing Tennessee guard Kennedy Chandler after the Volunteers were eliminated.
It was a moment in sharp contrast to the blow Howard delivered earlier in the season to a Wisconsin assistant coach during a postgame handshake line that led to a five-game suspension.
“A cool moment with Juwan and that young player after the game,” Spoelstra said.
“What happened after the game, offering some really kind words to that young player, that’s the Juwan Howard we all know. He has so many of those kind of stories that nobody has any idea about them because it wasn’t on camera. But it was cool for everybody else to see that side of him.”
Oladipo update
Spoelstra downplayed guard Victor Oladipo remaining behind and missing a second consecutive game due to back spasms.
“He’s just rehabbing and trying to get ready for Wednesday,” he said, with the Heat on Wednesday night hosting the Golden State Warriors on FTX Arena.
As for 36-year-old power forward P.J. Tucker, he is off the injury report, after previously being list with a knee soreness.
And, no, Tucker said Monday, he is not looking for time off.
“I feel like when you stop, then that’s when you’re kind of accepting the mentality that you need rest, that you’re tired,” he said. “It’s a mentality. Over the years, you just want to grind, you want to play, you want to win every single night, and not skip.”
Trial, error
Spoelstra said he did not see a need to go out of his way to experiment with rotation options ahead of the playoffs since they likely will happen organically.
“I just think the schedule will lend itself to some opportunities if guys are in or out of the lineup,” he said, with the Heat with two sets of back-to-back games remaining. “We’ve been dealing with that all year long.
“I’ve mentioned this last week, that this is our norm. I’m not expecting anything different. We’ve been in this world all season. I really commend the way the guys have adjusted to it, and different lineups, and not making excuses for it. Now it’s become a big-time strength of ours.”