Erik Spoelstra Interview

My Sports Sunday conversation with new Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra can be found at the NewsRadio 610 WIOD page. That means GO!!

Among things I took out:

-Considering that Spoe may have never partaken in a non-Sun Sports halftime interview in 13 years, it's incredible how sharp and prepared and natural he is. It's fair to not immediately anoint him a success, but I really wouldn't worry about the lack of head coaching experience.

-He won't be a puppet the way Tony Sparano is expected to be(Pat Riley allows his coaches a lot more freedom), but make no mistake, Spoelstra is an extension of Riles. The defensive first culture will be upheld. The weight and body fat requirements will be there. Now it's a question of whether he will be flexible to the personnel, or if the personnel will have to fully adapt to the culture. Probably a mixture of both.

-Between talking with Spoelstra and a couple people in the organization, I don't think the Heat trade the pick no matter where they land. While I've speculated for weeks that Derrick Rose is the guy targeted at No. 1, there seems to be a lot of interest in Brook Lopez potentially at No. 3. And I've heard both Jared Bayless and Kevin Love prominently mentioned. Both interesting because I don't think a shoot first point guard is a great choice with Dwyane, and while I'm on the Kevin Love will succeed in the NBA bandwagon, top 4 is awfully high. But it seems like all these options are more appealing to the braintrust than acquiring a veteran in lieu of the pick.

-Perhaps most interesting are Spoelstra's comments about D-Wade. We know they have, if not a friendship, then at least an extreme respect for one another. But while some people in the organization seem to begrudgingly go with the company line of praising Dwyane's Olympic aspirations, I think Spoelstra genuinely believes it's the best thing for Wade. And I agree 100 percent. Wade performed much better on back to back and 1 day of rest this year than 2+ days rest. Barring injury, the Olympics will get Dwyane into game speed and shape much easier than anything else.

-Of course, all of these could be smokescreens. After all, Pat was the master of saying something one day and pulling a reversal the next. Stan Van Gundy had Riley's bluntness(without as much charisma), but didn't pull many sleight of hands. Where does Spoelstra lie, excuse the pun? Stay tuned.