HoopsHype.com Rumors

He's the prototypical energy-and-effort guy off the bench, which is what Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was convinced his team needed. So he pestered Heat president Pat Riley for years about trying to bring Andersen — who worked out for the club as a non-drafted, non-tattooed free agent a decade or so ago — into the mix. "He's one of a kind," Heat forward Shane Battier said. "I've never had a teammate like him. But he's a great teammate." FOXnews.com

Miami Heat, Free Agency, Pat Riley, Erik Spoelstra, Shane Battier 

The man who once wanted no part of playing center continues to embrace it and thrive — outplaying Chicago’s Joakim Noah, ranking among the playoff leaders in blocked shots, and raising his rebounding numbers from the regular season, when he averaged a career-low 6.8. All the while, he causes fits for opposing teams by drawing centers out to the perimeter, then sinking silky jumpers over their outstretched arms. “He is our most important player for a reason,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We’ve said that for three seasons. He allows everything to work on both ends of the court.” Miami Herald

Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Erik Spoelstra, Joakim Noah 

Jeff Zillgitt: Heat coach Erik Spoelstra: "It’s a shame. I think everybody would have liked to have seen both teams healthy." Twitter @JeffZillgitt

Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Erik Spoelstra, Injuries 

Chris Tomasson: Erik Spoelstra on LeBron trying to become 90, 50, 40 guy in shooting percentages; "I wouldn't put any ceiling on him in any category.'' Twitter @christomasson

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Erik Spoelstra 

Jeff Zillgitt: Spoelstra on Wade: "Once he's cleared to go, in my mind, he's good to go. ... He had a very good yesterday. He had a good shootaround today" Twitter @JeffZillgitt

Miami Heat, Dwyane Wade, Erik Spoelstra, Injuries 

In 1995, Spoelstra had his choice of two job offers, and family seemingly on both sides of the fence. His father, Jon, a former executive with the Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets and New Jersey Nets, remembers both opportunities holding appeal. Erik, his only son and the younger of two children, could continue playing basketball professionally in Germany or he could accept a position with the Miami Heat as a video coordinator. USA Today Sports

Miami Heat, Erik Spoelstra, Jon Spoelstra 

There was a catch with the NBA gig. "It wasn't a guarantee that it would last past the summer," Spoelstra told USA TODAY Sports. "I was not set on that. It was probably the toughest decision I had made in my life, because I just had an opportunity in Germany for another two-year deal. I was living the dream over there." USA Today Sports

Miami Heat, Erik Spoelstra 

"I don't know if these are the right words," Jon Spoelstra said, "but she said, 'What the (expletive) are you thinking? Do you realize how difficult it is to get into the NBA? Just because Dad is there doesn't mean it's easy. To get a job on the basketball side? You have to be an idiot.' He called me back a day later and said, 'I changed my mind.'" Erik Spoelstra has been in South Beach ever since, ascending from poring over video to scout to director of scouting to assistant coach and, finally, to head coach in 2008. USA Today Sports

Miami Heat, Erik Spoelstra, Jon Spoelstra 

"I don't care," Spoelstra said when the issue of Thibodeau's comments was broached after his team's Sunday practice at the University of Illinois-Chicago. "I don't spend a lot time thinking about Tom is saying. I don't. South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Chicago Bulls, Tom Thibodeau, Erik Spoelstra 

Ethan J. Skolnick: Spoelstra: "I don't spend a lot of time thinking about what Tom is saying." Twitter @EthanJSkolnick

Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Tom Thibodeau, Erik Spoelstra 

Ethan J. Skolnick: Spoelstra on Dr. Jack: "I've known Jack since I was 8 years old. We're just hoping and praying everything is OK. He's a Heat family member." Twitter @EthanJSkolnick

Miami Heat, Erik Spoelstra, Jack Ramsay 

Tom Haberstroh: Erik Spoelstra on COY: "Congratulations to George Karl, but I know he didn't want it either. No disrespect." Twitter @tomhaberstroh

Denver Nuggets, Miami Heat, George Karl, Erik Spoelstra 

Ethan J. Skolnick: Spoelstra: "I'm probably more pleased this morning than George Karl. It's not quite as definitive as the SI jinx, but it's pretty close." Twitter @EthanJSkolnick

Denver Nuggets, Miami Heat, George Karl, Erik Spoelstra 

"We have to prepare for the awareness that he could possibly come back," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of Rose after Miami's two-hour workout Sunday. "That's all the thought we're giving it. If he does (return in the series), we'll try to be as aggressive as we normally are." ESPN.com

Miami Heat, Erik Spoelstra, Derrick Rose, Injuries 

Ira Winderman: Erik Spoelstra says Dwyane Wade will be a game time decision today against the Bucks. Twitter @IraHeatBeat

Miami Heat, Dwyane Wade, Erik Spoelstra, Injuries 

Signs are pointing to Dwyane Wade sitting out Game of the Heat's first-round playoff series against the Bucks on Sunday. Wade did not participate in the Heat's full-court practice drills on Saturday at Marquette and Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Wade's status was day to day. The Heat plays the Bucks at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, meaning Wade will not have a full day to receive treatment on his knee before tipoff. Spoelstra said that Wade "is improving" and that the Heat's training staff will evaluate his injuries before game time and then make a decision. Miami Herald

Miami Heat, Dwyane Wade, Erik Spoelstra, Injuries 

Charles F. Gardner: Spoelstra on Sanders: "Right now he's doing it off instincts and he's as good as anybody, in terms of reading when to come to help." Twitter @cf_gardner

Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Larry Sanders, Erik Spoelstra 

He needed just 11 shots, he made nine of them, to pile up his game-high 27 points. The 10 rebounds and eight assists, nearly each and every one of them a momentum shifter in one way or another, completed his performance. “He really just let the game come to him,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “He facilitated quite a bit for us. He was creating triggers a lot of times by setting screens and generated a lot of offense just by doing that. It was a very mature, high IQ game. Yeah, that’s about as an efficient as you can get. He made that look easier than it was.” NBA.com

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Erik Spoelstra 

A calm and composed James can nitpick his own work, highlighting his five turnovers and the Heat’s 19 that resulted in 22 points for the Bucks, who will get another dose of this in Game 2 Tuesday night. “That is the disappointing thing for us,” James said, “The 19 turnovers and 22 points. A lot of those 19 turnovers were careless, including myself, I had five. You know how I am about turning the ball over. I had five of them and three or fourth of them were careless and unforced. We can’t allow that to happen.” NBA.com

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Erik Spoelstra 

After watching Spoelstra lead his team to a franchise-record 66 wins this season, Riley did not comment on Spoelstra's contract status. He did, however, endorse Spoelstra for NBA Coach of the Year. "Obviously, I'm biased," Riley said. "I think he deserves that. Don't penalize him because he has a great team. If he's deserving, he should get it." ESPN.com

Miami Heat, Coaching, Pat Riley, Erik Spoelstra