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"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 

George Karl and Erik Spoelstra are two of the leading candidates for the Coach of the Year award. and neither wants it. The Nuggets coach made that clear with some recent comments, and Spoelstra — when asked by the Palm Beach Post after Thursday’s practice — echoed Karl’s sentiments. “I tell you what, it’s unanimous,” Spoelstra said. “Every coach knows the history of that award.” The history is that winners often get fired within a couple of years. Palm Beach Post

Denver Nuggets, Miami Heat, George Karl, Coaching, Erik Spoelstra 

Joseph Goodman: The sister of Heat assistant coach Dan Craig was on Mile 21 of the Boston Marathon during explosion, according to coach Erik Spoelstra. Twitter @JoeGoodmanJr

Miami Heat, Erik Spoelstra, Boston 

After clinching the top seed in the Eastern Conference on March 29, Miami secured home court throughout the playoffs with the victory over Washington. Miami improved to 62-16, setting a franchise record for victories in a season. "It's a minor thing. We want to keep the main thing the main thing," Spoelstra said. "But at the same time, it is a nice accomplishment for our franchise and everybody involved. ... We had to earn home court so we'll have to prove it now when we get there." USA Today Sports

Miami Heat, Erik Spoelstra 

His good friend and teammate LeBron James nods in agreement. He hears the comments and sees Wade's frustration. "It was pissing him off more than anything while he was getting jabbed by everybody saying he's not the same," James told USA TODAY Sports. Wade has missed the past five games with a sore knee and ankle. Last season, Wade struggled through the playoffs with a sore left knee that required offseason surgery. Giving him time to heal has been an easy decision for Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. James, Chris Bosh and Mario Chalmers have also missed some time recently with injury, they have also had recent rest. USA Today Sports

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Erik Spoelstra 

For Pat Riley, it's sort of a role reversal. He recently received a text message from Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra at 3 a.m. It read: "I'm jealous." The fact Riley was comfortably sleeping at home while Spoelstra was probably on a flight home or breaking down film was another reminder why he left coaching. He can now sit back and enjoy the team he has built. "It's a reversal of what used to happen," said Riley, now the team president. "(Spoelstra) gets up at 5 a.m., now and goes to Dunkin Donuts and I don't. I get up at 11 o'clock and walk into the office with (general manager) Andy (Elisburg) and (CEO) Nick (Arison) and we sit down and we talk about nothing. We're just going to watch this team win." South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Miami Heat, Coaching, Pat Riley, Erik Spoelstra, Micky Arison 

Erik Spoelstra talks about whether stars LeBron James & Dwyane Wade (& Ray Allen) might return Saturday vs. Philly “We’ll see,’’ Spoelstra said. “We’ll continue to re-evaluate our guys. Our guys are doing their part. They’re getting a great deal of treatment.’’ Sulia

Miami Heat, Ray Allen, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Erik Spoelstra, Injuries 

The Miami Heat are expected to be without LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Mario Chalmers and Ray Allen because of various nagging injuries for Friday's road game against the Charlotte Bobcats. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said all four players continued to receive treatment during Thursday's light practice at AmericanAirlines Arena before the team's flight to Charlotte. James, Wade and Chalmers have missed the past three games and have not played since Friday's win at New Orleans. ESPN.com

Miami Heat, Ray Allen, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Erik Spoelstra, Mario Chalmers, Injuries 

Tom Haberstroh: Spoelstra said LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, injuries and all, tackled teammates in the tunnel after the win. Twitter @tomhaberstroh

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Erik Spoelstra 

Ken Berger: Raucous celebration in Heat locker room can be heard from hallway as Erik Spoelstra addresses media in Boston. Twitter @KBergCBS

Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Erik Spoelstra 

Spoelstra said it still is too early to begin thinking about resting players for the postseason. The Heat are 11.5 games ahead of the Pacers, with earning the No. 1 seed just a formality. Still, Spoelstra said he won't consider sitting starters until the last week of the season. "We're very aware of everything," Spoelstra said. "Our guys are playing real level minutes right now and we have depth and we're really fortunate to have a deep team. We've played 10-man rotations. I don't think LeBron, Dwyane and Chris are used to playing this few minutes, really not since their rookie years." South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Miami Heat, Erik Spoelstra 

Christopher A. Vito: Miami's Erik Spoelstra on Pat Riley: "We literally talk every day...& we've never talked about our streak." Heat go for 20 in row vs Sixers Twitter @ChrisVito

Miami Heat, Coaching, Pat Riley, Erik Spoelstra 

Coach Erik Spoelstra offered a surprising opinion before Tuesday’s game, asserting that “I don’t think last year’s [Heat] team is good enough to win this year.” He added the level the Heat is “playing at right now might not be good enough. We don’t know how good we can become.” Magic Johnson said on ABC on Sunday that he spoke to Heat president Pat Riley on Friday “and he said, ‘We’re really not playing that well. We’re not playing our best basketball. We’re just playing good enough to beat everybody.’ He says they have room for important and he’s looking for improvement.” Miami Herald

Miami Heat, Pat Riley, Erik Spoelstra, Magic Johnson 

Miami Heat Head Coach Erik Spoelstra finally brought out his significant other in public Saturday night. The notoriously private boyish 42-year-old stunned observers by stepping onto the red carpet of Heat broadcasters Eric Reid and Tony Fiorentino‘s yearly fundraiser with a beautiful, and much younger, brunette. The lady’s name is Nikki Sapp, and she started dancing at Heat games in 2006 — just after turning 18. The now 24-year-old Miami native shares time between Los Angeles and Miami because she’s a director at the famous Guy Hepner art gallery in West Hollywood, Calif., according to her website. Miami Herald

Miami Heat, Erik Spoelstra