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Erik Spoelstra said official’s error that resulted in Heat given timeout w/ 12.6 seconds left when didn't want it: “It was miscommunication,’’ Spoelstra said. “The official apologized. I had told him before that if they make it, we’re calling time out but if they missed it I was waving “Go.’ But they missed, so I was waving ‘Go’ and he just assumed that we wanted a timeout. But those things happen.’’ Sulia

Miami Heat, Erik Spoelstra 

“Absolutely fits into the fabric of our culture,” Erik Spoelstra said. “To be honest, it felt a little bit strange not having him with us. It makes sense, it feels right. And we were also able to do our due diligence through the first half of the season, and keep our flexibility.” Spoelstra noted the additions of Varnado and Chris Andersen since the start of the season. “The bigs that we have fit our personality, shotblockers, high energy, high motor guys,” Spoelstra said. “Juwan gives us the veteran experience, can play two positions, actually three positions, we actually started working him at the ’3′ last season. But it’s more than that with Juwan.” Palm Beach Post

Miami Heat, Erik Spoelstra, Juwan Howard 

Spoelstra, 42, was raised in Portland and attended Jesuit High School and later the University of Portland where he was a four-year starter and member of the school's 1000-point club. His most recent accomplishment was guiding the Heat to their second NBA Finals championship during the 2011-12 season. The humble Coach Spoelstra gives all the credit to his ball club. CSNNW.com

Miami Heat, Coaching, Erik Spoelstra, Portland 

“Certainly I understand that it's our team success that allowed something like that to happen,” Spoelstra said to CSNNW.com. “I'm from Oregon so that means a lot. I still feel like an Oregonian. I hope they see me as an Oregonian. I grew up there and I still support all the Oregon athletics. “It was somewhat ironic that Chip Kelly and I shared that award because he has become a friend, but I'm also a big time Oregon Ducks fan. So that was kind of cool.” CSNNW.com

Miami Heat, Coaching, Erik Spoelstra, Portland 

Marc Stein: Erik Spoelstra confirms to Dr. Jack Ramsay during @NBAonESPNRadio sitdown that @chrisbosh will indeed start for Rajon Rondo in All-Star Game. Twitter @ESPNSteinLine

Miami Heat, Chris Bosh, Erik Spoelstra, All Star Game 

Former Miami and Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy said there's not a "better coach now in the NBA'' than Erik Spoelstra “I don’t think he’s gotten enough credit,’’ Van Gundy said. “People look at their talent and discount the job that he has done. I don’t think there’s a better coach now in the NBA. It’s time for him to get his due.’’ Sulia

Miami Heat, Coaching, Erik Spoelstra, Stan Van Gundy 

A couple of hours earlier, Erik Spoelstra had enjoyed one of the greatest honors of his 42-year-old life, a “pinch yourself moment,” with the president of the United States praising his steady handling of adversity and controversy. Now Spoelstra and his team had moved to the next part of the Jan. 28 program, a visit to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. That’s when something happened that, even after a championship, still occurs once or twice per month. “Where’s the coach?” a Walter Reed staffer asked. “I thought Pat Riley coached the team.” Spoelstra laughed then, and during the recollection. “That doesn’t bum me out at all,” Spoelstra said. “I don’t have an ego about it. That’s partly why we’ve been able to work together effectively for so long.” Palm Beach Post

Miami Heat, Coaching, Pat Riley, Erik Spoelstra 

Former coaches, freer to speak, are no less laudatory. Dr. Jack Ramsay, a Heat broadcaster for seven of Spoelstra’s seasons as an assistant, believes Spoelstra has received too little credit and too much criticism. For Ramsay, the true achievement has been establishing authority: “He’s coach of the team. You don’t have to say any more than that.” Flip Saunders, now an ESPN analyst, thinks the public underestimates the challenge of guiding gifted squads: “When you don’t have a lot of talent, you get them to do whatever you want them to do, because if they don’t perform at that level, they get beat pretty bad.” Saunders cites calmness, flexibility and innovation as Spoelstra strengths, noting how Spoelstra has “unleashed” more 3-point shots while experimenting with more zone defense. “He is not afraid to change and adapt his style,” Saunders said. “While sometimes when you coached against Pat, it was, ‘This is how we are going to play, by hell and highwater.’ That’s important because players have changed, and you have to be able to adapt to what they do.” Palm Beach Post

Miami Heat, Coaching, Pat Riley, Erik Spoelstra 

Ethan J. Skolnick: Asked Jeff Van Gundy about Spoelstra yesterday: "After watching his team a lot, there’s no question this is a superior-ly coached team." Twitter @EthanJSkolnick

Miami Heat, Coaching, Erik Spoelstra 

Joseph Goodman: SPOELSTRA: “When the lights are bright and the popcorn’s popping, our guys come to life." Twitter @JoeGoodmanJr

Miami Heat, Erik Spoelstra 

Chris Tomasson: I asked Spoelstra if Bosh lobbying him for All-Star start: “Not at all. I figured he’d try to bribe me last night but he didn’t at all.’’ Twitter @christomasson

Miami Heat, Chris Bosh, Erik Spoelstra, All Star Game 

The #Heat Twitter account showed a photo of Erik Spoelstra watching Heat tape on laptop while watching Super Bowl. "I’m not a total geek,'' Spoelstra said. "I mean, I did. We were there an hour before the game started. So I watched film during that hour, and I watched on and off during the commercials of the first quarter. After the first quarter, I put the computer in my bag, and I enjoyed the rest of the game with our staff and the players.” Sulia

Miami Heat, Coaching, Erik Spoelstra, NFL 

Chris Tomasson: When President Obama greeted #Heat assistant coach Bob McAdoo last week at White House Obama cracked to McAdoo he "didn't play any defense'' Twitter @christomasson

Miami Heat, Coaching, Erik Spoelstra, NFL, Bob McAdoo 

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra had yet to give it any thought. After all, he had only known he was the coach of the Eastern Conference All-Star team for a few minutes. His first decision is whether to start center Chris Bosh in the game Feb. 17 in Houston. He leaned toward having three Heat starters, with Bosh joining LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. The last team to have three All-Star starters was the Los Angeles Lakers, who had Magic Johnson, A.C. Green and James Worthy in 1990. "I've only given this thought for the last nine minutes," Spoelstra said. "But I will tell you this, unequivocally, that my loyalties are first and foremost always with the Miami Heat." South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Erik Spoelstra 

Ethan J. Skolnick: Spoelstra didn't know Rondo was out for the season: "Jeez, that's awful." Twitter @EthanJSkolnick

Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Rajon Rondo, Erik Spoelstra, Injuries 

Nuggets coach George Karl, who had Andersen in Denver from 2008-12, said he spoke to Heat coach Erik Spoelstra about Andersen's character. Karl said Nuggets assistant John Welch, who is close to Spoelstra, also talked to the Miami coach about the high-flying player known as Birdman. "I was very happy about that,'' Karl said before Sunday night's game at the Pepsi Center against Oklahoma City about Andersen signing with the Heat 12 days after he worked out for the team. "I think Bird knows that we've given him pretty good endorsements to Miami people. What he's going through and what happened (with his legal situation), I think will go by the wayside." FOXSports Florida

Denver Nuggets, Miami Heat, George Karl, Erik Spoelstra, Chris Andersen 

Mark Kreidler: NBA expert @Chris Mannix says Heat coaches having a tough time getting team focused. "It's like they're sleepwalking through games." Twitter @MarkKreidler

Miami Heat, Coaching, Erik Spoelstra 

Ethan J. Skolnick: Spoelstra on Wade: "We accept it but we do no agree with it." Twitter @EthanJSkolnick

Miami Heat, Dwyane Wade, Erik Spoelstra 

That was a large reason for some of his more uncharacteristic performances, particularly in mid-November. And it's why his coaches and teammates paid little attention to his struggles. They all knew what to expect. "We knew he just needed some more time," Erik Spoelstra said. "Everybody wanted to make assumptions and evaluations then, which is totally ridiculous." ESPN.com

Miami Heat, Dwyane Wade, Erik Spoelstra 

Whatever it is, Miami coach Erik Spoelstra has been talking to Riley, the Heat president, about the challenges of his team repeating. The only time Riley, who won four crowns with the Lakers and one with Miami, was able to do it was in 1987 and 1988 in Los Angeles. Spoelstra wouldn't reveal specifics on what Riley has told him. But, considering Riley, Chuck Daly, Phil Jackson and Rudy Tomjanovich are the only NBA coaches in the past four decades to have repeated, Spoelstra sure likes having one of them in a nearby office. "He's been a great help just from a great perspective just from some of the things he went through in the ‘80s with those great Lakers teams," Spoelstra said. "There's some similarities we've been talking about." FOXSports Florida

Miami Heat, Pat Riley, Erik Spoelstra