HoopsHype.com Rumors

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 

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