Sports Radio Interviews

Erik Spoelstra On The MVP, Beasley and the Hawks

I really see no hope for the Miami Heat in this upcoming playoff series with the Atlanta Hawks.  Everyone and their mother are on the Heat’s bandwagon because of one reason, Dwyane Wade.  MVP year?  Most definitely.  But, Atlanta took 3 of 4 from the Heat this season ’cause they match up well with Wade.  I’ll let Heat Head Coach Erik Spoelstra explain Miami’s issues in this series below, but with a supporting cast like Wade’s, I don’t see players stepping up to support him.  Wade is definitely good enough to steal a couple games on his own, and he’ll have to in A-T-L if his team has any hope.  One person Wade gets along with well is his Head Coach.  Spoelstra was an Assistant Coach with Miami before Wade entered the league in 2003.  Since, Wade has been tight with Spoelstra as a 1-on-1 helper in practice, etc.  So, when it was time to find a Head Coach this past offseason, Wade was likely asked if Spoelstra should be promoted.  The 38-year-old has had to do a lot of teaching because of the team’s youth – a few of Miami’s top players are in their rookie or second year.  It’s been a patient climb for Spoelstra which has been given a foundation by the incredible play of Dwyane Wade.  I just think when it comes playoff time and adjustments have to be made, Spoelstra’s youth and the simple fact Miami is playing a superior team will get them bounced.  Spoelstra joined Fox Sports Radio to discuss who he’s got for MVP, if people should be so hard on Michael Beasley, and what his team can do to beat Atlanta.

On why Dwyane Wade deserves the MVP award:

“We think he’s playing at the highest level of anyone in the league.  LeBron has had a fantastic season too, and what they’ve done this year, I don’t think anyone predicted that, a 60-plus win season.  But, Dwyane has done it on so many levels with us: the leadership, the offensive just absolute outbursts that everybody’s been seeing.  But, the thing he has been doing in 4th quarters, in close games, in overtimes; he’s won so many games with these 20-point quarters.  And, also defensively, I think he’s a first team defensive guy this year all the way with the way he’s been blocking shots, deflections, steals and all these things, really when it counts.  I think he’s made the most 4th quarter plays of anyone else in the league.”

On why Wade and the rest of the Heat haven’t played well versus the Hawks this season:

“They’re a very good defensive team; they bring a lot of athleticism and size.  Other than their point guard, it seems like everyone on their team is 6’8″ or above withgreat length and a lot of leaping ability to meet you at the rim.  They’ve done a great job of compacting the paint, playing him different ways on pick-and-rolls, putting bodies in front of him, and whenever he gets to the rim, there’s a lot of long guys and athletic guys meeting him up there.  So, it’ll be our challenge to try and create as much space and energy as we can to open up the floor.  We’re aware of what they’ve done – they’ve done a very good job, on not only Dwyane, but the rest of our team.  We’ve struggled to score and we’ll try and to pick up the tempo and open up the floor a little bit so we can score.”

Spoelstra on the development of Michael Beasley and the full interview after the jump.

On the perceived slow development of the #2 overall pick, rookie Michael Beasley:

“People were way too critical early on.  People want accountability, they want discipline, they want all those things and when you actually do it, then everybody’s up in arms about it.  Michael was just going through a normal rookie curve process that’s a little bit more stark with bigger players in this league.  It usually takes a little bit longer to develop.  So, he had a lot to learn… Things were coming at him so fast that he wasn’t able to be an instinctual player ’cause he was trying to absorb it all.  And, he is a great kid, he really wants to be great.  So, he’s open to all of it.  And, finally, the last 20 games or so he’s starting to click – the game’s starting to slow down for him and he’s able to be an instinctual player now.  He’s got incredible gifts to be able to score the basketball, to shoot it, to drive it, great touch, great hands.  And, defensively, I mean he’s really made remarkable progress… I think that says something about how open he was to coaching and trying to get better.”

Listen to Erik Spoelstra on Fox Sports Radio

Tags: Atlanta Hawks, Basketball, Dwyane Wade, Eric Spolestra, LeBron James, Miami Heat, MVP, NBA