Erik Spoelstra
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Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra called out his team prior to the Heat's win over the Utah Jazz.
Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra called out his players following an uneven first half of the season.
After the Heat’s 147-116 win over the Utah Jazz on Saturday, January 25, Heat center Bam Adebayo revealed that Spoelstra held a team meeting in which he called out the players.
“You’re definitely clearing the air, clearing the room,” Adebayo said. “All being said, we like it when coach confronts us; he just has to prepare when we bark back. We’re all grown men at the end of the day, so if we don’t like what he said, we can always have a man-to-man conversation.”
Adebayo finished with 26 points and 15 rebounds in the win over the Jazz. He hit a team-high four threes and finished with a plus/minus of +19.
Spoelstra has earned a reputation while coaching the Heat as a tough coach. He’s a staple of “Heat culture.”
After the game, he praised Adebayo for listening to his message.
“Tonight we wanted to make sure we came out with more force and Bam set the tone for that,” Spoelstra said. “He was on the offensive glass, he was defensively calling out schemes … knocking down shots, he’s really showing his versatility right now offensively.”
Erik Spoelstra Recently Called Out Nikola Jovic For Poor Play
Nikola Jovic
GettyMiami Heat forward Nikola Jovic was called out by coach Erik Spoelstra for his poor play.
Erik Spoelstra has called out multiple Heat players this year publicly, recently calling out Nikola Jovic for a string of poor performances.
“We have to show some grit, and Niko’s got to show some grit right now to be able to fight through it,” Spoelstra said. “You’re always going to go through ups and downs, and when it’s a little bit tough, that’s when, actually, you can have a great breakthrough.”
Jovic took the criticism to heart, rebounding with a solid performance against the Utah Jazz. He finished with one of his best statistical games of the season, scoring 23 points in 25 minutes.
After the game, Spoelstra addressed Jovic, making the proper adjustments.
“I don’t think we need to overexaggerate or process it,” Spoelstra said. “This is what a lot of players go through. He just has to stay the course. He’ll be just fine. He’s important to what we’re trying to do. These are great opportunities for growth.”
The Miami Heat’s Prolific Offense Led to Another Win
The Miami Heat’s new fast-paced offense approach shines through when the team can effectively make shots. The Heat finished the game shooting 40% from three, with seven players making at least one three-pointer.
With 147 points, it marks the eighth time this year the Heat has scored 140 points or more. They are 8-0 in those games.
They will have a chance to build off their dominant offensive performance when they travel to face the Phoenix Suns on Sunday, January 25. The Heat and Suns previously played on January 13, with the Heat winning 127-121.