NBA FINALS: HEAT VS. NUGGETS

June 9, 2023

Erik Spoelstra

Miami Heat

Game 4: Pregame

Q. We've been talking for days that Tyler is not yet clear. I assume that's the case, but what is it that's preventing him from being cleared?

ERIK SPOELSTRA: He just started this process while we were in Denver. So it's one thing to be able to go through all of this. It's another thing to be cleared to play an NBA Finals game.

Taking it one step at a time, and we are all really encouraged by the progress.

Q. The whole mark of this Heat playoff run has been the ability to respond to adversity. Can you talk about the mental toughness that takes and whether it has a cumulative effect for better or worse. And also, if I may impose, you've coached a team where the best player in the world, the most well-known player in the world has come to the team. How do you think that affects how you prepare for games, in light of Lionel Messi coming to Miami?

ERIK SPOELSTRA: (Laughter) I'll start with that one. My two sons are just starting to get into soccer, football (laughter). So hopefully we can get a ticket and hopefully I can take them to some games.

In terms of mental toughness, yeah, that's like a muscle. First you want to get the type of guys that are built for this, and then you work at it constantly through the regular season and the playoffs.

And we had enough practice at that during the regular season, a lot of tough times and I thought the guys really handled it the right way in terms of letting that be something that made us stronger collectively, learn from those lessons.

And then, you know, during the playoffs, it's always about that. It's how you respond to things that you don't necessarily anticipate or things that you thought would go differently. That's so much of the playoffs.

And with this group, you know, the one thing I've definitely taken from them is they have a competitive will that's as strong as any group I've been around.

Q. You said a few times during this playoff run that it's not necessarily about scheme, it's about asking your guys to do tough things. What do you feel like is the toughest thing that you've asked the team to do during this series specifically?

ERIK SPOELSTRA: You know, find a way to win. This is -- this is great competition. You know, I say that over and over, but this is what you want the Finals to be like.

Our guys, when I say they have a competitive will, they love to compete. They love big challenges. They love to have everything out there in front of everybody to see between the four lines, and you play for it. You compete for it, and you decide it between those four lines.

And this is a very compelling series. I think it's great for the fans out there because you're seeing some great, competitive basketball that doesn't necessarily fit into the conventional box, certainly their two guys and their team, and a thousand percent our guys.

That's not the conventional way. But, you know, it can be done differently when it's about winning.

Q. Are there things that you can tell right away from a game, maybe physicality, rebounding, things that you can look for right away that can set the tone for a game at all?

ERIK SPOELSTRA: Sometimes yes. Sometimes no. I thought we got off to a great start the other night, and that didn't necessarily translate as the game went on. They started to impose their competitive will on the game, and the game was more on their terms, more -- the tenor of the game was really more in their favor, and that's typically what happens when you're in the center of the ring, toe-to-toe. It's who can get who to blink; who can get who to have to adjust; who can get the game on their terms, and they were able to do that.

But you know, we are fully capable of doing that as well tonight.