The Miami Heat Have Descended Into Awkwardness: Just Listen To Dwyane Wade And Erik Spoelstra

Nov 29, 2010, 8:34 PM UTC

There’s been a lot of speculation surrounding Erik Spoelstra’s future with the Miami Heat, not to mention his current relationship with superstars like Dwyane Wade. Do the Heat players want him fired?

Well, before we go any further, let’s put this in perspective. If this were a relationship...

Guy: “What problems? (nervous laughter) I think you’re reading too much into this. Yeah, we’ve had some disagreements lately, but that doesn’t mean it’s (exaggerated air quotes) “not working” anymore. This stuff is normal! I was talking to my mom last night and she told me that even the best relationships take a lot of work. We’re just learning to communicate better. We still love each other; we’re just learning how to love each other better! It’s not always fun, but I think it’s healthy.”

Girl: ”(deep sigh) ... I’m not saying I want to end things, but sometimes I wonder whether growth means us growing apart. Yeah, we’ve been together a long time. A lonnnnng time. And people change, ya know? It’s just not fun anymore. He wants to communicate ALL THE TIME. I mean, I swear to God, if he pulls me in for just one more of these “talks”, I’m going to spit in his goddamn face. ... Sorry. That’s not fair. I mean, I still love him. I do. But if it’s not meant to be? That’s part of life.”

Now let’s compare those perspectives with today’s remarks from Spoelstra and Wade.

First, there’s what Spoelstra had to say:

A coach-player relationship in this league often will be confrontational at times. And other times, it’s smooth sailing. But just the dynamic of the competitive nature of everybody, expectations, results -- all these things combine, yeah, sometimes it will get testy. And that’s good. Especially when people have a pure heart and mind about getting better, that just shows that the sides want to make it right. ... We do need to do this together.

And then there’s Dwyane Wade’s side of the story:

You don’t look at him and say, ‘That’s my guy right there,’ ... I came in when Spo was early in his coaching career. He wasn’t even on the bench when I first came in. He’s grown to know me; I’ve grown to know him.
He’s a different person and I’m a different player than when we came in,” Wade continued. “So, I’m not going to say he’s my guy, but he’s my coach, you know. We listen to him and try to execute a game plan and sometimes players and coaches get into disagreements. In general, that’s life.
Right now, in my opinion, no one is doing a good job, we’re 9-8. We’re all in this together. Players not doing a good job; coaches not doing a good job.

It’s sad, unfortunate, and maybe even unfair. But when the writing on the wall is that obvious... It’s only a matter of time. Even when people have a “pure heart and mind”? Yes, even then, Erik.