National Basketball Association

Riley gives Spoelstra vote of confidence

Published Mar. 10, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Heat President Pat Riley is giving coach Erik Spoelstra a vote of confidence, even with the team mired in its roughest stretch of the season.

In an interview with The Star-Ledger of Newark, N.J., Riley dismissed any notion of Spoelstra being on shaky ground as ''the media being neurotic.'' Riley made the remarks on Wednesday while attending the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden.

Riley has remained largely silent about the state of the Heat this season, other than a few remarks made at a charity event at his home.

Miami entered Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers having dropped five straight to fall to third in the Eastern Conference.