Spoelstra wants to keep things simple as Heat, Dragic learn each other
MIAMI -- The Miami Heat returned to practice Tuesday, a day after handily beating the Philadelphia 76ers, but still with plenty of work to be done to get old and new teammates together on the same page.
For as good as newcomer Goran Dragic looked, head coach Erik Spoelstra is aware that one victory against a lesser foe doesn't hide the fact that the team still has to put forth a more complete and cohesive effort on defense against tougher opponents.
With so much to cover as well as Wednesday's road game against the Orlando Magic to prepare for, Spoelstra explained there still wasn't time to open up the playbook.
"Not today, we really empathized the same things," he said. "There were about eight to 10 possessions (against the 76ers) where we were not organized and not in the right spot in our basic package right now. We need to clean that up and I don't know how long that will take. I'm not going to put a timetable on it. Some of the more important things like spacing and moving the ball and sharing the ball, helping each other get the best available shot -- those are more important then what plays or how much I add to the package."
In just his second game with the Heat, Dragic was their motor as he led his new team in a dominant third quarter that powered the victory. But the first half ended in a virtual tie after the Heat allowed the 76ers -- the worst shooting team in the NBA at 41.2 percent -- to shoot better then 50 percent from the field, including 5-9 from 3-point territory, and score 60 points. Those numbers plummeted in the second half as Miami increased their defensive effort with improved rotations to help put pressure on Philadelphia's shooters.
After practice, Dragic, who scored 23 points and dished out 10 assists against the 76ers, broke down to FOXSportsFlorida.com what Spoelstra had the team work on.
"We went through defensive motions, how to defend in certain situations like pick-and-rolls on top or on the side," he said. "Of course from there, (we went over) what kind of rotations we're going to do. It helped me a lot, this practice today, because now I feel really more comfortable and every practice is going to be better."
Dwyane Wade understands there will be some growing pains as the team must adjust and adapt to Dragic's quicker pace and style of play as much as he needs to adjust to playing with them. But the potential for what he can do with his new backcourt running mate excites the veteran, who hasn't played with such a speedy playmaker since Jason Williams during his first championship run.
"I think we all had to get used to it," said Wade of adapting to the speed of the game with Dragic running the show. "Early on we had a lot of turnovers so we just got to get used to it a little bit. But it was (fun).
"He's getting down and that opens it up for other guys. One guy can change things and he's changed our mindset when it comes to running a little more. Having another guy that's so dynamic with the ball in his hands, it makes everybody else want to run because they know they can get it or he will go in and score."
For his part, Spoelstra wasn't surprised a bit by just how smoothly the transition has gone for Dragic after a bumpy debut against the New Orleans Pelicans immediately after arriving in Miami.
"No, he's a proven player," he said. "You have to spend a little time getting everyone comfortable. That's to be expected."
You can follow Surya Fernandez on Twitter @SuryaHeatNBA or email him at SuryaFoxSports@gmail.com.
