Erik Spoelstra: The Life And Rise Of Miami's White Hot Heat Source

If you are a Miami Heat fan, then the name Erik Spoelstra most certainly rings a bell. Erik is a professional basketball coach and is the current head coach of the National Basketball Association Miami-based basketball team, Miami Heat. Despite being a successful coach and leader of the White Hot Heat, Spoelstra is also capped with a several feats like being the first head coach of Asian American decent and is still the first Asian American coach to win a championship. Let's have look at who this great Miami Heat manager is and where he has come from to reach to such a peak in his life.
Erik Spoelstra is the only and youngest son of Jon Spoelstra's and Elisa Celino's two children. His dad, Jon, was an NBA executive who worked with Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers and the likes. Being around basketball all his life, it is quite formidable to deny the fact that NBA has always been a part of, if not his life. As a matter of fact, Pat Riley (former head coach of the Miami Heat) stated that he (Erik) was 'born to coach' as he hand picked him as his immediate successor while stepping down from coaching.

Born November 1, 1970, in the town of Evanston, Illinois, Erik spent a better part of his childhood in New York then in Oregon. He later attended Beaverton's Jesuit High School in Oregon where he shone as a point guard on the school's basketball team. He received plenty of basketball scholarships before eventually settling for one from his hometown's University of Portland. Due to his prowess, he was names freshman of the year in 1989's West Coast Conference. For four years, he played as the Pilots point guard and averaged 2.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 9.2 points per game. He later graduated with a degree in communications from the University of Portland in 1992.

After graduating, Erik spent two years as an assistant coach and player for the German professional basketball team Tus Herten based in Westphalia, Germany. It is here that Spoelstra first got a shot at coaching as he was made coach of Tus Herten's local youth basketball team. In 1995, Tus Herten offered him another two year contract just as Miami's White Hot Heat offered him a deal too. He settled for the Heat's position.

Erik Spoelstra at White Hot Heat

As Assistant Coach

At first, thanks to Chris Wallace convincing power, Erik served as the Miami Heat's video coordinator. This was at around the same time when Pat Riley was named head coach of the team. For two years, Spoelstra served as the video coordinator. For the next two years, he served as the team's video coordinator cum assistant coach. In 1999, he promoted to the team's advance scout cum assistant coach before being named as the team's director of scouting cum assistant coach in 2001. As the assistant coach, Erik was recognized for improving how some of the players played. For instance, he helped out Dwayne Wade improve is jump shots and balance. As an assistant coach, Erik won his first championship in the 2006 finals when the Heat's defeated Dallas' Mavericks.

As Head Coach

In the month of April 2008, Pat Riley stepped down as the White Hot Heat head coach and named Spoelstra as his successor- making him the first Asian American to head an NBA team. In his first year, he led his team to the NBA playoffs. However, they suffered a few upsets in that season and the next one. Nonetheless, Erik successfully managed to improve the results for the next seasons and beyond. However, in the 2010-2011 season the Miami Heat started off on the wrong foot. Players started questioning his capabilities as coach. After failing to make a team featuring in the 'big three' to win, the management considered calling Pat Riley back; but he denied and instead supported Erik. Pat rallied for Erik which ended up with him getting a contract extension deal in December 2011 that was intended to run through to the 2013-2014 season.

Light at the end of the tunnel... at last!

Despite his team's appearance on consecutive playoffs, Erik was not going to take it anymore. In 2012 and 2013, he spruced up his team to take home the championship. From there on, it has been an upward trend. In 2012, he became the first Asian American head coach to bag a NBA championship and the second White Hot Heat coach to take the title. He also was credited to being the first Miami Heat Head Coach to take the team to multiple NBA finals. In 2013, Erik's Miami Heat kept on turning the heat with 27 straight winning streaks; which is the second longest in the history of NBA.  The Miami Heat defeated the Spurs making them the first team to win 2 straight titles after LA Lakers and Spoelstra the eighth coach to ever lead a team to winning two consecutive championships. In September 2013, Miami Heat's board extended his contract by an undisclosed number of years.

The story of White Hot Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra is one of determination, hope and hard work. It is therefore fair enough to laud him as one of the greatest NBA coaches of all time.

Great Advice For Basketball Enthusiasts - Tips To Up Your Game

So you're here wanting to learn simple basketball playing strategies that the pros use and you wonder how they got so good. Relax, the article below will break it all down for you. Continue ahead and learn about all those great tips that the pros use in order to become great at basketball.

One of the first things you need to learn when it comes to basketball is how to guard the ball. To help develop the skills needed for this, ask your friends for a friendly game of basketball. Invite some players who are skilled to teach you how to guard the ball.

Make your passes quick and precise. This takes practice, but you can improve your passing skills over time. Find someone else who wants to improve their passing and run drills with them. Running up and down the court passing and dribbling will eventually become second nature and help you with your game.

When you think you have a good shot, take it. This can be difficult to learn. There is a balance between not shooting enough and shooting too often. You never want to miss out on taking a great shot because you are looking to pass, but you do not want to miss on a couple of points because you do not make the pass.

When learning to dribble, you need to learn to dribble with both hands. This is important because you may have to switch hands when dribbling during a game. Also, learn to dribble behind your back and between an opponent's legs. This may seem silly, but you may actually use this technique.

If your child has a hard time learning to dribble a basketball with their fingertips, you can try using naugahyde gloves. They will help them learn proper dribbling since it forces them to use their fingers instead of their palms. Eventually, they will learn to just use their wrists and fingers. You can find these gloves in sporting goods stores or online.

If you want to become a better dribbler, do it blindfolded. If you aren't using your eyes to watch where the ball is, you can instead use them to see where other players are or where the net is. You shouldn't have to stare at the ball as you dribble.

Play full-court basketball whenever you can. If you love playing, then you probably know a half-dozen spots where you can play street ball or playground pick-up games. While these are good, they don't give you the practice or experience of getting down the whole court. This matters in fast break situations, both offensive and defensive.

The only way to become a better basketball player is through practice and hard work. Anyone can better their skills, but in order to truly succeed and be better than other players is by improving your skills. It doesn't take much, all you need is a hoop, a ball and desire to become better.

You came here to help better your knowledge about how the pros became good at basketball. Hopefully the tips that you've just read have helped you to understand what professionals do to make them better players. You too can become good, and with the tips and strategies learned here there is nothing stopping you from being a better player.

Love Basketball But Need Tips To Play Better? Check Out These Ideas!

Are you reading this article because you wish to get an edge on the basketball court? If so, then you're about to find out some very helpful information. Make sure you pay attention to the following advice so that you can make improvements to your style of play. Remember as well to always have fun!

When shooting a basketball, it is important to stay relaxed and stay focused. Tensing your forearms can result in a missed shot. Additionally, losing focus can cause you to miss a shot that you would normally make. To help keep you relaxed and focused, take a deep breath before shooting.

When you are in control of the ball, make sure you always pay attention to what is happening on the court. Know where the other players are. Don not stare at the ground. If you do, there is no way for you to have the type of court awareness that you need to be successful.

One of the hardest skills to learn in basketball is how to relax while shooting. Concentrating on the back of the rim or where you want the ball to hit on the backboard are great ways to practice this. It might seem strange learning how to relax, but the more you do it, the better prepared you will be come game time.

When you think you have a good shot, take it. This can be difficult to learn. There is a balance between not shooting enough and shooting too often. You never want to miss out on taking a great shot because you are looking to pass, but you do not want to miss on a couple of points because you do not make the pass.

Practice your free throws as often as you can. Free throws in basketball can turn the tide of a game. They are your opportunity to score points with clear views of the basket. You should aim to land at least 80% of the free throws you take. Great free throw shooters can top 90%.

When throwing an overhead pass, it is best to keep the ball from actually going behind your head. If you do, the ball is easier to steal. In addition, it takes longer to throw the overhead pass if you bring it behind your head. Throw it from over your forehead.

It is not always necessary to dribble the ball. In fact, you should only dribble it when it is part of your play. For instance, you will want to dribble the ball when you are trying to get the ball up the court, to get in a position for passing, or to get the defense off you.

Using the information that has been discussed here, you should be able to see that your game has improved. You can't just expect to do it all at once, but of course you're going to have to practice. Keep trucking, and put in the time. You have to work hard at basketball in order to be good.

Every Last Tip We Provide On Basketball Is Top Notch

Playing basketball just come easy to some people. People who are naturally tall have the biggest advantage but a majority of us just aren't bless with that superior height advantage. So what is a player to do? The key is to find your own natural advantage and make the most of that. Work on your speed and reflexes. Know that your smaller size may cause taller players to underestimate you which you can use to your advantage. Use the following tips to help you make the most of your skills and enthusiasm.

Improving your flexibility will greatly help you during a game. If you're flexible, you'll be able to move around defenders better. Flexibility will help you to move better when you're being blocked. You'll be able to do more moves than others which will result in you getting the change to score or pass freely without being blocked.

Practice makes perfect. This is especially true in basketball. Learning how to shoot a basket, how to dribble and how to pass a ball is important to playing good basketball. Spending as little as 30 minutes practicing a day can really help develop your game and make you a better player.

Learn how to maneuver a crossover if you have the ball fairly often. Crossover dribble is switching hands while you're dribbling. It should be done quickly. By having the ability to move either way quickly, you will become a better all-around player.

When rebounding, start moving as soon as the shooter uncoils. When you react and move quicker, you better anticipate their moves and get more rebounds. When they start to uncoil, start contact by blocking them out. Make sure to do the same thing on offense since the shooter will most likely try to uncoil after the rebound. This can boost your number of rebounds.

In order to help you improve your basketball acumen you should watch how the pros play. You can do this by watching games in person and on television. Every player has a skill that allows him to succeed. Practice their moves to become better.

As you develop your ability to shoot a basketball, try practicing on one foot only. This will improve many areas of your play, including accuracy when shooting. As you get better, move to practicing your shot from greater distances. Only after you master the basic techniques will you truly get better at long distance shots.

Hand signals can help stop you from turning the ball over. Players can get easily frustrated if they make a pass to players that aren't available to catch the ball. You can avoid this by using hand signals if a player is able to take a pass. If there is no signal, the player should not make the pass to them.

As you can see, you don't have to be seven feet tall to excel in basketball and enjoy it and help your team win. There are many popular players who aren't giants, just as there are many tall people who don't play basketball. The heart of the game is in the play, not in the height. So take these tips and apply them to your game and you may find that you have many natural advantages of your own to bring to the court.

Basketball Tips That Anyone Is Able To Use

Basketball is truly a great game for people of all ages. Whether you want to play for fun or even professionally, it takes some research to learn all you can about mastering game play. This article was written to assist you thanks to its great tips and tricks which come from those in the know, so read on.

You should practice boxing out the other players to improve your rebounding. It is really easy to do, but many experienced players forget about it during the game. Boxing out is simply getting in front of the other player when the shot is in the air. This puts you in a prime position to grab the rebound.

Footwork is an important skill to practice daily if you want to improve your basketball game. Players with exceptional foot work can move around their opponents at will. It is essential to include both slow paced running and fast sprints in your practice sessions. You can practice first without a ball and then add dribbling to your footwork sessions.

Make it your goal to dribble well with both of your hands. You'll obviously start with your strongest hand when learning, but if you want to play basketball well, you'll need to learn how to switch it up. This way you can keep your body between the ball and your opponent, no matter what the angle.

Always remember that to be a great basketball player, you've got to be a great athlete first. Put as much time into conditioning your body and increasing your endurance as you do shooting and passing. This will improve your play under even the most excruciating circumstances, making you an invaluable team member.

Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. Learn to play to your strengths and practice to improve your weak points. Not everyone on the team can be the guy who scores every point. Your position may be better suited on the defensive end. You can only learn these things through practice and play.

If you want to improve your jump shot, try shooting free throws blindfolded or with your eyes closed. Your free throw percentage ought to be pretty good before you try this. However, once it is, you can use this technique to really get down a fluid and instinctive shooting motion with your arms and body. Just make sure to do this alone in a gym, as to not errantly hurt anyone or break a window.

Being a good player isn't all about displaying physical skills and making all the shots. There is a lot of mental preparation that goes into being a team player. Don;t just focus on what you can do to be better but think about what you can do to be a better team member too.

As you dribble a ball, you need to keep these tips in mind. Shooting, rebounding or even coaching others all requires you to try out what you have learned here. As you do, you will improve and your teammates will appreciate the hard work you put into your game play.

What You Need To Know About Shooting Hoops

Do you want to update your skills when it comes to playing basketball? If your game has become tired and out of date, the time has come to learn from the experts. To better your chances of winning in the future, continue reading all of the fresh ideas found in the article below.

When you are practicing your shooting, take the practice shots you would attempt during the game. You are rarely going to be open for long enough to get your feet planted and line up the shot, so shoot on the move. Practice off dribble and shooting while moving for better results at game time.

Make sure you are looking forward and looking up as you're dribbling. If you need to look at the ball while dribbling, you'll need to practice more. Take the basketball to all the places that you go. If you are heading down to the market, dribble as you go. By looking forward instead of at the basketball, you are able to see the happenings on the court.

When you rebound in basketball, make sure you make contact before your opponent.
You'll be in control of what occurs if you are the first to make contact when boxing out. Hit them first before they get a chance to make contact with you so that you can get leverage. Be sure to anticipate and be sure you're always first. This will provide you with an edge.

Practice as many different shots as you can. You never know when you will need one during a game. If you only practice bank shots, then you will feel less comfortable making a 3-point shot or a lay-up. Practice them all and you will see improvements in all of your shots.

Shoot at least a hundred free throws every day. Not only does this make you a better free throw shooter, but it helps all your shooting. You can step on a court any day of the week familiar with the sight and sound of you putting the ball in the goal. This gives you serious mental confidence, regardless of how or where you actually shoot.

If you play organized basketball, keep track of your average fouls per minutes played. If you are not a starter who sees a lot of minutes, you want to know this just in case. You might get called on to put in a lot of minutes one game, or play repeated overtimes. The last thing you want to do is foul out because you aren't used to playing so long.

If you aren't shooting the ball well, you need to concentrate on your shoulders. Regardless of your skill level, if you don't have your shoulders positioned correctly, you will miss. Your shoulders should always be squared towards the hoop. Line up your shooting shoulder with the rim as well.

The ideas in this article may be practical, but they are also highly efficient. You can update your skills and look like a master on the court when you start to use the tips you've read here. Every shot will hit its mark time and time again thanks to your knowledge.

How To Improve Your Basketball Skills And Achieve Star Status

Trying to learn about basketball is easy when you have someone show you simple strategies about the game. If you would like to understand why people do certain things in basketball, then read on for excellent tips on basketball playing strategies. Down below is great advice that come from the pros which help them play better basketball.

When you're dribbling the ball, you should avoid looking down at the ball. You should be able to dribble without staring at the ball. If you can dribble without seeing the ball, you'll be able to keep your eyes on the rest of the game. This will help you to know who is open for a pass or if you have a chance to take a shot.

One of the first things you need to learn when it comes to basketball is how to guard the ball. To help develop the skills needed for this, ask your friends for a friendly game of basketball. Invite some players who are skilled to teach you how to guard the ball.

Find out how to make free throw shots. This may seem like an easy task, but in reality, things prove otherwise. When practicing your free throw, concentrate on where you want the ball to go when it leaves your hands. First, keep the ball in front of you and at eye level. Eye the basket and imagine the ball swishing down into it. Once you've visualized this, take your shot as you just saw it in your head.

Always follow through when shooting. A great way to practice is to hold your follow through until the ball goes in the basket or misses. This will give you some clues on why you missed a shot or where you need to strive for consistency. Watch how other players follow through and follow their lead.

Frequently practice passing and catching the passes of others. Make sure you get used to catching less than perfect passes smoothly. Understand that during a game, you will receive very scattered passes. Some will be good; some won't. Be a better teammate by anticipating a bad pass to make sure it doesn't get into the opponents hands.

Jump on the ground and dive for those loose balls. Don't be afraid to hit the ground hard and get a little hustle on. Not only will this help the team, but the coach will surely notice your improved effort. Team moral is always a good thing to keep in high numbers.

Shoot at least a hundred free throws every day. Not only does this make you a better free throw shooter, but it helps all your shooting. You can step on a court any day of the week familiar with the sight and sound of you putting the ball in the goal. This gives you serious mental confidence, regardless of how or where you actually shoot.

Anyone can learn basketball when they have pros explaining to them what it is all about. The tips and strategies you just learned all come from those pros. Take the information you learned today to help you the next time you out to play basketball, or you decide to watch it on TV.

Learn About Basketball With Some Fantastic Tips!

Are you into basketball as a sport? Do you think that you could benefit from some helpful information? This article is here to help guide you to becoming a better basketball player. Read through the following
information so that you can find out what it takes to shine on the court.

When dribbling, try to keep the ball low to the ground. This makes it more difficult for opponents to steal the ball away from you while dribbling. Keep the ball low and pass it from hand to hand while weaving in and out through your opponents. This will help you maintain control of the ball.

When you are playing in a game, try your best to forget your misses. Nothing good can come from you dwelling on the last shot you missed or the last 20 you missed. Each shot is a new opportunity to score. Stay clam and keep trying even if you miss a few. Dwelling on the miss will lead to you overreacting and missing even more.

To learn how to pass well, drill without dribbling. Passing drills with your team is important for accurate passes during game time, and you can try doing them without dribbling at all. This may be hard and frustrating at first, but as you get the hang of it your entire team will begin to excel at passing.

Stop and ask your coach what you can do to help the team improve. Basketball is a team sport and every component must be working towards a common goal. The coach is there to offer guidance and provide instruction. Ask if there's anything specific you can do to help and follow his advice.

Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. Learn to play to your strengths and practice to improve your weak points. Not everyone on the team can be the guy who scores every point. Your position may be better suited on the defensive end. You can only learn these things through practice and play.

Bend your knees as you dribble the ball. This gets you closer to the surface you are dribbling on and causes the distance between ground and ball to be reduced. This gives your opposition less of a chance to steal the ball away from you as you head for the net.

When shooting free throws in basketball, make sure you properly line up with the basket. Your lead foot needs to be lined up with the rim's center. If you're right-handed, your lead foot will be the right foot. If your court has a hardwood floor, check it for a dot. If it has one, put your toe on it for a straighter shot.

Learn something about basketball every day. Even if it's the off-season and there's nowhere to play, you can still improve your game. Read up on tips via books and websites or watch archived games to see what your favorite pro players can teach you. You may be surprised how much rubs off the next time you're on the court.

Well are you ready to go make a slam dunk? That's the spirit! Maybe you'll hold off on that one for awhile, but surely you've learned some great tips to get you going. Basketball is a lot of fun, and as you learn more, you get more confident about your abilities.

The Great Things That Basketball Can Bring To You

If you feel like you could benefit from some advice about bettering your basketball game, this article can help you. It's time to lace up and get out there to make improvements each time you practice. Even if you just play for fun, wouldn't you like to stop the defense or be able to better make that shot?

Always protect the ball when you are in possession of it. Keep your dribble off to the side of your body to make it more difficult for another player to steal the ball. While you generally want to avoid dribbling in front of you, you can do so if there are no other players in your immediate vicinity.

Never pass the ball and stand still. This is a mistake most often made by those new to the game of basketball. Once you've passed the ball, you need to work to get into the best position possible to be passed to again or to grab a rebound from a shot.

When shooting, always arc the shot, never throw straight. You have a much better chance of making your baskets when there is an arc on your shots. If you do not know how much arc to put into your shooting, find one that works best for you during practice and try to consistently produce the same arc during games.

When you dribble, make sure that you use fingertips instead of palms. This gives you much more control over the ball. Using your palms can cause the ball to go all over the place on the court, whereas using your fingertips keeps it under your control when you have to run.

If you have a kid that wants to play basketball in high school, be sure they're working on their core muscles. The core muscles include the lower back, hips and abdonimals. These muscles form a bridge across the lower and upper parts of your body. When the core is weak, it is difficult to coordinate the movements of both halves. If your core is solid, you will have greater strength in your legs. This helps with fast running and high jumping.

Try using hand signals to ensure that your passes are received. It can be frustrating making a pass when a player moves away towards the basket. This can be prevented through the use of hand signals. If the signal is not used, then the pass should not be made to that player.

When you play basketball, be sure that you remain properly hydrated. Drink plenty of water before, during, and after playing. Becoming dehydrated can negatively affect your game and your health. It is possible to lose up to 2% of your body weight through dehydration. That can also cause between a 10% and 20% decrease in your athletic performance.

How confident are you that you can get out there and put these tips to use? This article has explained many strategies for improving your game, and now it's up to you to make it happen. It takes time and practice, but you can do it. Get on the court and use that energy!

Basketball Tips You Could Benefit From Knowing

Men and women, young and old alike, enjoy basketball as a sport. Regardless of background, few people can resist the allure of basketball. The next time you're playing a game, show your friends your new moves. What moves you say? You should keep reading to learn more about basketball.

Always protect the ball when you are in possession of it. Keep your dribble off to the side of your body to make it more difficult for another player to steal the ball. While you generally want to avoid dribbling in front of you, you can do so if there are no other players in your immediate vicinity.

When you think you have a good shot, take it. This can be difficult to learn. There is a balance between not shooting enough and shooting too often. You never want to miss out on taking a great shot because you are looking to pass, but you do not want to miss on a couple of points because you do not make the pass.

When you dribble, make sure that you use fingertips instead of palms. This gives you much more control over the ball. Using your palms can cause the ball to go all over the place on the court, whereas using your fingertips keeps it under your control when you have to run.

Do not restrict your practices to zone defenses alone. Zone play will be important, but man-to-man will pop up from time to time, too. You may lose control of the game if you aren't prepared.

In order to get a good shot, you must use good footwork. Securing a good location is critical when playing basketball. You need to be sure your spot is secure. Footwork is the key to either of these.

Learn the positions on a basketball court. Each position has different roles to fill on both offense and defense. There are guards, point guards, forwards, power forwards, and centers. If you want to really enjoy basketball, learn the needs of all of the positions, not just the one you are most interested in.

When injuries occur on the court, it is unwise to keep on playing. The sport of basketball is very physical, which makes one susceptible to injury. By "playing through the pain" you take a huge risk that the injury will become much worse. See a physician if you think your injury is serious.

Good shooters rely on the perimeter shot, so practice getting open to get these key shots. A good play to run is having a post player work the ball down low and then pass it back out once the defense collapses. Run a drill during practice where the only shots you take are those from passes coming from inside the paint.

You'll now be able to feel confident the next time that you step onto a basketball court. You may now even know a few secrets that your friends are unaware exist. Enjoy the game every time you play. No matter what, though, winning is always a great feeling.