Erik Spoelstra, coach of the Miami Heat, never misses an opportunity to point out how important the regular season has been for the mental growth of his group.
“I had never participated to a regular season like that, and I think we’ve all grown and improved. We prevented our spirit from collapsing, the difficulties tempered us, strengthened us and made the group even more united. So we have developed that grit and perseverance that is needed in the postseason….I really don’t like the narrative that everyone only plays hard in the playoffs. We are a perfect example of the opposite.”
The Play-In, with the consequent 10 spots available for the postseason instead of the usual 8, helped the group not lose heart in the worst moments.
“Now there are far fewer teams choosing ‘tanking’. Over the last couple of months almost everyone has been fighting to win. Every game was a must-see televised event, and this was in both conferences. I think the Play-In is the best thing that’s happened to the NBA in the last decade.”
2023-05-19 14:03:27
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