Miami Heat Media Day: Spoelstra "Invigorated" & Ready For New Start
MIAMI (CBSMiami) - The Miami Heat reached four straight finals and won two rings, but LeBron James still went back to the Cleveland Cavaliers this off-season.
Head coach Erik Spoelstra had to speak about the void James left at Friday afternoon's media day.
"That team, that chapter is closed. Going back to that? My mind is so far from that," he said. Spoelstra added it took the organization just 10 minutes to get over the fact LeBron was leaving.
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Instead the coach is looking at everything with a fresh perspective.
"I'm looking at this as a blank canvas," Spoelstra said. "Tomorrow we start to put the painting together."
The "painting" Spoelstra refers to is the hard work the Heat will put in when camp opens up Saturday.
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Spoelstra didnt' focus much on LeBron's departure during the press conference, but rather the additions the team has made.
"We're looking forward to this challenge. It's been a very exciting, invigorating and busy summer," he said.
Luol Deng, Josh McRoberts and Danny Granger were all key free-agents acquisitions the Heat made this offseason.
While all of these new players will find a role to play, Spoelstra is not telling them they have to be the next LeBron of the team.
"I think it's a dangerous thing to try to plug in and fill in spots that are not there this year," he said.
And even with the roster composition changes, Spoelstra said fans can expect the same gritty team.
"The Heat culture, the Heat code, that will remain the same," Spoelstra said. "While things change in the NBA and things change in pro sports, you can count on the Miami Heat."
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