Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade talks about his infamous argument with Erik Spoelstra and how the coach has evolved in the last two years
When Dwyane Wade had an on court confrontation with head coach Erik Spoelstra in the Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Indiana Pacers, it seemed that yet another season was going to end in bitter disappointment
for the much vaunted Miami Heat.
The Heat after losing Chris Bosh with a lower abdominal strain in Game 1 had already conceded Game 2 at home, and were on the verge of a blowout loss in Game 3 when an underperforming Wade lost his temper and had to be pulled back
by his team-mates.
Wade remained quite after the incident and visited his college coach for one day to clear his head. He came back with a vengeance and along with LeBron James orchestrated three straight wins for the Heat and with that earned a
passage in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics.
Now he and the Heat stand two wins away from a NBA championship and before Game 3, the shooting guard finally spoke about the entire episode;
“Something was made of that blowup in Indiana, but that shows how our relationship has grown,” Wade said. “We’ve been together for a long time. You don’t have those kinds of moments if you haven’t been together. It’s just like
family members, just like a brother.
“We have moments, but we love each other, and we move on from it. We grow from it.”
Wade also said that Spoelstra has become a good listener this year and is more open to the suggestion from his players;
“I’ve enjoyed seeing him grow. The biggest growth in him this season has been his openness to ask other guys what they think. . . . That’s key for players to feel they have that openness with their coach, that he’s going to listen
to what they have to say, and sometimes use it, sometimes not.”
Having to handle three superstars, Miami coach has been in the firing line since day one. However, he has somehow managed to carry his team to the NBA Finals twice in as many years and the major difference this time around seems
to be the respect he has earned from the players.
It will be safe to say that this Miami side is finally settling down.
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