by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni
Following what many considered a disastrous start to season — a tumultuous time filled with strife, and organizational turmoil — the Miami Heat are now one of the NBA’s hottest teams.
Riding an impressive, and dominant 9-game winning streak — all nine wins have been by double-digits, setting a franchise record — Miami is looking like the juggernaut that people envisioned (and feared) when Pat Riley completed his master stroke this summer.
So, what’s their secret to winning so much lately? Well, some of it has to do with a simple reward system that head coach Erik Spoelstra has put in place for his scoring-happy superstars.
Basically, if they play satisfactory defense, they can whatever it is that they desire on the offensive end.
The Miami Herald has the details:
If Dwyane Wade grabs a defensive rebound, he has the green light to do whatever he wants offensively. If LeBron James makes a defensive stop, he controls his own game on the other end of the court. These are the parameters set by coach Erik Spoelstra, and the chance for offensive freedom has helped spark the most dominant winning streak in franchise history.
“Our job is to defend and then we get rewarded with what we want to do on offense,” James said.
And to think, that people were suggesting Erik Spoelstra couldn’t manage the massive egos on his roster. He’s got this figured out.
Well, until the next crisis arises anyway.
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