Here's most everything Heat coach Erik Spoelstra had to say during his news conference a few minutes ago:
### On how long it took to process the loss of LeBron: “Less than 10 minutes it took to let the news sink it. It was like Jerry Maguire. We were looking at the board, trying to figure out what’s our next step. Not even 10 minutes, a minute seven or eight. We were working the phones, trying to get organized, trying to put together a plan with an objective play of attack with the rest of free agent. It was very invigorating. It seemed like it would be the other. But it wasn’t.”
### On how things change without LeBron: “The Heat culture, the Heat code will remain the same. The standard, the expectations of what our organization is all about remains the same. It was a big change this summer. After the series ended against San Antonio, we all felt there would be some change. I don’t know if we anticipated how big the change would be, but it happened. That’s what pro sports is all about. We’re looking forward to this challenge. It’s been a different process than we’ve had the last four summers. But it has been an exciting, invigorating staff for all of us. We’re looking forward to starting the entire process anew.”
### ESPN asked Spoelstra what about LeBron is irreplaceable. “We’ll have to see,” he said. “Any team will have to adjust when you lose a player of LeBron’s magnitude. But that chapter is closed. Going back to that, the mind is so far gone from that from the last two seasons. When the landscape changes like that, it’s up for grabs.”
### Spoelstra, by the way, didn't refer to James by name for the first 15 minutes of the press conference before slipping in a "LeBron." Mario Chalmers called James "that guy."
### On Pat Riley saying in June that Spoelstra needed to reinvent himself: “We better have. It’s a new team. Look I gave our team the book: Reinvent…. Each year competition forces you to have to reinvent and change. We all have to get better. We’re all on board for that.”
### On coaching without LeBron: “That’s what coaching is about, different challenges. We have a much different challenge. I can’t believe this, but I am starting my 20th year here. This business is about embracing change, adapting.”
“While things change in pro sports, you can count on the Miami Heat and the bedrock core values of things we stand for, toughness and competition. That’s a product you always want to watch. We always have the expectation of competing for the highest prize. Not every organization is truly committed to that.”
### “It’s not about coming in here with a chip on your shoulder, not just to try to surpass somebody else’s thought of where this basketball team could go. It’s pushing yourself to the limit for one goal. That’s the single-mindedness we have to develop. It’s not going to be there from day one.”
### “Am I telling people every spot is open to competition? I haven’t said that necessarily, but I’m open minded. I sincerely hope we’re a much different team in the springtime than now.”
### Mario Chalmers indicated there are changes in the offense, but Spoelstra said: “It’s not a new offense. It’s an emphasis on moving the basketball. We have to do it a little bit differently.”
### On expectations: “To be an elite team is a very vague standard. We have a Heat standard which is to compete for an NBA title. That’s what we expect for this team.”
### On Bosh: I can’t wait to see C.B. grow into a new role. He doesn’t have to become Chris bosh from Toronto. That won’t help us. He’s a better player, much more versatile, better leader and a proven leader. Where he can really impact this team is starting No. 1 with his leadership. He knows what it takes to win at the highest level, to sacrifice. I want him to be able to embrace shouldering all the responsibilities. We still expect him to play with great versatility that’s unmatched. Will he have more opportunities particularly at the end of offense? Yes. But does that mean we’re just going to be pointing at him to get shots? That’s not how we play.
"Defensively, we still expect him to be the most versatile anchor in the league. He’s right in the prime of his career."
### On Dwyane Wade: “He had a terrific summer of training, working…. Being the transcendent player. He doesn’t have to try to be the player he was in 08. That might not necessarily be important for this team. It’s important to be the player, along with CB, that we can put other people around and build a cohesive team.
### "We have to start anew. There are certainly bedrock foundations about how we want to play, our philosophy of being a defensive minded team. And on the other side, being a team that shares the basketball and makes the game easier for each other."
### He spoke of the importance of developing depth. “Playing guys, not overextending them. I don’t know if guys will play the amount of minutes they did in other places. That’s what Heat sacrifice is about. Hopefully, we have the depth to go through a season with all the unpredictable things that happen.” He doesn’t want to have to play Bosh 41 minutes a game.
### On Luol Deng: “Not a surprise to anyone we sought after Luol Deng. Intangibles, winning, defensive minded. He’s an underrated multi-skilled offensive player that fits the versatility we want to have on our team. He’s great off the ball, cutting, can play multiple positions. Can do a lot of x-factor things. The type of person he is and player. Qualities he embodies are similar to the Heat code and the type of qualities we want here. We feel very fortunate we were able to get him.”
### Josh McRoberts: “He had a breakout season last year. In my first meeting with him, I mentioned that should not be the barometer. Who knows what the ceiling is? We don’t want to put a ceiling on him. His skill is very unique. It’s hard to put him in a box, the type of versatility he brings, positionless, the ability to play inside and out, see the floor, make the game easier for other players. We always respected that skill set, but when you competed against him in a playoff series our respect went to a different level because of his ability to compete.”
### He said Norris Cole “blasted our workout/conditioning test. This is the best shape I’ve seen him.”
### On Mario Chalmers: “Mario has come in in his best shape. Worked on his game, worked on improving, things we need him to do more than he has done in the past. His strength, the sturdiness of his body – people will notice that right away.”
### On Danny Granger, who was limited to 46 games because of injury the past two years: “He’s been working extremely hard. What we have is a history of taking on players like Danny that are still young and in their prime, and helping them achieve things they want to with a lot of work and commitment. He has been very committed this summer.
“He hasn’t been able to control injuries past two seasons. That happens to players. We welcomed him with open arms. We haven’t forgotten that. We don’t want him to forget that. I’m open minded. He was able to go through entire conditioning. He’s dedicated. I’m not in the mind set of absolutely trying to fast track him.”
Twitter: @flasportsbuzz... Please see the last post for a lot more Heat, plus Dolphins, Al Golden and more.... Please excuse typos in this quick post. Running upstairs to get players at Heat media day.
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