Erik Spoelstra’s simple response to how Heat pulled shocking Game 2 upset of Celtics

The last thing the Heat can fret about is the things they cannot control. And for Erik Spoelstra, winning the emotional battle is key to winning what is shaping up to be yet another war against the Celtics.

“You have to stay emotionally and mentally stable throughout all that. You have to focus on competing at high level together, doing things that lead to winning, keep your emotions in check. All of that is easier said than done. But it was a very good response,” Spoelstra added.

Heat correct the shooting “discrepancy”

For a team missing two of its best shot-creators in Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro, the last thing the Heat need is to lose the mathematical battle against the Celtics. In Game 1, the Celtics made 10 more threes than the Heat did en route to a dominant 114-94 victory. The three-point shot is the great equalizer, and Miami cannot afford to slip in that department if they were to seriously challenge for an upset series victory.

Thus, it became a point of emphasis for the Heat in Game 2 to continue shooting from beyond the arc and rectifying what the team called a “discrepancy” in terms of output from beyond the arc. They deserve plenty of credit for staying true to their word, as the Heat exploded for a total of 23 three-pointers on the night — a franchise-high in the playoffs — compared to just 12 for the Celtics.

“We also made some shots. That always works better when we make some shots but also the ones that were available and if we don’t take them, it’s potentially gonna look like Game 1,” Spoelstra said. “We’re dealing with a very good basketball team. So are we.”

Tyler Herro was on point on the night. He made six threes to pace the Heat’s marksmen, while Caleb Martin, the Celtics’ archnemesis, once again put Boston’s defense to the sword with five three-pointers of his own. Four other players made two or more threes, culminating in yet another impressive win over the Celtics.

The key now for the Heat is to get wins at home even with the expected fall-off from their output from beyond the arc. They are not always going to shoot 53.5 percent from three on 43 attempts. But given the coaching knowhow of Erik Spoelstra, expect the Heat to be prepared to fight for a win in the mud.

Erik Spoelstra, in a coaching class of his own

There are many factors that go into what makes a coach great. Does the coach maximize the talent he has on hand? Does he play a huge part in developing the players on the roster and putting them in a position to succeed? Are they adept at making adjustments, from game to game or from series to series, and are they able to manage their rotation optimally?

Erik Spoelstra checks all the boxes for the Heat; no matter the roster churn, Spoelstra seems to maximize the talent he has on the roster, and the team always seems to play better than the sum of its parts under his tutelage. There’s a long way to go for the 2023-24 Heat to get to the heights they reached last year, but Spoelstra’s presence has earned them the benefit of the doubt.