Erik Spoelstra delivers powerful locker room speech after Heat lock up playoff berth

For the 13th time in Erik Spoelstra’s 16 seasons as the head coach of the Miami Heat, the Hardest working, Best conditioned, Most professional, Unselfish, Toughest, Meanest, Nastiest team in the NBA is playoff bound. The fact that the Heat are here yet again is a testament to the work of the many players who have played for the Heat organization in that time, of Pat Riley who has played such an integral role in building championship caliber teams, and yes, to Coach Erik Spoelstra, who since taking over as head coach in Miami in 2008 has led the Heat to more postseason wins (109) than any other franchise in the NBA during that span.

This year, as was the case last year, the Heat needed to overcome the hurdle that the NBA Play-In Tournament represents. After dropping a winnable game to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night that could’ve clinched Miami the 7-seed and a 1st Round matchup with the New York Knicks, the Heat were tasked with defeating the Chicago Bulls in a do-or-die game for the 8-seed for the second straight year, and for the second straight year, the Heat emerged victorious, earning their way into the postseason yet again. After the game, Erik Spoelstra’s message to his team touched on the hard road the Heat have been forced to take in order to get to the postseason again, and how earning it has given Spo such an appreciation for this group.