inth straight game Wade has missed while working his way back from a hamstring injury. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said after the team's morning shootaround the All-Star guard will not play. Wade last played March 26, also against the Pacers.The Miami-Indiana winner will have first place in the Eastern Conference, and be on pace for home-court advantage for at least the first three rounds of the playoffs.Miami enters Friday 36-15 when Wade plays, 18-10 when he does not.
MIAMI (AP) - Erik Spoelstra is often described as the Pat Riley protege who was the hand-picked successor to become coach of the Miami Heat, and all that is accurate.Advertisement But Riley wasn't his first coaching influence.That distinction goes to Rick Adelman, and Spoelstra is hoping Friday night wasn't the last time he would match wits against him.Spoelstra grew up in Portland and was a big fan of the Trail Blazers when Adelman coached there a quarter-century or so ago. And before Spoelstra's Heat faced off against Adelman and the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night,Nike Air Max Tailwind 6 2015 Black Peach Womens, the Miami coach praised one of his sideline idols.''I think everybody knows that he is probably the biggest influence in my life to get into coaching,'' Spoelstra said. ''I've said it many times: I was a tremendous fan of him when he was coaching the Portland Trail Blazers and that was the first time, probably, that I thought that would be a pretty cool profession to get into. That was because of him and the role model that he was.''Adelman entered Friday's game with 1,039 career wins, eighth-most in NBA history. His future after this season has been the subject of speculation for months.And in turn, after being told of Spoelstra's comments,Nike Air Max 2015 Womens Pink Black, Adelman raved about the Heat coach who has found a way to make the basketball marriage of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh work to the tune of the last two NBA titles.''It's a nice compliment to have, because he certainly has surpassed anything I've ever done,'' Adelman said. ''He's always been ... basketball's been his life, whether he was in high school or college. He started as the film guy, worked his way right up there and gained Pat's confidence. You can't say enough about the job he's done here.''Spoelstra said every team in the league has some version of Adelman's offense in their playbook,Nike Air Max 2013 Black Red, most calling it ''Sacramento'' after what he ran while coaching the Kings.''He was and has been an incredible innovator in this game,Nike Air Max Shop,'' Spoelstra said. ''I have nothing but the absolutely, utmost respect for him.''Spoelstra entered Friday with 312 wins, and shook his head when asked if he could envision winning 1,000 like Adelman.''No. Absolutely not,'' Spoelstra said. ''It's tough just getting through an NBA season. It really is. It's a grind, for all coaches. His durability and the consistency of success is staggering.''
MIAMI (AP) - Erik Spoelstra is often described as the Pat Riley protege who was the hand-picked successor to become coach of the Miami Heat, and all that is accurate.Advertisement But Riley wasn't his first coaching influe