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Is Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla a top ten coach in the NBA?
Is Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla a top ten coach in the NBA?

Yahoo

time2 days ago

  • Sport
  • Yahoo

Is Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla a top ten coach in the NBA?

Is Boston Celtics head coach a top ten coach in the NBA? With legends like San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich retiring from that role and a number of highly regarded head coaches like Tom Thibodeau (last with the New York Knicks) and Taylor Jenkins (formerly with the Memphis Grizzlies) now looking for another such post in the NBA, there are fewer coaches on the level or at least in the same stratosphere as Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra and Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault. So where would we put Mazzulla among his peers at the helm of NBA teams for the coming 2025-26 regular season? With a title to his name, he very clearly does not belong in the lower third of the league's coaches, and one would struggle to make a case for him lower than the midpoint of the league's coaches at No. 15 overall. But is he at least four slots higher in most estimations? The folks behind the "98.5 The Sports Hub" YouTube channel put together a clip from their "Felger and Mazz" show to talk it over. Check it out below! This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Is Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla a top ten coach in the NBA?

Spoelstra and staff studying what went wrong for Heat, as East evolves: ‘Everybody is motivated'
Spoelstra and staff studying what went wrong for Heat, as East evolves: ‘Everybody is motivated'

Miami Herald

time6 days ago

  • Sport
  • Miami Herald

Spoelstra and staff studying what went wrong for Heat, as East evolves: ‘Everybody is motivated'

The Eastern Conference is going to look different next season. In fact, some would say the East is wide open because a few of the conference's recent elites like the Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks are dealing with significant injuries to key players and/or major roster changes. But don't tell that to Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. 'I don't and I think that's cool for the fan base to look at it that way,' Spoelstra said to reporters last week in Las Vegas when asked if he believes the East is wide open because so many teams usually near the top in recent years are facing big questions. 'We're not afraid of the competition. You can't be afraid of the competition. You can't think that just because there have been some changes in rosters or some injuries that, 'Oh, now we have a chance.' That's kind of a loser's mentality. We want to compete at the highest level regardless of who's out there. ' So the Heat went out and tried to improve its roster this summer after being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in each of the last two seasons, needing to qualify for the playoffs through the NBA's play-in tournament in each of the last three seasons and finishing this past regular season with a losing record for the first time since the 2018-19 season and just the sixth time in Pat Riley's 30 seasons with the organization. The Heat's biggest move this offseason — up to this point — is its trade for veteran guard Norman Powell, who was among six NBA players who averaged at least 21 points per game while shooting better than 48% from the field and better than 40% from three-point range last regular season. 'We know we have to improve,' Spoelstra continued. 'We knew we had to do some things this offseason. We know that we have to have a really good training camp, which I think we will. Guys are going to come in prepared. We'll have a productive August and September. Everybody is motivated. We've had plenty of time off. Everybody wants to just gear up and get ready.' That time off has allowed Spoelstra to dig deeper into what went wrong last season. For one, Spoelstra is studying the Heat's poor 8-17 record in games decided by five points or less last regular season. That went down as the third-worst such record in the NBA. Spoelstra is also looking into the Heat's in-game collapses, as Miami blew a double-digit lead in a league-leading 22 losses last regular season. The Heat also wasted a fourth-quarter lead in a league-leading 21 losses last regular season. 'Those close games are something that we've really analyzed,' Spoelstra said while in Las Vegas for summer league action, which the Heat will wrap up Friday against the Milwaukee Bucks' summer squad (7 p.m. ESPN+). 'That can change the trajectory of your season if you handle those moments of truth better, if you have a few more wins out of those groupings of games that were very winnable with fourth-quarter leads and that kind of stuff. The whole league is trying to figure that out. But that has given us something to really dive into. And then offensively, building a system where it can be dynamic and a little bit tougher to just prepare for if you're on the other side.' The Heat's hope is that more time together will help fix some of those issues after shaking up its roster midway through last season with the Jimmy Butler trade. What followed the Butler trade was a 10-game losing skid before the Heat found its footing to win 10 of its final 14 regular-season games and then become the first 10th-place team in either conference to make the playoffs from the NBA's play-in tournament. The Heat won back-to-back elimination play-in road games in Chicago and Atlanta to qualify for the playoffs before being swept by the East's top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs. 'There were a lot of things obviously that happened and we pride ourselves in hitting stride and getting better as the season goes on at the right time,' Spoelstra said. 'It happened very late for us. It happened in about the last 10 games. And then that led to two really competitive play-in games. Big picture, that's not where we want to be. But it felt like we were building something in those 10 games and those two games were exhilarating. The locker room was alive after that Atlanta game and then it was a buzzkill after that. But there's different levels to this, we understand that.' When the Heat reconvenes for the start of training camp in late September, Spoelstra expects a rejuvenated group. 'You can feel the energy, you can feel the excitement building,' he said. 'It doesn't have to be all there right now. But look, it's happening organically. I feel it myself, the staff feels it, the players feel it. It's not that we wish training camp could be tomorrow, but I think there will be a nice healthy ramp up to get there and there's still going to be great competition. That's what it's about. You got to embrace it and we're looking forward to it.'

Erik Spoelstra Bluntly Calls Out Heat Big Man: "He Has To Get Better With The Professionalism"
Erik Spoelstra Bluntly Calls Out Heat Big Man: "He Has To Get Better With The Professionalism"

Yahoo

time14-07-2025

  • Sport
  • Yahoo

Erik Spoelstra Bluntly Calls Out Heat Big Man: "He Has To Get Better With The Professionalism"

Erik Spoelstra Bluntly Calls Out Heat Big Man: "He Has To Get Better With The Professionalism" originally appeared on Fadeaway World. Kel'el Ware had a promising rookie season with the Miami Heat, but head coach Erik Spoelstra isn't too pleased with what he is seeing from the big man lately. Spoelstra spoke to the media after practice on Saturday and made it crystal clear that he wants Ware to improve his professionalism. Advertisement 'There's layers to this with Kel'el,' Spoelstra said. 'A big part of this is he has to really embrace and improve his professionalism, his consistency, his approach every single day. He has to get better with that. It's learning how to become a pro. I understand it. He was 20 last year, and he's 21. "We have bigger expectations," Spoelstra continued. "It's not your normal growth and growing pains of a young player learning how to become a pro. But that's what this summer is about: Learning how to become a pro, learning how to be consistent every single day. The talent is there. "The professionalism and consistency has to improve, and it is," Spoelstra added. "Our standards are not going to change, and our expectations and how fast we want that to improve for him are not going to change. But he has to get better at it, he has to take ownership of it, and the other stuff will come along with that." Spoelstra revealed Ware, the 15th pick of the 2024 NBA Draft, has been working with assistant coach Malik Allen and is getting stronger and has put on weight. The 21-year-old is more equipped now to handle the physicality that comes with playing at that center spot in the NBA, but his head coach wants to see more out of him. Advertisement 'We feel like also giving him the structure to grow and embrace becoming a pro," Spoelstra stated. "Learning how to be a professional every single day, being early, having a great energy, and countenance every day. How you do anything is how you do everything. He's taken some steps, but he's got to get better. He has to get better with the professionalism.' Ware averaged 9.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.6 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game for the Heat as a rookie in 2024-25. He was named to the All-Rookie Second Team, and the front office loved what they saw from the big man. The Heat were so high on Ware after that rookie season that they reportedly refused to include him in trade packages for Kevin Durant. When asked about the team's stance, Ware stated he was keen to show they were right to believe in him. It's quite alarming, then, that Spoelstra felt the need to call out the big man in this manner. Ware has struggled during the summer league so far, averaging 12.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting 39.4 percent from the field. He hasn't put in a lot of effort, and that low motor is concerning. Advertisement Ware was asked about Spoelstra's comments on Saturday, and he wasn't taking them personally. 'I mean, I'm a young player still,' Ware said. 'Getting into it, learning more about it, and it's all good.' It will be interesting to see if Spoelstra's comments light a fire under Ware. The Heat need more from their young big man as they look to bounce back from a disappointing 2024-25 season. They finished with a poor 37-45 record last season and were swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Related: New-Look Miami Heat With Norman Powell Look Ready To Make Noise In East This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 13, 2025, where it first appeared.

Kel'el Ware Delivers Dominant Performance After Erik Spoelstra's Callout
Kel'el Ware Delivers Dominant Performance After Erik Spoelstra's Callout

Yahoo

time14-07-2025

  • Sport
  • Yahoo

Kel'el Ware Delivers Dominant Performance After Erik Spoelstra's Callout

Kel'el Ware Delivers Dominant Performance After Erik Spoelstra's Callout originally appeared on Fadeaway World. Miami Heat big man Kel'el Ware was on the receiving end of some harsh criticism from his head coach, Erik Spoelstra, recently. Having been called out for his professionalism and work ethic, the Heat sophomore responded by delivering a dominant performance during his recent Summer League outing against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Advertisement In Sunday night's action against the Cavs, Ware recorded a noteworthy stat line of 21 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks. To make this performance even more impressive, the young big man did so on shooting splits of 57.1% from the field and 66.7% from beyond the arc. Ware has been considered one of Miami's most valuable assets heading into the future. Considering the kind of commitment the team has shown by investing in the 21-year-old's development, it is understandable why Spoelstra expressed his frustration with Ware's lack of consistency. The big man wasted no time in turning things around after hearing his head coach's comments. When considering that Ware also wishes to repay the Heat for their commitment to him, he certainly showed what he was capable of. Within the first half itself, Ware notched 17 points and six rebounds to go with two blocks. His athleticism and aggression under the basket were a clear indication of his motivation to set things straight again. During an interview after the first quarter's action, Ware took accountability for his recent shortcomings, displaying a level of maturity that the Heat organization will certainly appreciate. When speaking about his effort, he said: Advertisement "It's something I haven't been doing over the last couple of games, but I just want to come and show up for the rest of us when we're trying to win." He also spoke about his defensive effort up until that point and said, "That's big. That's something I've got to show and I've got to keep showing so I'm going to try to continue to do that." It was also impressive to see the youngster respond with a simple, "You will," when asked about why he hadn't displayed this kind of aggression earlier. These promises will hold a lot of value, especially as Miami will look to him to take on a bigger role in the upcoming campaign. Ware's contribution saw him lead the scoring charge for the Heat. Unfortunately, the performance was overshadowed by an emphatic 92-72 win for the Cavs. Advertisement Apart from Ware, the only relevant contributor for the team was sophomore guard Pelle Larsson, who recorded 14 points, three rebounds, and two assists. The No. 20 overall pick, Kasparas Jakucionis, struggled to get going. After a solid performance in the previous game, the rookie forward only managed to put up six points, two rebounds, and two assists for the game. Miami's Summer League campaign certainly doesn't boast a lot of promise as the team falls to 0-2 after their latest loss. While this has a negligible impact on their regular season activities, the Heat will hope to see better performances from their young players. Related: New-Look Miami Heat With Norman Powell Look Ready To Make Noise In East This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 14, 2025, where it first appeared.

Kasparas Jakucionis' ‘excited' outlook on improving key traits with Heat
Kasparas Jakucionis' ‘excited' outlook on improving key traits with Heat

Yahoo

time10-07-2025

  • Sport
  • Yahoo

Kasparas Jakucionis' ‘excited' outlook on improving key traits with Heat

The post Kasparas Jakucionis' 'excited' outlook on improving key traits with Heat appeared first on ClutchPoints. MIAMI – With the Heat adding Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis with the 20th overall pick in the first round of the NBA Draft last Wednesday, there is no doubt some talent with the 19-year-old, but still some areas that need improvement. As Jakucionis got to meet Heat figures like Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra, the one aspect they value that the Lithuanian-born player will need to get better at is the defensive side of the ball. Advertisement There's no denying that Jakucionis slipped and fell to the 20th overall selection after originally being projected as a lottery pick, like being ranked No. 10 on ESPN's Jonathan Givony's big board. However, Givony would even say that 'he has some questions to answer on the defensive end and with learning to stay in front of quicker guards.' However, Jakucionis is ready for the challenge, saying to ClutchPoints that it will be 'exciting.' 'Yeah, definitely, I see it as exciting to improve that, always give 100%,' Jakucionis said. 'And just try to help the team get the best version of me, and that end of the floor too.' Team vice president and assistant general manager Adam Simon would speak about Jakucionis' defensive ability, saying that most players coming out of the draft don't have that skill, but his toughness and intelligence will make him adapt quickly. Advertisement 'The majority of these players lack defensive skill and technique that's needed at the NBA level,' Simon said. 'What he has is a toughness to him, he has an edge, he has an IQ. I think when you combine those skills, I think he'll be able to be a tough, astute learner of our defensive systems. I think he'll be able to defend at a high level in our league.' Other areas of improvement for Heat's Kasparas Jakucionis Brad Penner-Imagn Images While the Heat sees tremendous potential in Jackucionis, which is valid with the talent he has when it comes to his play-making, there are some concerns to still ironed out. His turnover rate last season was on the higher end as he averaged 3.7 turnovers per game for an exceptionally high turnover rate of 25.4% in his lone season with the Fighting Illini, though he had a high usage rate with the team. Advertisement Still, Simon sees it as 'correctable,' and even some of the turnovers were ones that they 'can work with.' 'Certainly the numbers are higher than you want, but he's high usage and he's processing things,' Simon said on Wednesday. 'The turnovers were high, certainly. But I think they're turnovers that you can work with. I think those are correctable; they're teachable to see the game. But if you just watched all his film, he's making good reads out there, he's making plays.' There were also some shooting inconsistencies as he shot 31.8 percent from deep, though one could attribute that to a forearm injury he had in the latter half of the season. Advertisement 'The shot, he's projected based on our analytical numbers to become a really good shooter,' Simon said. 'His stroke is pure. He takes tough shots. I think there are things in his game that he certainly has to work on. But you look at a player who turned 19 last month and what he's accomplished at junior levels, everywhere he's played, he's really been effective and efficient. There are things he has to work on, but the shooting I don't think is going to be any deficiency. I think that's going to get better.' Jakucionis now gets to work as he will prepare for the Summer League, starting in mid-July. Related: How Kasparas Jakucionis can contribute for the Heat right away Advertisement Related: Miami Heat sign former Howard University star to contract

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