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Miami Heat: Erik Spoelstra says he’s ‘excited’ to bring back last year’s core

By Wes Goldberg

MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 10: Head coach Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat during the game against the Chicago Bulls at American Airlines Arena on November 10, 2016 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 10: Head coach Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat during the game against the Chicago Bulls at American Airlines Arena on November 10, 2016 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images) /
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After a going 30-11 in the second half to last season, the Miami Heat will run it back and see if that success was for real.

The Miami Heat missing the playoffs by a game was frustrating for more than just the simple fact of not making the postseason. It also prevented everyone from seeing just how good that group could be.

So team president Pat Riley, general manager Andy Elisburg and head coach Erik Spoelstra went into the offseason not knowing if a team that went 30-11 in the second half of the season could compete with the best teams in the Eastern Conference.

With so many players on the 2016-17 roster becoming free agents, re-signing them could be a gamble. But that’s what the Heat did, having brought back Dion Waiters and James Johnson on four-year deals. They also added Kelly Olynyk and drafted Bam Adebayo.

Locking in a team that surprised everyone over the course of the final 41 games was worth the risk to Spoelstra, according to the Palm Beach Post’s Tom D’Angelo:

"“I think it’s been pretty well-documented that everybody wanted an opportunity to bring the group back together,” Spoelstra said. “Nothing is guaranteed in this league. But the way the group and the team came together, connected and competed for each other, the group wanted an opportunity to explore this further.“We were given that opportunity and I think everybody is pretty excited about it. You can feel it, you can see it. So we’re getting closer to training camp. We’re not there yet, but the guys are really excited about getting back to work officially.”"

This is partly why I think the Heat were so upset about not making the playoffs last season and why, ultimately, Waiters and Johnson were so motivated to re-sign. They just wanted to play more basketball together.

You can’t blame them, either. The second half of last season was a lot of fun. The players not only gelled, but Spoelstra figured out how to best coach them.

Spoelstra at the start of the season ran the offense through Hassan Whiteside, allowing the center to go to work in the post. The result was a series of inefficient hook shots and a slowed-down offense.

Eventually, the responsibility shifted more to Goran Dragic and a healthy Waiters. Spoelstra developed a drive-and-kick offense based on the backcourt penetrating to the rim and finding teammates along the perimeter for open jumpers. The Heat had one of the most efficient offenses in the second half of the season as the team found a formula that worked.

Next: 5 reasons the Heat will make the playoffs

They are hoping to repeat that success in the upcoming season, while skipping the initial growing pains that stunted last season. Spoelstra and the like will have a chance, for better or worse, to see what this team can do.

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