Heat’s Erik Spoelstra gets real on Doc Rivers calling Giannis ‘difficult’ to coach appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
As the Miami Heat are off to a 3-6 start to the season, there’s no denying that many within the sports world are disappointed by the early results, though there could also be some others who aren’t too shocked by the opening struggles. While the Heat continue to figure out Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s fit with the rest of the team, head coach Erik Spoelstra responds to a comment made by Doc Rivers about the former Milwaukee Buck.
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Rivers coached the Bucks from 2024 to 2026 with Antetokounmpo, and recently spoke on Bill Simmons’ self-titled show, saying that the two-time MVP is “not easy” to coach, calling him a “really difficult guy” regarding his downhill playing style. Praising a lot about his game, he would say that Antetokounmpo “doesn’t have super IQ” and that “every play he wants to force it,” further saying you “have to learn” how to play with him.
Spoelstra would be asked Sunday about the comments and responded to Rivers.
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“Look, I like Doc, and I respect him. This is our business now,” Spoelstra said, via Heat Central on X, formerly Twitter. “We’re going through a process of trying to develop a defense that’s meeting our potential, and we’re not right now, We’re making some progress. I’m not so stubborn that I can’t see it; I can see it. It’s not happening fast enough, and it’s not happening with enough collective urgency and toughness in terms of getting everybody comfortable offensively.”
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Heat’s Erik Spoelstra on integrating Giannis Antetokounmpo
Spoelstra continued talking about the Heat’s progress in fitting Antetokounmpo with the rest of the team, saying that the team “went into the season thinking that would be a process,” since the 31-year-old is a player that “commands so much attention.”
Admitting it’s a “different style” than what the team is used to, Spoelstra is confident Miami will figure it out, saying that “we’ve already made a lot of strides.”
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Individually, Antetokounmpo is averaging 27.3 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game while shooting 56 percent from the field, as the Heat look to get back in the winning column on Sunday against the Sacramento Kings.
Related: What Heat’s Erik Spoelstra ‘hates’ about conversation around Giannis’ fit with others
Related: Heat vs. Kings injury report: Keegan Murray upgraded
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
