The best of an energized Erik Spoelstra press conference

Somebody’s happy again. Welcome back, Spoelstra.

If you’ve followed my feed, you’ve known that Erik Spoelstra just hasn’t seemed quite the same the past couple of years. A mismatched roster. A max player who didn’t always go with the program. Too many low-upside players who played the same position.

Well, that’s changed.

Here’s the best of Spoelstra’s very confident, very positive 2019 Miami Heat media day press conference.

“It feels good to be back. It’s been 172 days. That’s about 70 days too long for this organization. It feels like a new team.” pic.twitter.com/iuTMMKsWm5

— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) September 30, 2019

On whether Jimmy Butler can be a leader, Erik Spoelstra says, simply: “He better.”

— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) September 30, 2019

Spoelstra on Jimmy Butler: “We speak the same language.”

— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) September 30, 2019

Erik Spoelstra says he’s spent a good deal of time speaking w Butler this summer & “sharing some dinners to start this process. It’s not going to be there right now. The relationship between the highest paid player and the head coach is the most important one in this building.”

— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) September 30, 2019

Spoelstra, asked about the point guard, says: “The game has changed. We started positionless… catch up.”

Says the ball will be in Winslow’s hands but also in Dragic’s hands.

— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) September 30, 2019

It’s like an enormous weight has been lifted from Erik Spoelstra’s shoulders. He’s energized. The roster makes sense now. It’s one of the reasons I like this team’s chances.

— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) September 30, 2019

It’s like an enormous weight has been lifted from Erik Spoelstra’s shoulders. He’s energized. The roster makes sense now. It’s one of the reasons I like this team’s chances.

— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) September 30, 2019

Spoelstra just said it himself: “we are energized. We see a league with a lot of change. We see opportunity.”

— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) September 30, 2019

What does Erik Spoelstra like about Jimmy Butler the player?@5ReasonsSports pic.twitter.com/ts7Ue34O9g

— Ethan J. Skolnick (@EthanJSkolnick) September 30, 2019

Spoelstra: “you have to have the ability to make teams match to you. I believe we can do that with this roster.”

— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) September 30, 2019

Spoelstra says Derrick Jones Jr logged the most Arena workouts of any player this offseason.

— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) September 30, 2019

Does Erik Spoelstra think the Miami Heat can be a contender in the East?

“We do.”@5ReasonsSports

— Ethan J. Skolnick (@EthanJSkolnick) September 30, 2019