Tag Archives: erik spoelstra

Adjusters inspect remnants of Heat coach Erik Spoelstra’s Coral Gables-area home destroyed in fire amid probe

**Miami Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra’s Coral Gables Home Destroyed in Massive Fire**

SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) — Insurance adjusters were seen inspecting the charred remains of Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra’s multimillion-dollar home near Coral Gables, just a day after it was destroyed in a devastating fire.

7News cameras captured the adjusters heading inside the property on Friday morning. The home is located near Southwest 49th Avenue and 80th Street in the Ponce-Davis neighborhood. Outside the residence, a Florida Highway Patrol cruiser was parked as officials conducted their assessment.

The five-bedroom, six-bathroom residence burst into flames early Thursday morning. Radio transmissions from first responders captured a firefighter reporting, “A single family home. We’ve got fire in the back.”

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Victoria Byrd addressed reporters after daybreak, describing the severity of the blaze. “We found fire that was as tall as the trees,” she said.

7News cameras also captured Coach Spoelstra watching helplessly as his home was consumed by flames. At the time, Spoelstra was flying back to South Florida with the team after their game against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night.

Dozens of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue firefighters battled the blaze for hours. Battalion Chief Byrd highlighted the challenges they faced. “Due to the privacy wall and a lot of the tree cover, it was very difficult to access, with only one point of entry,” she explained.

Thanks to the crews’ efforts, the fire was contained and did not spread to nearby homes along Southwest 80th Street. “We used multiple aerial apparatuses, fire engines, and rescues to help combat this incident,” Byrd added.

7Skyforce aerial footage captured the aftermath, showing flames that had gutted most of the structure.

Spoelstra purchased the one-acre property in 2023 for $6.6 million. Neighbors told 7News that he had since renovated the house, which spans more than 5,700 square feet and includes amenities such as a pool, outdoor kitchen, and tennis courts.

Just two weeks ago, Spoelstra had invited his team over for a barbecue. The Miami Heat posted a video showing players using the grill and playing soccer on the property.

Now, the home has been reduced to soot and ash and has officially been declared a total loss.

Despite this personal tragedy, Spoelstra is expected to coach as the Heat host the Charlotte Hornets at the Kaseya Center Friday night.

*Copyright WSVN 7News.*
https://wsvn.com/sports/miami-heat/adjusters-inspect-remnants-of-heat-coach-erik-spoelstras-coral-gables-area-home-destroyed-in-fire-amid-probe/

Heat’s Erik Spoelstra unsure on starting lineup without Tyler Herro. Here’s what it should be

While the Miami Heat went winless in the preseason, the team is looking to make some noise in the regular season with the opener on Wednesday against the Orlando Magic.

As the Heat’s offense will be “tricky,” as described by Nikola Jovic, the team will need a productive starting lineup to get off to a strong start. Head coach Erik Spoelstra recently revealed whether he has settled on a set starting five.

Speaking after Monday’s practice, Spoelstra said he is “still deciding” on the lineup. He also noted that whatever starting lineup is chosen for Game 1 might not be the same for Game 2.

> “I’m still deciding. We’ll figure it out. Whatever the starting lineup is for game one it might not be for game two,” Spoelstra explained.

One of the major debates among Miami’s fanbase centers on who will start alongside Bam Adebayo in the frontcourt: Kel’el Ware or Nikola Jovic. Jovic had started the preseason alongside Adebayo, but due to an injury, Spoelstra inserted Ware with the starters. Ware had been part of the starting lineup for the majority of the second half of last season.

“I think they’re fine,” Spoelstra said about Ware and Adebayo. “Yeah, they’ve had some time now since training camp, and those minutes last year to play off each other. They feel comfortable with it. So there’s some good things we can build on. For sure, we just don’t want them, like, taking up the same space, you know, that doesn’t do us any good. But they’re aware of it, and they’ve been working on it.”

### What the Heat’s Starting Lineup Could Look Like

With the team focusing heavily on comfort within the new offense, the ideal starting lineup for Game 1 may differ from what it looks like at the end of the season.

Since the Heat’s emphasis is on playing at a faster pace—a style that has ranked near the bottom of the league for much of the last few seasons—it makes sense for Jovic to start alongside Adebayo. Jovic provides Miami with a playmaker at forward and can stretch the floor on offense. At just 22 years old, he continues to develop and improve.

If the Heat want to push the pace early on, having Jovic in the lineup should yield better results.

However, over the course of the season, that could change. Ware and Adebayo formed an exciting frontcourt last season. The rookie impressed with his athleticism and versatility as a seven-foot center, which in turn allowed Adebayo to slide back to power forward. As the season progresses, don’t be surprised if Ware starts more often.

### Locked-In Starters and Point Guard Situation

The other locks in the starting lineup are newcomers Norman Powell, Andrew Wiggins, Adebayo, and Tyler Herro. However, Herro will miss the start of the season due to injury, which raises questions at the point guard spot.

The competition is between Dru Smith and Davion Mitchell. It appears likely that Mitchell will get the nod, as he provided Miami with strong defense, playmaking ability, and three-point shooting last season.

As the team finalizes its lineup, fans will know exactly who starts before Wednesday’s opener against the Orlando Magic. Stay tuned for what promises to be an exciting season for the Miami Heat.
https://clutchpoints.com/nba/miami-heat/heat-news-erik-spoelstra-unsure-on-starting-lineup-without-tyler-herro-heres-what-it-should-be