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December 5, 2025 63 mins
In this week’s episode of The Baseline NBA Podcast, we welcome Paul Landono, Associate Producer of Drink Champs Sports, to break down the Miami Heat’s surprising early-season success.

We dive into what’s driving Miami’s hot start, whether their formula is sustainable, and how the team continues to evolve behind the pillars of Heat Culture. Landono gives his insight on Bam Adebayo’s two-way leap, Tyler Herro’s expanded role, and Jimmy Butler’s ability to set the tone without overextending early.

We also ask the big question: Is this finally the year Erik Spoelstra gets real Coach of the Year consideration? From Miami’s revamped offense to their emerging depth pieces, we explore what’s real, what’s noise, and how the Heat stack up in a loaded Eastern Conference. Tap in for sharp analysis, insider nuggets, and a smart look into Miami’s potential path forward.

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Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
This is the baseline discussing the hot button topics of
the NBA. Welcome everybody, your tune to the baseline Calie
Warrenshaw discussing the hot button topics of the NBA. Man,
we got a really great show on tap.

Speaker 2 (00:17):
Man.

Speaker 1 (00:17):
I am too, per so super excited about this one.
And I'm sure my man fifty grand you know what
I'm saying, brother for another mother. My man is to Warrenshaw,
you know what I'm saying. He amped up for this
one as well, too, Man. And even though it will
be in discussion for a team who we're supposed to
loathe and hate, really can't hate on how this team

(00:37):
is acting up right now, like because they are straight
up acting a fool in the NBA, but with good reason,
you know, and hopefully with good success. And you know,
I'm not gonna waste any time about it. My man
Shaw knows right right what it's like to be in
the belly of the beast, for us to be to
have this conversation about this particular team, my brother.

Speaker 3 (01:00):
Yeah, I think we're at the stage where we just
have to respect what we respect, right and you can
you can you can run from it. You can find it,
but sometimes some things are inevitable, and you know it's
great for us, for me specifically, kind of tap into
my network, talk to somebody who you know, I've been
connecting with here a little bit too, but also allow
him to get his takes off. You know, he's got

(01:20):
a great platform that he's going to be lunching as
well too. As we talk about this specific team in
the area in which I live, and we all know
what it is.

Speaker 4 (01:28):
Man taught him to talk little Miami Heat.

Speaker 3 (01:30):
But uh, lets you go ahead and do the particulars
here why we're doing what we're doing.

Speaker 1 (01:36):
Yeah, So it's not only because of who we're gonna
have on to have this conversation about the Miami Heat,
but to you what you're just saying, Man, Like, listen,
this is a team that I think you can we
cannot ignore what they've been doing. And you know, the
one thing about our show that I appreciate us is
I think sometimes like when we when when conversations are
being had about you know a team or or you

(02:00):
know what a team may be doing, we always have
to predicate that on what their record reflects. Right, Like, Remember,
the NBA is a marathon, not a sprint right, And
even as we're talking about this in the early stages,
we still have to look at this holistically and say,
you know, is it sustainable? Is what we're seeing actually real?
So for all our all all our efforts, we could

(02:22):
be having this conversation and be bigging this team up,
and you know, something could crazily happen and crash out,
but it doesn't ignore what we're seeing. And I think
a lot of this transformation about this team and what
they're doing is why it has to be discussed. And
to be able to have a special guest on to
have that conversation, I think is apropos and uh, you know,

(02:45):
hey man a man, he's doing his thing on the grind.
So in a few moments we are going to have
our Mayor Paul and Donald from Drink Champs Sports to
jump on and have this conversation about the Miami Heat
culture and game resc game and why they are doing
what they're doing, because right now we are all scratching

(03:06):
our heads trying to figure this thing out. But he
may know, he may he may have the recipe for
why the Miami Heat is caliente right about now. So
great show on tap we want y'all to be locked
in with us and as always, be sure to get
my man at de Warrenshaw or meet at game Face
Lead the shows Twitter handle at NBA Basline Available on
all the major platforms. You can go to www dot

(03:28):
the Baseline NBA dot com to only check us and
this episode, and then if you're also catching us on
the YouTube channel, we'd like to say hello to you
and yours. And when you see the blue and white
logo on the YouTube channel, that means it's the nineteen
Media Group family. Nineteen Media Group be running these content streets,
so you can always check us out at www dot
Ninetemediagroup dot com to not only check us, but also

(03:49):
the family of great content creators that are a part
of nineteen Media. So as we get into things, we're
gonna have a very energetic conversation about this team call
the Miami Heat. But in doing so, we've got to
make sure that our supporters and our partners are keeping

(04:09):
you in the know and keeping us afloat. So to
let you know, this episode of the Baseline is brought
to you by Prize Picks. It's the holiday season, the
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be right. Coming up, Paul Landono joins us so we
can talk Miami Heat basketball here on the Baseline Klie

(06:07):
Warrenshaw the Baseline NBA Podcast, and we are uber excited
to have on board with us. Our man is doing
our thing. Man, he is with a team that is
rolling strong, not just in the in the sports media consumption,
but just in media in general. Man, if people are
down with the Drink the Drink Champs family, then you

(06:30):
know about Drink Champs Sports. And our associate producer, Paul Londano,
he's also a co founder of Crazy Hood Productions, is
joining us to talk a little Miami Heat. Paul, welcome aboard, Happy.

Speaker 2 (06:43):
Holidays, Thank you guys, Thank you guys.

Speaker 1 (06:45):
You know what I'm saying.

Speaker 2 (06:45):
I have to be back shout out to Warren and
you you guys are doing a tremendous job. It's on
a pleasure for me to be here to share my
expertise and at the same time just have fun with y'all. Guys.
You know, we'll do respect.

Speaker 1 (06:57):
Oh man, listen, we are excited to have you on
as well too, and especially as a as a Heat champion.

Speaker 2 (07:05):
Uh.

Speaker 1 (07:06):
And I say that with you know, with the utmost respect,
because you know, our affinity and love for basketball doesn't
extend to our loyalty to being you know, Bosts and Celtics,
but also appreciating the Heat culture and what the Miami
Heat has done over the last couple of decades. And
it's just been it's been hard to find, you know,
dedicated people because some fans get a little too passionate
but don't really kind of get into the into the

(07:27):
weeds of why the Miami Heat has been as successful
as it's been. I'm just kind of curious from you, man,
what what brought you into becoming a Miami Heat not
just a fan, but also a follower of what the
Heat's been doing.

Speaker 2 (07:40):
Bro. It is an excellent question. I was having this
conversation two days ago, because in my circle in Miami
and where I'm from in New Jersey. To keep it
real short, I'm a die hard Knicks fan, bro, I've
been a Knicks fan all my life, and my favorite
player was Patrick. You to this day, you know, I

(08:01):
show him super love for everything he did as a
person and a college player with Georgetown Hoyas I was
nine ten years old with my Georgetown Hoyot jacket had
I mean, I'm a Patrick Ewing fan first, And to
make the strong story short, when they traded him for
one other player to Seattle, after like fifteen years in

(08:25):
the in Knicks organization, I found out at the young
age that this was a real business. It was not
for fun. The funk part is just watching excitement, but
the business of it threw me for a loop. I
was so upset I took it personal. How the Knicks
let the franchise player of the decade just to go

(08:48):
like just a simple trade, one on one trade, and
then he retired, and then to make a injury to
install insult to injury. He never even got accepted to
get like a coaching job or training job, nothing from
the next organization. Bro. So that moves forward to me
just saying I'm not watching no more NBA. So I

(09:09):
took a pause from NBA for about three four years,
Like I never watched anything. I just heavy heavy into college.
So when he got traded, I stopped playing, I stopped
watching doing anything NBA. I would watch the finals, but
I was so upset. And then college took me for
a whole new breath of fresh air. So now I'm
dabbling a little bit in the March Madness fun. You know,

(09:32):
I'm throwing my money in the pot, I'm in the ring,
I'm throwing money. I'm doing a whole bit. And then
three four years later, I starting winning in the March
Madness bracket. This one team was underdog and they will
win to the next round thirty two Sweet sixteen, Elite eight.
They went all the way. And this team kept winning,

(09:53):
and I kept making some branding and they kept winning.
And it was a team called Marquette, and they had
a number player, number three play. So when Patrick Ewing
got traded in ninety seven and I stopped watching, then
here comes this young guy named Dwayne Wade and Marquette
killing it. And then in two thousand and three, which
is six years of no NBA. When he got traded

(10:15):
to the Miami Heat, I jumped in. I jumped in
the kool aid bro I jumped in the pool. I said,
I'm in. So I became a Heath fan in Old
three because of Wade, because what he did in Marquette
in the Final four. So all my people in New York,
New Jersey, Miami, they all hate me now still because
they're like die hard fan, Nick fan, die hard fan,
and I just always hated that for them to get

(10:36):
trading Patrick Ewing. So then I've been to a Heath
fan since Old three.

Speaker 1 (10:41):
New Jersey Drive. You know what I'm saying. With the
movie rights and everything, I love.

Speaker 2 (10:46):
Right facts, all of that, and then I was it
just never happened for me in any other fashion. So
Dwayne Wade was so pure and young and energetic, So
you already I ain't got to tell you no, Like
I went through the ring with everybody over here, and
and now a lot of those people have left the

(11:07):
Knicks for whatever reason. You know. The only person that
I know still talk good and bad about the Niggs
is Stephen A. Smith, you know. But that's how I
got into the Heat culture. That's how I got into
the whole pat Riley. I mean pat Riley was a
Nick coach and when he came to Miami, to me,
it made sense on that business tip and that pat
Riley's been the man and he set the whole coach
for everybody, and everybody just falls into it, no matter

(11:29):
if you're a top draft, no matter if you're unrestricted.
Who the Miami he are very well known to get
unrestricted undrafted players. That's what I meant, undrafted players, and
they jump into the game.

Speaker 5 (11:44):
Bro.

Speaker 2 (11:44):
They have full respect for the culture, They make it
their own, they live it, they embrace every other player
from that moment, and the culture builds and the culture builds,
and many other organizations have tried to follow it, but
the Heat stayed true to it. And it's proven this
season how how dope it is, and I mean it's working.

(12:05):
I ain't mad at I ain't met at all of
what they got going on right now.

Speaker 3 (12:10):
Well, I think that seguys us and I did not
know that about you, paulm We spoke multiple occasions, So
I mean, I think that's dope to kind of know
that story.

Speaker 4 (12:17):
And I think you know, as a as a fan.

Speaker 3 (12:19):
Scorned you know what I mean, you found a square
rock with and kind of keep it pushing. You know,
a lot of tails there because wait, obviously has some
transit tribulation in Miami too, but that's for another show,
another time or whatever. So let's let's get into the
reason we brought you on here, because Miami is rocking
and rolling right now.

Speaker 4 (12:36):
I've been really impressed, you know.

Speaker 3 (12:38):
Sale and I did our Eastern Conference preview when we
said this, and we'll get into all this as well too,
but we're like, damn, this is the type of team
Spoe might be able to do his best job with,
right and he's been so amazing at figuring out whatever
the talent is. But we'll talk about spoil a little
bit throughout the course of the conversation. But it's the offense.
It's the offense. Miami has never been this potent of

(12:59):
a team offensive. Lea and I want to play a
clip right now about from Bam out of Bayo. He
was on Amazon on Amazon on Prime a few ago
talking about the heat offense. And then I want to
kind of get your thoughts on what Bam said here
and what you've seen off the course of the years.

Speaker 5 (13:12):
Absolutely everybody feels involved. There's no Uh, we don't run place. Yeah,
so it's really just ball movement and being able to
execute that and knowing where everybody's going to be because
we drill it so much. Uh, it's a free flowing
offense for us. So when we get the rebound, everybody

(13:33):
knows where is to go, everybody knows where's the run,
and uh, it's just fun basketball at that point.

Speaker 1 (13:40):
Fun amazing, Right when if you ever heard, whenever you
heard in the in the Riley Heat culture era, the
word fun being applicable unless it's winning a championship yo
or fun because you're punishing the other team. Because of
the physicality that the Miami Heat have always, you know,

(14:01):
it's always resonated with the type of players that they've
had because they had hard hat players, you know what
I'm saying.

Speaker 2 (14:07):
Never I've never heard the word fun come out of
any player. You know, they all say had work, they
all say discipline, and they all stand behind the Lonzo
Morning hallwork ethic dude, or Eudonis Haslam hallwork ethic dude,
and so on. But you know, it's I think it's
kind of like he's misleading the whole league by saying
they've run no plays. Now, I get it. It's working.

(14:31):
They're all they're all running. But at the very end,
when he said, when we get a rebound, people know
where to go, that's a play. Now it could be
an unstruct third type of offense where they know that
the guards are running the out lanes, the bigs are
running the inside lanes, and the ball is flowing. But

(14:51):
it's awesome, Bro. It's good to see too, because there
is no ego, there is no pride. The main the
main ingredient from that clip is that he said everybody's involved,
So that's special. That's special.

Speaker 1 (15:04):
I want to jump on something that you just said, Paul.
And and more to why Shaw played that, I'm glad
he played that clip because if you notice, the spotlight
is obviously on the heat team, which is great because
that is really what it's about. But look at the players,
the roster of the typer players that have been constructed

(15:25):
for that type of offense. All of them, at some
point in their careers were never considered the number one guy.
So they already understand that for their opportunities they had
to put their hard hats on the Norman Powells, the
Bam out of Bayos. The only person that I think
maybe had been in a I guess in a position

(15:46):
of privilege is is Tyler Hero. But even now this season,
you see a harder work ethic of Tyler Hero adding
value to other aspects of the game other than just
scoring the basketball. And I think that, to me, is
what's going to kind of highlight a little bit of
what y'all's going to get into about why the Heat
are scoring at a ridiculous amount, why their whole form

(16:09):
of style of play has elevated, because now you're completely
accentuating all of the things that naturally came with what
these guys were. They didn't come in as you know,
top scorers in the NBA, coming out of college, top
scores whatever. They built this up and now all those
other little things that they did, rebounding, the basketball, ball distribution,

(16:29):
movement on the court, all of that is like it's
like second nature for them, you know what I'm saying.
They're just now doing it with other guys that do
it as well too, And to me, I just think
that that's what makes it fun for this you know,
that's what makes it enjoyable because all of them are
like minded and what they're asking each of each other
each other to do, which I think is great.

Speaker 2 (16:50):
Yep. And not only like minded, but humble. You know,
they all know what hard work means and none of
them are scared scared at step to it. You said
it correctly by saying they put on their hats. You know,
they got their lunch pails when they come to work.
You know, I was able. I had a privilege of
meeting Norman Powell over the summer here in Miami. The

(17:10):
Jamaica team did a workout in this area and I
went with a close friend of mine. Shout out to
my boy Steve on balla Ballatube. I'm gonna connect Warren
to my man Steve. He's dope, but he got a
whole situation going on with baller tube and I brought
him in so he can do his own documentary type vibe.

(17:33):
So I'm gonna send you'all a link to what he
was able to accomplish there. But the point is seeing
Norman Powell lead the Jamaica team practice and scrimmage. I
was like, dude, this dude is own point. This dude
knows how to be a leader, and now he trans
he'd been had that obviously, but to see it in
practice on phase where it's not like a structure the

(17:57):
NBA team game or whatever, like what he did with
the make this situation, like those guys are doing something specially,
they're gonna be something to look forward to. But now
I see that applied to the NBA professional landscape and
they're all following suit bro So's It's really cool to
see that. But you're absolutely right, man, It's just it's
just humble, hardworking dudes that nobody has an ego, and

(18:19):
they're having stupid fun. They're having a lot of phone doing.

Speaker 4 (18:22):
Yeah, I love what's going on there.

Speaker 3 (18:24):
I mean that clip later on goes to Shoban actually
breaking down the offense and again saying no plays like
I think you're a great paut Like it's a missedover
because people do need to need to where to go.
It's more of a read and react offense that's still
kind of motion based, but they're not utilizing screens. And
what was really interesting to me is that Ceil and
I we had a conversation last week about John Moran

(18:44):
and like one of our clips, you know, people are asking, oh,
should he trade for John Moran. Well, one of the
number one reasons that he should not trade for John
Moran is that they are basically running the methods offense
last year that John Murant hated, like coach Spo went
to those guys and said, well, what's going on here?

Speaker 2 (19:00):
Right?

Speaker 3 (19:00):
And when John didn't have the opportunity to run a
lot of pick and rolls, he was very unhappy. And
that's what's happening here in Miami. So what I give
a lot of credit to also for Tyler Hero is
coming back here and not trying to mess up the
flow because Sel was a percent right. You look at
this Heat team with the exception of Hero, nobody's like
super comfortable being like, hey, I want to be a
three point per game guy. Everybody is kind of like, hey,

(19:22):
mid twenties whatever, like I get hot, whatever, whatever, whatever.
But this allows everybody to touch the ball and get hot.
Hami Hawke is playing great basketball as you lose to
normal pile playing immen's basketball. We'll talk a little bit
about normal powle in a little bit as well too.
But from my lens watching this Heat team now go
from first now like votes, to first in pace and
second in points per game as we record after he

(19:44):
is one hundred and thirty points per game, the Miami
freaking heat one hundred and thirty points per game.

Speaker 2 (19:50):
Yeah, just really, justin dudes.

Speaker 3 (19:52):
Right now from your lens, Paul, just I know we've
talked about it, but can you really really explain how
this is? Like, is it sustainable? That's the main thing.
Can this type of offense no picks, this level, high
high efficiency and high scoring. Is it sustainable for this
Miami he'd roster as you see them constructed?

Speaker 2 (20:11):
I absolutely think sustainable. Obviously with everybody's health, you know,
that has to be first and foremost, you know, but
the main situation from what I see here, just just
like giving prime example on Tyler Hero, you know, coming
into the league as him being a young a young
star out of you know, Kentucky, right, am, I right, right?

(20:35):
I can't remember. Yeah, he was put into the forefront
along with Robinson and being lethal shooter. He was molded
to be that. They didn't really ask much from him.
And then when the Miami culture of the city got
to him, you know, he got you know, into a
whole family situation at an early age. So him being

(20:56):
a dad and a husband or just a dad at
that age. You know, you could see where his distractions
and and that second year, that third year where people
were calling for his head and to trade rumors, and
then O Sposa was able to pull him back, take
him over to Japan when they did the Olympics, and
like just settle them in to Now he's a young

(21:19):
man and he's coming into it off of injury, and
he's just like you said, he's not pushing to be
the leader, not pushing to be the button star. It's
sustainable because they all agreed and they all understand, and
nobody's working less. They're all at top level. They're all

(21:39):
working at the top level to secure the w no
matter if his BAM's rebounds or his Norman Pow or
is uh Nicola's efforts. Yeah, no matter who it is,
Hima is playing incredible ball. And he's still young. You know,
he came into the league as a power house and

(22:00):
he proved it. So it's good to see them all
combinations and no matter who it is, either Andrew Wings
is my guy I've been I liked Andrew Wiggins as
a baller when he was in Memphis, So to see
that transition, but I think I'm going I think I'm
bugging out. It was in Memphis that he came first,
right or what team was in Minnesota? Minnesota? Minnesota, I

(22:24):
mean he was Minnesota.

Speaker 1 (22:26):
Then he went to Cleveland.

Speaker 2 (22:27):
Yeah, yeah, he was. He was a monster, just a
raw talent, where now you can see him being a
young man again and falling right into right into play.
I think it's sustainable because the coach believes in them,
and they believe in themselves with that confidence, and then
they want to show the love to the city. They

(22:49):
want to show the love and respect to themselves and
for all the naysayers one hundred and thirty points average,
they're proving themselves that they can do it. And I
think they're going to go. How far they go, they're
gonna be a sleeper in the East at this point,
people are starting to wake up. But I think they're
gonna run through it. New York is a great team,
but I don't think Miami. I don't think Miami is

(23:12):
gonna fall to those guys.

Speaker 1 (23:14):
Paul and Donald joining us here from Drink Champ, Sports
asso ship producer and also co founder of Crazy Hood Productions,
and be sure you gotta you guys, gotta check them out. Man,
gotta roll with them, catch them on the on the instaff.

Speaker 2 (23:26):
Were working, man, were working absolutely.

Speaker 1 (23:28):
Drink Champs sports D R I N K C H
A M P double S P O R T S
is where you're gonna find them. And so so Paul
and I know Seaw is gonna kind of kind of,
you know, move us into the Spoe conversation in a
moment or so. I'm really curious about something. I don't

(23:49):
want to lose this, you know, in our conversation. I
just found it interesting that your your storyline starts with
the person like Dwyane Wade right for the working, quiet,
humble type of player. And I'm tracing back to the
lineage of the Miami Heat, and I really outside of
Dwayne Wade, who actually had to build up that superstar reputation, right,

(24:13):
he wasn't you know, ordained like a Lebron James or
Kobe Bryant or you know, or like any other premier
star player in the era. And I'm thinking back to
really win the Miami Heat. Like the most notable names
of people that were Miami Heat players, Ronnie Cyclee, you
know what I'm saying Tim Hardaway, you know, like all

(24:33):
of them built up a reputation that kind of encompassed
what was identified by the culture of the Miami Heat.
Alonzo Mourning and I look at the same thing. Now
we still talk about Bam out of Bayou right as
part of the core you Donnis Haslam. But these guys
are not guys that, by leaps or bounds, are gonna
go in with Hall of Fame numbers, you know what

(24:56):
I'm saying. They have Hall of Fame mentality. They have
like you know, like championship medal that they built up.
And I don't understand it. I don't know how the
Paul the Riley effect, the Suposua effect has permeated to
guys where the focus is not on finding you know,
that legendary player, that star player. They become a legend,

(25:20):
maybe within the culture, maybe from the team itself. But
like in the annals of the Miami Heat, man, you know,
I can only count on my finger, you know one
or two people that are going to go down making
putting numbers up in those you know, top seventy five, like,
but the lineage of great players that have been or Warren,

(25:41):
the Miami Heat Jersey has been remarkable to.

Speaker 2 (25:43):
Me, right, absolutely, well, I mean to add on to
the early heat, you know, the PJ. Browns, the Grand Lungs,
you know the Dan Marley's. I mean, these are all
legendary guys in their own right, you know, right, you
know with Glenn Rice, that's also a real close. He

(26:03):
coached my son's basketball team for the last three summers
in high school. The guy is super cool. Bro, this
so humble. You could see where his attitude out off
of basketball in the real world where it translated from
him being a star. But the thing, you know, the
town accepts you. I'm pretty sure that's how it is
in every city when they see a player, you know,

(26:24):
they want to support you and everything you do in
a matter, if it's a fundraiser or charity event. You know,
Zoe Summer's groove, he had a situation in the community
where he would give back to to the community, whether
it's a show or charity event. So they have been
able to keep the players active in the community where
now it's normal. Now you see a whole team doing drives,

(26:46):
Turkey drives, Christmas drives. But early in the late nineties,
early two thousands, day that he were doing their thing,
and most importantly, they would keep those players. That's why
Donald has has a longevity. He was on the heat.
He probably didn't even touch the basketball or jumped on
the court for about four or five seasons. But his demeanor,

(27:08):
his leadership, and his voice was in the group in
the huddle in the locker room. And that fell into
the BAMS. That went into all those young guys where
now they're maturing as young players and young men and
they carry in you know, Dwayne Wade as well. You know,
they don't have to be necessarily a superstar. But it

(27:29):
didn't hurt when Wade, when they brought in Shock, you know,
then brought in Shaq, they brought in one of my
guys of James Posey. You know, they brought in these
hard working dudes, and that was able to elevate Dwayne's
status as far as a player, a shooter and the leader.
So as all those guys left the rashad Lewis like

(27:54):
Wade was able to get that from all those veterans
and some of them even journeymen. But for them to
come to the e make something special, even with white chocolate.
Jason Williams like there's a lot of conversation, Gary Payton,
you know, there's a lot of more words in conversations
than just balling. Balling is what they naturally do, but
the conversation and the leadership, you know, that is the

(28:15):
twelfth man on the team, because the eleventh man is
the is the fans, you know, or however you want
to put it together. And then Eric Bosal's history, him
coming in as the VHS guy, him coming in as
the video guy and putting clip together for pat Riley,
and then his growth. You know, people don't ignore those things.
You know, he could come and say I came out

(28:36):
the mud. I was the video guy in the video room,
in the back door, just putting clips together, and then
little by little he was welcome into a conversation that
led to a different conversation that led to a conversation
in the media room that led to a conversation on
the court. And then he developed into a smart IQ
basketball athlete, I mean, dude coach. And then pat Riley

(28:58):
basically knighted him. And then he comes into the then
and everybody does accept those stories. That's what winning. That's
the real culture. You know, there's not one coach in
the NBA that was a video guy but supposed Tom
and now he's USA coach. Now he's potential coach of
the Year. Yeah, bro, I mean you can't. You can't
not respect that type of stuff.

Speaker 3 (29:19):
Yeah, well, let's let's jump right into that. You know,
I'm gonna play you know, a little clip here too.
It kind of shows about the humility about Spoe. He
doesn't even know he won eight hundred games here, So
let's take a look at this.

Speaker 4 (29:29):
Real quick, all right, breaking in.

Speaker 2 (29:51):
The guy classic.

Speaker 3 (29:53):
The guy doesn't even know he comes in there. The
more or less, Hey guys, we got another great win
and they're dousing them with water because he's got a
to win. One of the things about Spo that bugs
me out in the NBA because he is widely considered
one of, if not the best coach, especially when it
comes to x's and o's, but has never won Coach
of the Year. And so is this the year? Right?

(30:15):
Is this the year where we finally see that happen
with this team even if they say are a top
four or five seed in the Eastern Conference with this
kind of I want to say ragtag, but like this
mix of players that is like Hey, all stars on
the roster, but not necessarily superstars on the roster, but
really leading this roster to what we're talking about historic

(30:38):
levels of in terms of the offense. And then not
to forget this while we're talking about we talked about
them being first and pay second in points per game,
their third in defensive rating, so that heat identity still
has not left them, Like these guys are still ding
ding things up. On the other side of the basketball
Is this year for you, Paul? Do you think Eric
Spolsha can finally win Coach of the Year.

Speaker 2 (30:58):
I mean, the with with what we know about the NBA.
You know, good effort fall short if you don't win
the big games, you know, so I think he would
have to really, they would have to win the East
or if not, get into the playoffs, not even as
I got the bottom half of the of the of

(31:19):
the Eastern Conference standards, Like if he's not top four
or five going into the playoffs, winning round one, running
one two, dominantly is not just going to game seven
each round like to be a dominant team carry it
all the way to the Eastern Conference championship. You know,
winning the NBA finals is the goal that would that
would definitely see the deal for him get into the conference.

Speaker 4 (31:43):
Editors like one rule.

Speaker 3 (31:44):
I mean, it's a regular season award, so it will
be decided before the playoffs actually and going into it.
So I think your point about them having to be
a top four or five seed, you know, but again,
does he need to be a top two seed?

Speaker 4 (31:56):
You know what I mean? And essence, it's probably well.

Speaker 2 (31:58):
I mean if there, if they stayed, we've been saying,
if they've been sustainable and they're winning at that top level,
I don't see why not. I mean, some coaches are
doing a great job, but we wouldn't give it to
the next coach. This is his first year, you know,
or even though he has Brown has history, sposure would

(32:20):
be a great candidate. He would be the ideal candidate, respectfully,
you know within media and all the other coaches, whoever
does the judging, they have to see the effort they
got to see it. Would this be the year? I
will say it would be? It would be completely dope
and and yeah, why not. I would love to vote
myself if if I had a chance to do it.
And that's not taking away from many other coaches. It's

(32:42):
just what he's producing is what's going on on the court,
day in, day night, day out. The win last knowledge
against the Clippers was out of hand, and then now
tomorrow we play a rookie d rookie you know in Dallas.
So winning consistently thing might bring it to him. I
think he might be. He should be able to get

(33:02):
it loose.

Speaker 3 (33:04):
Wow, Legacy Award for culture, I mean, because like he's
never won it. At some point, do we get to
a point where, dang, we all know he's one of
the best coaches here?

Speaker 4 (33:13):
So could it also be a legacy.

Speaker 3 (33:15):
Award for him at this point as well too, if
they're able to at least be a top four or
five seed.

Speaker 2 (33:19):
Yeah, I mean, the big nod of him getting the
USA Head Coach Award, that might be like the stepping stone,
the shining moment this year, even if they lose the playoffs,
but it is a building stone, you know. The Legacy
Award would compliment the USA coach and the levels that
the team is playing. So he's gonna pick up something

(33:40):
he's I mean, there's no doubt about the fact that
he's actually doing it, saying it, proving it, day in,
day night, and his humbleness, well, his professionalism. He probably
didn't know he had the eight hundred wins. It probably
was in a conversation this week, you know whoever it was.
Him so focused on day today, him so focused on it,

(34:01):
tender raby agenda hid him focus on what the team
has to do on tonight situation. He was oblivious to
his own accolades. And that's that's remarkable, you know, So
legacy award, Yeah, that would be a complete you know,
salute to Paul.

Speaker 1 (34:17):
I wanted to help you out a little bit with
and never let it be said that boss, the Celtics,
uh family don't help out there that you know, the
Miami Heat. You know what I'm saying like this, it
could be a one time thing that this this this happens.
But here's my pathway to Eric Sposher winning the Coach
of the Year award. If and and and I want

(34:37):
people to think about this because we're in the era
of numbers, right, So if we look at what the
Miami Heat has done from an analytics perspective offensively right
to what they're doing now by leaps and bounds, it's
almost the same way that we looked at when when
Greg Popovich, and he had the the era of the

(35:00):
Big Three with Duncan Genoblie and Park park Right and
then a young Kawhi Leonard in the midst of the
heyday of the Miami Heat when they had Lebron James,
Dwayne Wade, and Chris bosh Right and what they did
as a team offensively, which is why it made so
much parody for that NBA Finals matchup two years consecutively,

(35:23):
because this was the evolution of the San Antonio Spurs
no longer being a defensive minded basketball team, but being
an offensively efficient basketball team. You may have the same
thing taking place here with the Miami Heat, who's their
calling card has been defense, has been that kind of
team where they're physical. But if they keep putting up
the numbers that they're putting up offensively and they wind

(35:44):
up landing a third seed in the Eastern Conference, I
think it's hard press that you don't give him like
it would be something clearly wrong with the people who
are actually really assessing who should be winning Coach of
the Year, you know what I'm saying, and not giving
it to Eric Spostra because what he's doing with this
team and what he's allowing this team to do and
what they're doing on something that they are not known

(36:06):
to do for this year, to me, will put them
in a conversation of being coach of the Year. And
I think the other thing that's interesting too is by
being in that conversation sort of speak, now we're saying,
are the Miami Heat good enough to be up against
the Cleveland Cavaliers, to play up against the New York Knicks,
to play up against the Orlando Magic and possibly the

(36:26):
Detroit Pistons. Can they be in that conversation and if
they're offensively that good to amongst arguably the top five
teams defensively minus the you know, Oklahoma City Thunder out
in the West. Yeah, this is like, this is a
great chance for Eric Spostra to hang his hat on

(36:48):
revolutionizing a team that has never been known to be
this offensively proficient in this season.

Speaker 2 (36:55):
I applaud you for all of that. I think that
is a great way to to just isolate his efforts
and and shine on their win. And they're playing because
all those other teams they're they're all beasts, they're all
playing high level. Now in the series, You're right, in

(37:16):
the series, I think the running gun offense. I think
the the them playing free will free might carry over
into the victories. But yeah, absolutely correct, Bro. I mean
there's nothing for me to say to combat that. I mean,
that makes perfect sense for for supposed to to uh
to get the win, to get the to get the

(37:38):
Hangers had and get either the legacy or the coach.
But it's a beautiful thing to watch and I just
want to see it all play out because every team
is balling. This is the first year in a long
time that all these games are high level, high scoring
and playing. It's never been like this for for for
a full decade, every team balling, bro And and I

(38:01):
think it's good to see that.

Speaker 3 (38:02):
Earlier, you mentioned, you know, Norman Powell and his role
with Team Jamaica.

Speaker 4 (38:06):
Shout out to the yard Man team.

Speaker 3 (38:08):
They just upset Arricle twice in their first ever feeble qualifiers.

Speaker 2 (38:12):
Had a chance to.

Speaker 3 (38:13):
Interview Norman as well too at one of the after
the heat practices talking about that experience. One of the
things he indicated was that that showed him that allowed
him to be a leader on that on that roster
because he was the best offensive player on that team.

Speaker 4 (38:26):
Jamaica team, and then.

Speaker 3 (38:28):
Just learning how to play the FEBA game as well,
but just it challenged him in a new in a
new way. And then he's also talked about admiring Heat culture,
so to speak, for a long time, but not sure
if it made sense for him. But he's aging like, fine,
why it's not It's so rare that we see somebody,
you know, at this stage of the career, been in
the league as long as he has been and now

(38:50):
seemly is like is getting better, Like they're just like
truly an understanding of the game, especially offensively, his ability
to drive, his ability to finish in contact, his ability
to shoot threes that are two or three steps behind
the line, Like those are things that a lot of
people are like, Oh, we didn't really know e Donna's
has them even said in that Prime broadcast, I wasn't

(39:11):
familiar with your game, you cold bro? Like you like,
why is Roman Powell just now kind of like coming
to this realization as this truly offensive weapon that he
has turned out to be, especially for the last two
years and especially this year in Miami, averaging over twenty
five games.

Speaker 2 (39:27):
I think the reputation of what the Heat can do
now that I see Davion Mitchell there like these are
all players that were a role player little roughly in
their respective teams that they came from. But when they
have the Miami Heat organization, when they see the silver
Fox and pat Riley slide through, when they see the

(39:48):
young eric exposure come in, it uplifts their spirits. That
gives them the extra breath of fresh Sharman say, Okay,
I'm in an organization that expects high level, elite professionalism.
You know, you can do all the fun endorsements and
the intros and the nice you know, you know, the

(40:09):
ambiance of the setting of Miami, like the Miami Beach,
stroll on the highway, clib like, you can do all
these things that's outside of basketball, and that's fun and
re energizing them. They see they have the sun. It's
sunny here all year long except during the hurricane season.
You know, there's a different atmosphere. They're breathing differently with

(40:29):
what they have here as far as the community and
everything else. So when it's time to play ball, they
know they can play ball, they're professional athlete, but they
know that they can elevate. They know that, oh this
is this means more than basketball in this city. And
I'm not taking away nothing from Boston or anybody else,
Like I get it the ingredients and me and potatoes

(40:50):
of what each organization brings to the platform. But when
Norman Powell, Davion Mitchell, like when these guys come and
now in Miami, he played from the fans to the
to the janitor, to the to the to the ushers
to everybody. We love basketball down here, bro. And and

(41:11):
even the misconception is that Miami has the worst fans
because they leave in third quarter. They just love the
game so much and passionate. They don't want to see
the lull. Wis sore as losers. Bro. Nobody likes to lose,
but the players want to bring that and Norman power
that step to the fucking back to the You know,
he's on point. He knows that here. If he misses

(41:33):
the shot, misses the play, missus an assignment, his man
scores on him. It's next play mentality, and let's keep playing.
You know, we got the ball to the whistle and
they're all four for you. Donna's to tip his hat
and say, oh you cold, yeah, Bro, I'll bet you
if you donnads wanted to be in our locker room
and share that. And Norman Power is not there, but

(41:55):
the BAM is there. And I think Norman Powell has
re entered Juys the offensive hole that we thought we
were gonna have with No Tyler Hero Andrew Wiggins can't
do it alone. But yeah, Norman Pole is big time.
He's the next generation you Donna's and mourning in his

(42:16):
own right. You know, if he stays here long term,
he might even turn into that.

Speaker 1 (42:20):
You know, It's hustle is remarkable, it really is. And
when I say hustle, I don't talk I'm not talking
about you know him, like when he hustles after the basketball.
When I say it's hustle, I just mean like his grind.
You know, the way that he grinds and puts in

(42:42):
the kind of work it is reminiscent. And you know
you can appreciate this, Paul, because you're from up north, right.
I live up in New Jersey, so I know exactly
what you're talking about. What people are on their grind,
when people are on their hustle. It's not a disrespect
even to other regions and other places, because everyone is
got their own unique hustling grind. I think what you're

(43:03):
saying and to me is what I can appreciate. A
guy like knowing power. Wherever he goes, I'm gonna always
be a fan of because he's consistent with what that
grind and that hustle is. And it's ironic because he
has that Jamaican heritage. That Jamaican heritage also is what
drives him to be that kind of player. And down
in Miami, down in the South Florida area because I

(43:26):
lived there, I grew up there as well too, that hustle,
that grind is identifiable. When I think I really appreciate
about what the Miami Hea culture is doing, because sometimes
I think it gets it's misconceived because there's an isolation effect,
like Miami Hea cultures is Miamii culture and it doesn't
feel diversified.

Speaker 4 (43:43):
So if you're.

Speaker 1 (43:43):
Someone Jamaican, if you're someone Haitian, if you're someone from
the Caribbean, it's hard to attach yourself because where Miami sits,
it's heavily Latin influence, right, And that's what people tend
to think when they talk about Mine is Land influenced.

Speaker 2 (43:59):
But I mean the Caribbean influence.

Speaker 1 (44:02):
It's crazy, right, and now we have player of players
who I think now are embracing that, who are now
getting an opportunity to showcase that. And now I think
people really can't appreciate we're a part of that hustle,
A part of that grind is what mixed the mixture
of what we now talk about within his coach like

(44:24):
you feel like you're now a part of it rather
than kind of feeling like you gotta you gotta be
of them. I can still be me, but still be
a part of that grind, that that that that hustle.
And the only time that we ever see that is
more on those traditional teams, if you're in the New
York Knicks, if you're the Chicago Bulls, if you're the
Boston Celtics, or the Los Angeles Lakers, because there's always

(44:46):
been a built up legacy of winning in championship and culture,
and it's easy to put yourself in that and feel
a part of that. You know, they never had to
worry about that. But down in Miami, they uniquely have
opened that up. They have deied right. They have the
e I the the the the ability to embrace being heat.

Speaker 2 (45:05):
I love, Yeah, we all have a family member or
a neighbor that looks like a Hymen hat. You know
how that looks like a Tyler Hero. You know that
that looks like a Norman Powell. These guys correlate with
with our everyday life. The mountain pot here in Miami
is reflects the mountain pot that is the Miami heat
all the way around, even to the coach, you know,

(45:26):
you know, even to the coach. But but yeah, you're
absolutely right, You're absolutely right. The situation that they have
going on is what we see every day. You know,
I think you're absolutely right. I mean, I'll compliment that
by saying the way they all are a brotherhood, even

(45:49):
though every team is a brotherhood and there is a
business behind all of that. You know, they these guys
do go to each other's birthday parties as a whole.
You know, they do their kids stuff and that's rare,
you know, maybe because they're young. But the OG's on
the team, the veterans on the team, they're respected and

(46:10):
there's no hazing type vibe shit that goes on. But
it's the whole family efforts, a group effort. They you know,
as crazy as it sounds like, a high school team.
They all eat together, they all go through each other
birthday parties and stuff like that, and that's a that's
a well bonded, you know, atmosphere to grow from. You know,
I hear what you're saying.

Speaker 3 (46:29):
So I'm gonna close this out for the most part.
And you know, I've been listening to a lot of
different content, a lot of different shows out there are
at the quarter part of the season, and you know,
if we were giving out awards at this stage, the
Heat have a lot of viable candidates for a lot
of different awards. We're gonna talk about Spoe as potential
to your candidate. Bam is once again in the running

(46:50):
for I think the defensive Player of the Year. His
switchability is absolutely absurd, you know, really being able.

Speaker 4 (46:55):
To guard one through five.

Speaker 3 (46:57):
Hami Hotkas, who we've kind of touched on here and there, uh,
but could potentially be a six Man.

Speaker 4 (47:02):
Of the Year candidate, right. And I think Kalel Whare.

Speaker 3 (47:05):
Is not necessarily a most improved candidate. It was my pick,
but he's also hooping you know as well too.

Speaker 2 (47:11):
Let's not forget Let's not forget where that young man
is doing his job too.

Speaker 3 (47:15):
Yeah, no, Yeah, Well, like I'm saying, where is hooping?
He was somebody who I was really really high on
coming in and now he seems like he might be
going back to the bench here now with with Hero
back and some of the things coming in. But they're
getting contributions from pel Larson and as you alluded to, Davion,
Mitchell and Johnson, like it's just it really is permeating
kind of throughout. My question to you, Paul, you know,

(47:36):
as we kind of close here, is you know, do
you think this is.

Speaker 4 (47:39):
The year of the Heat.

Speaker 3 (47:40):
I know you said you're not quite sure if they're
gonna run the table here in the Eastern Conference, but
could this be the year in terms of one of
the awards and the accolades for the MIMI Heater organization.

Speaker 2 (47:50):
Well, what I go to a lot my what my
perspective is, if you don't have a big man, it's
gonna be hard and where's doing a great job. And
we got a lot of players that can fall into
those positions. But at the end of the day, when
it comes down to the big man game, you know,

(48:10):
we've always been underman, We've always been undersized, no matter
what last twenty years. Bro, We've never had a real
solid five, you know, whether it's Morning Bam, your Donna's
where fits the size even though he's still young. But
I think the style of game that we play is

(48:34):
not gonna take us all the way that I was
proven in twenty twenty with Jimmy b in the Bubble,
you know, like those guys had not only Lebron, but
they had the Big Man and Anthony Davis. And it's
just you can't as a group effort would be miraculous
and it'll be dope to see, Like I'll be talking
mass shit and throughout the games. If we get further

(48:57):
and further and further. When we beat Boston with the
young Tatum and Brown, like you could see it like,
but everybody has to be on point.

Speaker 4 (49:06):
I think they could get far necessary that is that.

Speaker 2 (49:10):
No, none at all? Man. The Yannest situation, like it's
always Gianni's coming to Miami, Janni's coming to Miami. What
do you think? What do you think? Bro? I think
it would have happened already. I think pat Riley is
smart enough, and we always say trusting Pat. You know,
there's many questions that we have and critique that we
have towards his planning and building. But but all of
that came to fruition this year where now you see

(49:33):
that it's actually worked a trade bro If it's not
Yani's why who were gonna trade for? You know? Where
is doing his thing? So we can get far, the
team can get far NBA Championship. Who I think it's
outreach that.

Speaker 1 (49:50):
Would be the ultimate. Can't beat him, join him with nis.

Speaker 2 (49:53):
Yeah, absolutely, I'm walking up application. I'll open up a
bandwagon application. I'll everybody know they got to June first.
But I think we're a little bit out of reach
only because we don't have a five, a solid strong five,
you know, because then we get Denver out here, or
we get these ball like this. Just I just this

(50:16):
is my personal opinion. I just think we need a
strong five that that can that can compliment all our runners,
all our shooters, everybody and if they're in a slump
or they're getting double team, but we can't do it,
dump into the five. Let him be the powerhouse. But
we don't have a five. I don't thinks then were
don't get far. But I don't think we're gonna win.

Speaker 1 (50:38):
I think if we do bring up an excellent point, Paul.
I mean, it was a five that prevented you from
winning in twenty twenty is a five that prevented you
from winning at twenty twenty two, twenty three right when
you played against the Denver Nuggets. And it's gonna be
a five that I think may cause problems for the
Miami Heat in a seven.

Speaker 2 (50:53):
Games every time we play a team with bigs exactly.

Speaker 1 (50:57):
I mean, you play against the Cleveland Cavaliers, you got
to deal with Alan and Mobley. You play against the
New York Knicks, you gotta you gotta deal with you know,
Bridges Towns, you know what I'm saying. I mean, I
know everybody focuses on the star players, and they're the
back courts for most of the top teams, right like
s g A, you know, for the for the for

(51:17):
the thunder. But if you really think about it, the best,
the best of the thunder is also the efforts that
you get from chet, Holngren and heart Stead, right, and
it's still it's still Jokic, right, And if it's the Bucks,
it's still out of the compo. So yeah, I do
think that from a matchup perspective, when it comes to

(51:38):
the heavy hitters that you're gonna be dealing with playoff time,
They're gonna have to have a much more formidable front court,
you know, and you know, to to be able to
match physicality and also to open things up for Bam
to could do what he does because he can't do it.

Speaker 2 (51:51):
Almost Bam and the snipers, you know. But yeah, absolutely great.

Speaker 3 (51:58):
M Well, Paul, we appreciate you so much for joining
us here tonight. And as you talk Tomy he basketball again,
you know, see all definitely gave up a shout outs
budd you know, where can people find you?

Speaker 4 (52:09):
You know, and what do you have next up with
drink Chap Sports.

Speaker 2 (52:12):
Well, I appreciate it, man, Thank you guys for having
me again. You know, you guys, I keep eyeing you, guys.
I've been keeping eye on Warren ever since we got
on earlier in the year. You know, I appreciate it.
And truly there's no way I can say no. You know,
we might postpone or whatever, but I'm never gonna say
no to you at all. But for those you know,
you can follow me at drink Chant Sports on ig

(52:34):
Twitter is drink Chant Sports without the s at the
end and I'm available for every conversation. Bro we're working with.
I've been able to manipulate this whole business, but not
just being a social producer of the Drink Champ Show,
which we're reaching year ten in March, so there's you
know a lot of celebration, a lot going on. We're

(52:55):
going to be We're pushing the envelope forward for our
boso This week, you know, we're I don't know when
this is gonna air, but we're doing a live taping
with Eric Sermon. So that's keeping us busy, and that's
keeping us, you know, on the front runners. You know,
shout out to all the other podcasts that are doing anything,
you know, salute to all of them. We not haters.
We all celebrate the same. But Drink Champs tenure is

(53:18):
coming up, Drink Champs Sports. As far as Sports Champs,
you know, last time I spoke to you turn them,
I was butting it up and I'm still butting it
up because there's no way that I could have fastest,
you know, so I'm making sure that everything is going
the way it's supposed to be. So then is a
complete efficiency, not just a sporadic you know, conversation here
and there, even though that's what we can do with Instagram,

(53:40):
but I have more in depth of what I want
to present with the Sports Champs. I also, as a
side venture, I started managing two rappers, you know, Fee
Music and Curly J. And we're doing big things on
that level of hip hop and the music scene. Those
guys are talented, and I'm able to connect on my
resources with their talent and it's a beautiful movement. Miami

(54:03):
meets Miami is a networking event that I created last
year with Efen and that has taken a jump and
status because we're reaching out to all entrepreneurs, all not
just musicians, but everybody that's somebody that's working in the industry,
whether it's entrepreneurial or just entertainment. We've had professors and lawyers,

(54:26):
so I'm kind of like spreading myself kind of thing.
But everything is kind of moving in its own right,
so it's more like it's like a nice motion of
grind of hustle. You know, it all connects, whether it's
music or entertainment. So I'm putting it together. You guys
are gonna be one of the first ones that I

(54:46):
let know where the ball is going what I'm doing
because I respect you guys for what you're doing, for
having me early on, because it's hard to always pick
who's going to be the guy that you can spend
time with. You know, not many people like us are
going to spend an hour on a zoom call when
we actually are still you know, growing as far as

(55:07):
myself and what you guys are doing, so I appreciate it.
But yeah, you can find me on Drink cham Sports
with two essence, Drink Champs Sports. Hit me up, DM,
let's talk, let's build.

Speaker 1 (55:18):
I'm here for it all, well said Paul Man well said,
And it's just again, we are always fortunate to be
in a space to be able to sit down and
have meaningful conversations with individuals such as yourself, with your team,
with your people's man. That's why we've been doing this
for as long as we've been doing it, is to

(55:38):
have access and opportunities for us to be able to
have those conversations outwardly and positively. And this is even
better too when you're able to do it in a
space where you can appreciate the teams that we love
but also talk about the NBA, the game, the culture,
in general and bring it all home, you know what
I'm saying. So I just think it's a wonderful thing.

Speaker 2 (55:59):
Absolutely, I can't, I can't. I can't say any different.

Speaker 1 (56:03):
Absolutely, Absolutely, Paul and Donald joining us here the Baseline
NBA podcast, Cali Warrenshaw, Don't Go Anywhere Still, We're back

(56:25):
Cali Warrenshaw basedline NBA podcast. What a great, great conversation
that we had with our man Paul and Donald from
Drink Champs sports Man, And you know, it's it's amazing
when you sit down and you talk with you know,
we typically have conversations with journalists, we have conversations with
book writers, we have conversations with former pro athletes, but

(56:47):
we even we don't have the opportunity to sit down
and have conversations with people from within our circle who
are producers. Typically they're a part of say the nineteen
Media Group family, or they're internal but we don't have
the access at times because they're busy doing their thing right,
and it's just great to be able to have a
conversation with someone who's genuinely behind the scenes or responsible

(57:09):
for a lot of what's going on, and he's able
to sit down and express you know, his affinity and
his love for why he follows the Miami Heat, right,
and it reminds me about why I follow the Boss
and Celtics. Why you follow the bosson Celtics, or you
know my people's up here followed their New York Knicks,
or you know family like you know my brother he
follows the Golden State Warriors. Like it brings me back

(57:32):
to what the essence is, the original you know, story
that has to be told in order to remind us
of where it started to where we are now. And
I think that was great because someone like Paul allows
us to be able to see, within a very limited
amount of time, how one becomes part of that Miami
Heat culture without being in the Miami Heat culture.

Speaker 3 (57:54):
Yeah, his origin story, you know, to the Miami Heat
is a great one. And I think a lot of
different people out there and have similar stories as to
why they like a certain team or switch teams.

Speaker 4 (58:04):
I think even in this case, so.

Speaker 3 (58:07):
His fandom, his appreciation goes well beyond just kind of
like the x's and o's of the game, you know
what I mean, It's deeper rooted. It's a feeling kind
of even goes back to the conversation you have with
say Sharon or like, how does basketball.

Speaker 4 (58:18):
Make you feel?

Speaker 3 (58:19):
And the Knicks trading Patrick Ewing made him feel a
certain way right and made him not want to root
for that basketball team anymore. And then you kind of
latch on, you know, to somebody like d Wade, you know,
from the market situation they get it drafted by Miami.
I think this show was a lot about the Miami
Heats overall progress and success so far this season, but

(58:39):
even more so about how they make a certain playable
feel and how they make a lot of people in
the South Florida area feel and even outside of the
South Florida area as well too. And that's where I think,
you know, where our show has so much part in
that of itself too, because we can talk x as
and o's, but we talk in love, we talk.

Speaker 4 (58:55):
Culture of the game.

Speaker 3 (58:56):
And that's what I really got from Paul's you know,
his experience and his now in evaluation of where the
mim Heat are this season.

Speaker 1 (59:03):
Last point, now I'm gonna make sure is that this
again is gonna is going to come back to the development,
the coaching development aspect of what qualifies you know, great
coaches and may disqualify great coaches. You know, again, we
talk about this because there was a time where the

(59:23):
emphasis was necessary for those things. But when it's it's
easier when you just have a superstar player that that
gets it, or you have a star player with a
high basketball IQ. The real work, I think truly begins
when we see these coaches actually having an impact on
that development, that accelerated development, be it IQ, be it

(59:46):
you know, their ability to play the game with it
the way they're playing it. And I think to see
what Spolstra is doing with so many of these players,
not just one or two, but so many of them,
including those who are coming fresh off of you know,
maybe rear numbers like what normal Powell just did a
season to go with the LA Clippers and to still
be able to do that while still developing himself to

(01:00:07):
be an even more dynamic player offensively. For this Heat system,
I think speaks more volumes about coach Coach Spolster's influence
and style of coaching, and that, to me, I think
is part of why those conversations probably are going to
need to be had if the Miami Heat are going
to be a top four team. To your point, maybe

(01:00:28):
being top four is good enough to be in the
conversation of Coach of the Year. And to me, I
think that that it's it's a scary thought in a
sense because again it's not just Okay, this is on
the back leg of coach Spolster's coaching career. This is
this could be him turning it, you know, into a
different you know, getting into a different place of him

(01:00:50):
developing himself and being this way for the next three, five, six,
seven years. You know what I'm saying, For how he's
coaching this Miami Heat team and what that could possibly
mean for the for the organization, you know, and the
Heat community all together.

Speaker 3 (01:01:04):
Yeah, and I think now it's just a matter of
seeing if the Heat ultimately decide if they want a
big game hunt, do we just play this out for Like,
we're good with this roster we built, we got the vibes,
we got the culture going. You know, colo Ware is
kind of coming into his own as are alluded to
earlier on. You know, Bam Tyler, everybody, like you know,
Norm Powell, Davion Mitchell, Like, there's just a lot of
guys here just kind of like they get what they
need to do. But is there accelerant that they need,

(01:01:27):
and that's to take that next step, that next step
rather than Paul was kind of alluding to. Especially with
the lack of a true physical big man. Kalelware is
tall in stature, He's still figuring out his way. I think,
you know, from the actual physical side of things. You know,
is he's shooting threes too much, like I don't know,
there's a lot of conversations here, but he's putting up numbers,

(01:01:48):
he's rebounding it well. But do they need more of
a bruiser you know that can match up with the
Jokices and even the Karl Anthony towns of the world.
You know, that remains to be seen. But Miami is
always going to be in the thick of things, and
I think at this point we have to respect that
and know that, like, this is not a team doesn't
this is not a team that tanks. It's not a
team that doesn't expect to win, even if it's unrealistic.

(01:02:08):
They have ambition and you have to respect to mind
me and the organization and everything that they're staying for.

Speaker 1 (01:02:13):
Absolutely well, again, great great episode as always, man and
once again we like to make sure we extend our
shout outs to employ Paul and Dono from Dream Champs Sports.
You know, be sure to check out his show, This
Business People's and This Business Team has got a lot
of things going on, but those guys are doing it
big and you know, he's one of the main reasons why.

(01:02:34):
And again we are so grateful to have him on
board for the baseline. Calie warren Shaw, we appreciate you
guys for hopping on board with us this week and
we'll catch up with you next time.
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