The Miami Heat ultimately fell short in their goal to hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy this season, but head coach Erik Spoelstra remains proud of his men for giving the Los Angeles Lakers one hell of a fight.
While it would have been sweet to cap off their amazing bubble run with the championship in-hand, Coach Spo bared that no one can take away everything they have accomplished as a team this year.
“This locker room, regardless of whatever happens in the future, we’re going to remember this year, this season, this experience and that locker room brotherhood for the rest of our lives,” the Heat tactician said, per Sam Amico of Amico Hoops.
The Asian-American bench boss also lauded his team's character and resiliency in giving it all against the overpowered Lakers unit.
“You’re in this business to be able to be around people like this. And I can go on and on. But the guys that competed and played in this series, we had several guys that were not even close to being 100 percent,” Erik Spoelstra added. “Probably shouldn’t have been playing, but that’s how this group was. They wanted to do it for each other. And I just, I’m really bummed that we couldn’t find a way to get over the hump and finish the season with a win.”
The Heat, meanwhile, got pretty banged-up as early as Game 1 of the championship series. Key players like Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Goran Dragic all got bit by the injury bug in the opener. Butler brushed off a bum ankle while Adebayo missed two games due to shoulder and neck issues.
Dragic, on the other hand, was expected to be out for the remainder of the series with a torn plantar fascia, but he soldiered on and returned in Game 6.
As for coach Spo, the two-time NBA champion coach couldn't help but get emotional after their campaign ended. Still, he understands that he has a special group of guys with him in the coming seasons.
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