Erik Spoelstra makes his feelings clear when facing down teams

MIAMI – With Miami Heat led by coach Erik Spoelstra, the team had one goal under him every season, which was to win as many games as possible, which cannot be said for other teams in the NBA. As it is The Heat face the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday and Thursday nights, Spoelstra would talk about facing other teams that have a different agenda.

Tanking has been a major topic in the current NBA landscape, especially with teams like the Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers being punished by the league for unusual roster management. As Spoelstra noted, the team has “experience” in dealing with franchises that might want to lose games, and he says how “this is the league” right now.

“We have experience with it, so we know what’s at stake,” Spoelstra said before Tuesday’s game against the Nets. “We just want to build the kind of disposition that we had the other night. Every night is a different challenge. You know, this is the league. You don’t necessarily know who’s going to play, what they’re going to play for, whatever, it’s really not important at this point. We’re trying to compete at a high level, you know, continue to progress as close to that version as possible.”

Erik Spoelstra asked about playing against teams that might have other agendas, like tanks.

“We have experience with that… You don’t necessarily know who’s going to play, what he’s playing for…” #HeatNation

Miami plays Brooklyn today and Thursday.

Full answer: pic.twitter.com/p5jk5GF7fl

— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) March 3, 2026

The Heat have experience dealing with struggling teams

While Spoelstra noted the experience the team has, the Heat’s contest against the Jazz on February 9 is one of many cases where it was obvious that the other team was on the attack. With the team starting Jaren Jackson Jr., Jusuf Nurkic and Lauri Markkanen, Utah would sit down three key players in the fourth quarter, despite the contest being close, which even led to the NBA punishing the organization.

“The Utah Jazz organization was fined $500,000 for conduct detrimental to the league regarding the team’s games against the Orlando Magic on February 7th and the Miami Heat on February 9th. During those games, the Jazz removed two of the team’s top players, Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson, Jr., before the start of the fourth quarter and did not return them to the game, even though those players were otherwise able to continue in league play. read on 12 Feb.

If one thing is certain, Miami is not actively throwing games for a better draft pick, as many in the organization have said time and time again. Spoelstra addressed the team’s slump last month, saying the Heat “will compete every night.”

“You’re free to do (whatever) you feel is best … for your organization, and people are going to criticize it one way or another; people criticize us,” Spoelstra said. “We’re going to compete every night. Every night! Like I told you the other day, take it or leave it, like it or not. It’s what we do. Some people hate it. Some people praise it. We don’t care. We’re not changing.”

Either way, Miami faces the 15-45 Nets on Tuesday and Thursday night, and all eyes are on if and when the NBA will make any changes to prevent the offense from happening.