Erik Spoelstra praises secret to Simone Fontecchio’s game, lauds ‘crafty’ Miami Heat teammate

Simone Fontecchio praised by Erik Spoelstra

Erik Spoelstra spoke to media postgame and had praise for the contribution from Simone Fontecchio.

Fontecchio scored 14 points in 19 minutes, with Jaime Jaquez Jr also delivering 17 points.

Spoelstra believes Fontecchio’s experience with the Italian national team has been a great help for his quick adjustment in Miami.

He said: “He’s been a tremendous boost for that second unit. He has a versatility to his scoring. I’ve seen it firsthand.

“When you’re the number one option for your country, and you have pressure, you have to score 30 a game or you lose. You have to you have to be on, and you have to find ways to score in the margins, because teams are kind of scheme against you.

“He can spot up, he can play off for the catch. He can play off your better players. But he can also create.”

Spoelstra also reserved praise for Jaquez Jr, adding: “He’s playing great basketball right now, playing super confident, I want him just to enjoy this.”

Norman Powell leads win

Offseason signing Norman Powell led the Miami Heat in their victory, scoring 29 points. He also contributed 7 rebounds and 3 assists.

Spoelstra was in awe of Powell’s performance, his best scoring night in a Miami Heat jersey, impressed that it came against a talented Knicks team.

He said: “He’s a crafty veteran, skilled offensive talent, and that is a very good defensive team. So if you’re just trying to run normal actions, they’ve got great wing defenders. They blow up screens, they prevent you from coming off screens.

“He just finds a way to get it in a bunch of random situations. And I just think that’s those are the hardest guys to scout and scheme for.”