The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

Day two of Miami Heat’s training camp intensified on the court as the focus switched to the offensive side of the ball. However, players still found time in their hectic schedules to enjoy the Bahamas in their downtime.

Point guard Norris Cole, a first time visitor to the Bahamas, said the experience has lived up to his expectations coming in.

“It’s my first time here and I love it. It’s nice, the Bahamas is treating us right. We appreciate that, they’re great hosts, we appreciate the facilities that are open to us and we are taking full advantage of it,” he said. “It’s a good getaway for our team to refresh ourselves to get that we time together that we need and it’s also a time to start those championship habits that we need.”

Veteran forward Udonis Haslem said the team has found a way to enjoy its brief moments of downtime.

“I love it here. We are here to work but when we do have a little time we try to enjoy the sights and different things like that, but work first,” he said.

Haslem jokingly added that the top sight on his list included “the casino” at the Atlantis. “But I won’t be going back to that sight,” he said. “I’m going to leave that sight alone and probably just head to the pool from now on.”

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade echoed Haslem’s sentiments of the team’s “work first, play later” mentality.

“We come here we get our work done. We have two practices so we don’t do nothing, we rest. Last night we got to the casinos a little bit, that was fun, but we came here to work and that’s the No.1 goal,” James said.

“We come we work, and when we get out of here we try our best to enjoy our stay,” Wade said.

While day one featured offensive drills and schemes, yesterday’s morning session saw many of the players go head-to-head in position-oriented offensive drills.

Cole compared it to the top-selling Suzanne Collins novel “The Hunger Games,” with players looking to make a positive early impression.

“Guys were getting after it competing and at the same time getting used to our movements that we do here so it was a good day,” he said. “Everyone is going to give us their best shot, but we always believe that only we can stop ourselves. As long as we continue to work hard, continue to build habits, continue to build that chemistry up we feel like we will be right there at the end. 

Cole is second on the depth chart at the point guard spot behind Mario Chalmers and has won two NBA titles with the Heat in his two NBA seasons.

“It’s good when [roles] are clear, but during the season you never know what can happen. I’m ready for whatever coach needs me to do and the team needs me to do, that’s why I prepare in the offseason for it. Obviously I’m willing to play whatever role that is given to do and I’m ready to do whatever the team needs me to do.”

Haslem said despite an experienced core with defined roles, the team competes in camp to earn their spots.

“Everybody knows their role but you still have to go out there and earn it. Last year was last year, but we’re starting from scratch right now. Everybody was saying before training camp how quick the summer was and when we got out here, the competitive juices started flowing and everybody just got after it,” he said. 

“We compete. You have to earn minutes and that’s the attitude everyone has. You see D-Wade and LeBron go after each other, I love to go after CB [Chris Bosh], he goes after me, Joel, Bird and whoever else. Of course we’re a family but behind closed doors we go after each other.”

James said the sense of competition makes training camp interesting as the team gets ready to defend its title.

“Once you get into it guys are competitors and it intensifies, so there were a lot of bumps and bruises as right now guys are getting back in shape. Our camps are always going to be competitive because we have guys that are competitors. Obviously you want to get the upper hand no matter who you go up against so when you have guys around who want to compete it makes it a lot of fun.”

The Heat concludes training camp today and returns to south Florida on Friday afternoon. Miami is scheduled to open the preseason against the Atlanta Hawks 7:30pm October 7 at the American Airlines Arena in Miami.