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Spoelstra eager to open camp for NBA champion Heat

September 27, 2012 | Modified: September 27, 2012 at 8:04 pm
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FILE - In this June 17, 2012, file photo, Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra makes a call from the sideline against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half at Game 3 of the NBA Finals basketball series in Miami. It's training camp time. The NBA champion Miami Heat return to practice on Saturday. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

MIAMI (AP) — One of the first things Miami coach Erik Spoelstra did after the Heat won the NBA championship was start figuring out ways the team could successfully defend the title.

So he went to see Florida coach Billy Donovan — who won back-to-back NCAA titles — and talked for hours about what it takes to make it happen.

The lessons Spoelstra learned in that meeting, and others over this championship-savoring offseason, will start getting put to use this weekend.

The Heat open training camp on Saturday morning and their coach will be delivering a simple message to LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and the rest of his club: There's 30 NBA teams that could, in theory, win a title this season, but only one that can win back-to-back.