Heat vs. Nets
tating dozens of buildings in the area. The city has refurbished enough to host two NBA games this weeks. The Nets defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday.
“Our thoughts and prayers still go out to the people down here that still have a lot of work to do,” Spoelstra said. “We know a little bit about natural disasters and how people can forget about it when it’s not on the front page of the news a few months afterwards. We’re still thinking about people down here that still need some care, still need some resources, still need some help. So if this game can help and if our presence down here can help raise awareness, that’s great. We all want to be a part of that.”
Because the Nets canceled their Friday practice, the Heat moved up their session a few hours. It provided even more opportunity to explore the city. Team captain Udonis Haslem was most grateful for the currency exchange rate, allowing him to take advantage of some shopping deals. A United States dollar is worth 18.9 Mexican pesos.
On Thursday, he grabbed a few gifts for his wife and planned to spoil himself the next day during his first trip south of the border.
“I’ve never been here before,” Haslem said. “The shopping is good. The food is good. The weather is good. Nice people, waving, taking pictures. Some of the same things you go through back home. Very cost efficient When/Where: TV: Scouting report: with the shopping, so I think I’m going to go back out and get a few more things.”
Goran Dragic and Josh Richardson were among the few players who chose to rest instead of venturing out. There were talks of them possibly attending visitng Estadio Azteca stadium, which has been home to the Mexican professional team, Club América, since 1966.
Richardson and Dragic team’s biggest soccer fans.
“It’s been cool,” Richardson said. “I haven’t been able to get out and explore yet. But since I’ve been here looking at the scenery and stuff I are the think it’s cool.”
Although Haslem has played games in France, Puerto Rico, London and Rio de Janeiro, he said the experience never gets old. In fact, it always reminds how appreciative he is of having a long NBA career that brings him places he otherwise wouldn’t get see.
“There’s no way I’m going to China,” Haslem said. “There’s no way I’m going to Brazil. There’s probably no way I’m coming to Mexico. Through my experiences with the NBA, I’ve had a lot of opportunity to meet a lot of people and travel to a lot of places that I’ve never been.”