ORLANDO – Steve Clifford and Erik Spoelstra have a friendship that dates back 19 years, to a time when both were scouts and aspiring NBA coaches, and they still enjoy each other’s company today.
However, if Spoelstra – head coach of the Miami Heat – had his way, he and his coaching counterpart from the Orlando Magic wouldn’t be spending so much time together this NBA season.
``I consider Steve one of the friends that I have in the league, going back to when we scouted together,’’ Spoelstra said prior to facing Clifford’s Magic on Monday night.