--Coach Erik Spoelstra, who is part Filipino, had a contingent of about a dozen Filipino reporters at Monday's shootaround practice before the Golden State game.
"The Bay Area is fantastic," Spoelstra said. "There's so many Filipino-Americans here. It's a special trip every time I come out here." Spoelstra's mother is from the Philippines. His father, Jon, is a former executive for the Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets and New Jersey Nets.
Erik Spoelstra grew up in Portland. That drew a few reporters to interview the hometown kid when the Heat visited, but it wasn't the size of the media group in Oakland. Spoelstra said he has drawn a big crowd from the Filipino media every time he's been in the Bay Area as a coach. And he likes it.
"I'm very proud of my heritage," said Spoelstra, the only Filipino coach or player in the NBA.
--The Heat gets a much needed break in the schedule after Wednesday's game at Utah. It plays its next five games over a stretch of 15 days. The Heat opened the season playing 19 games in 36 days.
--G Dwyane Wade scored 434 points in November. That ties the second-best month of his career. He also scored 434 points in December 2007. His best month was December 2005 when he scored 454 points. Wade's 29.8-point scoring average in November is the fourth-best in franchise history for a single month.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I'm pleased with Joel's impact on the game defensively. He has a knack for blocking shots, he has a lot of energy, and he has a very good understanding of our defensive system." -- Coach Erik Spolestra on second-year C Joel Anthony being in the starting lineup.
