Heat motivated to 'repeat'? 'Win another title' more like it

• Coach Erik Spoelstra is doing what he can to distance the team from last year's championship.
• Miami added guard Ray Allen and forward Rashard Lewis to bolster its lineup this season.
• The key to another championship starts with Lebron James, the reigning NBA and Finals MVP.

MIAMI -- Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra came to training camp prepared with at least one theme for the 2012-13 season.

"I'm not going to use the word repeat," he said Friday at the Heat's media day, just before the team begins practice Saturday. "We have an opportunity to win another title. ... Being around winning teams and two championship teams, I have a deep-seated respect for how hard it is. It's hard to win one. Everyone will be gunning for us this year. Teams have loaded up. They're primed and ready to take on the championship. ...

"You have to love that. It's a different challenge for us this year. ... This is a completely new journey."

For all the grief the Heat took for celebrating in the summer of 2010 after forming the talented triumvirate of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, Spoelstra is doing what he can to distance the team from last season's championship.

It might simply be parsing words, but Spoelstra's message is clear: Last season is not this season, and whatever obstacles the Heat had -- they trailed in each of their final three series on their way to the championship in 2011-12 -- the challenges will be new and different this season.

Spoelstra is fond of latching on to words and phrases, and he has a another one to describe the opportunity that awaits the Heat this season: invigorating.

"We know how difficult it is to start from that starting line and try to climb that mountain," he said. "We're looking forward to the challenge. There will be a lot of intrigue during the regular season.

"How do we respond to the success? Will it be as motivating and powerful a teacher as the pain and failure of the year before? I love that because we'll find out more about ourselves in this new journey."

The Heat didn't sit idly this offseason while other teams, such as the Los Angeles Lakers, with their additions of center Dwight Howard and guard Steve Nash, made improvements. Miami added former Boston Celtics guard Ray Allen and former Washington Wizards forward Rashard Lewis. Both are talented offensive players who will make it more difficult for teams to match up with Miami.

"He strikes fear," Spoelstra said of Allen. "We know about that fear, because every time he found his way open behind the three-point line, as a collective staff we would say, 'Oh (shoot),' thinking the worst. We're excited to have that dynamic with us this year. We've had three-point spacing. We've had tremendous three-point shooters. We haven't really had a catch-and-shoot player."

Lewis hasn't been the same offensive player he was for a few seasons now, but Spoelstra said Lewis' knees are in the best shape that they've been in a few seasons and the veteran is looking forward to training camp.

"I use that word invigorated, but he really is," Spoelstra said.

The Heat enter training camp with a few players still recovering from injuries: Allen had bone spurs removed from his right ankle; Wade had surgery on his left knee, and the plan is to have him ready for the season opener; forward Mike Miller rested and rehabbed his back, ankle and aggravated hernia during the summer; and Bosh rested and rehabbed a lower abdominal strain that forced him to miss nine playoff games last season. Bosh and Wade withdrew from the Olympics so they would be ready for this season.

But it starts with James, who is coming off one of the most decorated seasons in NBA history: regular-season MVP, NBA champion, Finals MVP, and Olympic gold medalist.

"All in all, the year was great," James said. "I don't know if that year can be duplicated. I guess I will I have to play on the 2016 Olympic team to have an opportunity to do it exactly like that."

This is what makes the Heat a strong favorite to win again.

"I'm not satisfied," James said.

Said Spoelstra: "He is an ultimate competitor, and the ultimate competitors, the great ones, the historic ones, get greedy and they want more."

Last season, the disappointment of the 2011 Finals loss to the Dallas Mavericks motivated James. Criticized for his play, especially in fourth quarters against Dallas, James carried the Heat in last season's playoffs, especially in the final three rounds against the Indiana Pacers, Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder.

He averaged 30.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists in the playoffs, including 28.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 7.4 assists against the Thunder in the five-game Finals series.

What motivates James this season? The idea of another championship.

"When you set out a goal and work hard at it and to be able to finally accomplish that goal," he said, "and the feeling you have when you accomplish that goal, when it's all over and done and you have to start over again, you're like, 'Wow, I want that feeling again.' "

In 2010-11, James adopted the villain role in his first season with the Heat. It didn't work. He was uncomfortable on and off the court. Last season, he rediscovered the joy of just playing basketball and was much more acclimated to his South Florida surroundings. That worked.

"I'm my own man, and I have to make my own mark," James said. "It's always funny and humbling at the same time when I see my name up there with the greats.

"But as far as legacy, I don't think about that at this point. I still a have lot of basketball to play."

Invigorated and on a new journey, the Heat can't wait to defend their title and try to repea ... uh, win another title.