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Spoelstra responds to Allen's criticism of Heat in final year of Big 3

Andy Lyons / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Erik Spoelstra suggested Ray Allen was a tad too harsh on the Miami Heat.

The Heat head coach took the high road when addressing Allen's claim that the organization wore down its players in the final year of the Big Three era, saying he tried his best to take their health into consideration and adjust accordingly.

"I don't know if anybody has a perfect formula. So we constantly tried to improve it and work on the schedule," Spoelstra told Miami Herald's Manny Navarro on Friday.

"Who knows looking back on it whether it was the right call or not. We didn't end up winning a championship, but it was a terrific team. What an incredible run. Nothing should be taken away from that."

A team spokesperson said Miami worked with veteran players, including Allen, in an effort to afford them more rest. Contrary to the future Hall of Famer's accusation, the Heat rep indicated the club limited his appearances, shootarounds, and practices.

But Allen wasn't the only player critical of the Heatles' final run, as Dwyane Wade compared the 2013-14 team to "being in a bad marriage."

Spoelstra doesn't see it that way at all, and reflected fondly on those times.

"I look at that team with so much respect and joy, he said, later adding: "It is not easy to do what that team did and I think eventually everybody will be able to look back on that in such high regard and celebrate really what we were able to accomplish together."

Led by LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Wade, Miami made four straight trips to the NBA Finals, and won back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013.

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