Thanks, Miami Heat.The Memphis Grizzlies, 10-5 and riding a six-game win streak, probably would like to give a tip of the proverbial cap to the Heat for the eight-year apprenticeship served in Miami by David Fizdale, who obviously learned his lessons well.Fizdale, the rookie Grizzlies head coach who worked under Erik Spoelstra with the Heat, faces his former boss Friday night when Miami visits Memphis. The teams also face each other again Saturday night in Miami.Were brothers, Fizdale said when asked about Spoelstra. I wouldnt have this job if it werent for him.It will be a bittersweet reunion for Spoelstra, who is happy for Fiz but also engrossed in trying to turn around the 4-10 Heat, who have lost two games in a row and are in next-to-last place in the Eastern Conference, tied with the Brooklyn Nets.The Heat are in the midst of a rough week. On Wednesday, they lost to the Pistons by 23 points. Detroit is coached by another ex-Heat coach, Stan Van Gundy. On Monday, they lost to the worst team in the East, the Philadelphia 76ers.Despite his troubles, Spoelstra texts Fizdale often, offering encouragement when needed.Asked what advice he gives Fizdale, Spoelstra chuckled.I dont have to tell him anything, Spoelstra said. Hes an excellent coach.Fizdale, 42, is not only a good coach, but he is courageous, too. One of his first major decisions upon being hired as Grizzlies coach was to bench power forward Zach Randolph, a two-time NBA All-Star and still a productive player at age 35.Randolph, who averaged 15.3 points and 7.8 rebounds last season, now anchors the second unit. He is averaging eight fewer minutes per game but is still producing 14.2 points and 7.9 rebounds.Instead of going with Randolph, Fizdale is building his team around 29-year-old point guard Mike Conley, who is leading his team in scoring (19.6 per game) and assists (5.9).Since the Grizzlies gave Conley a five-year, $153 million contract last summer, it was obvious the point guard was the player Grizzlies management wanted to build around.To enhance that decision, Fizdale wanted to try to surround Conley with perimeter shooters and 7-foot-1 center Marc Gasol, who is a highly skilled and versatile big man. Gasol, 32, is averaging 17.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists.I dont enter into these decisions lightly, Fizdale said when asked about benching Randolph. It took a lot of thought and a lot of sleepless nights.In the end, Fizdale pulled the trigger on his choice and now starts Conley, sweet-shooting wing guard Troy Daniels, small forward (and defensive pest) Tony Allen, power forward JaMychal Green and Gasol.Besides Randolph, the other key bench players are 40-year-old wing Vince Carter as well as guard Andrew Harrison and forward Jarell Martin.Three Grizzlies players are out with injuries: small forwards James Ennis (strained calf) and Chandler Parsons (left knee bone bruise) and power forward Brandan Wright (left ankle tendinitis). Ennis, a former Heat player, and Parsons, a Florida native, should return in two weeks. Wright is out one more month.Fizdale, who obviously knows the Heat personnel very well, will try to devise a plan to contain Miami center Hassan Whiteside, who leads the NBA in rebounding (15.4) and ranks second in blocks (2.57). He also averages 18.3 points.Whiteside is playing as well as any big man in the league, Van Gundy said after Detroit routed the Heat on Wednesday. His numbers are mind-boggling.The Heat and Grizzlies split their two matchups last season, but the Heat havent won in Memphis since February 2010.Miami could be without its starting backcourt Friday as point guard Goran Dragic (elbow) and wing Dion Waiters (groin) are battling injuries. Miami is already without starting small forward Justise Winslow (left wrist) and backup center Willie Reed (right knee).This would be the sixth game in a row Winslow misses. For Reed, it would be his third straight.Neither team is an offensive machine. Memphis ranks 25th in the league in scoring, and Miami ranks 28th. And if Dragic and Waiters join Winslow on the sideline, that could slow Miamis offense even more. In that scenario, the Heat would be counting primarily on Whiteside and guards Tyler Johnson and Josh Richardson. Los Angeles Lakers Pro Shop . Robredo, ranked No. 16, bounced back from an upset loss to Leonardo Mayer in the second round of the Royal Guard Open in Chile last week to down Carreno Busta in 1 hour, 25 minutes. On a day filled mostly with qualifying matches, fifth-seeded Marcel Granollers of Spain also entered the second with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 win over Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia, while Guido Pella of Argentina defeated Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain 7-6 (6), 6-4 to advance. Los Angeles Lakers Gear . Pierce was ejected in the third quarter of Indianas 103-86 win Monday. George Hill stole a bad pass and was going in for a layup, and Pierce hustled back and appeared to be trying to wrap him up. https://www.lakersjerseycheap.com/ . Spiller left Week 3s 27-20 loss to the New York Jets with a thigh injury, but fully practiced with the team all week and expects to be ready to go on Sunday. Lakers Jerseys China . "Trying to breathe," he said with a grin. Bernier stopped 42 of 43 shots on Monday night, including all 22 in a hectic middle frame, his heroic performance propelling the Leafs toward an undue point in their final game before the Christmas break. Fake Lakers Jerseys . Fellow centre Pavel Datsyuk remains out because of a concussion. Zetterberg has 11 goals and 19 assists for a team-high 30 points, and Datsyuk has a team-high 12 goals and 11 assists.Jenson Button says his partnership with Fernando Alonso is perfect for McLaren as the team plots a way back to the summit of F1. After two successful days in Barcelona when 2016 pre-season testing began last week, the team were restricted to just a handful of laps on Wednesday and Thursday due to unreliability.But McLaren - along with engine providers Honda and partners ExxonMobil - are delivering a host of upgrades for the MP4-31 for the final test this week when Alonso and Button will learn how much lap time the team have gained over the winter. This weeks test is the really important one, Button, who will drive on Wednesday and Friday, told Sky Sports in an exclusive interview.Well now see where our improvements are. The guys have been working flat-out on the car over the winter and its been a good winter but now we have to see whether we get the gains we expect.This week Ill get a much better read into where the car stands.With team boss Eric Boullier predicting massive gains in 2016, Alonso was an encouraging third fastest on Day One of the second test. Its understood McLaren are trialling a new type of fuel in the Spaniards car as well as the engine Honda expect to use at the start of the new season.Its massive for us to have a partner like Exxon and this should be another chunk of time to look forward to, Button added. According to Boullier, the new Esso fuel could be worth a double digit boost in horsepower. Every race live in 2016 Sky Sports F1 brings you every race live in 2016. Fast and easy online upgrade - click here While both Alonso and Button impressed in 2015, it was for their stoicism in adversity as much as their efforts on track. Only Ferrari currently also boast an all-champion driver line-up andd Button is convinced that the experience he and Alonso bring to McLaren will be vital in their quest to return to the front of the grid.dddddddddddd.This is the perfect partnership for this team because we have our heads screwed on, Button explained. In terms of development it really helps. I think hes regarded as one of the best drivers to have ever driven a Formula 1 car. Weve both won world championships and having been in that position you can get through the pain of last year. I think weve moved this team forward. Can the 2016 McLaren close the gap on the rest of the field? Heres a look at it in action during the final pre-season test in Barcelona. Play the video at the top of the page to hear Buttons thoughts on 2016, F1s plans for the future, and the importance of not over sleeping... Also See: Hamilton can beat himself in 2016 Watch: Latest updates from testing ' ' '