With Heat camp opening late next week, new coach Erik Spoelstra admits ''there is an element of fear of the unknown. But the overriding emotion is excitement about leading this team.'' Spoelstra, mulling lineups, addressed several issues:

• He said the starting point guard job will be a ''very competitive'' battle among Marcus Banks, Mario Chalmers and Chris Quinn and has no qualms about starting a rookie if Chalmers wins the job. He likes that Banks has worked for several weeks in Miami's offseason program and sees improvement in his point guard skills. In choosing the starter, ``what I'm looking for is No. 1, to be defensive-minded. From there, it's getting us into offense efficiently.''

• Spoelstra wants to use an undersized frontcourt of Udonis Haslem, Michael Beasley and Shawn Marion ''at times, but it will depend on the matchup. I don't know about [using it] in large doses. I feel comfortable with Udonis playing some minutes at'' center. He said he hasn't decided whether to open games with a traditional center ( Mark Blount or Jamaal Magloire) or the smaller lineup with Haslem at center.

If Haslem starts at power forward, Beasley would come off the bench, because Spoelstra said he sees Beasley as a power forward ''right now.'' (He said he's undecided whether Beasley will start.) He's equally comfortable with Marion at either forward spot.

• Coaches have worked with Beasley the past month, mostly on defense, ``and I'm encouraged. We had a 3-on-3 session, and he was barely short of sensational. Scoring in the post, on jumpers, on drives. He's so coordinated with both hands. Great touch. The ball comes out of his hands so soft. You can't teach that.''

• Spoelstra's system will be ''similar'' to Pat Riley's defensively, but ''offensively, some things will be different'' to ''take advantage of our youth, athleticism and speed. We will look to attack earlier in the shot clock.'' But Miami won't play at the pace of the Warriors or Nuggets, he said.

• He wants Dwyane Wade to ``get back to being a defensive stopper in the fourth quarter.''

• Spoelstra, who has been with the Heat for the past 13 seasons including 11 as an assistant coach, scripted the first few days of camp to the minute, though he's not ''married'' to it. Will Spoelstra run a grueling Riley-type camp? ``To some extent, yes. I'm trying to build the culture back and the toughness. Training camp [practices] will be fairly long. My plan is to build this team defense first.''

• He worked all summer on building relationships by dining with players and traveling to meet some in their home towns. ``Pat has a tremendous gift for motivation. I have to do it a different way which is more my personality.''

CHATTER

• Dolphins center Samson Satele said the subpar per-carry averages of Ricky Williams (2.5) and Ronnie Brown (2.8) are ''not their fault. I put it on myself and the offensive line. We have to do a lot better.'' . . . Asked about the Dolphins receivers in a speech last week, owner Wayne Huizenga said he asked Bill Parcells, who assured him they're working on it. ''Maybe the weakest part of their team,'' CBS' Phil Simms said.

• Former starter Ryan Tucker, who rejoined the Marlins on Tuesday, was used as a late-inning reliever at Double A Carolina the past six weeks but said ''they want me to keep an open mind'' about doing either role. . . . Kevin Gregg -- who's unlikely to return in 2009 but wants his closer job back despite knee pain -- said, ''If you stick me in as a set-up guy, you're devaluing my trade value. I've been in many conversations with Fredi Gonzalez and there's a lot of indecision going on.'' Gregg has 29 saves and nine blown saves.

• One surprise on UM's new depth chart: Dwayne Hendricks supplanting Antonio Dixon on the first team at defensive tackle. Besides Hendricks, we hear Steven Wesley, Glenn Cook and Sean Spence have graded out especially well on defense. . . . Randy Shannon and players already are drawing comparisons between Spence and ex-Canes standout Jonathan Vilma. Spence has an uncanny knack for often predicting what plays are coming, Jacory Harris noted.

• With Javarris James out, Shannon spoke Tuesday not only of Graig Cooper and Derron Thomas filling the void, but also Lee Chambers (whom Shannon raved about) and Shawnbrey McNeal. He didn't mention ex-safety Damien Berry -- who has said he was assured by Shannon that he would get carries this year.

• With camp opening Saturday and Olli Jokinen gone, Panthers people think it's about time Nathan Horton (drafted third overall in '03) raises his game after seasons of 28, 31, and 27 goals. ''His potential is far beyond what he has ever done,'' goaltender Tomas Vokoun said.

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