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The Coach Spo Era Begins
2,186 games coached in the NBA. That is regular season and postseason. A few titles to talk about. A couple hall of fame players to call by first name. And a ticket punched for the hall of fame himself.
Is it any wonder Pat Riley is burned out?
Could he realistically say he wanted to coach this upcoming season? For what? He just went through possibly the worst season coaching he has ever had, but if you put him to it he probably would say it was worth it to get that championship in 2006. Then again, maybe not.
So, he found somebody who was ready for the challenge. Erik Spoelstra is that person and he has been doing everything he could to get himself in this position from watching video tape to breaking down players’ shots to shining shoes. Whatever it took. And here he is. He even got an immediate phone call from Dwyane Wade saying congrats and talking about how excited he is for the future.
Gone is the past. The recent past with all its scabs. The Shaq apathy, the Riley tight-fisted control. All of it comes off. There is no safety net – and that is exactly what this team needs.
When Riley made the move back in 2003, it was in favor of little known Stan Van Gundy – Jeff’s brother. In fact, even when Riley left it was Jeff Van Gundy who took over for the Knicks – and they didn’t miss a beat it seemed. The Riley protege is going to have to prove himself to the rest of the world, but not to Riley. And that is what matters here as the move upstairs is made for good – so we think.
This team needs to be about change and a new growth. A new direction. Riley can’t provide that, Spoelstra can. Could the same be said about a retread like Jeff Van Gundy or Mike Fratello or even a Ron Rothstein?
Let the Spo Era begin. The Heat have a top 4 pick and will be looking to climb out of the cellar. Better to do it with a completely new coach than one who is heading to the hall of fame.
Join the discussion about the Heat’s new coach, Erik Spoelstra.
Riley Calls It Quits; Spoelstra Takes Over
Where were you the last time you heard this news: Pat Riley is retiring as coach. And the time before that? And the time before that?
Well, Heat fans – and Knick fans – should be able to remember those moments. I still remember the surreal moment we landed Pat Riley here in South Florida. The fortune of this franchise changed instantly.
And now, Riley is once again leaving the bench and heading upstairs. In 2003, four days before the start of the regular season a change was made. Back then it was in favor of Stan Van Gundy, who is currently leading his young Magic team through the playoffs. Today the change is being made for a young Erik Spoelstra, a virtual unknown outside of these parts. And really only known to those of us who are hard core fans of the Heat.
Spoelstra, at 37, is now the youngest coach in the NBA – 69 days the junior to Lawrence Frank. He has been a fixture on the Heat’s bench since 2003, mostly working with players on their jump shooting techniques and scouting. His coaching presence has been felt as even Dwyane Wade has paid complements to Spoelstra for helping him grown and develop his game.
Earlier in the season, Riley had stated he was committed to coaching for the remainder of his contract. A big factor in the change of heart may have come from Shaq – who was with the team at the time Riley made that statement but has now been dealt to Phoenix for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks. Most obviously, this is the reason why Stan Van Gundy got cold feet back in 2006 and why Riley stepped in – due to Shaq’s pressing.
Now, Riley is free to be simply the team president and GM. Naming Spoelstra to this position has been a while in the making. Other candidates were Ron Rothstein and even Mike Fratello – and I would suggest Jeff Van Gundy – but the time is now to rebuild so it might as well go all the way.
Maybe a big influence, too, in Riley’s decision was his hall of fame induction. What more does he have to prove? He won a championship in 2006 and without all the injuries and locker room drama, and some questionable offseason decisions, who knows if another one wasn’t in the stars. But that isn’t for him to worry about – at least not on the court anyway. That is Erik Spoelstra’s job – and let’s hope it is not like it was for Stan Van Gundy.
Discuss the Heat’s coaching move with us here. (Thanks Wadeskywalker for breaking the news on our site!)
Further Reading
Heat.com makes announcement on Riley coaching change in favor of Erik Spoelstra.
Star Jones In Wade’s Fave Five?
In an effort to totally make readers in the blogosphere bleck up their breakfast, I am reporting on a rumor that – God help Wade – must not be true.
Apparently, Dwyane Wade is dating Star Jones. Let’s see, you are getting a divorce from your wife and this is who you left her for? A woman that is 20 years older, has had gastro-intestinal bypass surgery and numerous plastic surgeries? What, Joan Rivers wasn’t available? Barbara Walters?
D-Wade! What the hell is wrong with you? I mean, his now ex-wife was not exactly hot either but hey, he was young and in love and they had a child together. He kind of was trapped in it I guess. And now he is an NBA superstar and there is going to be a lot of temptation out there.
But Star Jones? She is the butt, pun intended, of many a bad joke. Why?
That is a lot of smoke and mirrors, friends for one wardrobe. Maybe they met in the hospital – he was there to get his knee scoped, she was there to get her stomach stapled. Let’s hope this isn’t true. For the sake of good taste.
Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley
The Heat will have to wait until May 20th until they can even seriously entertain this decision – but let’s pretend.
If Miami gets the #1 pick in the draft, which as it stands they currently have a 25% chance to do, who should they select as their #1 overall pick? Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley?
Both prospects are highly-touted for their athleticism and their potential on the court.
Miami should take, without hesitation, Michael Beasley. I say this definitively understanding that I will probably change my position on this about 5 or 6 times – in the next week. And I say this for one simple reason: Dwyane Wade.
Wade’s whole game revolves around having the ball in his hands. Rose’s game, as well, revolves around having the ball in his hands. Since his position, by definition, is a point guard this might prove to be a problem. Dwyane Wade, however, is not a point guard, but who is Riley going to trust at the end of games more? A rookie point guard or Finals MVP Dwyane Wade?
Exactly.
And that isn’t necessarily the case only if Riley does return. This is Wade’s team, and how successful Wade would be without the ball would prove to be a project in of itself. Now, that isn’t to say that Wade cannot defer offensively to other players – he has done that, just check how he played with Shaq.
Which brings us to Beasley. Who is more likely going to aid Wade’s game? A player who plays point guard but needs the ball to be effective or a power forward who could go into the post and play the two man game with Wade?
Heat Prepare for Draft; Playoffs Roar On
Well, even though the Heat are not in the playoffs, there is still a lot of work for the franchise. They are looking to get their first ever #1 pick (and hopefully their last…) and in preparation of that the Heat have to scout and work out various scenarios.
The draft order won’t be known until May 20th. Until then, the Heat will have to examine scenarios for not just the #1 or #2 picks, but the #3 and #4 (with the worst record in the NBA, they can’t pick lower than #4 in the draft).
There is a lot going on over at MiamiHeatwave still, as well. Because the Heat’s official season is over, we are gearing up for the offseason as well as keeping our fingers on the pulse of the playoffs. Join us in the Playoff Playhouse to talk post-season basketball and in the Draft Chamber to talk about the upcoming NBA draft and scouting.
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