Fire Spoelstra

[HeatSince88]

Simple steps to fixing the Heat

1. Sign Dampier, start him.
Doubles rebounding rate at C, adds 20 lbs size, bangs in the paint and frees up Bosh.

2. Start Chalmers (until Miller is ready)
Simply because he has 3pt range to be respected, thus spacing the floor much more for Wade/Bron/Bosh to get off to fast starts and cause early foul trouble. And Chalmers can be the "chaser" of SGs around screens, which Wade is terrible at. Which brings me to ....

3. Wade defends starting PG
Wade simply doesn't like chasing dudes like Ray Allen and Rip Hamilton around screens. He also doesn't like finding them in transition to stop them from hitting open jumpers. That's the #1 reason Bostons has killed us so far. But what Wade would excel at is using his length and quicks to not let PGs get by him, and to disrupt their vision in setting up the offense, which is sorely needed. (The #2 reason Boston has killed us). Chalmers then takes most SG assigments so he can be the chaser, unless it's a postup threat like Kobe.

4. Chalmers brings ball up court, hands off to LeBron or Wade
I don't care who you wanna call the "PG" on offense, but let Chalmers sprint the ball up to the halfcourt, get the ball to a playmaker with 20 seconds on the shot clock, and stand in the corner ready to shoot a 3. He doesn't need to think he's the setup guy like Arroyo seems to think.

5. We only have two plays the whole game:

1) Pick and roll with one of Bosh/Haslem/Z setting pick for one of LeBron/Wade

2) Post up at 12 feet with Lebron, Bosh, or Wade.

Why waste time with anything else? Why do I keep seeing Joel setting picks, or Arroyo running it while LeBron spots up, or House trying to create off the dribble?

6. Haslem plays only 15-18 minutes. Bosh plays C only 0-5 minutes/game
Little known secret: Bosh is actually playing well at PF, but horribly at C. He's only at C because the lack of a reliable option (solved by Dampier) but moreso because Spo is afraid of not giving Haslem 30 minutes. If he really is all about sacrifice, playing a role, etc --- and I believe he is -- Haslem will do fine with 15 minutes.

I guarantee 65+ wins and a trip to the Finals with that formula.

[BFRESH44]

3. Wade defends starting PG
Wade simply doesn't like chasing dudes like Ray Allen and Rip Hamilton around screens. He also doesn't like finding them in transition to stop them from hitting open jumpers. That's the #1 reason Bostons has killed us so far. But what Wade would excel at is using his length and quicks to not let PGs get by him

The issue here is, he doesn't like defending point guards either.

http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2010-1 ... ard-d-wade

"With D-Wade being the smallest out of me and J.J., he's been able to guard the point guard," James said.

But taking on the assignment fulltime is another issue with Wade.

"It's not something I want to do for a whole game," he said. "But for stretches of time, I have no problem doing it at all."

Wade's got the up the effort here.

As talented as our trio may be from the surface, this is starting to look of a situation of inmates attempting to run the asylum.

And it may be time for the Warden to restore order.

[Lakeshow2417]

give spo at least year.

[nonemus]

The thing is, it's been 9 games in and not much has changed. In fact, if anything, it has regressed.

Oh and for everyone touting the "fire spo" sigs, it wouldn't be too bad of an idea to hyperlink the sigs to the peition site [www.firespo.com].

Or, if want him fired yet don't want as flashy a sig, just put the aforementioned url in your sig.

[ssenbonzakura]

After 8 games he's finally starting to make adjustments.

It shouldnt have come to that. Everybody knew Arroyo and Anthony were not gonna get the job done, no need to experiment to find that out. Now maybe he would start installing some half court offense whiles he's at it

But arroyo and anthony are who he has. Mario may replace Arroyo when he's fit and healthy. C as we've always known is our weakness this season. You can't get everything in 1 off-season. Too many new fans with unreasonable expectations. At least the older fans can see the progression.

I dont know about the progression you speak of but I dont think expectations have been unreasonable surrounding this team, new fans or not. Every team will lose games, its a matter of how games are lost, especially when you have 3 very talented players in their prime. I dont think it is reasonable on Spo's part to have started off with both Arroyo and Anthony in the lineup, and I believe most people knew that was going to fail, except of course Spo. Are the other options game changers, certainly not, but they bring different things we need.Give Pittman some burn at least against teams you know there's a chance of a blowout.Teach some half court offense, dont say your players are going to figure it out. That was the dumbest thing I ever heard a coach say.

[Heat_team02]

Pat Riley will not fire Spo. Book it.

If this terrible losings continues and Miami ends up a bad record, I bet Spo will be force to resign because of the pressures.

What Spo needs to do is the following;

1) Start Mario Chalmers.
2) Implement half court traps and full court pressure with Chalmers & Co.
3) Design plays for Lebron to catch the ball heading into the basket.
4) Wade used to dunk in traffic. He's not being Wade.
5) Play Dexter Pittman whether he's ready or not. He's an inside the paint player.

[DC_20]

spo needs to:

get the guys moving more set plays arnt always the answer our big 3 r good enough to create things on the fly spo just needs to set them up first

then we needs to play dexter regardless of skiill the guy has size

then he needs to make sure that bald little turd never plays again because he us pure sH(&

then he needs to fire himself and give riley the position

[Mind Bullets]

give spo at least year.

This franchise has wasted the last 3 years of Wade's prime!

Spo isn't getting an entire season to fail!

[Iputsomepantson]

Lebron just complained about the minutes he's playing.

The criticism continues.

[El Alonzo scowl]

give spo at least year.

In a fair world and under normal circumstances, I would agree. But the pressure to win is far too massive given the unusual circumstances of this team, this season, and we cannot afford to allow him a chance to fail. Riley in the huddle gives us the best chance to win, period. Failure to win a championship this season is unacceptable. It is even more unacceptable to fail without giving ourselves the best chance to win.

[dolphinatik]

Ray killed us, Wade has to step up and take responsibility on that. He doesnt like to guard other guards but thats why Spo has to step up and stop being scared. Stop being Wades friend and get in his face.. its Spos job on the line.

Certain things u cant control like KG abusing Haslem... but Wade and Lebron have the ability to stop their cover and they need to consistently do that. They have a greater responsibility because they are more physically gifted.

We are running house more to defend guards because he is quicker but he is not a defender and its obvious. There is something everyone on our team can improve on. Spo needs to play no favorites and get in everyones face including a mirror.

[nonemus]

Already 1150 votes on that firespo.com petition. Its only been 1 day...

[Wavy Q]

Already 1150 votes on that firespo.com petition. Its only been 1 day...

im wondering if half the people who voted actually know why Spo should be fired, and aren't going, "wtf we aren't undefeated, fire this moron."

[Tim_Hardawayy]

Already 1150 votes on that firespo.com petition. Its only been 1 day...

im wondering if half the people who voted actually know why Spo should be fired, and aren't going, "wtf we aren't undefeated, fire this moron."

Probably not. But then, I've followed this team intensely for a very long time now, spent more than my fair share of time on this board defending the coach, and I clicked the button once

Although in retrospect, I have been a bit harsh on him. Some of it does fall on the players. My main issue with Spo though is I fear when push comes to shove, he cannot command the respect of these guys. And that is a big deal when you're on the professional level.

Even the guys on this board who've defended him more passionately than me have to admit that he comes off as weak and robotic when you hear him speak. I worry that it translates over to the players, and they just don't hold him in high enough regard to run through a wall for him. That's one advantage Riley has. You'll either respect him enough to run through that wall (Alonzo Mourning), or you'll hate him so much that he'll make you run through that wall (Tim Hardaway).

I'm reminded of that anecdote from a Bill Simmons column a few months back. When it comes to the technical side of basketball, I take his opinion with a grain of salt, but this story really illustrates something I could never see from Spo:

I once heard a great story about Game 6 of the 2006 Finals, when Miami was trying to clinch the title in Dallas, from someone who has seen the unedited footage of Miami's huddles in the second-half timeouts. Pat Riley basically stopped coaching. Threw out his X's and O's. Quit giving advice. Stopped drawing up plays.

So what did he do? He screamed at his guys like a boxing trainer. You're tougher than them! YOU'RE TOUGHER THAN THEM! Don't let up! They are ready to quit! They are ready to fold! Keep attacking them! Keep getting to the rim! Keep knocking their asses down! No layups! No dunks! Stay together! YOU ARE TOUGHER THAN THEM! YOU ARE TOUGHER THAN THEM! That's what he did for the entire second half. Eventually, his players believed him.

I'm a huge fan of Wade, and if there's one thing I've definitely noticed in the past 3 years, its that his leash is WAY longer than it was with Riley here. He's good enough that he doesn't need a guy over his shoulder telling him what to do... but at the same time, it helps to have a COACH and not a friend. And I'm afraid Spo is just a bit too friendly with Wade.

It was easier to put up with some of it when we were the ones begging that he'd stay come free agency. But that's come and gone, and now we need these guys to get to work.

I've made this comparison before, but Doug Collins was a favorite of Michael Jordan. Michael loved playing for him... but its widely believed that his friendly relationship was what doomed him to failure with the Bulls.

I'm leaving out the offensive analysis because I can at least admit I don't have a smart enough basketball mind to give great criticism there. That said, those who do know what they're talking about have already pointed out more than enough problems, and it doesn't take a basketball genius to see that we must be running a rather poor offense if we're still having issues with 3 of the most efficient players in the league.

[Mesa]

Lebron just complained about the minutes he's playing.

The criticism continues.

That's a bitch move on his side, shouldn't that be dealt internally and not brought out to the media/public?

Especially earlier in the season when he was asked about playing so little he replied: 'i've been a 40+ minutes guy my whole career'. If you have that issue with the coach you take up with him one on one.

Unless if Bron did this in a calculated move against Spo, because he wants him gone.

Bron, may have made his mind up after our last loss about Spo and prolly prefers Riles or someone else.

If the Heat don't go on some crazy ass winning streak (and Spo miraculously gets his head out of the clouds ), Spo will be spending time with the family soon.

The orlando fans are talking about wanting SVG fired. If Riles won't come down and coach, i'd take SVG in a heartbeat over Spo.

[TheAnkh]

Hmm, is it really that the players (namely Wade) prefer Spo, or do you think Riley is not so interested in coming back?

I remember seeing an interview about how much he loves not having the stress of coaching on his back anymore, but then more recently when the big 3 officially signed, he talked about the players not wanting him back, almost as if they forced his hand.

[Tim_Hardawayy]

Hmm, is it really that the players (namely Wade) prefer Spo, or do you think Riley is not so interested in coming back?

I remember seeing an interview about how much he loves not having the stress of coaching on his back anymore, but then more recently when the big 3 officially signed, he talked about the players not wanting him back, almost as if they forced his hand.

A little from column A, a little from column B.

For the players, lets face it, players never want to get rid of a players coach until its already too late. And while I don't know that I'd call Spo a players coach, at the very least, we know Wade has that type of relationship with him.

As for Riley himself, I think he realizes that even if the reasons for the last time were very real (and most Heat fans know the true story), because of the way the media has characterized it, there's no way it can happen again without very intense scrutiny.

That being said, I don't care how the media views it as long as my team wins. Everyone hates us anyways, how much worse could it be if Riley takes over again?

Riley's the only guy I'd really want anyways. Anything else is a band-aid fix and we'd probably be better off letting Spo ride out this first season. But Pat, well, he's everything Spo is with a better mind for offense, 10 times the motivational ability, and more passion. The only thing about Pat is with age, it will be harder for him to relate to the players.

[Flashpoint]

im wondering if half the people who voted actually know why Spo should be fired, and aren't going, "wtf we aren't undefeated, fire this moron."

He's never been all that popular with the fanbase. He doesn't have a background worth respecting. The lack of offense. Speaks only in bull **** pseudo-motivational gibberish. The team's success with him in charge has been very restrained. Then the whole Beasley situation alienated a large segment of fans who felt Spo was squandering him (which was true).

[runlikehell]

Not that he'd ever be our coach, but what if we had Dantoni? Lol we'd suck at defense but our offense would actually be fun to watch. His system needs a good pg though so we'd need LeBron or Wade playing the pg spot more. Completely random I know

[BronBron06]

Not that he'd ever be our coach, but what if we had Dantoni? Lol we'd suck at defense but our offense would actually be fun to watch. His system needs a good pg though so we'd need LeBron or Wade playing the pg spot more. Completely random I know

Didnt we suck already at defense with Spo

Leaving CP3 enjoying his assists, Okafor murdering inside

Leaving D-Will enjoying his assists, Paul Millsap 3's (career night ???), oh wait where did mah 20 point lead go in the 4th Q?

1st game Ray Ray Killed us 4th quarter , 2nd game Ray Ray bombarded the entire game