Riley Out, Spoelstra In

[Lane1974]

as Lane already said "ich libschaft kleiner."

no hablo espanol

[Miami's Finest]

SVG is doing his Orlando presser now, and gave really high praises to Spoelstra. He said he's been around coaches his whole life, and he knew him for only 3 months before he was telling ppl Spoelstra would be a great coach. And SVG is a sincere guy so that is good to hear.

[Lane1974]

SVG pwns. He always will.

[G.cracker]

SVG poons.

[Flash3]

Can't say I am shocked, but just didn't think it would come this early.

Spoesltra is more than deserving for the job, though I can't say he was the right choice just yet, as we've yet to see him at the helm of things; granted he did lead summer camps and a slew of other things for Riles and SVG.

[BBallFreak]

Remember what happened the last time Riley moved up to the front office? He turned us into a championship contender.

Love ya Riles. Thanks for all you've put in on the bench. Here's to hoping your successor has half the success, and you find more time for yourself and your family...

[HEATVols865]

Thanks Riley!
I appreciate the good and the bad, even though I wanted to choke you during the bad but like Freak said, last time you were upstairs you put together a championship team.
DO IT RILEY!!!

As for Spo, Wade is happy. That is key! Wade also wants Marion and Rose...do it!
As for the comment from whoever that UD is no longer starting material...wow...find me a PF with the same numbers making as little money as he does...

[HIF]

Riley is GOD

happy that we're staying in the family with Spo and I'm pretty sure it'll all work out.

[rainking]

I love this quote by Stan:

"It's a tough day, even though Pat is looking forward to retirement, it's sort of the end of an unbelievable career and his success there,'' Van Gundy said after his Magic defeated the Toronto Raptors 102-92 Monday night to win the first-round series. "But the Miami Heat hired a great basketball coach. From my selfish perspective here, I wish they would have hired somebody not so good. From a personal perspective, I like Erik very much and he's one of my best friends. I have as much respect for him as anyone in the business. I'm really happy that his hard work got rewarded.''

I think we can all agree that Stan Van Gundy is one of the most sincere, forthright people in all of sports. He obviously has a lot of sentiment for Spoelstra, and believes that he will be an excellent coach.

Personally, I am very happy for Erik. Here is a guy that started at the bottom of the food chain, worked endless hours breaking down film, and doing the the grunt work behind the scenes. Through his hard work, he earned the trust of a hall of fame coach and the respect of one of the best players in the game. I am much happier for a guy like Erik, than I would be say if we brought in a Mark Jackson, simply because he was a former player. There is something to be said for earning your stripes. Erik has certainly done that, and I am looking forward to seeing what he does with this roster during its reconstruction.

[Hoops23]

Remember what happened the last time Riley moved up to the front office? He turned us into a championship contender.

Remember what happened the last time Riley comes back to coaching? He turned us into a champion and not just contenders.

It was really a great run from a great coach. There is always an end to everything and this is it for Riley's heat coaching career.

''We've got a pure coach now who's not going to think about sandy beaches and when to get out of it,'' as Riley described his successor.

Just curious, which coach is Riley referring to?

"I am not confused by my position," he said, with Riley to remain team president. "I was hired to coach the team and whatever players are there, I will coach them."

Nice attitude to start a coaching career. I remember when Riley was with the lakers, Gerry West is running the Lakers and he doesn't complain about the changes made. . . Don't know if it was SVG or the media who said about the issues of doing a lot of changes in the off-season like trade that made it hard to SVG's coaching. . . I like the attitude of Eric when he said about whatever players are there, he will coach them; sounds like Riley to me. Riley said, the players made the persona/style for the team; as "showtime" with LAL and "blue colar jobs" with the Knicks.

[FlaStGrad]

I am shocked that Riley said he almost left the organization all togeher giving up his President duties. I am glad he didn't leave everything.

[GameTime_3]

Quote:
''We've got a pure coach now who's not going to think about sandy beaches and when to get out of it,'' as Riley described his successor.

Just curious, which coach is Riley referring to?

He was talking about himself. That he just didn't think that he could give 100 percent anymore.

[Kovalchuk]

-= original quote snipped =-



mopper saw Spoelstra at a grocery store a couple years ago and stared at him for an uncomfortable amount of time, and he didn't have the fortitude to go up to him and say hello. The one that got away.

Thanks.

[heatwillbeback]

I know I am pessimistic when it comes to young coaches, but who else has the feeling that they would be more comfortable with Avery Johnson here rather than Spoelstra?

I have it. I think Riley should have waited a couple days. Then again, I felt the same way with SVG and that turned out rather well.

[Lane1974]

Avery does nothing for me. He lost his team starting from the finals when we beat them. They tuned him out this post season, and he turned on them when he said "it's my fault we lost, my fault we missed layups, free throws, and defensive assignments". Then he called off a practice because he was pissed Howard had a late night birthday party at a club, and the team practiced without him anyway. He was handed a golden opportunity from Nellie, he was an assistant for a short term after being a long time pro player. If he was given the Knicks or Bucks instead of the talented Mavs at their peak, he'd be thought of as a Terry Porter or one of those ex point guards who got an opportunity to coach and flamed out, IMO.

[Lane1974]

look at Riley disciples who became successful head coaches: Jeff & Stan, Jeff Bzdelik, Byron Scott, Eddie Jordan

I think Spoelstra's relationship with Wade also greaed the skids

every great coach was a first time coach once

[Lane1974]

also if Riley was leaving the organization all together, it might have made sense to go outside the organization. With him staying, that's a mighty large shadow for an Avery Johnson or Scott Skiles or whomever to come in under. Spoelstra is used to being under Riley's eye, so it's nothing new to him.

[CoolD]

I don't know how people blame Avery for them losing the Finals, if D Wade doesn't have some crazy games, and couple calls along the way, they would of taken the title.

Avery has had really good records in Dallas, this year Cuban made a bad trade in Kidd, anyways the West is loaded, Dallas would of at least made the second round with ease in the East.

I like Avery, everyone likes looking at the negative, but what has Spoelstra done.

I hope Spolestra is as good as he is being sold, but I don't see no reason to rag on Avery. Sometimes is as much the fault of the players, and GM.

And people that diss Avery, never blame Riley when we were the 1st seed, and we choked vs the Knicks and them having the 8th seed in the 90's. How many times did Riley teams fall short in the Playoffs, especially vs the Knicks.

[GameTime_3]

unowen85 wrote:
-= original quote snipped =-



mopper saw Spoelstra at a grocery store a couple years ago and stared at him for an uncomfortable amount of time, and he didn't have the fortitude to go up to him and say hello. The one that got away.

Come on Mopper! unowen85, why didnt you push him or yell Erick and stand behind mopper. lol

[Lane1974]

"Tom! Tom Bosley!"