ImageImageImage

Now that it's over... how do we feel about Coach Spo?

Moderators: KingDavid, heat4life, MettaWorldPanda, Wiltside, IggieCC, BFRESH44, QUIZ

Wonderllama
Lead Assistant
Posts: 5,808
And1: 4,417
Joined: May 10, 2012

Now that it's over... how do we feel about Coach Spo? 

Post#1 » by Wonderllama » Fri Jun 22, 2012 5:17 am

Do we finally give the poor guy the credit he deserves, or is he still on the hot seat for next year? :lol:
Slot Machine
Head Coach
Posts: 6,747
And1: 4,867
Joined: Apr 15, 2012
 

Re: Now that it's over... how do we feel about Coach Spo? 

Post#2 » by Slot Machine » Fri Jun 22, 2012 5:19 am

I'll say what I've always said about him, great adjuster between games, in game? Not so much. I'll admit I greatly underestimated his influence regarding motivation though. He instilled values that stuck with our guys and kept us afloat when things looked tough. Congrats Spo.
The Bunk wrote:God I hate this fraudulent clown.

I've never wanted to punch someone in the face so badly. Really hoping to run into him at a game one day. I won't hesitate.
User avatar
Three O Five
Pro Prospect
Posts: 909
And1: 52
Joined: Jun 16, 2004
Location: Naples, Florida
   

Re: Now that it's over... how do we feel about Coach Spo? 

Post#3 » by Three O Five » Fri Jun 22, 2012 5:21 am

He's Spo Spo gooood lol.

Spo-ctacular even.
User avatar
dolphinatik
General Manager
Posts: 7,727
And1: 4,700
Joined: Oct 20, 2008
     

Re: Now that it's over... how do we feel about Coach Spo? 

Post#4 » by dolphinatik » Fri Jun 22, 2012 5:21 am

I still want a new HC or to bring in some knowledgeable assistants for offense and defense sets. Same as always
1. Herro 2. Bol Bol 3. Seko 4. Bruno
unless we trade up for Barrett or trade down for PJ Washington
User avatar
WadeInTheWater
Starter
Posts: 2,353
And1: 197
Joined: Jul 07, 2010

Re: Now that it's over... how do we feel about Coach Spo? 

Post#5 » by WadeInTheWater » Fri Jun 22, 2012 5:22 am

Wonderllama wrote:Do we finally give the poor guy the credit he deserves, or is he still on the hot seat for next year? :lol:


He gets credit for outcoaching a coach in the finals that was as inexperienced as him, Doc Rivers schooled him countless times but we had a special player that just said 'no we're not going out like this'.
Darkstar
Junior
Posts: 350
And1: 97
Joined: Jul 14, 2004
   

Re: Now that it's over... how do we feel about Coach Spo? 

Post#6 » by Darkstar » Fri Jun 22, 2012 5:27 am

When Spo retains his job he needs to give his paycheck to Lebron because that's who earned it.
User avatar
lolcat
Bench Warmer
Posts: 1,351
And1: 65
Joined: Dec 27, 2011

Re: Now that it's over... how do we feel about Coach Spo? 

Post#7 » by lolcat » Fri Jun 22, 2012 5:29 am

keep spo. loved how he developed this season along with the team. he has great chemistry with our stars. just tweak the roster a litle in the offseason and pleaaase add a big.
Image
Image
User avatar
PurpleRooster
Rookie
Posts: 1,198
And1: 55
Joined: May 20, 2012

Re: Now that it's over... how do we feel about Coach Spo? 

Post#8 » by PurpleRooster » Fri Jun 22, 2012 5:31 am

He is getting better.

Lucky to go against an equally young coach in Scott Brooks.

He manhandled that match-up.

But he is learning, adapting, and he might be a keeper.
Enjoy every sandwich.
User avatar
MartyConlonJr
General Manager
Posts: 8,898
And1: 3,140
Joined: Jul 19, 2003
   

Re: Now that it's over... how do we feel about Coach Spo? 

Post#9 » by MartyConlonJr » Fri Jun 22, 2012 5:45 am

My stance on him hasn't changed.

I always felt he was:
Great defensive coach (underrated with out PG and C positions being so unconventional)
Decent offensive coach, but I feel that part of it is our superstars don't follow his plays, so he tried to adjust with this freelance offense that has been a bit cheap at times.
Not a great motivator (But I think a lot of this is youth, and following Pat Riley - how can Wade and Haslem get inspired by this guy after seeing PAt Riley dunk his head in ice for 5 minutes, just no parallel).
A bit raw.

I feel that getting the ring is going to fill in some of those gaps. Motivationally, guys will listen to him from now on because he has won. He will have a lot more confidence at actually be able to deliver a bit better there.

If we get a legit center, he will look like a genius in coming years defensively.

I think his rotation and adjustments improved over the last two series, to the point I was impressed.

One thing I think is missing is I just don't see a bunch of complex offensive sets, like the way Scott Skiles always has our guys running around like chickens with their head off when we play them.

I always felt he needs a lot of polish on the offensive end, and was just a bit young/unpolished. A title erases one of those, and if he can improve the offense, he'll be great.

I was afraid his inexperience could cost us a title getting him to where we want him to be, but we've got both, so we should be really happy.
User avatar
LBJ 1through5
Junior
Posts: 287
And1: 9
Joined: May 14, 2012

Now that it's over... how do we feel about Coach Spo? 

Post#10 » by LBJ 1through5 » Fri Jun 22, 2012 5:47 am

Top 5 coach IMO.
User avatar
radikalBaller
Lead Assistant
Posts: 5,708
And1: 8,324
Joined: Oct 09, 2007
Location: On the way
 

Re: Now that it's over... how do we feel about Coach Spo? 

Post#11 » by radikalBaller » Fri Jun 22, 2012 5:58 am

He made some good adjustment with playing JJ and Cole.
Image
User avatar
carbine23
Veteran
Posts: 2,729
And1: 84
Joined: Dec 21, 2010

Re: Now that it's over... how do we feel about Coach Spo? 

Post#12 » by carbine23 » Fri Jun 22, 2012 6:07 am

Spotastic!
User avatar
Heej
General Manager
Posts: 8,469
And1: 9,170
Joined: Jan 14, 2011

Re: Now that it's over... how do we feel about Coach Spo? 

Post#13 » by Heej » Fri Jun 22, 2012 6:20 am

An offensive coordinator wouldn't be too much to ask for though would it?

But I'd like you guys to check out this great article by Izzy that highlights what I found most impressive about Spo.

http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2012/st ... hort-story

Though it mostly has to do with having a guy like Lebron James, Spo was able to make a small ball team capable of walling off the paint in a way that only teams with dominant big men normally can do. That alone is a coaching feat in and of itself. Sometimes you guys are too busy caught up in the flashier sides of coaching like adjustments and nice looking plays and sets, especially after timeouts in crucial possessions (which I've always maintained Spo is one of the best in the league at, he's as gifted at the X's and O's as almost anyone that's ever sat in the coaching seat).

But what no one on this board seems to acknowledge is the culture Spo (with help from Riley for sure) has managed to build with this team. It's difficult to sell your guys on competing every possession on the defensive end the way the Heat usually do. And it's hard to get your guys to run the plays you want them to when you have 2 supremely talented offensive juggernauts in Wade and Lebron that happily break off plays whenever they damn well feel like it.

Do you think any mere coach would have been able to sell LBJ on playing the 4 and posting up the way he did? Or getting Chris Bosh to play the 5 when it's been well documented that he's avoided it his entire career. Sure, losing the 2011 Finals had a lot to with these guys being so willing to make these sacrifices but it takes a truly talented coach to get your guys to stick with the gameplan when the going gets rough instead of reverting back to their old comfort zone of spamming high pick and rolls and barreling into the paint with the hopes of drawing a foul and settling for long contested jumpers when they're feeling tired.

Plus it's obvious how Spo has managed to really earn the trust and respect of the guys on this team. You can see it in these post game and post practice interviews and press conferences where guys give off the cuff remarks that are rife with Spo and Rileyisms. Even Mike Miller was talking about staying the course and keeping on grinding. You don't naturally talk about those things unless it's something that's been entrenched in the core of your being as a basketball player. They don't just hear what Spoelstra has to say, they listen to what he has to say. And most importantly, they BELIEVE in what he says. The most important ability a coach can possess is the ability to sell his team on the principles he preaches. Spoelstra has this in spades, and it's why Riley chose him as his heir and sees so much potential in him. And his background as a video coordinator lets him break down sets in a way few coaches can. It's this rare combination that our fan base fails to appreciate in Erik Spoelstra.

There's so much more to coaching than looking good for the media by coming up with these legendary "adjustments" that everyone prattles on about. We're not educated enough as basketball fans and haven't played at a high enough level to truly appreciate what it means to be a coach. Sure he still has more to learn, but he's nowhere near as far behind the learning curve as people on this forum make him out to be. There's a reason why he's generally held in such high regard around the league.
LeBron's NBA Cup MVP is more valuable than either of KD's Finals MVPs. This is the word of the Lord
TripleC
Banned User
Posts: 3,592
And1: 40
Joined: Feb 25, 2011
Location: Above Rome

Re: Now that it's over... how do we feel about Coach Spo? 

Post#14 » by TripleC » Fri Jun 22, 2012 6:31 am

Well deserved. Amazing adjustments he made in this series and other match ups as well.
User avatar
Heat fan06
Lead Assistant
Posts: 5,996
And1: 419
Joined: Apr 16, 2011

Now that it's over... how do we feel about Coach Spo? 

Post#15 » by Heat fan06 » Fri Jun 22, 2012 6:38 am

Well deserved, he made some nice adjustments.
Image
Credit to MK
krikor
Veteran
Posts: 2,918
And1: 723
Joined: May 16, 2012

Re: Now that it's over... how do we feel about Coach Spo? 

Post#16 » by krikor » Fri Jun 22, 2012 6:43 am

a genious. To be fair, up until OKC series I still didnt look at him high.But the OKC series, and how we won it as a team..and role players stepping up each game.... each game finiding a new way to win, really really gave me great impression on him.
User avatar
BigDaddyPR
Analyst
Posts: 3,223
And1: 151
Joined: May 16, 2003
       

Re: Now that it's over... how do we feel about Coach Spo? 

Post#17 » by BigDaddyPR » Fri Jun 22, 2012 6:54 am

He deserves all the credit in the world, flawed but good enough for this team. And like some said, he is getting better....
Image
User avatar
GetMoney
Analyst
Posts: 3,312
And1: 1,035
Joined: Dec 14, 2006

Re: Now that it's over... how do we feel about Coach Spo? 

Post#18 » by GetMoney » Fri Jun 22, 2012 7:21 am

pat riley wont be around forever
phil jackson, pop, etc wont be around forever

YOU MUST GIVE THESE YOUNG GUYS A CHANCE TO BECOME THE NEXT GREAT COACHES!
ImageImage. . . AND STILL
The Infamous1 wrote:It's only so long Weak teams can pretend
Pimpwerx
Banned User
Posts: 8,836
And1: 78
Joined: Jul 19, 2010

Re: Now that it's over... how do we feel about Coach Spo? 

Post#19 » by Pimpwerx » Fri Jun 22, 2012 7:26 am

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=1177716&p=31546208#p31545914


Before the playoffs begin, I'm gonna start the "Spo for Hall of Fame" bandwagon, so people can't say I'm a front-runner.

Who are the two most-criticized people on the Heat? Lebron and Spo. Lebron's about to win his 3rd MVP...nuff said. So what's so good about Spo? For all his perceived flaws, he inherited a 15-win team, and despite that, he has coached a grand total of 12 games in 3 seasons with his team having a losing record. He has never missed the playoffs. The one time he had a team capable of making the Finals, he got there. He made the playoffs two years in a row with a team we all now know was tanking to sign the Big3. You know what? We're a bit of alright with Spo. You need to hop on the hype train before he banks that first ring, because it's just gonna be raining championships down here. Destiny and dynasty await.

Knicks up first. Let's go HEAT!


Recognize how many years we have him under contract. RESPECT! PEACE.
User avatar
CeCeySay
Junior
Posts: 322
And1: 513
Joined: May 06, 2011

Now that it's over... how do we feel about Coach Spo? 

Post#20 » by CeCeySay » Fri Jun 22, 2012 7:29 am

I like how Shane, Bron & others mention 'staying the course' in their interviews....it speaks volumes on how they believe what Spo preaches


---
I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=40.846330,-72.777231

Return to Miami Heat