Erik Spoelstra 2017 COY!!!

[Sgt P]

Erik Spoelstra didn’t win the NBA’s Coach of the Year award in 2013 when the Miami Heat won 27 consecutive games, finished with the league’s best record at 66-16 and won its second NBA title. He finished second in the voting to Denver’s George Karl.

A year later, when the Heat posted the second-best record in the East and won back-to-back NBA titles, Spoelstra didn’t receive a single vote for the coach of the year award...

“

I’ve said it for years, but because I worked with him I'm biased and nobody writes it: but there’s not a better coach in the league than Erik,” Van Gundy told Pistons beat writers on Friday before the Heat (24-30) pulled to within a game of Detroit (25-29) for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference by stretching the league’s longest winning streak this season to 13 games with a win in Brooklyn.

“People discounted him because he had LeBron and [Dwyane] Wade and [Chris] Bosh. Gregg Popovich is one of the best ever, Phil Jackson. But nobody goes to four straight finals. Nobody. He did. Those other great teams have not. But even before he had those guys, he had ‘em in the playoffs. And now look what he’s doing in Miami.”

He does love the guys that he’s already developed. He’s not a developmental coach. We have a developmental program, which he works really hard at improving from within. His philosophy as coach to me is, ‘Bring them to me and I’ll coach them.’ That’s it.

“Gregg Popovich is one of the best ever, Phil Jackson. But nobody goes to four straight finals. Nobody. He did.

"Erik has those guys playing hard. They execute, they play together. And that's hard to do when you're in a developmental stage. It really is. Usually those are teams that everybody wants to show how good they are. They don't care about the team. And Erik has done an amazing job of getting them to buy into team basketball, which is really hard to do."

"It should be common knowledge by now he's an excellent coach. He knows what wins and what loses. He's comfortable in his own skin. He teaches well. He's going to make fair demands on whoever is available."

In 8 Seasons missed playoffs once, after Big 3 dismantled
2008-09 43-39 Lost in Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
2009-10 47-35 Lost in Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
2010-11 58-24 Eastern Conference Champions
2011-12 46-20 Won NBA Finals
2012-13 66-16 Won NBA Finals
2013-14 54-28 Eastern Conference Champions
2014-15 37-45 Missed Playoffs
2015-16 48-34 Lost in Eastern Conference Semifinals
2016-17 24-30 -----

That summer, Spoelstra made some big time adjustments. He implemented a pace and space offense that maximized his stars’ talents. Eventually, he moved Bosh to center as a floor-spacing 5. Add that to LeBron as a pseudo-power forward and Dwyane Wade developing into an elite off-ball cutter, and Spoelstra turned the Heat into a juggernaut that won two championships and, at one point, 27 straight games.

This is the 2nd consecutive season Spo has turned a season around

All of this and more has happened in only a few weeks. The Heat has gone from a broken pretender to a legitimate contender in the East. Dealing with all of these issues yet thriving is a big reason the team was able to lure Joe Johnson to Miami.

The Heat has saved a season that could have been so easily lost. It's a credit to the job that Spoelstra and his staff have done. It's been an all-time job by an all-time coach, whether some fans want to appreciate it or not.

Didn't back down from Lebronny, Lebronny kept moving



I said it before, this is the year Spo establishes himself to NBA...

[Dr_Heat]

[goodboy]

That pic is gold doc.

But as one of the biggest Spo haters of all time. This dude made me ate a chit ton of crow. Just like Dragic is doing right now.

Complete 180.

[eddieheatfan]

That pic is gold doc.

But as one of the biggest Spo haters of all time. This dude made me ate a chit ton of crow. Just like Dragic is doing right now.

Complete 180.

ditto

[SlowPaced]

I appreciate Spo, the dude is proving himself big time. He may be stubborn as ****, but his player development, adjustments and ability to get players to buy into a system are phenomenal. Always was a great defensive coach but I've seen a lot of improvement from him offensively this season.

Crazy to think he's going to complete a full decade in two years. And he's only 46. Really could see him ending up a Jerry Sloan, Gregg Popovich type.

This dude made me ate a chit ton of crow. Just like Dragic is doing right now.

Complete 180.

I never, ever got the Dragic hate. It was so painfully obvious that he was struggling because of our lack of pace as a team. It's no coincidence that his impact blew up after D-Wade left.

[IggieCC]

Never said anything bad about him. Always thought he's a solid coach and a standup guy. Keep it up spo.

Spoiler:

[Mars]

Spo devising late shot clock, sideline-out-of-bounds play at precise moment said wedding photo was snapped.

[goodboy]

I appreciate Spo, the dude is proving himself big time. He may be stubborn as ****, but his player development, adjustments and ability to get players to buy into a system are phenomenal. Always was a great defensive coach but I've seen a lot of improvement from him offensively this season.

Crazy to think he's going to complete a full decade in two years. And he's only 46. Really could see him ending up a Jerry Sloan, Gregg Popovich type.

This dude made me ate a chit ton of crow. Just like Dragic is doing right now.

Complete 180.

I never, ever got the Dragic hate. It was so painfully obvious that he was struggling because of our lack of pace as a team. It's no coincidence that his impact blew up after D-Wade left.

Yeah, fully understand that. I guess we were just in-tune with Wade more than Dragic, thus picking sides. Chit happens.

[Mars]

Sun Aug 28, 2016 8:20 am
The need for multiple shot creators isn't that significant during an NBA regular season. The playoffs is where it becomes vital if there’s any hope of a team advancing.

Isaiah Thomas was the only player on Boston who consistently created his own shot and the Celtics excelled in the regular season last year (where it bit them was in the playoffs).

Brad Stevens accomplished this with constant ball/player movement in the half-court and by letting his young guys get out and run at every possible opportunity, resulting in the third fastest offensive pace in the league. They also defensively harassed their opponents.

Fairly certain that will be Spo's blueprint this season...

• Constant ball/player movement in the half-court (no iso-ball)
• Young, athletic squad pushing the ball in transition at every opportunity (made or missed baskets)
• Get into teams defensively (switch, disrupt, create turnovers, get back in transition).

Link

Sun Aug 28, 2016 11:03 am
My point was I don't think Spo is going to rely on Dragic as the sole "individual" that creates for the team. My sense is he'll instruct Dragic to aggressively push the ball to get them into transition.

If nothing materializes in transition, the ball will now be in Goran's hands to initiate the offense in the half-court by attacking the basket, swinging the ball, moving the defense. Ball/player movement creating shot opportunities... much like Brad Stevens, Isaiah Thomas, and the Celitcs.

Wade and Joe did all the creating because their offense was entirely predicated on slow, methodical isolation basketball which required a high usage rate for both players.

The days of walking it up the court, pounding the ball for 18 seconds, milking the shot clock while surveying the floor to make a play, iso-basketball possessions are gone. So are the days of Dragic standing in the corner as a spectator watching those very same iso-possessions.

Link

[dancing2thabeet]

Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy was quick to point to Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, a guy who coached under him. He cited the rarity of leading a team to four straight NBA Finals, the way Spoelstra piloted the Heat in 2011-14.

“There’s not a better coach in the league than Erik,” Van Gundy said Friday. “People discounted him because he had (LeBron James), (Dwyane) Wade and (Chris) Bosh. Gregg Popovich is one of the best ever. Phil Jackson best ever. Nobody goes to four straight Finals. Nobody. He did. OK?”

Van Gundy called the Heat this season’s best coaching job.

Link

[shanedude]

I too have done my fair share of hating on Spo. He simply has grown.

[eddieheatfan]

as soon as this thread was created the heat had their first loss in awhile

[Heat_Fan_87]

i would love spo to win this award, but if he did, that wouldnt necessarily be a good thing,

[Wolfy1983]

Spobot...coach of the year?

He does deserve it this year, if they make the playoffs with a winning record.

[RexBoyWonder]

Spobot...coach of the year?

He does deserve it this year, if they make the playoffs with a winning record.

Am I the only one wondering why did we even went down 19 games below 500 if Spo really is such a genius suddenly?

I'm not saying he doesn't deserve credit for getting us out of the hole (partly), but in the same sense he's also part of the reason we got so deep in the hole in first place is he not.

[HIF]

Spobot...coach of the year?

He does deserve it this year, if they make the playoffs with a winning record.

Am I the only one wondering why did we even went down 19 games below 500 if Spo really is such a genius suddenly?

I'm not saying he doesn't deserve credit for getting us out of the hole (partly), but in the same sense he's also part of the reason we got so deep in the hole in first place is he not.

Maybe because we're a team of 1 year loanees and injured young players.

I've always told you guys that Spo is a great coach.

Luckily we didn't ditch him after not winning 3 straight titles as some of you wanted.

[Wolfy1983]

Spobot...coach of the year?

He does deserve it this year, if they make the playoffs with a winning record.

Am I the only one wondering why did we even went down 19 games below 500 if Spo really is such a genius suddenly?

I'm not saying he doesn't deserve credit for getting us out of the hole (partly), but in the same sense he's also part of the reason we got so deep in the hole in first place is he not.

Like every team with a bunch a new guys, chemistry takes time. That was the case here. I'm hoping losing Saturday night doesn't bring back that losing trend.

[Dr_Heat]

Spobot...coach of the year?

He does deserve it this year, if they make the playoffs with a winning record.

Am I the only one wondering why did we even went down 19 games below 500 if Spo really is such a genius suddenly?

I'm not saying he doesn't deserve credit for getting us out of the hole (partly), but in the same sense he's also part of the reason we got so deep in the hole in first place is he not.

Like every team with a bunch a new guys, chemistry takes time. That was the case here. I'm hoping losing Saturday night doesn't bring back that losing trend.

Digg is that you with the wolfy name?

[Wolfy1983]

Am I the only one wondering why did we even went down 19 games below 500 if Spo really is such a genius suddenly?

I'm not saying he doesn't deserve credit for getting us out of the hole (partly), but in the same sense he's also part of the reason we got so deep in the hole in first place is he not.

Like every team with a bunch a new guys, chemistry takes time. That was the case here. I'm hoping losing Saturday night doesn't bring back that losing trend.

Digg is that you with the wolfy name?

Yeah. Actually wanted to go with diggs, but it was not available. digg was a spelling error.

[TroubleS0me]

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