Eric Spoelstra

[Seven]

Originally Posted by KCRfan1

This guy is so underrated as a coach.

All Miami does is win. They'll usually make the playoffs, tougher get for the finals, yet as an 8 seed they're on the door step tonite. Looking good thus far in the game.

I admit to being surprised at Miami's collapse in the conference finals after a 3-0 start. But I didn't expect the Heat in the finals anyways.

Most impressive is Spoelstra took over after Pat Riley and hasn't missed a beat, dare I say even elevated the team.

HoF coach in the making.

I think Spoelstra is the equivalent to a modern day, Gregg Popovich. He isn't flashy, his players love him, he quietly produces high level, consistent results while getting overshadowed by other coaches around the league. When he approaches the twilight of his coaching career, people will really appreciate how much he has done, for and around the league. I believe this is his fourth finals appearance, which in itself is a testament to how he's able to truly get all out of his players.

[Peter_Spaeth]

LOL had he lost game 7 people would be eviscerating him. But I agree he's a fine coach, his teams often play above their talent level, including the current one.

[BobC]

No disparagement to Spoelstra, but how many think he owes a lot of his success to being under the wings of Pat Riley for all these years, and that he is to some extent an extension of Riley?

[Touch'EmAll]

Charles Barkley commented that Boston had the better talent, but the cerebral department is where they and their coach fell short.

[esehombre]

Originally Posted by Touch'EmAll

Charles Barkley commented that Boston had the better talent, but the cerebral department is where they and their coach fell short.

Certainly agree with that - also agree that if the team with most amount of talent does not win, the blame should go squarely on the coach. A nice comeback from down 3-0 but what an embarrassment losing a game 7 by 20 on your home floor.

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by esehombre

Certainly agree with that - also agree that if the team with most amount of talent does not win, the blame should go squarely on the coach. A nice comeback from down 3-0 but what an embarrassment losing a game 7 by 20 on your home floor.

not sure if any of the past 20 championship series, the cerebral department mattered by the coach....Bulls? Lakers? Pistons? Celtics.

This is very unique where basically every time heat win a series the opposing coach is talked about being fired or is fired... i agree this is and about the only time, coaching may of mattered and also you can see the Celtics sort of gave up when down in game 7 giving up many easy buckets they hadnt given up in the prior 3 games..

[todeen]

Originally Posted by BobC

No disparagement to Spoelstra, but how many think he owes a lot of his success to being under the wings of Pat Riley for all these years, and that he is to some extent an extension of Riley?

Coaching pedigrees are in every sport. Football is talked about all the time. Then look at Mark Few with Gonzaga. His assistants have gone to Arizona and Boise St and have garnered respect. Same with GMs, especially people under Epstein during his tenures in Boston and Chicago.

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[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by todeen

Coaching pedigrees are in every sport. Football is talked about all the time. Then look at Mark Few with Gonzaga. His assistants have gone to Arizona and Boise St and have garnered respect. Same with GMs, especially people under Epstein during his tenures in Boston and Chicago.

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agreed the Coaching tree is important and does help but it still takes the Coach to take it to the next level. Now all "assistants" and not all trees/pedigree work out.

Look at Bill Belichick and his Tree of assistants and it does not always work out. Considered one of the Greatest NFL coaches and yet his tree has failed

https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/pat...l-head-coaches

[nolemmings]

I give Spoelstra all props and not to sound contrarian, but I see a bit of recency bias here. The Heat finished slightly over .500. They lost their first play-in game, then beat a sub-.500 team to advance, in a game they trailed at home with 2 1/2 minutes to go. Where was the greatness in all of that?

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

I give Spoelstra all props and not to sound contrarian, but I see a bit of recency bias here. The Heat finished slightly over .500. They lost their first play-in game, then beat a sub-.500 team to advance, in a game they trailed at home with 2 1/2 minutes to go. Where was the greatness in all of that?

The greatness is getting the most of his players and having never given up with all the adversity and to get to where they are at now in the Finals.
In addition the 2 championships and all those trips to the finals and sometimes with talent and other times like this year not as much talent and with so many undrafted players and older retreads that others gave up on

with that said i want them to lose and lose bad since they beat my team

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by Seven

I think Spoelstra is the equivalent to a modern day, Gregg Popovich. He isn't flashy, his players love him, he quietly produces high level, consistent results while getting overshadowed by other coaches around the league. When he approaches the twilight of his coaching career, people will really appreciate how much he has done, for and around the league. I believe this is his fourth finals appearance, which in itself is a testament to how he's able to truly get all out of his players.

It's actually his sixth finals appearance. I think he is a top 5 or 6 coach right now, and you can make the case he's #3 after Popovich and Kerr.