Is Erik Spoelstra about to get fired?

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Phil Jackson (that Edited for profanity.  Please do not do it again.) will be a free agent this summer, too, right?

[scootman]

I think Spoelstra might think so.  What other possible justification can he have for telling reporters that his players are "crying" in the locker room?  What possible good comes from that?  The media and fans are now mocking the manhood of the Heat players, and this is in large part due to inside information given by the coach.

The only thing I can think of is that Spoelstra knows he's on his way out, and is preemptively saying "It's not my fault, these guys are a bunch of mentally weak pansies".

if so i applaud him for doing that. they need to be put in there place. they obviously thought this would be a cakewalk for them.

[jdub1660]

2 reasons he WON'T be fired


1 - there is no replacement
2 - Pat Riley doesn't want to have to coach again

When the Heat miss the Finals this year, he'll be asked to resign this summer. Then Riley will target either Doc or Phil, neither of which will accept.

As for current options, there's Sloan,Jeff Van Gundy and Mike Brown HAHA. Sloan would be BEST, but noway that happens...

[saltlover]

I don't think JVG goes to work for Riley after what happened to SVG.

After what Sloan just had to endure with D-Will in Utah, there's no way he takes over a team that the players run.

Larry Brown, anyone?  Talk about the patients running the asylum...

[Finkelskyhook]

Unless he wants to tarnish his legacy...Or unless ownership says do it or else...Riley isn't going to get within the same area code as this train wreck.

Spoelstra isn't going anywhere.  He'll be the skapegoat but he isn't going anywhere. 

Totally irrelevent who has the title of head coach of El Heat.  Just like Los Cavs, the messiah is El Heat's head coach.  Wade is his first assistant.  I have no idea what Spoelstra is.  Probably like a press secretary.

[wdleehi]

Unless he wants to tarnish his legacy...Or unless ownership says do it or else...Riley isn't going to get within the same area code as this train wreck.

Spoelstra isn't going anywhere.  He'll be the skapegoat but he isn't going anywhere. 

Totally irrelevent who has the title of head coach of El Heat.  Just like Los Cavs, the messiah is El Heat's head coach.  Wade is his first assistant.  I have no idea what Spoelstra is.  Probably like a press secretary.

Since Riley was able to arrange Wade, Lebron and Bosh on this team and tickets sales are up, I think Riley is save from the owner at this point.

[Assassin70]

Mark my words, if they go on a 10 game losing streak before the season is over he will be fire THIS season.

[zerophase]

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=6190320

erik tries to cover his ass... must have been yelled at by pat or lebron.

[greenpride32]

I could see him getting fired this year only if there is some sort of player revolt due to the "crying" comment.  If word leaks one of those crying was LBJ, there's no way that relatioship is going to work out.

I doubt Riley wants to come back down to the bench.  If you get promoted above head coach, you usually don't demote yourself on anything more than a temporary/intermin basis.

[Assassin70]

Oh yeah and I am calling it now next heat coach...Jeff Van Gundy

[Scalablob990]

He has no control over LeRoid/Bosh/Wade they basically are just doing their own thing. Spoelstra looks like he's ready to poop in his pants whenever he loses a game. Guy is afraid of his own shadow. I think Riley since day 1 of getting the big three there knew he was going to have to coach eventually.

I wouldn't be surprised to see mr. paper spoelstra get axed a week or two before the playoffs and riley taking over.

[Celtics4ever]

I think he is a joke.   I think he lasts the end of the season then gets fired as the reason and they hire a real coach.   But he is not the sole reason they choke and he is not the one who misses shots down the stretch either.  What he sought to gain by telling peeps that his lads were crying is beyond me...

[BballTim]

I wouldn't be surprised to see mr. paper spoelstra get axed a week or two before the playoffs and riley taking over.

  I don't see this Riley firing Spoelstra and then guiding the team to a 2nd round exit would make Pat look like a complete idiot.

[ChefEricT]

It won't help.  This is Lebron getting another coach fired.  Also, this shows how good Doc is at what he does.  When you start putting this much talent on the court, it becomes more important that the coach can manage egos than draw up plays.  Doc, Red and Phil Jackson are/were three masters at getting teams to gel, Spoelstra is not.  That said, Lebron's ego is a lot bigger than your average superstar.

[RebusRankin]

I think it'll be off-season.