Is Erik Spoelstra a good coach?

[ItStaysYang]

Been asking myself this for two years. During the 11-12 postseason He made some nifty adjustments but at times used absurd lineups (and modified his starting lineup frequently).

Thoughts?

[Who]

Yes, I think Spoelstra is a very good coach. 

However, I do think that he has had some problems with the unorthodox nature of his players / roster and that Spoelstra has underperformed with that group of players so far. Not the most creative / fluid mind. Too restricted in his basketball philosophies (that Pat Riley Miami Heat ideals of basketball).

I think Spoelstra would have done far better with a more orthodox group of players (vast majority of NBA rosters).  I think that due to some struggles with Miami's unorthodox roster, Spoelstra doesn't get the credit he deserves for just how talented a coach he really is.

Spoelstra is a very, very good coach.

[j804]

Good at stealing plays from us

[flyofchange]

Yes, I think Spoelstra is a very good coach. 

However, I do think that he has had some problems with the unorthodox nature of his players / roster and that Spoelstra has underperformed with that group of players so far. Not the most creative / fluid mind. Too restricted in his basketball philosophies (that Pat Riley Miami Heat ideals of basketball).

I think Spoelstra would have done far better with a more orthodox group of players (vast majority of NBA rosters).  I think that due to some struggles with Miami's unorthodox roster, Spoelstra doesn't get the credit he deserves for just how talented a coach he really is.

Spoelstra is a very, very good coach.

Your kiddin right?? very, very good coach??

This guy looks like a deer in headlights all night long on the sidelines.

he may have improved a bit since he started but he still has a looooooooong way to go before he can be considered a very, very good coach.

If spoelstra is very, very good, what is pop, doc, thibs etc?

[AB_Celtic]

I'd take Spo over half the coaches in the NBA.

Definitely not Doc though

[cman88]

he's not a good coach..a good coach is someone who can get production out of lesser talent IMO....when you have Lebron/Wade/Bosh on your team you should win games...heck, even mike brown won games with the cavs with Lebron.

when I look at a good coach, i look at someone who can make their team overachieve despite the odds

look at Doc last year, with all the injuries that team endured, and to push miami to 7 games in the ECF having the worst bench in all of basketball

Thibs, being able to have that team play above and beyond to grab the #1 seed without rose most of the season

and Pops to once again get the #1 seed using his bench/young guys

[Who]

Yes, I think Spoelstra is a very good coach. 

However, I do think that he has had some problems with the unorthodox nature of his players / roster and that Spoelstra has underperformed with that group of players so far. Not the most creative / fluid mind. Too restricted in his basketball philosophies (that Pat Riley Miami Heat ideals of basketball).

I think Spoelstra would have done far better with a more orthodox group of players (vast majority of NBA rosters).  I think that due to some struggles with Miami's unorthodox roster, Spoelstra doesn't get the credit he deserves for just how talented a coach he really is.

Spoelstra is a very, very good coach.

Your kiddin right?? very, very good coach??

This guy looks like a deer in headlights all night long on the sidelines.

he may have improved a bit since he started but he still has a looooooooong way to go before he can be considered a very, very good coach.

If spoelstra is very, very good, what is pop, doc, thibs etc?

Pops and Doc = elite Championship caliber coaches = top 3-4 coaches in league

Thibs = borderline top 7-8, well on his way to establishing himself as an elite coach

Spoelstra = borderline top ten, well above average = very good coach. Long term potential to be an elite coach but still has a ways to go.

[Who]

he's not a good coach..a good coach is someone who can get production out of lesser talent IMO....when you have Lebron/Wade/Bosh on your team you should win games...heck, even mike brown won games with the cavs with Lebron.

when I look at a good coach, i look at someone who can make their team overachieve despite the odds

Miami did overachieve with Spoelstra in his first two years. Before LeBron and Bosh joined.

Spoelstra did an excellent job with those squads.

[blastoidesroidsnoids]

seems more like a business manager playing coach

[wdleehi]

Yes.


Is it any different then when Doc won his first and only title as the coach of the Celtics? 



It is amazing what having talent does for a coach.

[Finkelskyhook]

That he can handle the two divas says a lot. 

Even if the officials win him more than a few games.

[CelticHooligan3]

No. He's a figure head. Pat Riley makes all the real decisions behind the scenes and backs Spoelstra when he's challenged. He's just a front for Pleasant Pat.

[SCeltic34]

I don't think he's anything special as a coach.  Bosh getting injured against the Pacers in the playoffs was a blessing in disguise because they were forced to go small and put LBJ at the 4.  This is the lineup that propelled them to their title.  Before that, Spoelstra was shuffling centers constantly before the playoffs, almost detrimentally to his team.  Dexter Pittman started a game, underproduced, and very rarely got back on the court thereafter.  Next game it was Turiaf, then the next it was Joel Anthony.  Pretty odd thing to do team chemistry wise - especially late in the season - and not particularly indicative that Spo knows what he's doing tactically.

Doc  significantly outcoached him in the ECF, not surprisingly.  The only reason the Heat won was due to superior superstar talent and some very good breaks, as well as questionable ref calls.  It's an absolute travesty that Spo has as many rings as Doc, but it is what it is.