Is Miami Heat President Pat Riley ready to surrender or STOP THE BLEEDING? - Keith Allison photo

Erik Spoelstra - NBA photo   Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson - NBA photo   Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy - NBA photo

NBA BEAT - THE HEAT IS ON MIAMI HEAT COACH SPOELSTRA

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

In the mold of Magic Johnson former NBA stars and Hall of Fame members were never on an NBA title winning team but attack LeBron James for leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers in his quest to be a member of an NBA title winning team

CAN THE MIAMI HEAT STOP THE BLEEDING?

Thursday November 25, 2010

Following the Miami Heats acquisitions of Chris Bosh and LeBron James for what was deemed to be a super team has not come to fruition. The spotlight is now focused on the coaching ability of 40 year-old 3rd year NBA coach Erik Spoelstra. After last nights 104-95 loss to the Orlando Magic the teams record stands as 8-7 and their 3rd loss in a row. It makes a prophet of James who prior to the season said that the Heat would not go 82-0. How true that is.

The pressure is on for the superstar team to measure up to its preseason expectations. The problem is they haven't come close and are on a pace to finish with a 43-39 or 44-38 record. With much lesser talent in Spoelstra's first season (2008-2009) the Heat finished with a 43-39 record. They improved to 47-35 last season (2009-2010). In each season they finished third in the Southeast Division and were knocked out of the playoffs in the first round.

What is now taking place is a heated exchange between Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy and the Los Angeles Lakers Phil Jackson. In an interview with ESPN Jackson inferred Heat resident Pat Riley may be asked by Heat owner Mickey Aronson to take over the reigns as coach. Jackson rationalized that Aronson might feel things aren't going to plan and Riley could do a better job.

Van Gundy took exception to Jackson's remarks and said they were "inappropriate" and "ignorant."

Since Van Gundy was the subject matter of Jackson's comments regarding his departure from the Heat the now Magic coach says Jackson doesn't know what was really going on and that the belief that he was forced out by Riley is not true. Van Gundy is resolute that his departure was to spend more time with his family.

The previous season prior to his exit Van Gundy took the Heat to the Eastern Conference Finals losing to the Detroit Pistons in seven games. The 11-10 start was a downer and Van Gundy was out and Riley in. Riley turned the team around and led them to the franchise's first and only NBA title.

Riley's life as a coach hasn't always been a bed of roses. The bloom came off Riley's coaching rose on April 28, 2008 when he announced that he would step down as coach of the Miami Heat after the team finished with an NBA-worst 15-67 record, the worst regular season output of his career. His then assistant Spoelstra was announced as his replacement. Riley remained as the teams president.

Spoelstra joined the Heat staff in 1995 as the team's video coordinator. After two years, he was named assistant coach/video coordinator, and then promoted to assistant coach/advance scout in 1999. He became the assistant coach/director of scouting in 2001.

In naming Spoelstra as head coach, Riley said: "This game is now about younger coaches who are technologically skilled, innovative and bring fresh new ideas. That's what we feel we are getting with Erik Spoelstra. He's a man that was born to coach."

Riley predicted: "A lot of players want the discipline; they will play [hard] for Spoelstra, because 'they respect him.'"

That was then and this is now. With the James, Bosh acquisitions and many departures of the team Spoelstra inherited it's a different ballgame and requires a new strategy. Technology has nothing to do with it managing egos and games does. When it comes to managing mega stars Jackson, Riley and Greg Popovich are currently the best in that game. Spoelstra has had to deal with a number of injures his players have suffered compounded by media pressure.

Thus far the Heat seems to be out of sync and apparently not jelling as a fluid unit as their current 8-7 record indicates. Is this a case of too many chiefs and not enough Indians? All of the three stars stats are down. Who makes the most money can't be an issue as Bosh and James have the same $14,500,000million contracts with Wade earning slightly less $14,200,000.

Now with the Heat struggling the question is will Riley choose to return again?

Continued - PAT RILEY THE MIAMI HEATS TITLE MAN

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