The Coach Spo Era Begins

2,186 games coached in the NBA. That is regular season and postseason. A few titles to talk about. A couple hall of fame players to call by first name. And a ticket punched for the hall of fame himself.

Is it any wonder Pat Riley is burned out?

Could he realistically say he wanted to coach this upcoming season? For what? He just went through possibly the worst season coaching he has ever had, but if you put him to it he probably would say it was worth it to get that championship in 2006. Then again, maybe not.

So, he found somebody who was ready for the challenge. Erik Spoelstra is that person and he has been doing everything he could to get himself in this position from watching video tape to breaking down players' shots to shining shoes. Whatever it took. And here he is. He even got an immediate phone call from Dwyane Wade saying congrats and talking about how excited he is for the future.

Gone is the past. The recent past with all its scabs. The Shaq apathy, the Riley tight-fisted control. All of it comes off. There is no safety net - and that is exactly what this team needs.

When Riley made the move back in 2003, it was in favor of little known Stan Van Gundy - Jeff's brother. In fact, even when Riley left it was Jeff Van Gundy who took over for the Knicks - and they didn't miss a beat it seemed. The Riley protege is going to have to prove himself to the rest of the world, but not to Riley. And that is what matters here as the move upstairs is made for good - so we think.

This team needs to be about change and a new growth. A new direction. Riley can't provide that, Spoelstra can. Could the same be said about a retread like Jeff Van Gundy or Mike Fratello or even a Ron Rothstein?

Let the Spo Era begin. The Heat have a top 4 pick and will be looking to climb out of the cellar. Better to do it with a completely new coach than one who is heading to the hall of fame.

Join the discussion about the Heat's new coach, Erik Spoelstra.

Riley Calls It Quits; Spoelstra Takes Over

Where were you the last time you heard this news: Pat Riley is retiring as coach. And the time before that? And the time before that?

Well, Heat fans - and Knick fans - should be able to remember those moments. I still remember the surreal moment we landed Pat Riley here in South Florida. The fortune of this franchise changed instantly.

And now, Riley is once again leaving the bench and heading upstairs. In 2003, four days before the start of the regular season a change was made. Back then it was in favor of Stan Van Gundy, who is currently leading his young Magic team through the playoffs. Today the change is being made for a young Erik Spoelstra, a virtual unknown outside of these parts. And really only known to those of us who are hard core fans of the Heat.

Spoelstra, at 37, is now the youngest coach in the NBA - 69 days the junior to Lawrence Frank. He has been a fixture on the Heat's bench since 2003, mostly working with players on their jump shooting techniques and scouting. His coaching presence has been felt as even Dwyane Wade has paid complements to Spoelstra for helping him grown and develop his game.

Earlier in the season, Riley had stated he was committed to coaching for the remainder of his contract. A big factor in the change of heart may have come from Shaq - who was with the team at the time Riley made that statement but has now been dealt to Phoenix for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks. Most obviously, this is the reason why Stan Van Gundy got cold feet back in 2006 and why Riley stepped in - due to Shaq's pressing.

Now, Riley is free to be simply the team president and GM. Naming Spoelstra to this position has been a while in the making. Other candidates were Ron Rothstein and even Mike Fratello - and I would suggest Jeff Van Gundy - but the time is now to rebuild so it might as well go all the way.

Maybe a big influence, too, in Riley's decision was his hall of fame induction. What more does he have to prove? He won a championship in 2006 and without all the injuries and locker room drama, and some questionable offseason decisions, who knows if another one wasn't in the stars. But that isn't for him to worry about - at least not on the court anyway. That is Erik Spoelstra's job - and let's hope it is not like it was for Stan Van Gundy.

Discuss the Heat's coaching move with us here. (Thanks Wadeskywalker for breaking the news on our site!)

Further Reading
Heat.com makes announcement on Riley coaching change in favor of Erik Spoelstra.

Star Jones In Wade's Fave Five?

In an effort to totally make readers in the blogosphere bleck up their breakfast, I am reporting on a rumor that - God help Wade - must not be true.

Apparently, Dwyane Wade is dating Star Jones. Let's see, you are getting a divorce from your wife and this is who you left her for? A woman that is 20 years older, has had gastro-intestinal bypass surgery and numerous plastic surgeries? What, Joan Rivers wasn't available? Barbara Walters?

D-Wade! What the hell is wrong with you? I mean, his now ex-wife was not exactly hot either but hey, he was young and in love and they had a child together. He kind of was trapped in it I guess. And now he is an NBA superstar and there is going to be a lot of temptation out there.

But Star Jones? She is the butt, pun intended, of many a bad joke. Why?

That is a lot of smoke and mirrors, friends for one wardrobe. Maybe they met in the hospital - he was there to get his knee scoped, she was there to get her stomach stapled. Let's hope this isn't true. For the sake of good taste.

Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley

The Heat will have to wait until May 20th until they can even seriously entertain this decision - but let's pretend.

If Miami gets the #1 pick in the draft, which as it stands they currently have a 25% chance to do, who should they select as their #1 overall pick? Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley?

Both prospects are highly-touted for their athleticism and their potential on the court.

Miami should take, without hesitation, Michael Beasley. I say this definitively understanding that I will probably change my position on this about 5 or 6 times - in the next week. And I say this for one simple reason: Dwyane Wade.

Wade's whole game revolves around having the ball in his hands. Rose's game, as well, revolves around having the ball in his hands. Since his position, by definition, is a point guard this might prove to be a problem. Dwyane Wade, however, is not a point guard, but who is Riley going to trust at the end of games more? A rookie point guard or Finals MVP Dwyane Wade?

Exactly.

And that isn't necessarily the case only if Riley does return. This is Wade's team, and how successful Wade would be without the ball would prove to be a project in of itself. Now, that isn't to say that Wade cannot defer offensively to other players - he has done that, just check how he played with Shaq.

Which brings us to Beasley. Who is more likely going to aid Wade's game? A player who plays point guard but needs the ball to be effective or a power forward who could go into the post and play the two man game with Wade?

Heat Prepare for Draft; Playoffs Roar On

Well, even though the Heat are not in the playoffs, there is still a lot of work for the franchise. They are looking to get their first ever #1 pick (and hopefully their last...) and in preparation of that the Heat have to scout and work out various scenarios.

The draft order won't be known until May 20th. Until then, the Heat will have to examine scenarios for not just the #1 or #2 picks, but the #3 and #4 (with the worst record in the NBA, they can't pick lower than #4 in the draft).

There is a lot going on over at MiamiHeatwave still, as well. Because the Heat's official season is over, we are gearing up for the offseason as well as keeping our fingers on the pulse of the playoffs. Join us in the Playoff Playhouse to talk post-season basketball and in the Draft Chamber to talk about the upcoming NBA draft and scouting.

Pat Riley To Decide Coaching Future

Look for a decision to be made very soon about Pat Riley's coaching plans.

Reports are that even as early as this weekend a decision will be made about whether or not Pat Riley will return to the bench next season. He hasn't made that decision public yet, but one could make arguments either way.

Would Riley come back to reclaim his status among the NBA coaching elite after such a horrible season? Did all the losses scare him off or make him hunger once again to prove himself?

Or will he feel sated by the Hall of Fame induction and feel less inclined to grind through another NBA season as its coach?

Watch for his announcement to be made very soon if indeed there will be a coaching change. Why? Because he will have to hire someone on as coach and the big names, Jeff Van Gundy, Rick Carlisle, may be gone if the Heat wait too long. There is, of course, the option of promoting from within but Riley's heir apparent is Erik Spoelstra, yet it isn't clear if Riley is ready to turn the reigns over to a young coach who will have to reshape and rebuild this team into a playoff contender. There is added pressure to achieve a turnaround because of Wade's contract status in 2010 - which will enable him to be a free agent.

Ron Culp Retires

His banner is now hanging atop the American Airlines Arena but it might seem a bit lonely tonight for retiring Heat head trainer Ron Culp. Two years ago, he lost his wife to cancer, and it sure must be bitter sweet for Culp who has given 20 years to the Heat organization with his caring hands.

He has seen every injury in the franchise's history up close. He has been there to tend to a sprained ankle, a dislocated shoulder, or to help a player off the floor after tearing up his ACL or MCL.

And now, the Heat are giving something back to him, by naming their training facility the "Culp Room" they are commemorating the man who essentially built it.

It was a classy move for an organization that is down in the dumps these days. But win or lose, Ron Culp was there for Miami when it was in its most pain, and tonight he leaves it so the franchise can find its own way to mend. But this problem is not Culp's to fix or patch up. No ointment, bandaid or tape will help this team pick up from where it left. Yet, like a bookend, the Heat complete their 20th season right where they started - with 15 wins and with a new guy in the training room.

A bitter sweet win for Miami, but no less a perfect time for Ron Culp to hang it up. Thanks for the years of service, Culp.

Heat Have to Market Their Frustrations

He sat there bouncing a ball behind his knees while answering questions. The image seems almost like an uncomfortable child fielding tough questions, keeping himself vulnerable while at the same time distracted to assert some sort of control. The lifestyle of an NBA athlete, especially a high profile one that jumped into the spotlight, must be tough. The temptations are too great for anyone to overcome and naturally, some of those temptations are coming to bear on Dwyane Wade and his home life.

Admittedly, he has had some problems with his childhood sweetheart, but the tough times off the court seem to be navigable. Those are private matters, of course, and how much that has affected his public life, his role on an NBA team, are being openly examined.

After all, how much did Shaq's divorce affect his life on the court? Did it affect his ability to stay out of foul trouble? To rebound? To hustle? Or was it because the Heat had no jump shooting presence to call off the dogs and keep Shaq from getting crowded?

As usual, the private matters are redundant - yet they become a part of the vital story Miami has to tell to its public in order to sell itself not only for this season, but for next season. Because the private intrigue is the sizzle that makes the players more human, and less like failures in a chemistry process that is the 2007-2008 season.

The picture that will emerge will be one of frustration and near-misses, not bad roster moves and apathetic attitudes.

The reason why is because Miami is vying for the top pick in this year's NBA draft. To do so, some suspect that they will have to engage in a hard core marketing campaign to the NBA - not just to its fans. They will have to sell everyone on the fact that the Heat did not quit, but instead had to scrap the season that was not going anywhere.

That is the reason for all the injuries. Legit or not, it is a murky situation. If you call out a player for not being injured, you risk equally as much as you do playing him in a season spiraling out of control. Yet in playing them, you risk finishing with a decent enough record to land low in the lottery instead of high up where you want to be: you land in no man's land.

The Heat have the difficult task of straddling a losing while trying to get to a point where they can rebuild the team into a champion. A losing season because they did make bad roster moves and, combined with an apathetic attitude, suffered from the effects. Not a bad season because of off the court troubles.

So as much as Miami tries to sell its case to its fans and the NBA, we all need to be mindful of what actions are being taken to ultimately rebuild this franchise. The makeover officially began when Shaq was shipped off for Marcus Banks and Shawn Marion. Despite his methods, or whether or not you agree with them, Riley does have the ability to rebuild this team into a winner and he also, and more importantly, has the desire to do so. Yet, he may view a smaller role for himself in it all, choosing to hang up his clip board for good - now that he is in the hall of fame.

Another aid could be the saga with the Seattle Supersonics and their attempt to move from Seattle to Oklahoma City. Giving them the #1 pick in this offseason, with their attempt to escape from Seattle for a less NBA-friendly city of Oklahoma City, might prove to be too tantalizing for the NBA and their doubters. Perhaps Miami, with the other franchises in the running, emerge as the best candidate to utilize the top pick to rebuilding the team and never coming back into the lottery for a long time. The Grizzlies, the Timberwolves, the Sonics, all seem to be hovering at the bottom these days.

So as much as Miami has to sell its frustration to its fans, it needs to also make sure the NBA execs get the same message. Is Wade shutting it down to play for Miami next season or to play in this summer's Olympics? What about Udonis Haslem? Shawn Marion? Is this team really as snake-bitten as it seems?

Or is it all just a mirage?

Pistons Are Model for Rebuild

No, of course I couldn't just shut it down. Like Mark Blount said about he and Ricky Davis:

"We prepare our bodies and minds for the grind of 82 games. We're going to finish the season. That's what we do."

Who would have thought that the players with the most heart this season would be the guys we traded for at the start of the season? Hats off to Mark Blount and Ricky Davis - there is no one that can honestly ever question your professionalism. Then again, this season-turned-misery thing is probably nothing new to them.

That said, Miami squares off against the Pistons. The only drama left to figure out here is if the Pistons, like the rest of the Heat starters, will even bother to show up. If not, we have some problems on our hands as we may actually win the game. Then again, this is the Pistons and they never take a play off, let alone a game.

Which begs the question - with Miami rebuilding, who should they look to as a model? My money is, sadly, on Detroit. Sad because remember when they were our budding rivals for Eastern Conference supremacy? Well, that all vanished after last season. Still, look at how consistent they are year to year - and the reason is simply because they have a starting 5 that has played together for the better part of 5 seasons now.

They built with a core of Rip Hamilton, Chauncey Billups, Rasheed Wallace and Tayshaun Prince. They survived jettisoning the contract of Ben Wallace and even survived a horrible draft pick in Darko Milicic - imagine if they actually drafted Dwyane Wade?

Yet Joe Dumars has had success drafting talent, too. Look to this season as a prime example as they were able to draft Aaron Afflalo and Rodney Stuckey. Both young guards give the Pistons more youth, more depth. Then there is a talent like Amir Johnson just waiting for his time as well as a Jason Maxiell whose time has come and has become a consistent contributor for this team.

They will come into Miami tonight, run a few laps then plant their starters' butts on the bench because they have done what they are supposed to do - lock up their spot in the playoffs.

And they have done so without a low post threat in the manner that Riley incessantly worries about. The Pistons are a perimeter-based team both on offense and defense. They have no drop-dead sexy big name players in the sense that they have one player that strikes fear. No, instead they work as a unit, as a team. Ever since they made their first surprising run at a world title back against the Shaq and Kobe Lakers, this team has made its stamp on the game by playing the game as a team.

Miami has a lot to learn from their once-rivals. They play with heart and hustle, and they play as tightly as fingers on a fist. Riley's challenge now is not only to rebuild the Heat, but to launch them back into that lofty air only occupied with any consistency by the Detroit Pistons, the lone power in the East. What better way to do that than by imitating them - we will see them up close this evening.

If only for a brutal moment on their way into the playoffs and possibly another chance at a title.