Ranking The 5 Best Coaches In The NBA
By John Kim
No. 2: Erik Spoelstra, Miami Heat
May 28, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra reacts on the sidelines against the Indiana Pacers in game four of the Eastern Conference finals of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana won 99-92. Mandatory Credit: Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports
You either hate him or love him.
Sure, he’s spoiled by having LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. But Phil Jackson had Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. We certainly do not give Jackson as much scrutiny as we do with Spoelstra.
Regardless of how you feel, the numbers are there. Spoelstra has 260 career wins to 134 losses as head coach. The Heat rarely lose games. Back-to-back losses are almost just as rare as home losses.
Wade is a shadow of his former alter ego, “Flash,” and Bosh is becoming less and less impactful with time. LeBron indisputably runs the show, but Spoelstra is the man behind the curtain.
Great coaches understand how to temper the attitudes of great players and help them succeed. In Spoelstra and James’ two seasons together, they have been to the Finals twice. As they close in on a third trip, the Spoelstra-James relationship cannot be understated – they are a winning formula.