Q: Ira, Erik Spoelstra will be named the coach for the 2028 Olympic team. Also in the poll of the league’s GMs released Thursday, he was voted the best coach in the league. This is despite the Heat being a play-in team for the past three seasons. What does that say about the poor job that Pat Riley has been doing? – Joe, Fort Lauderdale.
A: Or does it say more about the cyclical reality of the NBA. Keep in mind that ahead of his cycle as USA Basketball’s Olympic coach that Steve Kerr endured 15-50 and 39-33 seasons with the Warriors, with his team only 44-38 ahead of his coaching in the 2023 World Cup, and Golden State didn’t even make the playoffs the season before he coached Team USA to gold at the 2024 Paris Games. Also keep in mind that Gregg Popovich’s Spurs were 33-39 the season before he coached Team USA to Olympic gold in Tokyo and 34-48 the season after. So if you’re saying the Heat are failing Spoelstra, does that mean the Warriors failed Kerr or the Spurs failed Popovich? The Heat have been to the NBA Finals in two of the past six seasons. Sometimes you’re up as a team in the NBA, and sometimes you’re trying to get back up.
Q: I can’t recall Erik Spoelstra calling out players publicly as much as he has in the last couple of years (not talking about fitness issues but on-court failings). Shouldn’t these player criticisms be kept behind closed doors? Is this frustration spilling over from recent mediocrity? I’ve always felt this shows a lack of class. – Ray, Deerfield Beach.
A: A lack of class would be then not praising when praise is due. Erik Spoelstra has done both, with this week with Kel’el Ware an example. What’s important to remember is that when a coach sends a public message to a player, he also is sending it to his team. In that regard, Erik put more than Kel’el on alert when it came to not tolerating anything but maximum effort.
Q: Kel’el Ware is better with the second unit anyway. – H.C.
A: At this stage, with this injury situation, it’s hard to disagree. Plus the second unit seemingly is better fit to work the lob game with him. What’s the best way to energize a player? Get him with an energy group.