Riley Steps Down, Spoelstra Named Head Coach

[Cartar]

This is not a big surprise for me, last season Heat were just awful. The new coach decision is surprise for me, because I have never heard of him, but I´m bit newbie on this area of NBA. Also Riley still will be team president.

LINK: http://www.nba.com/heat/news/riley_spoe ... 80428.html

[benji]

Spoelstra just completed his 13th season as a member of the HEAT staff and his seventh in the role of Assistant Coach/Director of Scouting where he had the primary role of developing game plans for upcoming opponents. Spoelstra was responsible for coordinating the video staff and advance scouts while also overseeing the development of scouting reports and videos. He has been in charge of the HEAT’s Individual Player Development Program and has served as the head coach of the HEAT’s summer league squad each of the past three summers.

[Cartar]

Just like I said, I´m really newbie around the coaching staff area still, well good luck to him anyway.

[Andrew]

I wonder if this will truly be the end of Riley's coaching days, whether he elects to return to the sideline in a couple of years or perhaps resigns his position with the Heat and takes a job somewhere else, similar to Don Nelson.

[Fizdale]

For those of you who says the reason why Van Gundy stepped down last 2005 is because of Riley, WRONG. He stepped down coz of Shaq and Family probs.

Erik Spoestra (I seen him in camps) will be a good HC. He has the X's and O'S of the game itself. Miami is in rebuilding process, now with Riley full-time at President duties, watch out for the Heat, they will be back. The Draft is deep, even if they get the 4th Pick. He might cook trades that will possibly transform the heat to a playoff contender.

Erik Spoelstra also is the next SVG, only more intelectual and nicer.
'
BTW, Riley chose Spoesltra on a last-hour decision between MIKE FRATELLO AND ERIK SPOELSTRA.

[Andrew]

Whatever the exact circumstances behind Van Gundy stepping down, it's safe to say that Pat Riley was keen to return to the sidelines since he coached for two more seasons after the Heat won the championship. I can't help but wonder if this will be it for Riley or whether he'd appoint himself the head coach again if Spoelstra is fired or steps down, or whether he'd ever go to another club.

[Lamrock]

I could see him returning (possibly with a coup) once the Heat become good again.

[Mayerhendrix]

Never liked Pat Riley, typical of him to quit when the Heat are on the decline.

[Fizdale]

The most absorbing revelation that oozed from the clash of the titans was provided by Riley, who says he ordered Shaq's silence when Stan Van Gundy left the Heat's sideline "to spend more time with his family."

Eleven NBA observers out of 10 surveyed believed Riley coordinated Van Gundy's exodus 21 games (11-10) into the '05-'06 championship season to coincide with Shaq's return to active duty. An identical percentage was convinced Riley's renovation of the roster and the ensuing tension caused Van Gundy to vanish.

An hour or so after Dwight Howard's transfixing jamboree victory, I had an impromptu conversation with an on-line reporter who regularly covers the Magic as we walked out of the arena en route to our hotel bus. He maintained Van Gundy's exit had nothing to do with Riley and everything to do with Shaq, who didn't appreciate being jerked in and out, especially in the pivotal minutes of tight games.

"Shaq often disrespected Stan," the reporter disclosed. "Sometimes it was done playfully. More likely it was meant contemptuously."

And it was loud enough so everyone could hear - teammates, the media, courtside fans, anybody within earshot. That season, while on the inactive list, Shaq was making snide and insensitive comments on the bench and during timeouts.

The senselessness of trying to coach Shaq was not lost on Van Gundy. What rubbed him the rawest? It may very well have been the nickname. Nobody's more adept (mocking) at branding people, including himself.

According to the reporter, Shaq would refer to Van Gundy as (porn star) Ron Jeremy, whom he strongly resembles, at least from the neck up.

A published report Sunday broke the news Shaq intends to be back with the Suns next season, as opposed to retiring and forfeiting his $20M salary. The Post has learned, barring a career-ending injury, Shaq plans to play the following season as well and collect his remaining $20M.

[Andrew]

That may be the case, but that situation isn't what's making me wonder whether Riley is truly done with coaching. This article quotes Riley as saying "I am definitely sure that I don’t want to do this anymore" which may very well be true. However, other coaches have expressed the same sentiments and ultimately returned to the sidelines, suggesting the lure of coaching is strong and difficult to resist even after a long career. I do believe at this point Riley doesn't want to coach anymore but I can't help but wonder if he'll feel tempted as his colleagues were, and return to coaching as they did.

[Fizdale]

Good post Drew.

Fact: Pat stated last 2003 n the quote of

I'm Done, I quit and I will continue strenghtening our Front Office

Then He really strenghten it, by First Acquiring Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal, gambling 2 youngsters, a pick and Brian Grant (if he was not trade, he wont reture til now, guy loves and place his heart to Miami), then a week before Season's start, he appointed Stan Van Gundy, only to find out that he will last for 1 and 1/2 seasons, chemistry of Shaq n SVG didnt go well, Even riley too. SHAQ AND RILEY MADE THE CLOSEST PLAYER-COACH FEUD WHEN SHAQ ALMOST ATTACKED RILEY, BUT ALONZO PULLED THEM BACK, THAT WAS THE START THAT LED TO THE TRADE. Shaquille is a difficult player to coach.

Anyways Riley, now full-time president, wont make this tradegy for long, THE MIAMI HEAT AIN MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES WHOSE AT THE LOTTERY FOR LIKE 8 TIMES IN 15 YEARS. Pat Riley aint an Isiah or Mchale, but the heat gave up after December, which was wrong.

To all the haters, EVEN IF MIAMI GETS THE 4TH PICK, WE CAN USE IT ON BAYLESS OR MAYO. Anyways coach spo likes guards, hmmm Rose, Bayless or Mayo to Miami? Could be, could be.


Book me, you havent see the last of Pat Riley, both coaching, and gming.

Good day brothas!

[Alejandrov011]

Riley will be back when Miami can be a contender...


He will sack Spoelstra and run for a ring... like he did with Van Gundy...

He is a great coach... when he won all with LA...

But he will do this again!!!


Yes guys... I hate Riley

[shadowgrin]

According to the reporter, Shaq would refer to Van Gundy as (porn star) Ron Jeremy, whom he strongly resembles, at least from the neck up.

What's wrong with looking like a legend of the porn industry?

[Andrew]

He will sack Spoelstra and run for a ring... like he did with Van Gundy...

He is a great coach... when he won all with LA...

But he will do this again!!!

Perhaps it will happen like that, though if the story about Shaq and Van Gundy is accurate then there was more to the situation than Riley simply wanting to coach again. But whatever the case may be, if Riley does return to the sideline and it means another championship for the Heat then so much the better for the franchise.

He is getting older though and he's had a long coaching career so it's possible, if not likely, that he is indeed done this time. But like I said, the lure of coaching seems to be strong as other longtime coaches have said they're done with it only to return when an opportunity presents itself. Maybe in a couple of years that temptation will be getting to Riley and he'll feel a desire to coach again, especially if things aren't going well with Spoelstra...or even if they are, depending on which version of the events surrounding Van Gundy's departure one believes.

[MANIPON]

Their new coach is a Filipino.

[[Q]]

calm down there, buddy. he's only half. and in this day and age in the u.s., that doesn't mean a whole lot

[shadowgrin]

It's just the current mentality here nowadays.

"OHMIGORSH he has part Filipino blood and is popular, let us worship him like a supreme being for we are all inferior!!!"

There is nothing wrong in admiring a fellow countryman, half blood, one-fourth, or even one-eighth of it.
What's wrong is blind admiration. People just jump into these things quickly.

If Spoelstra has done something to show his pride of being a Filipino, directly or indirectly, no matter how very small it is, then I guess he deserves to be touted of his Filipino heritage. Until I'm aware of such things that he did, he's still Erik Spoelstra, Heat coach and not because he's part Filipino.

Even Batista has a tattoo of the flag.

[[Q]]

sooo I guess Manny Paquiao is God over there?

[shadowgrin]

Hell yes. He has my permission to punch me out cold anytime. I would have to kill him in retaliation though.

When he has a match, the streets are empty and minor things like work stops. Everyone is glued to a TV screen. Even the crime rate is reportedly down during his matches.

Just to be clear, Manny Pacquiao the boxer is god. Not Manny Pacquiao the actor or singer. *shudder*

[Lean]

Hehe, that's why I like Pacquiao to lose his next match.