Pass (some of) the blame to ‘Spo

Again, while I usually refrain from writing about the wonders of international basketball (choosing to leave it to the so called “expert bloggers/analysts”), I just feel like sharing my two cents worth of insight on the recently concluded NBA Finals which the Dallas Mavericks won over the lethargic Miami Heat, 4-2.


“If we lose games, it’s not because we weren’t prepared,” a quote shared by Miami Heat co-captains Udonis Haslem and Dwyane Wade when asked about head coach Erik Celino Spoelstra earlier this season.

By now, we’ve read all the stories on young Fil-Irish coach Spoelstra or “Coach Spo” and his ascencion to the top of the Miami ranks. A point guard out of Oregon who played a few years in America and Europe before taking a job as a video scout for Pat Riley at the young age of 25, later on becoming an errand boy, Dwyane Wade’s personal shooting coach, assistant coach and pre-Big Three head coach.

To his credit, Spo preached defense. Even before all the chaos and circus brought about by the Heat’s overhauled, superstar roster, Spo was making magic out of the remains of Jermaine O’Neal, Jamario Moon and the gifted yet undisciplined Michael Beasley, taking that team to the playoffs wherein the Heat ranked THIRD in defensive efficiency.

THIRD. This, with a team that relies on J.O. and an undersized Joel Anthony in the paint, and starts a point guard named Carlos Arroyo.

Now that the season’s over and people are picking on LeBron James for disappearing in the last five of the six-game series (and rightfully so), people should consider throwing some of the blame on Erik Spoelstra who may be a bit too raw to handle superstar egos at this point (and may be better off coaching a younger team with lighter expectations).

Lack of offensive creativity
LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh. The “Big Three” have all been in situations before wherein each player simply called for the ball and did whatever they pleased on the court. But the minute they joined forces, each had to take away from their games for the betterment of the team. You wonder why pick-and-rolls were not more openly explored. Wade-Bosh, James-Bosh, and the one that has fans drooling all over, Wade-James (which, in the two or three times we’ve seen it in the Playoffs, was damn near unstoppable).
Put the blame on Spo. He had the tools, he even had the shooters to come in from time to time (House, Miller, Jones and even Bibby), but he just couldn’t make it work.

Inability to make in-game adjustments
In the Finals, Mavs’ coach Rick Carlisle was the first to make the adjustment after being down 2-1 by inserting spitfire guard J.J. Barea into the line-up for “Wade stopper” DeShawn Stevenson. What should’ve been an obvious advantage turned sour when, Wade couldn’t stay in front of Barea while Bibby was busy engaging Jason Kidd in a walkathon. At the times when they did switch, whoever was guarding Barea was either too slow (Bibby) or too undisciplined (Chalmers). Another flaw is when Spo went to Eddie House in the crucial Game 6. Yes he scored, but he also played ZERO defense. A hard foul from Eric Dampier to send a message here and there could’ve helped swing the close series. Hell, maybe even rookie Dexter Pittman could’ve played a role in filling up the gaping hole in the center position everytime Joel Anthony gets in foul trouble.

Riding his horses to the death
In each game, LeBron James played more than 40 minutes. So if the guy says that he simply ran out of gas while also being off-rhythm by deferring to his buddy Wade, then I’d forgive him. Not. Still, had LBJ gotten more rest, maybe the Heat would’ve had more energy in the 4th to maintain their ever so slim leads. I appreciate the loyalty to his stars, but look what it got them.

Too much Bibby
The guy still sets the meanest screens for a point guard, but other than that, he should’ve been pulled out of the starting line-up the minute he missed back to back three pointers.

Failure to rein in players
Hero shots by LeBron that could’ve won them at least two more games/ the title. Second half shut-outs by, well, LeBron again. The bigger coach would’ve sat down his star to make him realize his faults on the floor. Even a young Scott Brooks did it to promising combo guard Russell Westbrook at OKC. Why should LeBron be excused? Because he’s a star? Certainly wasn’t playing like one. The minutes that he spent being on zombie mode on the floor in Games 4 and 5, could’ve gone to Mike Miller or Mario Chalmers.

Hopefully, the Filipino-Irish coach learns from his mistakes and comes back strong next season.

That, or he could come home to Manila and coach the Smart Gilas squad.

Then I could write to him all day as FireQuinito does Ryan Gregorio.