Photo Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Erik Spoelstra deserves to win 2012-2013 Coach of the Year Award.

Spoelstra led the Miami Heat to the league’s best record, 66-16, this season.  The Heat also went on a historic 27 game winning streak good for the second-longest in NBA history.

I know people don’t like to admit that Spoelstra is a good coach — but let’s be honest, Spoelstra already has an NBA Title.  Spoesltra also has been to the Finals the last two season and looks to be headed back there again this June.  Part of his success has been due to the fact that Spoelstra is a “players” coach.  His calm-before-the-storm attitude has created a level of poise and consistency.

Spoelstra has brilliantly managed super egos of LeBron James and Dwayne Wade and while gaining respect from upper management and ownership.  I know you are thinking, “Anyone could win with the Big Three.” But bear with me, Spoelstra has undeniably improved this already great Miami team.

Spoelstra has kept this team relatively injury free, by managing the minutes of his star players (as opposed to Mike D’Antoni running the Los Angeles Lakers into the ground) and allowed the reserves to gain even more confidence.  Norris Cole, Shane Battier, Chris Anderson and Mike Miller have all made valuable contributions and mainted a level of consistent play with the 2nd unit.

Spoelstra’s highlight “Coach of the Year” move this season, was when he decided to bench 2/3 of the Big Three (only Chris Bosh played) against the San Antonio Spurs march meeting after Greg Popovich decided to do the same back in November.  And by the way, Heat actually beat the Spurs after Chris Bosh hit the game-winning three pointer with 1.1 seconds left in the game.

It’s time to give credit when credit is due.  Spoelstra, seemingly unwavering  after everyone was calling for his head during the 2010-2011 season when they started out 9-8 and after he lost in the NBA Finals 4-2 against the Dallas Mavericks.

He is currently in a lose-lose situation.  If he wins, then its because of the immense talent at his disposal — however if he loses, it’s because he cannot coach.  Either way, Spoelstra gets little to none credit, if any.

According to Spoelstra and Co. there’s basically no way the Miami Heat are losing tonight, especially against the hapless Orlando Magic, who are essentially “playing” for the number one lottery pick.

Spo on tonight’s Fan Appreciation night: We love playing in front of the fans here at AmericanAirlines Arena.

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) April 17, 2013

Spo (cont’d): This time of year it’s an exciting building and place to play. We want to give back to our fans, they give us so much energy.

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) April 17, 2013

Bosh (cont’d): We draw a lot of energy off them so tonight we’re going to give them our thanks before the second season begins.

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) April 17, 2013

While I don’t think we should expect big minutes from LeBron, Wade, Bosh, or Chalmers — it shouldn’t matter as the Heat bench has put the team on its back post-Streak.   The bench (no LeBron, Wade, Bosh, or Chalmers) beat the Cavs last game, and a couple games earlier, beat the Wizards too.

The shooting of Mike Miller (42.3% 3FG% the past five games) and the maturation of Norris Cole (the past five games: 48.6 FG%, 55.6% 3FG%) has been an incredible boon for the Heat.  In addition, this added regular season experience is only going to help the Heat in the playoffs — one only needs to look as far as Chris Andersen’s performance versus the Bulls to see how getting regular season minutes has improved his play.

While the Magic have played the Heat relatively tight all season (Miami has beat the Magic by two points, one point, and fourteen points in the three games they’ve played), Orlando will not spoil Miami’s fan appreciation night, and the final game of the Heat’s historic season.