Miami Heat: Why Erik Spoelstra is still one of the top coaches in the NBA

MIAMI, FL – DECEMBER 28: Rodney McGruder #17 of the Miami Heat is high-fives by Justice Winslow #20 of the Miami Heat against the Cleveland Cavaliers on December 28, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Oscar Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)

Adaptability

"“Charles Darwin said in On the Origin of the Species that it’s not the strongest or most intelligent of the species that survives but the one that’s most adaptable to change.” On the Origin of the Species"

I believe adaptability is a coach’s greatest strength. A coach needs to be able to realize where his weaknesses are and turn them into strengths. If a coach decides to stick to his system regardless of the outcome even when it isn’t working, then that is insanity.

This is what makes Spoelstra one of the smartest coaches. During the summer of 2012, Spoelstra decided to go small and it turned out to best decision during those years. The Miami Heat had zero size on the team, where the tallest player was Eddy Curry at 7-foot but he played limited minutes.

The only way to take advantage of this situation is to change the way Bosh plays. He turned from a typical power forward to a stretch-big. After that change, there was an increase in Bosh’s 3-point attempts, makes and his effective field goal percentage. In one season, Bosh jumped from a 49 percent effective field goal to 54 percent, all because of one change. Not only that but the team as a whole became one of the best 3-point shooting teams.

This led to another change that may have resulted in arguably one of the best seasons a player has ever had. Spoelstra has decided to have James start at the power forward position. Now, we all know what kind of season James had in 2013.

This wasn’t the last time that Spoelstra had to adapt and make a bold decision.

In the 2015 season, the entire Miami team went under reconstruction with James leaving, Bosh health issues rising and Dragic coming in. In the last five years, Miami saw many key changes to the team and even more to come. There were countless trades, acquisitions, and departures that really had shaken the team-up.

Spoelstra was yet again under the scope to see if he would be able to deal with all these changes and still somehow manage to come out on top… And not surprisingly he did. Recently, the type of talent that Spoelstra had to work with wasn’t exactly top-notch, yet still managed to will them into chasing the playoffs.

In the following season, we will again see his coaching ability at it’s finest with the additions of Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler, Meyers Leonard. As he tries to integrate them into the current system with some of the stars on the team.