Monday, November 29th, 2010 at 10:00 am  |  184 responses

Miami Heat Players Growing Tired of Erik Spoelstra?

You likely read about and saw the silly hubbub from BumpGate over the weekend, and today ESPN reports that things are growing significantly worse for Erik Spoelstra: “The Miami Heat’s players are frustrated with Erik Spoelstra and some are questioning whether he is the right coach for their team, according to people close to the situation. With the ballyhooed Heat losing four of their last five games and sporting a mediocre 9-8 record, the players are privately grumbling about Spoelstra on several fronts. Sources say the players believe he is not letting them be themselves, that they are questioning his offensive strategies, and that they think he is panicking because he fears losing his job … In contrast to the popular view that Spoelstra has been hesitant to jump on superstars LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, sources say the Heat coach has shown no fear in criticizing them. Exhibit A was a recent shootaround in which Spoelstra told James that he had to get more serious. The source said Spoelstra called James out in front of the entire team, telling him, ‘I can’t tell when you’re serious.’ ‘He’s jumping on them,’ one source said. ‘If anything, he’s been too tough on them. Everybody knows LeBron is playful and likes to joke around, but Spoelstra told him in front of the whole team that he has to get more serious. The players couldn’t believe it. They feel like Spoelstra’s not letting them be themselves.’ It is not known whether the players voiced their concerns about Spoelstra during their players-only meeting following Saturday’s loss at Dallas. Nor is it apparent whether the bump between James and Spoelstra during a timeout in that game was accidental or a result of tension between the two. Regardless, the players also believe Spoelstra’s offensive strategies have been too simplistic, according to the sources. They feel like he is running nothing but pick-and-rolls and telling the Heat’s secondary players to find open spots on the floor for catch-and-shoot jumpers. The sources said the players also think the constant speculation about Spoelstra’s job security is getting to the third-year coach and that he has resorted to nitpicking over minor details because of it.”

  • Add a Comment
  • Share
  • RSS

Tags: , , , ,

← Older Comments
  • http://slamonline.com Bryan Crawford

    No prob, bro. Just joking…

  • http://www.slamonline.com Eboy

    Far from crying benno. Just airing grievances with a team currently underperforming. You on the other hand suck at grammar and insults, so you need a bit more help than the Heat and I do.

  • JTaylor21

    That wasn’t at ya Philo, it was at the “expert”.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    There is still 65 games left in the season

  • benno

    OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO – soz eboy – go back to working at disney world, and stop thinking you work for TNT

  • http://www.twitter.com/TheDiesel Anton

    New Heat logo revealed: http://tinyurl.com/23le77t

  • benno

    Anton – MEGA lol

  • benno

    i bet eboy loves that

  • benno

    in fact eboy, if you tell us where you sit at the heat games, we will be able to spot you

  • Blackphantom

    dang JTaylor, this article isn’t about Kobe, it’s about the Heat, can’t you read the headline? We all know Kobe missed some crunch-time shots, but this isn’t an article about that, is it? Ok then, anyway, D-Wade needs to play better, Lebron needs to stop being a diva, and Chris Bosh needs to toughen up, that’s what most of the struggles in MIA are about right now. Some blame could fall on Spo, but I’d put most on the players

  • ClydeSays

    Fast or slow starts don’t mean much in the League. Do Hornets or Spurs fans expect those teams to keep up this pace? If the Heat can stop pointing fingers and figure out how to play together over the next 20 games, they’ll be ok.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Bryan Crawford

    My fudge packed butt crack smells like food

  • tRay

    Spo is right LBJ does need to get more serious. It’s ok to have fun but what happened to him being mad and ish? Seems like a lot of talk to me. Bottom line anyone who says they suck is retarted cuz they’ll figure it out stop hating so damn much and just chill. On the other hand the Heat need to come together as a team and stop pointing fingers and just ball. For God sakes just run some freaking plays and you’ll when some damn games.

  • http://www.slamonline.com NickthaQuick

    When the going gets rough for Lebron fan JTaylor21, turn the argument to be about Kobe who has absolutely nothing to do with the troubles of the Heat. Easy solution!

  • The D Train

    @NickthaQuick: make fun if you must, but it’s actually quite an effective ploy. Just last night my wife was arguing with me about household chores. I quickly flipped it on her by saying “Oh yeah, well how come you’re not b1tching at Kobe? He didn’t help out with these chores at all, and he refused to help his wife last week with their chores. Why no outrage then?” She was so flabbergasted she just turned and walked away.

  • http://djflkf.com Jukai

    ^^^^^
    Super win

  • http://www.slamonline melvin ely

    D Train: Hats off to you sir. That reminds me of a Louie CK (sp?) joke about arguments. Well done.

  • The Philosopher

    I still cannot get over how The King assaulted his coach on live television.
    AND got away with it.
    LONG… LIVE… KING!

  • http://www.slamonline.com Bryan Crawford

    The king also assaulted my bunghole that is why I hate on him so blindly and without remorse. Now I know how glorias bunghole feels, red and swollen.

  • Balher

    I understand LeBron James is a great player and he’s playful and what not, but at the end of the day he ain’t perfect. Up to this point in his career he still hasn’t learn to take criticism..Now maybe Spo. has taken the big 3 out of their element’ but that’s no excuse for their lack luster effort. Watching the Heat (paticulary lebron and d wade) flat out disgust me because they stand around so damn much and do nothing when they don’t have the ball.While settling for jump shots instead of attacking the rim. Which to this point of their careers is what their best at.

    Then again i’m just saying.

    Then again im just sayin.

  • http://hibachisabas.blogspot.com/ Toni Kukoc

    Eboy, ever go and re-read what you write?
    love your passion.
    for i love this game as a whole not one marketed team.

  • The Fresh Prince of Nsam

    BEST COMMENTS OF THE BUNCH:
    neaorin 10:41 am
    Yoko DMV 11:21 am
    The philosopher 1:53 pm (my man!) same as neaorin, u summed it all
    and Anton 3:53 pm (ur the funniest dude)

    Hope I did a summary like that in my GMAT test…

  • http://blogs.thescore.com/tbj/author/hollymackenzie/ Ghost

    Uhh Bryan? You okay man?

  • Fat Lever

    Can we finally say that a Lebron James team panics, sometimes?

  • Jay Reyes

    if i were Spo, i’d resign and let the other coaches take care of the problem. the management there need to take one of them out of the picture so the whole world would know who the real problem is.

    the questions are: if Spo’s offense is predictable or if Bron/Wade/Bosh are uncoachable (when i say uncoachable, i mean Spo cant squeeze the talent out of them)

  • http://thetroyblog.com Teddy-the-Bear

    90% of this drama is created by the media, so-called “journalists.” Who gives a sh!t? We all know most of you want Riley coaching the Heat–and the “journalists” definitely do, so they’re putting out stupid gossip stories to get things stirred up. Who gives a sh!t?

  • http://Www.slamonline.com Negetivekreep

    Top ten reasons for the Heat’s losing ways: (according to heat fans) #10 the ghost of Chris Bosh’s dread locks. #9Adrian Wojno’s massive Broner. #8definitely NOT Haslem, who needs him?… #7All things Cleveland. AKA “Cryveland” The utter dispair that brought down thier franchise is hovering over Miami like a sworm of locust. Damn you Cleveland! Damn you to HELL!!! #6 Scott “the whore of Akron” Raab, of ESQUIRE magazine fame. #5 Phil Jackson is an over-rated douche bag. #4 Dwayne motherf*cking Wade’s unselfish selfishness is hurting the king. You’re no Scottie Maurice Pippen. #3 Kobe Bryant deserves some of the blame and if you can’t see that your just another “slurper”. #2 CARLOS. Muff said. And at #1 Most responsible for the “Bust 3″ it’s Eric! (think Billy Madison) yes, Its Eric “Hey, watch were your going man!” Spoelstra. Note to self, shooting mind bullets at the worlds greatest superstar after purposefully bumping into said mega star is one way to single handedly destroy all hope for the season.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Bryan Crawford

    Teddy I eat sh!t do you have any for me? Me need big brown dookie mouth.

  • Justin

    How can anyone blame one player for what’s going on in Miami? Lebron has been less than stellar, DWade has played as bad as I’ve ever seen him and Bosh is lost half the time although playing better as of late. Throw in some injuries and this isn’t exactly a surprise. I think all three figured it would be easy and a lot of teams would just roll over for them but now they are finding it to not be the case. Lebron might just be the most weak-minded superstar in history. You don’t complain about not having a guy to take some of the pressure off, get 2 superstars gift wrapped to you and then not only play like crap yourself but not figure out how to get the other guys going?

  • SpamsLots

    http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Aq.BShviDkQD3M9n0p5Lhv.8vLYF?slug=aw-lebronspoelstra112910

    I get the feeling that James is just, plainly, a bully and an 455hole.

  • Crustified Dibbz

    I love to read The comments here & watch Brian Crawfish try to explain himself every comment & act like he’s the Brain to the Pinky but he’s just a little mouse :-) B.C. : Has MJ won any titles with Doug Collins ? C’mon man youre playin’ yourself. Wer’e all just waitin for it to happen SPo out Pat in. The Heat just need what all the Big Headed dummys with no leader or direction need after a while( B. Crawfish also ) DISCIPLINE ! GREATNESS is also welcome. Cmon PAT make it happen.

  • Pingback: SLAM ONLINE | » Who Has Erik Spoelstra’s Back in Miami?

  • Chazz Michael Michaels

    let’s just say the Miami Heat have… FAILED!

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Pile on the hate now.

← Older Comments
Advertisement