Experience missing, but will it matter?

Not only did Erik Spoelstra lack NBA head coaching experience upon landing his promotion, he also doesn't have NBA playing experience. In some circles, that qualifies as unqualified. And the lack of in-the-trenches knowledge can be seen as a potential roadblock when it comes to relating to players.

To quote one of Pat Riley's favorite lines from the Heat's dismal 15-67 season: "You sharpen iron with iron." Riley, at the time he often said it, was referring to the need for the Heat's players to hold one another accountable for what was going wrong with the season.

But the phrase holds meaning with Spoelstra, whose only pro experience came playing briefly in a second-tier league overseas. Can someone who never played at the NBA level really earn the utmost respect of star players on his own team? Or deep down, will there be a credibility issue?

In some sense, Pat Riley is taking a bit of a gamble with Spoelstra in this regard, considering other internal coaching options included former NBA players and long-time Heat assistants Bob McAdoo, a Hall of Famer, and Keith Askins, one of the most respected defenders of his playing era.

And both would have brought that psychological intangible of NBA playing experience to the head coaching position that Spoelstra lacks. But he makes up for that by grabbing hold of young prospects when the enter the league in their infancy and works them relentlessly until they become NBA-mature prospects.

And for that reason, it doesn't matter to Dwyane Wade that Spoelstra, 37, didn't once guard Michael Jordan or hit a game-winning shot to beat Dr. J and the Sixers. During his guest appearance on TNT's broadcast of Thursday's Detroit-Philadelphia playoff game, Wade gave Spoelstra the credit for making him a much more dynamic player.

"Erik Spoelstra is a guy who's been very big in my development," Wade said. "He's a guy who got my pull-up (jump-shooting) game to the point where people have to come out and guard me. I have a great relationship with Coach Spoelstra and I think he's going to do a good job."

Upon his hiring on Monday, Spoelstra also addressed the issue - or non-issue - of his lack of NBA playing experience as a potential drawback with some players.

"Really, the (personal) connection is the only thing that matters," Spoelstra said. "Players, they all want the same thing: Someone who can help them be successful."

Of course, he'll lean on the instincts McAdoo and Askins have for the game as well as the veteran knowledge of former head coach Ron Rothstein. The Heat's staff is whole, assuming it stays intact.

Although the league is full of former NBA players turned coaches, such as Phil Jackson, Byron Scott, Jerry Sloan, Sam Mitchell, Doc Rivers and others, there are also plenty of successful coaches who never dribbled, set a screen, grabbed a rebound, hit a clutch jumper or even rode the pine in the NBA.

What was never an issue for Gregg Popovich on his way to coaching the Spurs to four NBA titles very well might not be one as Spoelstra tries to coach the Heat out of "the abyss," - another of Riley's favorite terms from this past season.

-Michael Wallace

Comments

[David]

I really appreciate the more frequent blog updates. It seems like the team as a whole gave up on last season. Any idea yet which players will not be back next season? Are any of the no-name players that finished the season good enough to contribute next season? Is Wade really dating Star Jones???

Thanks for the good work!

[Ralph]

Glad to see more consistent postings.

Any idea who the Heat is going to target this off season? Who will they consider trading their pick for?

[Iz]

Did the Van Gundy's ever play in the NBA?
Dont think so, it didn't seem to affect them as coaches.

[choochoo]

I don't recall New Jersey's Lawrence Frank playing in the NBA either.

[Lane]

not to mention Michael Jordan is the best player in history and it doesn't help him in his atrocious GM moves, like picking Kwame Brown and Adam Morrison with high picks..

Gregg Popovich never played in the NBA, and he is HOF coach to be..

Flip Saunders is about to go back to the ECF and he never played in the league..