Erik Spoelstra, your job is safe...for now

Pat Riley made sure today that he gave his public support for Erik Spoelstra, head coach of the Miami Heat.  And why not?  Spoelstra led the Heat to the NBA championship in his third season with the team, weaving together the talents of James, Wade and Bosh through the course of the season.  Spoelstra performed admirably as he controlled the players' egos, convinced them to buy into his defensive schemes and kept the Heat in contention the entire year despite a rash of injuries to their bench.

This is the final year of Spoelstra's contract and the expectations are simple: win a championship.  Because this is Spoelstra's last year, I suspect that Riley won't yank him midseason like he did with Stan Van Gundy in 2006.  Sure, Riley said that he still "[has] the fire" to continue coaching, but he claims that he is content remaining just the President of operations for the Heat.  Riley wants everyone to think that his coaching days are over.

But the media and fans should know better than to believe him.  Riley faced harsh criticism for the way he handled the Van Gundy incident, despite delivering Miami's first championship.  He eventually turned the reigns over to Spoelstra and said he was done with coaching.  He's wiser this time around and knows that cutting a coach midseason will only generate bad press for his reputation.  But anyone who thinks that Riley would hesitate at the chance to coach again, say at the end of Spoelstra's final year if he doesn't win a championship, needs to have their head checked.

Riley's ego is as large as they come.  Nobody can argue that he possesses an immense capacity as a coach and an executive.  He deserves to feel proud for the accomplishments in his career.  But it is obvious that Riley wants another shot.  NBA coaches, especially the great ones, have a hard time leaving the game for good.

Spoelstra is safe for now.  Based on how everyone responded to the Van Gundy firing, Riley won't make the same mistake twice.  But, rest assured, if Spoelstra doesn't deliver a championship next season, he won't be coming back.  It doesn't matter if the Heat win 65+ games, anything short of the Larry O'Brian trophy and NBA fans will once again see Riley on the sidelines.