Miami Heat: Coach Spoelstra's Preaching of Trust Finally Shows Up

Like many Miami Heat fans, I watch every Heat game.

During all the broadcasts, they usually have some form of "inside the huddle" segment, where fans can hear what the coach is telling the players.

During the last few Heat games, it seems like the word "trust" was used about a million times by Coach Erik Spoelstra.

For many of us, this just seemed like coach talk. Like he was just throwing out keywords and phrases to try and fire up the team.

I mean, did any of you really think that if the game was on the line that Dwyane Wade or Lebron James would trust anyone else on the team?

I know I sure did not think so.

Then Sunday in Oklahoma City, the trust was finally shown by James.

With 20 seconds to go and the Heat trailing 103-102, James got the ball and an open look at a three.

Instead of taking the shot, which James has always done in his career, he passed up the shot to a more wide open teammate (who is also a better shooter from three), Eddie House.

House drained the three and put the Heat up for good.

I never thought I would see the day that James, Wade or even Chris Bosh would pass up the chance to be the hero.

This shows several things.

For one, it shows the players are buying into Coach Spoelstra's philosophy. Spoelstra preached defense early in the season and the team ranks fifth in the NBA in scoring defense. Now, Spoelstra is preaching trust and the team is following.

Secondly, it shows that hopefully the late-game offense will not be as stagnant any more. The other players besides Wade, James or Bosh know that they need to move and get open because they know the ball could actually be coming their way now.

The Lebron haters are going to say that this shows Lebron is not clutch or scared to take the big shot.

I say, who cares?

Maybe it does, but on this team, he does not have to be the guy to hit the winning shot. In Cleveland, he had to be and the Cavs' terrible record this year shows that.

That does not make him any less of a player, it shows he is growing up and becoming a smarter player.

Come playoff time, this all may go out the window.

However, just having the threat of someone else taking the shot may hold the defense just a split second enough to give Wade or James an easier shot in the playoffs.

Just look at the other top NBA teams recently. Ron Artest, not Kobe Bryant, hits the big shot in last year's NBA Finals. When Eddie House was in Boston, he hit big threes for them, not Ray Allen or Paul Pierce. Robert Horry was Mr. Big Shot for the Spurs, not Tim Duncan.

The Heat have to have this trust too. Hopefully, Sunday was an indication that the Heat finally have that trust.