Miami Heat: The Always-Prepared Eric Spoelstra

With hours left to go before the Miami Heat goes to battle against the Dallas Mavericks. Coach Eric Spoelstra looks at his notes one more time. This was always essential for a coach to check his guns before going to battle. Ensuring all bases are already covered before taking that one big swing.

It's been Spoelstra’s greatest asset—he was always prepared.

It has been his job long before he started coaching the Miami Heat.

For seven years, he served as an assistant coach and director of scouting. When he joined the Heat in 1995, he was the team’s video coordinator then got promoted to assistant coach/advance scout in 1999. It was always Spoelstra’s role to scout the team’s upcoming opponents and develop a good game plan.

Long before the season started, he knew there would be tremendous pressure on his shoulder. Having Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and LeBron James in one team, everybody expected them to win games. But after having a rough start, Spoelstra knew he had to step up and let everybody know that he got their backs.

When LeBron bumped his shoulder into Spoelstra after losing eight times in their first 17 games, Spoelstra never backed down and took everything as a challenge. This is his team, his responsibility…his challenge.

He learned from his point guard days at the University of Portland all the way to being a head coach. Everything goes through the process. It’s always a gradual experience to greatness.

It was a need for them to start with a 9-8 record to work everything out and end with a 61-19 record.

Seven months with only four wins to go before getting that ultimate reward. This would be the Heat’s ultimate test. After a series of long exams, they are now left with their last and final exam.

For Spoelstra, he still has a bigger puzzle to solve in Dirk Nowitzki. The seven-foot German has been an offensive monster throughout the playoffs. Spoelstra knows how much Dirk wants this one—he had been denied on his last trip to the finals.

And what’s more interesting, it has been the Heat that took the 2006 championship. Spoelstra was quick to point out that it has been a different Nowitzki since his last setback. This would be Dirk’s redemption and that’s why he has constantly reminded his team to be ready.

Countless hours and sleepless days, it all boils down to the team that is more determined and ready. Spoelstra had no doubts about his team’s chances because he knows only the prepared deserve to be confident.