One Way or Another, Eric Spoelstra Will Coach the Miami Heat Next Season

In light of his teams' up and down performances in the 2011 NBA Finals, Miami Heat head coach Eric Spoelstra has plenty of things to worry about.

But his job security shouldn't be one of them.

When the Heat signed LeBron James and Chris Bosh to join Dwayne Wade in creating one of the most powerful trios in NBA history last summer, many figured Miami would be a lock to take home the Larry O'Brien trophy.

And considering that kind of firepower on both ends of the floor, it was a hard idea to argue.

Many also figured that anything less than a championship would cost Spoelstra his job, and considering the way the Dallas Mavericks have challenged the Heat game after game, Miami may have to wait until next season to raise a championship banner, a banner Spoelstra will be there to see rise to the rafters of the American Airlines Arena.

But what will keep Spoelstra at the helm of the Heat bench? LeBron James' poor performances in the Finals.

If the Heat go on to win the NBA Championship this year, all will be forgiven and forgotten. But if Miami falters, James will be the focal point of the media firestorm, not Spoelstra.

The questions will be about James' ability to be a clutch player or if his ego got in the way of the teams' success, not about Spoelstra's ability to coach a team that houses three world-class players.

The demonization of James would most certainly overshadow the faults of Spoelstra as a head coach, of which there are many.

And if Miami decides to relieve Spoelstra of his duties after a possible finals defeat, who would step in and effectively coach a team that tends to call audibles on what seems to be every offensive play?

Could GM Pat Riley become the Heat's head coach for the third time? Would he be willing to deal with the collective baggage that this version of the Miami Heat carries everywhere it goes?

But there is one thing that is a no-brainer: assuming Spoelstra remains Miami's head coach next season, he will be gone at the first sign of trouble.