LeBron James vs. Coach Erik Spoelstra: Which Miami Heat Is Under More Pressure?

Both LeBron James and Coach Erik Spoelstra are on the hot seat for the Heat coming into next year. James for his impersonation of a magician with his disappearing act in the fourth quarter of playoff games, and Spoelstra for his possible inability to keep all his superstars together as a team. 

The real question is which one is deeper under the microscope? 

The player who came in promising championships, or the young Coach who is living under Pat Riley's shadow as the mentor of the Heat? 

Both men have the potential to make this team great, but because of the situation Miami is in there will always be scrutiny even if they do win some rings. 

Let's see which of the two is "feeling the Heat" more. 

King James Must Earn the Respect of His Nation

Any Heat fan could tell you that LeBron James was one of the best players ever, even before he took his talents to South Beach. However, they also thought he would bring an instant championship recipe to the Heat and all would be peaceful in LeBron's kingdom. 

That unfortunately wasn't the case this past year. 

Unless LeBron becomes the player that the Heat fans know he can be, they will be watching his every move and will start to lose patience very soon. 

With all the hype that swept in with LeBron from Cleveland, the pressure will rise with each season that doesn't produce a championship.

Spoelstra Has Big Shoes to Fill

When Miami won its first franchise championship in 2006, Pat Riley was the man shouting from the sidelines. Riley is a legend in Miami having been the man who made some of the biggest moves to help the Heat both from the court and the front office. 

Now that Spoelstra is at the helm of the superstar Heat, he has the incredible pressure of trying to being the next coach to help Miami win a championship. 

It could be easier for Spoelstra given the talent that suits up for Miami nowadays, but he is young and doesn't have the experience that Riley did back in '06. 

As long as Spoelstra can't keep his team in check and winning rings, he will be under all of South Florida's collective microscope. 

LeBron and the Curious Case of the Fourth Quarter

Not only were fans critical of LeBron's inability to win a championship this year, they also attacked his disappearing act late in games in the playoffs. 

LeBron in an amazingly talented player, and he showed his true colors in the early rounds of the playoffs this past year, but once the Finals came around...well, that's a different story. 

LeBron can win fans over the 82-game season by leading the Heat to a great record, but he needs to perform in the entire playoffs to keep the pressure off of himself. 

Unless he becomes a closer, the likes of which Miami has never seen, LeBron will still be riddled with annoying (albeit true) nicknames like 75 cents. 

Coach Spoelstra as Compared to the Zen Master

One of the reasons former Lakers and Bulls coach Phil Jackson is considered one of the best ever is thanks to his incredible ability to keep his players' egos in check. 

Now, don't get all in my face about how the Miami Big Three are not the 90's Bulls or the Laker teams under Phil's leadership, but they are some of the best in the game today. 

Spoelstra is young and a new coach, but he needs to learn to get his players to come together as a team—not just the Big Three, but the entire team as well. 

He needs to help them keep their egos in check and learn whose responsibility it is to take the final shots in a close game. 

Unless the Coach can get them to be a proper team that works together and relies on its role players just as much as its stars, he will be scrutinized every minute of his tenure in Miami. 

So Who Wins the Role of Pressure King?

Without a doubt, the pressure is higher on LeBron than it is on Spoelstra.

He is the former MVP, the guy who can sometimes score at will and arguably the best player in the game right now. LeBron is supposed to just snap his fingers and championship rings will fall from the sky, right? 

Coaches have had a huge impact on championship teams in the past, but this Heat group is different. The team rises and falls based on how LeBron, Wade and Bosh play and its success will be determined by them. 

LeBron is the prized catch from this past offseason and every single time he blinks is debated and scrutinized to death. 

As a Heat fan, I can only hope that LeBron will be able to handle this incredible pressure that the city of Miami (as well as the haters from around the world) have placed on his broad shoulders.Honestly, I think he can step up to the plate, and while doing so will become one of the greatest of all time. 

LeBron might have an entire season's length of time now to work on his game as well as being able to play while under the microscope. With the enormous amount of pressure he already has chasing him, LeBron better get started. 

It should be an interesting coming few years, but what fun is basketball without the haters taking their shots, right?