NBA Predictions 2011: Why Miami Heat's Erik Spoelstra Will Win Coach of the Year

Coach Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat was the most ridiculed coach in the NBA last season. Some say it was undeserved because of the task that lay in front of him.

"How do you get two of the best wing men in the game to play alongside one another and still be effective," they said. Others thought Spoelstra did an atrocious job by running a simplistic offense while boasting three of the games best players.

Needless to say, the seat was hot all year long for the coach, not to mention "the bump" and "Crygate."

Man, it really was rough for Spoelstra.

With the heartbreak of coming just two games short of the NBA title, Erik had plenty of time to soul search. According to ESPN's Tom Haberstroh that searching took him to the who's who of college coaches such as Mike Krzyzewski, Billy Donovan, and most shockingly Oregon's football coach, Chip Kelly.

While talking with Coach Kelly, Coach Spoelstra wondered if he could translate Oregon's spread offense to the NBA. The answer seemed to be yes, and here we are.

Spoelstra has decided to abandon the slow paced offense he confined his athletic team to last season in favor of an offense that spreads the floor and relies on little play-calling. In essence, top stars LeBron James and Dwyane Wade will have free reign on the offense to cut, slice and move as seen fit.

I always thought the Heat played too, slow but the idea of using the spread offense with the Heat is simply brilliant. The Heat are already considered the best defensive team in the league alongside the Chicago Bulls, and now the offense will finally catch up.

Many have been begging for Spoelstra to do this. I guess late is better than never. The Heat's coach knows this year is for his job and he will do whatever is necessary to keep it.

Coach Spoelstra is taking the initiative and will lead the Heat brilliantly with this new offense. He has to be the early front runner for the NBA's Coach of the Year honors.

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