When did erik spoelstra start coaching the heat

Champion and innovator are some of the most popular phrases used to describe the Heat coach in Before earning all of his accolades as the head coach of the Miami Heat , Erik Spoelstra got his start as a video coordinator for the team, joining the organization in the summer of When Pat Riley was hired as head coach, Erik feared that he would soon be out of a job, but instead he stuck around and made a name for himself over the next few years, earning the trust and respect of the legendary coach.

Still, many were surprised when Riley made the decision to hire the little-known assistant to lead the Heat in , but Riley stood firm, referencing the many positives that Spoelstra brings to the organization. LeBron James and Chris Bosh came to town, bringing with them astronomical, and some would say unattainable expectations.

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All of this added up to even more disappointment, much of it directed at Spoelstra, when the team failed to win a championship in their first year together. There was rumored tension between Spoelstra and James, and once again, many assumed the Heat would be led by a new coach the next season. But once again, Riley stood firmly behind his coach, his guy, and the move finally began to pay off in a big way.

The team began to see major chemistry building, as they ran through a lockout-shortened season with a winning percentage just below. They cruised through the first two series of the playoffs, before outlasting the Boston Celtics in a historic seven game Eastern Conference Finals series.

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The tough Boston series appeared to be a turning point for the team, as they were never challenged the same way in the finals. The next year brought Miami even more success, as the Heat went in the regular season and won their second consecutive championship. The heart of the Miami Heat showed bigger than ever in game six of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs , when it looked like the Heat were about to lose the title for the second time in three years.

The Heat trailed with just 28 seconds to go, and many fans began filing out of American Airlines Arena. LeBron James nailed a three pointer to cut the lead to two, and Kawhi Leonard missed one of two free throws after being fouled to keep it a one possession game. Down by three points with under 15 seconds left, Ray Allen got the ball and took two steps backward and hit the biggest shot of his career, tying the game and sending it to overtime.