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Power ranking NBA head coaches: 2015-16 season

By John Buhler

Oct 23, 2015; Manchester, NH, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens gestures from the sidelines during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Verizon Wireless Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2015; Manchester, NH, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens gestures from the sidelines during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Verizon Wireless Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 3, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra looks on during the first half against the Atlanta Hawks at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 3, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra looks on during the first half against the Atlanta Hawks at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

7. Erik Spoelstra, Miami Heat

Erik Spoelstra is a two-time NBA Champion head coach for the Miami Heat. He oversaw the big three era in South Beach, when LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined forces with Dwyane Wade to form an Eastern Conference powerhouse. Like David Blatt in Cleveland, Spoelstra received some criticism for his success stemming from coaching LeBron James.

What Erik Spoelstra does incredibly well is in managing his player’s personalities. When someone is more of a distraction than a talent, he will gladly part ways with a player so that the team plays together at a high level. Great relationship management was as big of a part in the Miami Heat’s success during the big three era just as much as having LeBron James in his prime.

This new era of the Miami Heat are an intriguing bunch, with point guard Goran Dragic and center Hassan Whiteside combining with future Basketball Hall of Famers Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Spoelstra’s 2015-16 Miami Heat are 8-4 and have the 3rd best team defensive rating (98.1).

Until Spoelstra is able to win an NBA Title without LeBron James’ assistance, he will continue to not get the credit he deserves as a head coach. However, basketball is a team sport and having a head coach that has won two NBA Championships puts Erik Spoelstra as one of two active NBA head coaches to have won multiple titles. The other, San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich. He has five.

Next: 6. Brad Stevens

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