I just returned from Christmas up in Seattle (rain, snow, cold) to beautiful southern California (sunny and 70), it is good to be home…
Because of the inclement weather up in Seattle and the fact that I love basketball, I spent a good portion of my days on the couch watching pro and college basketball, after all, there wasn’t a Sonic game to go to.
One game in particular stuck out in my mind and all of our minds when we were watching it. The game was nothing of significance, just a regular season game between the Miami Heat and the Chicago Bulls, but what happened at the end of the game is worth noting.
With 30 seconds remaining and up over 10 points, Miami coach Erik Spoelstra called a timeout to let his subs in the game. When it occurred, we all looked at each other saying “what the #$#@?”
Apparently, the Chicago Bulls were irate as well at the Heat,
Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro sarcastically wondered if Spoelstra called the timeout “to set up a play or something,” then added that “we’ll play them again.”
Spoelstra said he was made aware of the Bulls’ unhappiness with the timeout when he saw some Chicago coaches pointing angrily at the Heat bench and assistant coach Ron Rothstein.
IMO, I do not believe Coach Spoelstra was trying to stick it to the Bulls, however, he did make a rookie mistake for a rookie coach.
Calling a timeout at that point in the game and up by that much is a flat-out no no–you just do not do it. There is no reason for a time-out to be called at that juncture in the game even to be bringing in subs. In fact, with 30 seconds left and with your subs at the scorer’s table the sportsman move for a coach is to bring those players back to the bench.
Most of the time if a coach pulls a move like Spoelstra did, he does it to show up the opposing team and coach, which is why we reacted the way we did when watching the game and why the Bulls have reacted the way that they have. Maybe in the future if a coach does this type of a move we can call it a “Spoelstra.” Just a thought.
The good news with all of this is it looks as if the Bulls vs. Heat rivalry is rekindling, which is what any NBA fan wants to see.
Image Source: CBS4.com
Comments:
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I couldn’t agree more. The only time your allowed to do that is if you are losing and it is in the NCAA tournament or a Senior’s final game. Important for players to get in for their last minutes, but if you’re winning, your team is moving on and you have the chance to do it in the next game.
I remember watching the last minute and a half from the scorers table at Cameron Indoor. It was just a regular season game and Coach did not call a timeout to get me in…to get me the experience of playing at Duke. He apologized and I did not hold it against him. He got me in later when we made the NCAA tournament and lost to UNC, which really meant a lot more in my opinion.
You mean to tell me that Vinny was more pissed off at his Bulls for not not stepping up in the first 47:30 of the game. All he can remember is a meaningless timeout in a game his guys had already lost. He won’t be coaching long if all he cares about is the last 30 seconds. Wake up Vinny. This is professional basketball. Quit pissing about stupid stuff like this and get your players to perform for the first 47 minutes. The last minute won’t be a big deal.