MIAMI — Other than being widely known by just the first syllable of their surnames, the coaches who will match wits in these NBA Finals may seem like polar opposites.
Of course, they would probably disagree with that assertion.
Miami’s Erik Spoelstra wears sharp suits and is a stats guy; San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich often skips the tie and would immeasurably prefer to answer questions about wine than anything about himself. Both are intensely private, but even during an NBA Finals loaded with star power — the “Big Three” from Miami, the “Big Three” from San Antonio, a four-time MVP in LeBron James, a four-time champion in Tim Duncan — the coaches will share misery in one way.
To their chagrin, “Spo” and “Pop” will be in the spotlight.
“It’s easier to talk about how they are similar versus how they are dissimilar,” said ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy, a former NBA coach who is part of the broadcast team for the series that opens Thursday in Miami. “They are both going to the Hall of Fame. They both have tremendous respect from the coaches they coach against, and they both have a level of humility that I believe shows NBA coaching in the most positive light possible.”
Spoelstra is in the Finals for the third straight year and is looking for a second consecutive championship. Popovich is going for his fifth title.
“Maybe I don’t show it the way I should, but it’s pretty special,” Popovich said after his team beat Memphis and won the West title for a fifth time.
Spoelstra took over for Pat Riley five seasons ago, has won nearly twice as many games as he’s lost and has endured a constant circus of distractions since the Heat acquired James and Chris Bosh to play alongside Dwyane Wade in 2010.
By now, Spoelstra doesn’t even notice what he calls “the noise.” Even in the din of an Eastern Conference championship celebration Monday night, Spoelstra found his mind drifting away from the grind of facing the Indiana Pacers and on to the next challenge, this duel with the Spurs for the NBA title.
“It’s one of those few times in competitive team sports you’re not thinking about tomorrow, you’re not thinking about the previous games, you’re not thinking about what possibly may happen, you’re not thinking about the reward. All you’re thinking about is the desperation of that moment,” Spoelstra said. “That’s a great place to live.”
And then …
“It probably hit me right about then, and it was the ‘ohh’ type moment,” Spoelstra said. “We have to get our act together in the next 48 hours. … They are a great organization. I think the two organizations from afar have always respected each other for similar foundations and culture.”
What is relevant, more than anything else, is this: Spoelstra and Popovich are the last two coaches standing. And in a few days, one of them is going to cradle the Larry O’Brien Trophy once again.
That action will be worth much more than any words.
