NBA: Top 10 candidates for Coach of the Year Award in 2017-18

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9. Erik Spoelstra

It’s amazing people never realized it back when the Miami Heat still had LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, but Erik Spoelstra is a damn good coach. It wasn’t looking good when the team started 11-30 last season, but the adjustments Spo made as he grew more acquainted with his roster made their 30-11 close to the season less surprising.

Heading into 2017-18, the Heat will be hoping to carry forward that momentum in their second season without Wade around. The adjustment process was rough, but with Dion Waiters and James Johnson back, plus Kelly Olynyk brought on and Goran Dragic coming off a red-hot summer at EuroBasket, the team’s immediate outlook is positive.

It’d take the Heat snagging at least a top-four spot in the East for Spoelstra to even be considered, but it is a bit odd how long we’ve taken this two-time champion for granted. Without star names, he has a chance to prove himself as one of the league’s elite basketball minds once again.