Don't get me wrong, I'd love it if MDA won COTY but look at the Spurs for a moment. They are 5 games better than us and their only all star player is Kawhi Leonard. The Rockets are exciting, young, athletic, and utilize a modern offensive system. The Spurs in many ways is the complete opposite of that. They are relying on washed up has beens like Parker, Ginobili, Gasol, and Lee. Their other "star" player in Aldridge averages 17 and 7 and has the 58th best PER in the NBA. Their highest assists guy is Tony Parker, he averages under 5 asists per game. I think Harden gets MVP, but if Spurs finish 2nd seed still, I'd feel like Pop deserves COTY over MDA.
I think he's a victim of his own success. His team won 67 games last season and is on pace to win fewer this year(although they're still on track to top 60 again). And while Duncan did retire, the Spurs replaced him with Pau Gasol and David Lee.
There is a really great argument for it. I think what hurts him in comparison to MDA is that it feels like he's just running a plug and play system now. We all know he's the best coach in the league. Coaches get points for exceeding expectations. Pop isn't exceeding expectations, even if you look at that roster and realize that if anyone else was coaching it they'd be less successful. There's no doubt that he's the best coach though.
Voters gets tired of giving it to the same people every year. LeBron could win MVP every year. Pop could win COY every year. Kawhi could win DPOY for the 3rd year in a row
if westbrook can achieve a trip/doub for the season - he will win mvp pop has had glory - the league should promote the next great coach
Pop is the GOAT of NBA coaches. We need someone else to win COTY. Besides the Spurs have two legit stars in Kwahi and Aldridge. Rockets just have one.
People on this forum and outside of it argue that Kawhi is better than Harden (I don't agree). Aldridge is better than anyone else on our team not named Harden. With that being said, Pop is without a doubt the best coach in the league, and it's not even close.
TBH Lamarcus has been a bum this year. SA has good contributions from their front court depth to make up for him playing below his normal all-star level. By all accounts, Pop should win, but I agree with many other sentiments in here. He's not doing anything spectacular by his standards and voters get tired of voting for the same person. COY is usually given to the most surprising record (like a team going from out of playoffs to third seed) or the best record - something neither Pop will do for his team.
