Who do you think deserves to win Coach Of The Year this season? I would say Carlisle. They are fighting for homecourt advantage despite all the injuries and other stuff that that has been against them. I think D'Antoni will win it though. Phoenix's turnaround has been too dramatic for him to not win it.
If it's all about big turnarounds, then Seattle's actually a more impressive story. Phoenix pretty much gave up last season by trading away Marbury, and before that Amare went down for quite a few games. Then they added Nash and Richardson in the offseason. Seattle managed the turnaround with only minor roster tweaks.
I gotta go w/ McMillan. He has done a great job up there in Seattle and he bascially had the exact same team he had last season. The Suns were able to add Nash and Q, the Bulls added Gordan and Nocioni, the Nugs added K-Mart, but the Sonics didn't make any major change from the season before. They just played better and harder.
True, Nate has impressed me too more, but with the way media licks Suns ass, I think award goes to D'Antoni. They should enjoy it in Seattle while it lasts, since they might lose half of their team in the offseason. Next year it looks like Golden State and Clippers(seriously) will improve a lot and Jazz can't be this bad again especially if Bogut falls into their laps.
Coach of the Year is a weird award. In the last several years it seems to have switched to often go to the guy that did the most with the least. I won't argue which way is right, but wouldn't it also be valid to look at the award as going to the coach that implemented the best system in the game? Who's squad is least likely to go south for stretches at a time, least likely to choke a lead, to underperform against a lesser opponent, and most likely to come with their A game against the elite? For that, I'd look at Pop, SVG, and Larry Brown. I also say this, because any coach can ride a great season by their players for a year. I like Nate alot, but what changed between this year and last? Is D'Antoni just enjoying a team overflowing with perfectly matched talent? Just playing devil's advocate. Evan
I hate to vote for the Suns. It seems too obvious with them being at the top of the heap in the WC, and their being all hip and whatnot. But, I had to. The league saw a revolution of sorts in gameplay. The games got more uptempo, with more emphasis on scoring and especially running. And, the Phoenix Suns are the league leaders in that regard and responsible for much of this innovation. So, I have to give D'Antoni his props for leading the league in a new direction.
McMillan. No MVP candidates, unlike D'antoni. Also doesn't coach in the East like some of the other choices.
My opinion of McMillan has soured lately since the Sonics have sucked so much ever since Lewis has been out. While Popavic has been able to win without Duncan and Carlisle has won without O'Neal and Artest. My choice would be Carlisle. Winning with a 39 year old shooting guard as your star player. That would be like the Rockets winning with Deke as their start player.
skiles has also done a great job in chicago. the bulls have the 3rd best record in the east. skiles was able to do this with "veteran" leadership from hinrich (he's 24) and 4 rookies (one being an international player)
Why would anyone vote for Geoge Karl??? He wasnt even a coach for all 82 games... his record cannot be judged as everyone elses... I say Rick for keeping a team together without all his star players and fighting for homecourt in the playoffs... He may not have the best record, but Hubbie didnt last year, Hubbie won it because he got a better than expected result out of his team, and to me thats the true sign of a GREAT coach... Lets all be fair eveyone thought Denver would be in the playoffs and if they wouldnt THAT would be the shocker... not winning in the second half of the season just to barely get in...
I would have to say Carlisle or Skiles. As mentioned, what Carlise is doing in Indy (behind wild card MVP Candidate Reggie Miller) is simply amazing. All those injuries. The suspensions that set them back. The fact that for about 2 weeks, Fred Jones was the best player on the court for the team. Seriously, that's amazing. Scott Skiles on the other hand has done a job of turning a FRANCHISE around (allthough, this same case could be used for McMillian too). They are a young bunch of kids that did not know how to win and were not mature. Started the season 0-9, now fighting for home court in the first round. That and thier playing D. Stan Van Gundy got Shaq.....heck of a coach, just don't think he should get it with the roster he has (well Shaq and Wade anyway) George Karl and Mike Fretello- just a personal thing, but if your not the coach the whole year, why should you get a Coach of the Year Award? Maybe it's stupid reasoning. Besides that, Denver and Memphis were supposed to be up and comers, not the 7th or 8th seeds. D'Atoni- well, did he come up with this offense? No, I don't think he really did. The fact that they play absolutley no defense just bothers me. Are they fun to watch? Oh Yeah. Will they have highlight reel plays all over sportscenter? Of Course. But, they made a ton of offseason moves that made the team dramatically better. I'm not saying He had nothing to do with it, but to give him all the credit is unjust. I'd like to see JVG get a little bit more credit. The Rox could have collapsed on this season. But, the team made some move, Van Gundy ADJUSTED HIS STYLE OF COACHING, and the Rockets are a very good ball club. However, I think it's a three horse race between Carlise, Skiles and McMillian. And to be perfectly honest, I'm not sure that anyone of those three deserves it more than the other.
Agreed. I don't honestly see how it can be anyone else. They are not "fighting" for homecourt advantage, they have it. They've won their division. They were not good last year, have basically the same team, but NAte made some tweaks and they are so much better. Only 4 teams in the entire NBA have a better record then them, and this is having lost the last 5.
Carlisle for me without a doubt, it is unbelievable that his team is fighting for home court. i do not know any team where the starters missed more game. i think he did a great job. all the others had better teams
As much as I absolutely loathe the Phoenix Suns, they weren't even supposed to make the playoffs this year let alone finish with the best record in the league. Coach of the Year? Mike D'Antoni, case closed.
