My Choices for Coach of the Year: TOP THREE (In No Particular Order) Rudy Tomjanovich Butch Carter Paul Silas I may be willing to let RT fall to second place knowing just what a constant load of s**** Paul had to deal with on a day by day basis, and I think Butch Carter deserves some very excellent coaching this year too, despite all his distractions and detractors, but RT better at least be a strong 1,2,3 contender. What I think will happen: 1. Paul Silas: the favorite, the sentimental vote, the "nice guy finishes first for a change" award and maybe even the least controversial selection (Butch will have his detractors and it doesn't help he is in a non major market in a foreign country,plus, Rudy has been "given" other NBA League honors lately and our city always gets a "wink and nod" but no "come-around" in these things). 2. Butch Carter: the NBA's front office choice by a large margin due to the great spin of the "International Flavor of Our Game" as a matter of fact if the official NBA voting was after the playoffs instead of before he would be everyone's favorite if they have any type of competitive showing. And would be a 100% if they advanced out of the first round. But the voting of this award will be decided by a fickle and clearly American contingent before Toronto gets to show some more primetime calibre stuff.(See Paul Silas above.) 3. Rudy T.: Probably will make the top three or four because he is well respected and has done more than enough this year to claim the top #1 spot consideration. But, he is expected to do that. That is his forte. And some, including the majority here (me too) expect him to take a couple of broken potatoes, some corn and carrots that have been left out in the sun too long, a pound of three day old hamburger and make a four course gourmet feast for forty. And, DO THAT EVERY YEAR!!!!. But then we Rockets have been spoiled. We know we would settle for nothing less. Ever again. That's what makes us winners every year, regardless of win-loss records, trade deadlines, injuries (man, I am on a soap box now!!!), player experience, draft position, rain, sleet, .... ooops that's the Post Office guys. Well anyway, you get the point. We can't expect Rudy to be judged with the same yardstick as everyone else. He's a Rocket, just like us. ------------------
Unfortunately, Phil Jackson will probably win it although Doc Rivers probably deserves it most (with a serious nod to our own head coach as well). When this stinkin' season is over and Phil and his band of merry Shaqites have won the title, it will signal the end to bearable NBA TV for at least a couple of years. I got 2 to 1 odds that Costas uses the word "dynasty" during the waning seconds of the last game of the finals. Who wants in? ------------------ "No one gets out ALIVE!" SaveOurRockets.com
Jeff nobody who has ever watched a game on NBC would take that bet. Here's to hoping that the Spurs get it together and win the Western Conference or that the Lakers fall apart and are upset early. In that case we would be subjected to 3 or 4 pre-game or halftime spots about "what went wrong in LA" during the finals and the next year. Not a great prospect in and of itself but it would be better than watching Costas genuflect to Kobe and Phil. ------------------ [This message has been edited by JT (edited April 14, 2000).]
Hey, they got a poll up at ESPN.com for decision 2000 for best coach. Now's your chance to show your support <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/nbadecision/index.html">Vote Rudy HERE</a>
