Great article...
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_yl...=tsn&type=lgns
Anybody else stick around after the Lakers-Celtics overtime slugfest last night? Because there was a second nationally televised game. Anyone? Mavericks and Jazz? No?
There are quite a few reasons behind the greatest running embarrassment for modern NBA journalists—the failure of us, as a group, to vote for Jerry Sloan as Coach of the Year at any point in his 20 years as Utah Jazz coach. The obvious reason behind Sloan’s snubbing is that he had John Stockton and Karl Malone for most of his coaching career, and those of us in the keyboard fraternity long said to ourselves, “Anybody could win with those two.”
That’s probably part of the problem. But Stockton and Malone have been gone for more than five years now. That excuse is gone. Now, the reason Sloan does not get more attention is probably demonstrated by the fact that there were very few of us who stuck around for the second part of the national doubleheader last night. The Jazz just do not get much attention, the consequence of being in a small market and playing late games. If more folks had watched last night, they’d have seen the Jazz, still playing without Andrei Kirilenko, C.J. Miles and Carlos Boozer, wallop the Mavericks—winners of four straight—by 28 points.
The Jazz have played 50 games. Point guard Deron Williams, the team’s best player, has missed 14 games. The second-best player, Boozer, has missed 38 games. Kirilenko, arguably third-best, has missed 12. Take a stab at guessing how many times Utah has had its full starting five—Williams, Ronnie Brewer, Miles, Boozer and Mehmet Okur—healthy at the same time?
Yep, zero. At various times this year, Sloan has been forced to start guys like Kyrylo Fesenko, Jarron Collins, Morris Almond, Ronnie Price and rookie Kosta Koufos. And yet, they’re 28-22 and hanging in the West’s playoff picture with the No. 8 seed.
That’s a credit to the coach, and just another sign that those of us who vote on these things need to undo an injustice that has been perpetrated for far too long. We love to give the award to the coach of the year’s biggest surprise team, which very often has nothing to do with coaching. We have voted for Mike Schuler, Don Chaney, Del Harris, Sam Mitc and Avery Johnson. None stuck around very long. Several of the Coaches of the Year we’ve chosen have gotten fired within the next couple of seasons.
Enough, I say. It’s time to put a stop to 20 years of absurdity. If you want to look at giving Sloan the Coach of the year as some kind of career achievement award, that’s fine. But he deserves it for what’s happened this year. The fact that the Jazz are able to withstand such a dizzying litany of injuries and remain in the playoff hunt is a credit to Sloan, a credit to the system he runs and the demands he makes on all his players to know that system. The Jazz win, year after year, because of their coach.
A rundown of the top candidates for the NBA’s major awards:
Coach of the Year
1. Jerry Sloan, Jazz. It’s about time.
2. Stan Van Gundy, Magic. Orlando has had backcourt injuries all year, and if they can remain among the elite, Van Gundy will be a top COY candidate.
3. Mike Brown, Cavaliers. As great as LeBron James is, the way Brown imposes his defensive schemes is making the difference for Cleveland.
4. Nate McMillan, Blazers. He has done a wonderful job of nudging a very young team into playing like a veteran group.
5. Erik Spoelstra, Heat. Slow tempo, high defensive intensity and a lot of Dwyane Wade. Good formula for winning.
EPIC FAIL
the Jazz are in the playoffs as an 8th seed as it stands now, by only a half game. i agree that it is a shame that he hasnt won it yet, but you cant just give it to him now because he deserved it a long time ago. Stan Van Gundy, Mike Brown and Spoleastra are all more deserving
Did you even read the article you just labeled as an epic fail? If so, you seem to have missed it's central thesis.
Another person who thinks COY should be just a glorified most improved team award.If you want to look at giving Sloan the Coach of the year as some kind of career achievement award, that’s fine. But he deserves it for what’s happened this year. The fact that the Jazz are able to withstand such a dizzying litany of injuries and remain in the playoff hunt is a credit to Sloan,
no....actually i didnt miss the thesis
NEXT
pop = COY
No. You still don't get it apparently.
dropping a few seeds from the year before and potentially missing the playoffs = COY performance?
I haven't made up my mind one way or another. But, again, did you even read the article?
Yes it was a Fail
Have a ty ing day dude.
Given that we've seen nearly a third of the coaches get fired this season, not including those who got canned last offseason or may get canned in the following months, it would certainly be a pretty neat thing to give COY to Jerry Sloan. Of course, he still has to earn it by making the playoffs with atleast a top five seed or so.
I would argue that the reason teh Jazz can withstand those injuries may not necessarily be coaching
It's their home court advantage and depth. Considering Millsap exists, losing Boozer isn't even that big a deal. Guys a pussy.
The Jazz have had their starting PG miss 14 games, their PF 38, and their 6th man miss 12. I wonder where the Spurs would be had those same position players missed all that time. Jerry Sloan could win COY every season and I wouldnt argue.
Edit, just saw you're a Mavs fan. Take away Dirk, Kidd and Terry for that time and let's see what your record is
Dirk>all 3 combined, so u cant make that comparison
you're on crack...maybe better than kirilenko and boozer combined, but Deron Williams is amazing. And if Dirk is so much better than their 3 best (arguably) players, why was Utah #5 and Dallas #7 last year? and let's be honest...in a series with both these teams at full strength Utah would win in 6, if that
seriously?
I don't care if the team ends up out of the Playoffs, give Sloan his COY already.
of the 4 big teams winning alot none of the coaches are going to be sentimental favorites for the award, therefore it should go to sloan.
Sloan=FAIL
end of story.
Seriously, what's w/ the disrespect for Sloan...is he your stepdad or something? The man is a damn good coach
simple answer:
Its a travesty he never received the award, but he can't recieve it this season especially considering how bad Utah is doing
I think sloan is a great coach although he has never yielded a great defensive team,
But the reason the Jazz are this good despite all the injuries is because their roster is absolutely stacked and are really good at home.
I really thought they would be a lock for 2nd seed this year if they remained healthy and improved their road woes, but they haven't been healthy and are still horrible on the road.
So to answer where the Mavs would be if Dirk terry and Kidd missed series time, well below the Jazz, because the Jazz are the better team.
They go 12 deep though, they can just plug in quality players when injured.
Jazz sucks
Boozer is pussy, but it is a big deal. Millsap was logging a lot of minutes coming off the bench behind Boozer and we miss the depth there. Particularly without AK. And Millsap's great and all, a better starter than Booze, but we used to have two high caliber PF's logging 52 minutes combined, now we have one playing 32. Anybody who would say that's not adversity doesn't understand this game.
Boozer also provides scoring and spaces the floor playing inside.
Anyways, Utah has been good but not great so that plays against Sloan chances. It is indeed a travesty he never won the award, but it happens quite a bit in the league. It's like Duncan or Bowen never winning DPOY.
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