Doesn't Pop Deserve COY Consideration?

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

They should just give it to Pop and avoid "the curse". Over the past decade it has become the flavor of the month award for a team that makes a huge burst in one year. When they don't sustain it, they get fired. Of the past ten, only Pop from 2002-2003 and Scott Brooks from last year are still coaching their same teams.

• 2009-10 Scott Brooks Oklahoma City
  2008-09 Mike Brown Cleveland
  2007-08 Byron Scott New Orleans
  2006-07 Sam Mitc Toronto
  2005-06 Avery Johnson Dallas
  2004-05 Mike D'Antoni Phoenix
  2003-04 Hubie Brown Memphis
  2002-03 Gregg Popovich San Antonio
  2001-02 Rick Carlisle Detroit
  2000-01 Larry Brown Philadelphia

Damn! I remembered AJ, D'Antoni, and Mike Brown off the top of my head. Didn't realize the trend stretched that far back.

[alchemist]

Pop is a shoe in for the COY unless something devastating happens.

[D-rob fan]

Yeah, I've been reading COY for Pop in about 90% of the media I've seen. Sometimes we are such big fans that we aren't satisfied unless we hear praise non-stop.

[Old School 44]

Pop COY in a landslide. It's not even close.
But if you ask Pop, he will tell you it should go to Phil Jackson...wink wink.

[smrattler]

Well I'm glad to see he is seriously being considered for it.

They just tend to give this award to up and coming coaches. Jackson, Pop, Sloan, the old guys never get it. If the Lakers went on a 70 win pace, Jackson would not win it IMO. Where as a coach with a young team "making noise", like the Bulls last year, OKC Thunder, or the Blazers every year.

But this year is different. Pop I think has demonstrated some pretty incredible changes in his coaching. Like I said, few great coaches EVER change these days. Pop's team and system looks like nothing he's done before and they are taking the league by surprise.

To be honest, I'm not whining about giving it to him, fact is he'd care less about that award than ANYONE.

But what I am saying is people in the media are in general are dismissing the Spurs record, for whatever reasons. They can't point to manu and say he's leading the way, or Tony who couldn't even get in the ASG, or Timmy because they can't get passed the PPG even though his MPG is way down.

I just think before they dismiss the Spurs success, they should point out Pop is doing a great job. Before someone like Barkley says we aren't the best in Texas, or others say LAkers are still better, or Boston is the best but the Spurs have the best record... they should also mention in the same breath that nobody is doing a better job coaching right now than Pop.

[ChuckD]

Well I'm glad to see he is seriously being considered for it.

They just tend to give this award to up and coming coaches. Jackson, Pop, Sloan, the old guys never get it. If the Lakers went on a 70 win pace, Jackson would not win it IMO. Where as a coach with a young team "making noise", like the Bulls last year, OKC Thunder, or the Blazers every year.

IIRC, Jackson and Pop each have one, but Sloan does not. It's ironic, because Sloan's top assistant, Phil Johnson, won the award in 1974-75 with the old KC Kings franchise.

I disagree with your Jackson assessment. If he could lead his band of 100 year old zombie undead on a 70 win pace, he'd get it. Your reasoning is why he is usually not considered most years, though.