Pop Coach of the Year watch thread...

[jARS mEsH sEt]

I don't purport to know Pop personally, but IMHO he truly believes he's just doing what he's supposed to do when we wins, especially with the talent he acknowledges he has been blessed with. Not saying he doesn't appreciate his work being recognized, but he's notoriously self-effacing, and doesn't welcome the spotlight on himself when his profession is driven by perfecting a team sport.

Not saying he'll reject the award if he receives it or anything, or even that he'll be mad/insulted, but I think he would rather someone else's work be recognized for the reasons I just laid out.

Again, just my .02

I think a lot of that is just an act. The media has kind of painted this picture of Pop as being a sarcastic asshole who couldn't care less as to what other people think about him, but deep down he's just a regular guy and I'm sure he enjoys rewards just as much as the next guy. Granted, I do think he values championships more than regular season success or COY awards, and if he had the choice of giving up a COY award for a championship he'd do it in a heartbeat.

[sook]

easily COTY imo.

[EVAY]

1. Pop
2. Hornacek

[exstatic]

Going to need more than culture and a changing system, but yeah consideration.

They likely would have been a top 4 seed if Horford doesn't go down. No one expected them to even make the playoffs, and they did without their best player. When you're not a FA destination, you have to build from scratch, and culture is EVERYTHING. If your players don't buy in, it doesn't matter what system you bring with you. I'm picking them as Top 3 in the EC next year.

[wildbill2u]

So far we have Mark Stein (link) and Bill Simmons (link) revealing they've voted Pop for COTY...

If anybody spots more from the media, feel free to add here...

Simmons is one of the funniest sportswriters ever so I read the entire long posted article. If you delve down there are quite a few references to Spurs players and records that are quite good, including a question of whether Simmons would give up one of the Celtics les if the Celtics had been able to get Duncan in the lottery pick that year.

[wildbill2u]

He probably won't win because some folks will think he's just repeating one successful year after another and it should go to some guy who moved his team from number 30 to number 25. He's widely considered to be the best coach in the NBA so folks think his teams SHOULD be winners. He has become a victim of his own success, not that he'll give a if he doesn't win. I think he'd be happy to see one of his friends win because it would encourage all coaches to do better.

[therealtruth]

No one thinks Thibedeau has a good shot after getting 47+ wins out of his team when his gangbanger point guard misses two years and management salary dumps a starter? I know the east is , but still.

I agree. I would like to see what Thibodeau could do with a couple of healthy superstars.

[Venti Quattro]

Pop and his zits have been great for SA. I can't remember any coach aside from him and Phil who never got fired after winning COY. Winning 6-ty games after last season's booboo is impressive.

He put himself in the best chance to undo his mistakes last June.

[Xylus]

I think Pop and Hornacek are easily the top 2 candidates for Coach of the Year. Hornacek will probably lose some votes, though, when his team misses out on the playoffs.

[EVAY]

I think Pop and Hornacek are easily the top 2 candidates for Coach of the Year. Hornacek will probably lose some votes, though, when his team misses out on the playoffs.

This, I think if Phoenix made the playoffs, Hornacek would get it for sure.

[manufan10]

David Aldridge also has Pop as COTY.

http://www.nba.com/2014/news/feature...haw/index.html

[Drom John]

Bo houston,tx [via mobile]

Yo tom... who is the coty in the nba? i like pop and brooks for it. but what about doc tom and the raptors coach?
Tom Haberstroh (2:48 PM)

Gimme Gregg Popovich. Duncan-Parker-Ginobili only saw the floor for 15% of the Spurs minutes and they could win 64 games. Insane.

[BillMc]

David Aldridge also has Pop as COTY.

http://www.nba.com/2014/news/feature...haw/index.html

Aldridge also had Marco as our best reserve. Marco was a nice addition, but he's not as important as Manu and perhaps even behind Boris and Patty. (Man we're deep!)

[Seventyniner]

David Aldridge also has Pop as COTY.

http://www.nba.com/2014/news/feature...haw/index.html

A great quote from that article:

Popovich's demands for excellence -- no matter who's on the floor -- never has anything to do with a given game. Rather, it is about the elusive, unattainable goal of beating the game of basketball itself.

[bklynspursfan]

Bo houston,tx [via mobile]

Yo tom... who is the coty in the nba? i like pop and brooks for it. but what about doc tom and the raptors coach?
Tom Haberstroh (2:48 PM)


Gimme Gregg Popovich. Duncan-Parker-Ginobili only saw the floor for 15% of the Spurs minutes and they could win 64 games. Insane.

[superbigtime]

It's gotta be Pop this year.

[manufan10]

Zach Lowe also has Pop as COTY. Has some good things to say about Ginobili also.

http://grantland.com/features/nba-awards-season/

[Shastafarian]

What a bunch of popsuckers. Is that the correct term? It sounds like a flavorful candy - pop flavored suckers. I'd buy Dr. Pepper for sure.

[dallasmaverickslose]

It'll probably be Pop now since the Suns missed the playoffs. However, it could also be the coach of the Raptors. Forgot his name.

[Purch]

Coach of the Year
1. Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs
2. Jeff Hornacek, Phoenix Suns
3. Steve Clifford, Charlotte Bobcats


Yesterday, I tweeted that the Spurs were the first team since the NBA-ABA merger not to have a single player average more than 30 minutes per game. (Tony Parker leads the team at 29.6 mpg.) According to the Elias Sports Bureau, they are in fact the first team in NBA history to make that claim. And, they posted the league's best record. That's pretty much all the argument necessary to name Pop coach of the year.


Hornacek's claim is the Suns exceeding expectations more than any team in recent NBA memory, while Clifford improved the Bobcats from last in defensive rating to sixth with Jefferson (a below-average defensive center) as the biggest change to the roster.

Kevin Pelton Espn Insider

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story...od_nba_xxx_xxx

[will_spurs]

I'm surprised to see Clifford or Bud are even considered for COY. As far as I'm concerned it's always been a 2-man race between Pop and Hornacek. Phoenix losing the last game of the season against their direct compe or for the 8th playoff spot in the West has killed Hornacek's chances, so Pop should win by a landslide.

[Purch]

Honestly, transforming the bobcats into a team with a winning culture, after the last couple years, is no laughing matter.
And as a Jazz fan let me tell you, being 5th in defensive rating, and 4th in points allowed, with Al Jefferson in the middle is a of an accomplishment. If you didn't notice Al is one of the worse pick and roll defenders in the league

[Venti Quattro]

Dwayne Casey is a strong contender. He coached the Raptors to 3rd seed in the East from nowhere. Remember that they started 7-12.

Thibs gets some strong consideration too. The Bulls started 9-16 and ended the season 39-18 to tie Toronto at 48-34.

If the Portland coach won 60 he would've been there too but they sorta fizzled out after a hot start.

Steve Clifford is a contender too because the Cats entered the playoffs with a winning record. The last time they entered the PO's they were like 8-10 games below .500 and got unceremoniously swept.

Let me note that what I'm posting are the possible contenders after Pop.

[exstatic]

Honestly, transforming the bobcats into a team with a winning culture, after the last couple years, is no laughing matter.
And as a Jazz fan let me tell you, being 5th in defensive rating, and 4th in points allowed, with Al Jefferson in the middle is a of an accomplishment. If you didn't notice Al is one of the worse pick and roll defenders in the league

We noticed. Fortunately for the Hornet-Cats, Biyambo is basically a shut down rim defender.

[ElNono]

Congrats Pop