Is Coach of the Year a two-horse race?

[alexcuse]

Even though the beginning of the year it seemed like half the coaches had a chance to win Coach of the Year, right now I see the race coming down to two veteran coaches: Jerry Sloan and George Karl.

I think given normal circumstances, Jerry Sloan would be a landslide win due to his very overdue status and respect and excellent record this year. However, I think this year there will be some sympathy sentiment to George Karl from his cancer diagnosis. To me they are neck-to-neck in the race with no other contenders, so I think it boils down to whichever of these two teams end up with a better record this year will win Coach of the Year.

Who do you think has a greater chance to win COTY: Sloan or Karl? Or do you think another candidate will win?

[the_warden]

Not even going to mention Skiles?

[Basileus777]

If the Bucks make the playoffs, Scott Skiles deserves serious consideration.

[Puertorique]

I would say either Sloan or Nate McMillan. I would give the nod to McMillan because the Blazers have suffered injury after injury, are in playoff contention and have a good record. Hell even McMillan himself was injured. For the fact that they lost their starting and back up C, coach and majority of their roster he deserves the nod over it.

Sloan and Skiles do deserve recognition also. Plus I like what Geroge Karl has done in Denver.

[RIPskaterdude]

I don't know how anyone would vote against Brooks.

[Inc]

2008-09 Mike Brown Cleveland
2007-08 Byron Scott New Orleans
2006-07 Sam Mitchell Toronto
2005-06 Avery Johnson Dallas
2004-05 Mike D'Antoni Phoenix

What this tells me is that the COTY is usually from a winning team that overachieves. OKC fits that bill so Brooks it is.

[Basileus777]

2008-09 Mike Brown Cleveland
2007-08 Byron Scott New Orleans
2006-07 Sam Mitchell Toronto
2005-06 Avery Johnson Dallas
2004-05 Mike D'Antoni Phoenix

What this tells me is that the COTY is usually from a winning team that overachieves. OKC fits that bill so Brooks it is.

You bring up a good point. We need to be looking at coaches that will be fired in two years.

[doozyj]

Why no vote for Phil Jackson, he is clearly better than every coach on the list, why are his standards set so high even with all the injuries the Lakers have had.

[Paydro70]

I think Larry Brown meets all qualifications, including not being with the team in 2 years. He'll probably quit though, not get fired.

Brooks is definitely the normal "type." Career achievement for Sloan is possible though.

[iBall101]

JAY TRIANO- should be top 3 for that biased ass trophy.. the man is a rookie coach who just took over and turned around a 33 win team to already a 31 win team in half a season and he's not even mentioned.. Americans be biased as hell cause he's a canadian coach on a canadian team doin WELL

[raptorsam]

Karl sucks, he is only holding his team back. Coach of the year award is a joke though. Give it to sloan already.

"In the past decade, 5 of the coaches who’ve won the Coach of the Year were fired within 3 years of winning the award (Rick Carlisle, Mike D’Antoni, Avery Johnson, Sam Mitchell, Byron Scott). Two more guys abruptly left their teams under less-than-friendly circumstances (Larry Brown, Hubie Brown). Only 2 coaches are still with their teams, and one of those is Mike Brown who won last year and is one more “sorry Lebron, I blew your title hopes” season away from probably losing his gig.

The remaining coach is Greg Popovich, who has inexplicably won just once despite winning 3 NBA Titles in the past ten years. Phil Jackson’s also won 3 titles since 2000 and has zero Coach of the Year trophies over that span"

[minnytola1960]

Yeah, IMO they need to seriously overhaul the criteria for COY or just get rid of it all together. Have they ever thought that a team might be overachieving because of the players, not just the coach?

[Scorpion King]

I think this is S Brooks award to lose. If Thunder hold on to their current position and make the playoffs. He should win it.

Brown and Skilles deserves some honorable mention.

[irie]

I don't think it's fair to say that because other coaches in the past have been fired after winning the award that this year they should just give it to someone because they haven't gotten one in a while or something along those lines. The Thunder are way over-achieving based on where most people thought they would be at this point. If they make the playoffs, it would be a pretty bad decision to not give it to Scott Brooks.

[Finn Man]

Rick Adelman? (Houston´s coach)

[Clangus]

Skiles is doing well but The Bucks at barely at .500

I may be biased but Brook has to be the leading contender. No C of PF that can defend but has the Thunder winning and winning with defense.

[alexcuse]

Brooks only has a chance if Thunder has a better record than both the Jazz and Nuggets. You can't vote against cancer or impending retirement of an overdue HOF coach for some newbie coach, especially if the young coach has an inferior win-loss record this season.

Adelman has fallen off after a hot start and his team won't make the playoffs. Skiles won't get his team any higher than 6th seed at best and won't be getting any #1 votes.

[Ming Kong!]

Sloan has the HOF, and he wont get this award till his team REALLY shocks the nation. I really could care less for the award as guys like Larry Bird have them, and the Sloans of the world don't. It's like Hitchcock who never got an Oscar. Adelman really deserves it IMO, though he'll probably be overlooked. This award means nothing to me, so I don't really care, it'd be nice if someone deserving got the "honor".

[Nolan]

There's a lot of coaches is the race right now. But I think right now Scott Brooks is the favorite with Jerry Sloan and Larry Brown close behind. But I think if the Bucks make the playoffs you have to give Scott Skiles some serious consideration and Rick Adleman should be in the discussion too. This is going to be everything but a two horse race.

[sca]

The poll doesn't include Skiles or Hollins. Therefore, it fails. Brooks seems like the most likely candidate, though.