Xatticus wrote:OrlandO wrote:Surely 8th seed would do it after being in the dumps the previous six years. That's a tough task for Cliff though.
That would get him votes, but it wouldn't win it. Only one coach has won it with fewer than 50 wins (Sam Mitchell with 47 wins) since Doc Rivers won the award. Rivers winning the award was a bit controversial at the time, but Rivers was coaching a team that had been torn down and was predicted to be worst in the league.
Clifford improved Charlotte's record by 22 wins in his first season there and only finished fourth in the voting. At this point, everyone has seen Clifford coach poor rosters to middling records.
Pretty different situation in Charlotte... they signed Al Jefferson who put up 22 points and 11 rebounds after previously starting Biyombo who was generally seen as a massive bust. That is to say the turnaround was largely credited to Jefferson, not just Clifford. The Magic made no such signing to bolster their starting lineup. If Cliff gets them to the playoffs he will be credited 100% this time around.
