contract wrote:Again I ask ... how the hell is Spo more deserving than Brad Stevens?
The league occasionally holds coaches who guide undermanned or injury ravaged teams that battle through adversity in as high esteem as coaches who lead their teams to higher win totals. Not the first time. Won't be the last.
...Before taking over the Celtics, Rivers spent just over four seasons as the head coach of the Orlando Magic, earning Coach of the Year Honors in his first season for leading a team that featured four undrafted starters to a 41-41 record...
Link
During the same 1999-00 season, Phil took the Lakers from what was essentially a 51 win team the prior year (31 wins in a strike shortened season) to 67 wins in his first year as head coach.
Pacers won 56 games that year in addition to winning their division (which is the closest approximation to Brad Stevens and this year's Celtics). Why wasn't Phil or Bird awarded Coach of the Year in 1999-00?
The reason was, those held with selecting the honor believed Rivers overcame more challenging circumstances and viewed Orlando's "success" in relative terms. No different than Spo being chosen as one of the three finalists over Stevens.