Browns draft day hats released (feat. Cleveland’s skyline)
April 21, 2015Joe Haden had “no idea” that Josh Gordon couldn’t drink
April 21, 2015Cavaliers head coach David Blatt led a star-laden, hyper-scrutinized team to 53 wins in his first NBA season while battling the media and rumors that he might be fired, and all he got is this lousy ninth-place finish.
The Cavs’ boss took ninth in NBA Coach of the Year voting, coming in behind (in ascending order) Utah’s Quin Snyder, Chicago’s Tom Thibodeau, Houston’s Kevin McHale, San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich, Boston’s Brad Stevens, Milwaukee’s Jason Kidd, Golden State’s Steve Kerr, and the winner, Atlanta’s Mike Budenholzer.
It was a two-man race between rookies Budenholzer and Kerr, with the Hawks’ coach amassing 513 points to Kerr’s 471. First-place votes are worth five points, second-place votes three, and third-place votes are worth a single point.
Blatt totaled three points on three third-place votes.
Blatt was never going to win the award with Golden State and Atlanta putting together seasons like they did, and a ninth place finish feels reasonable, if maybe a touch low. His candidacy was likely hurt by his team’s 19-20 start, but surely he deserves some credit for organizing a season-changing bowling outing, no?
This is an award that Gregg Popovich could win every season; he has taken the trophy home three times, including last year. However, it often seems reserved for a relatively new leader of a team that makes a big leap, like Thibodeau’s Bulls in 2010-11, Mike D’Antoni’s Suns in 2004-05, or — gulp — Mike Brown’s 2008-09 Cavs and Byron Scott’s Hornets in 2007-08.
So, um, maybe don’t put too much stock into this award just yet.
The full voting results, via NBA.com.
14 Comments
I hope he and the Cavaliers use this as a little motivation sure he wasn’t top five but ninth and behind Quin Snyder? I think that’s a tad disrespectful of a rookie NBA coach. I guess coming from Europe to coach a team only to find out that LeBron James would be returning, having your #1 pick traded for an All-Star in Kevin Love, having multiple new championship veterans signed as free agents, losing Anderson Varejao for the season to injury and then having multiple trades made adding three more new players was nothing. Oh and LeBron James missing two weeks while your team won just one game in that stretch. It was easy. Surely the top 8 could have done what Blatt did without a problem.
There’s about 20 good NBA coaches. Not all would do the same with each roster, but there’s less elite players than there are elite NBA coaches.
I love how we’re constantly assaulted with Blatt’s inexperience, yet so much of this list of the “Best coaches in the NBA” have 1-2 years experience…
No shock here. Can’t compete for COY if your first year is coaching the pre-season favorite with three high-profile players.
Similarly, every decision by David Griffin could be perfect, even prescient, and he can’t get closer than third, maybe second for Exec of Year. LeBron took care of that last July.
Can’t put too much stock in these awards.
Mike Brown with LeBron: Coach of the Year
Mike Brown without LeBron: Bum
Of course not but there’s nothing wrong with a little motivation. Finishing ninth is a slight to not only Blatt but the team regardless.
I actually think Griffin has a good shot if the voters actually put some thought into what they’re doing. As we all know, the Cavs were 19-20 and turned it around to subsequently have the best record in the league after Griffin stole Mozgov and got the New York boys for a can of LeBron’s Famous Talcum Powder.
But asking to voters to think about it might be asking for too much.
I think you are giving writers too much credit if you think that the same people who were shouting “YOU CANNOT GIVE UP 2 1st ROUND PICKS FOR MOZGOV!” and “ADDING JR SMITH WILL DESTROY TEAM CHEMISTRY” are going to reverse course and actually put time and thought into it.
note: there are many good NBA writers, but the ones with those above statements tended to be the loudest
^^^This times a billion.
The National guys would rather vote Jackson “Worst GM of the Year” for that trade before handing Griffin “Best GM of the Year”.
Two first round picks for Mozgov was to much HOWEVER he fit a role which was much needed so the trade made sense. Thankfully Mozgov was able to deliver what was so desperately needed for the Cavaliers. Same for JR & Shump. I loved that trade simply because it got Waiters out of here. Heck I liked just getting Shumpert JR Smith was a bonus. I’m still leery of JR long term I just can’t trust him.
2 picks in the 20’s, 1 of which was just acquired in the Dion trade, was not too much especially considering it was the only way to add a rim protector.
Thanks for sharing.
You are welcome sir.