Dave
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Since the Chris Paul-should-get-MVP-if-the-Hornets-win-the-Western-Conference argument seems to be gaining momentum, the same logic should apply to Byron Scott for Coach of the Year.
Coach of the Year often is a way to cover up bad predictions. When a team surpasses all expectations and does better than anyone expected, instead of saying we were wrong, we can just hand a guy a trophy and say, "What a great job he did."
No one had the Hornets atop the loaded Western Conference. They weren't supposed to be there at any point in the season, let alone this late.
.....But as much as Paul runs things on offense, he doesn't set the tone on defense. Not the way Kevin Garnett does in Boston. And it's the Hornets' defense that makes them legitimate. They have stretches where they lock things down and tell their opponents "uh-uh, not happening."
The Hornets are fifth in the league in points allowed per game (95.4). When teams play defense, it's the best sign that they're buying into the coaching staff. There's nothing fun about defense. And watching those behind-the-scenes training camp shows on NBA TV, it doesn't look too fun to play for Scott, who seems to always make them run extra laps or suicides. But players will go along with the program if they think it will get them somewhere, and they obviously have confidence in Scott's direction.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=adande_ja&page=Scott-080404
Coach of the Year often is a way to cover up bad predictions. When a team surpasses all expectations and does better than anyone expected, instead of saying we were wrong, we can just hand a guy a trophy and say, "What a great job he did."
No one had the Hornets atop the loaded Western Conference. They weren't supposed to be there at any point in the season, let alone this late.
.....But as much as Paul runs things on offense, he doesn't set the tone on defense. Not the way Kevin Garnett does in Boston. And it's the Hornets' defense that makes them legitimate. They have stretches where they lock things down and tell their opponents "uh-uh, not happening."
The Hornets are fifth in the league in points allowed per game (95.4). When teams play defense, it's the best sign that they're buying into the coaching staff. There's nothing fun about defense. And watching those behind-the-scenes training camp shows on NBA TV, it doesn't look too fun to play for Scott, who seems to always make them run extra laps or suicides. But players will go along with the program if they think it will get them somewhere, and they obviously have confidence in Scott's direction.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=adande_ja&page=Scott-080404