Hubie Brown Named NBA Coach of the Year

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"Hubie Brown, who led the Grizzlies to a 50-win regular season and their first playoff appearance, will receive the NBA's Coach of the Year award, The Commercial Appeal has learned. Brown, 70, beat out Utah coach Jerry Sloan, according to two league sources with knowledge of the voting results. Brown will be presented with the award Wednesday - a day before the Grizzlies play host to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 3 of their playoff series at The Pyramid." </div>

http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/grizzl...2822065,00.html

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Memphis Grizzlies head coach Hubie Brown has been named the winner of the Red Auerbach Trophy as the NBA Coach of the Year for the 2003-04 season, the NBA announced today.

Brown, who is in his second year at the helm of the Grizzlies, received 466 points, including 62 of a possible 122 first-place votes, from a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. Coaches were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote received. Utah?s Jerry Sloan was second with 424 points (56 first-place votes) and Terry Porter of Milwaukee and Miami?s Stan Van Gundy tied for third with 54 points each (one first-place vote each).

Brown, the first coach in the Grizzlies? nine-year history to receive Coach of the Year honors, came out of retirement two weeks into last season to become head coach on November 12, 2002, leading them to a then franchise-best 28 victories. This year, in his first full season at the helm, Memphis posted a 50-32 record, the franchise?s first winning season and first playoff berth as the sixth seed in the West.
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Great result. The four most deserving coaches got the top four spots - I wouldn't have minded if the top two went either way , and I can't separate Terry Porter and Stan Van Gundy for third. In actual fact I think Van Gundy has been underrated in some circles - he turned the team with the 5th worst record into a team with homecourt advantage, managed to get something out of Odom that no one in the past has, and has Rafer Alston as one of the best back-up PGs and 6th men in the league. And this was after starting 0-7.

 

Well deserved, it was always between him and Sloan for me. I always liked Bzedelik and Gundy too though. One of the main reasons I think Hubie really deserves this, he can control someone as wild as Jason Williams and make him a good player....that's just pure coaching skill. He must have some sort of gift, or is really kind to him.

 

Am I the only one that thinks Jerry Sloan got robbed of the award this year???

Look at what Hubie had: Posey, Gasol, J. Williams, Stro, Battier, Wells, Watson.

Not to discount what he did this year because taking a team to the playoffs in the West is a big accomplishment. But how can he not win with this lineup??? These guys are all better than average players and a pretty solid team (even by Western conference standards).

Look at what Sloan had: Kirilenko, Arroyo, Lopez, Ostertag, Raja Bell

Everyone except for Kirlilenko is forgettable. When has Ostertag ever done anything significant? Raja Bell? Raul Lopez?? Jerry Sloan had an awful team but managed to be competitive for the playoffs till the end of the season. I can honestly say that Jerry Sloan a whole lot more with a lot less.

Hubie Brown deserves his accolades but Jerry Sloan got jobbed out of the COY plain and simple. Don't give me the "he didn't make it to the playoffs" bull. To be competitive for the playoffs with his lineup is a miracle in itself.

 

Sloan did a great job, no doubt...but I would've voted for Hubie myself. Keep in mind the young history of the Grizz...they never even reached the 30 game plateu....then this season they come out and won 50 games, nearly doubling their previous best output. Jerry West deserves some credit for the great season, but Hubie molded a lot of these guys into players, and managed to juggle the minutes of a bunch of "above-average" players. In addition, its not like the Grizz had a superstar in their lineup.

 

Yeah this one of the hardest COY decisions. Although Hubie won and i would've voted for him too, I thought Jerry Sloan had a much tougher task at hand than Hubie. The Grizz had components from last year that could have made them a playoff contender but did not make it(last year). The Jazz on the other hand had lost it's two best players in franchise history and made a once-mediocre player into an all star(kirilenko), and a team predicted to be one of the worst in the league to almost make the playoffs. gotta give him kudos. congrats to hubie by the way.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting notMuchgame:</div><div class="quote_post">Sloan did a great job, no doubt...but I would've voted for Hubie myself. Keep in mind the young history of the Grizz...they never even reached the 30 game plateu....then this season they come out and won 50 games, nearly doubling their previous best output. Jerry West deserves some credit for the great season, but Hubie molded a lot of these guys into players, and managed to juggle the minutes of a bunch of "above-average" players. In addition, its not like the Grizz had a superstar in their lineup.</div>But the COY award is not based on "the young history of the Grizz". Sure they have a great record but it is one that befits a team with such talent. Jerry West doesn't deserve some credit, he deserves a whole lot of credit in putting this team together. He put together a band of young talented players and Hubie Brown took them to the playoffs. But its not like anyone doubted that they could not make it with such talent.

The Grizz did not have a superstar in their lineup? They have Pau Gasol who is not quite a superstar but he is one of the more talented power fowards in the league. He just did not produce as much as he has in the past because of the rotation of talented players around him (trust me, I picked him high in my fantasy league and was very dissapointed). The Grizz may have not had a Kobe Bryant or Tracy Mcgrady on their team but their pool of talented players more than makes up for that.

This is their pool of talented players (all of which averaged more than 10 points a game in their career): Mike Miller, Bonzi Wells, Pau Gasol, Jason Williams, Stromile Swift, Lorenzen Wright, Shane Battier, James Posey.

If I'm not mistaken that is a total of 8 talented players on their team, probably the most on any team in the NBA. To not win with this talent makes you a bad coach. You can talk all you want about juggling lineups but when it comes down to it, when Hubie looks down at his bench he has his choice of talent at his disposal.

Now lets look at the Jazz: Carlos Arroyo, Raja Bell, Gordan Giricek, Raul Lopez, Gugliotta, Kirilenko, Greg Ostertag.

If you are telling me that Jerry Sloan be contending for a playoff spot at the beginning of the season with this bunch of raggamuffins (Kirilenko aside) I would laugh in your face. But Jerry Sloan did and came up short. I think that if the Jazz made the playoffs he would have got the award. Does losing out by 2 games consider him a worse off? I would hope not.

The coach of the year is about getting the best out of your lineup. Jerry Sloan obviously got the best out of his less-than-talented lineup almost making the playoffs while Hubie Brown merely improved his record with a group of 8 talented players. Jerry West and Hubie Brown should split the recognition in half because it was not all Hubie.

 

^^ Agreed 100%. Hubie Brown did a great job of helping the Grizzlies to the 50 win mark, but Jerry Sloan led the Jazz to 42 wins. Look at the roster, then think how could this team make 42 wins. The Grizzlies had a far better team, whilst the Jazz did have an all star, it was nothing compared to the Grizzlies team. Sloan was the reason the Jazz were competitive throughout the season. He will take no bs from no one, and will keep the team competitive throughout the season no matter who's on his team or what their record. All the Grizzlies needed to reach 50 wins was a good coach, they got that. By all accounts this team should be able to make 50 wins, they are one of the deepest teams in the League. They have 7 lottery picks, the Jazz have one. And that's Tom Guggliotta. Utah's leading scorer was out 50+ games, Jerry Sloan had to deal with his wife Bobbye, who got cancer in the season. Memphis had no major injuries. The Grizzlies had 2 previous ROY's in Mike Miller and Pau Gasol. There were just so many things in Sloan's way compared to Hubie Brown's. The only difference is that the Grizzlies had 8 more wins and made the playoffs.
This is not the first time Sloan should of got the award and didn't, in 1998 they won 61 games and Larry Bird got it. In 1999 the Jazz had the 2nd best record in the L, and Doc Rivers got it for turning a team that was the worst one season to a .500 record the next.
I just can't understand why Brown deserved the award more than Sloan.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CourtVision:</div><div class="quote_post">But the COY award is not based on "the young history of the Grizz". Sure they have a great record but it is one that befits a team with such talent. </div>

The fact is history does matter...COY is often decided by +/- wins compared to the previous season. Just look at the past winners......I agree Jerry West had a big part in the turnaround, but it shouldn't take away anything Hubie has done.

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CourtVision:</div><div class="quote_post">The Grizz did not have a superstar in their lineup? They have Pau Gasol who is not quite a superstar but he is one of the more talented power fowards in the league.</div>

Lets be honest here...Pau is a good player, but put him on any team in the NBA and how many times can u say he would be the best player on the squad...Pau wouldn't even be the best player in Utah (AK47 is better than him IMO)...

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CourtVision:</div><div class="quote_post">
This is their pool of talented players (all of which averaged more than 10 points a game in their career): Mike Miller, Bonzi Wells, Pau Gasol, Jason Williams, Stromile Swift, Lorenzen Wright, Shane Battier, James Posey.
Now lets look at the Jazz: Carlos Arroyo, Raja Bell, Gordan Giricek, Raul Lopez, Gugliotta, Kirilenko, Greg Ostertag.</div>

Memphis has talent, no doubt, but they had talent last season also. Sure Sloan did a great job. And yes Memphis has more talent than Utah...but Memphis also finished 8 games ahead of Utah. It's not like we're comparing coaches with the same record.

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CourtVision:</div><div class="quote_post">If I'm not mistaken that is a total of 8 talented players on their team, probably the most on any team in the NBA. To not win with this talent makes you a bad coach. You can talk all you want about juggling lineups but when it comes down to it, when Hubie looks down at his bench he has his choice of talent at his disposal.

If you are telling me that Jerry Sloan be contending for a playoff spot at the beginning of the season with this bunch of raggamuffins (Kirilenko aside) I would laugh in your face. But Jerry Sloan did and came up short. I think that if the Jazz made the playoffs he would have got the award. Does losing out by 2 games consider him a worse off? I would hope not.</div>

Everybody predicted the Jazz to be last prior to the season, but those same people also picked Memphis to be down near the cellar also....come on, be honest, you're talking about all the talent Mempihs has, but did u pick them to make the playoffs before the season started? Hindsight can be something else...

 

he deserves it although its a shame that he has to go out in the first round

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting notMuchgame:</div><div class="quote_post">The fact is history does matter...COY is often decided by +/- wins compared to the previous season. Just look at the past winners......I agree Jerry West had a big part in the turnaround, but it shouldn't take away anything Hubie has done. </div>I agree history does matter. But what does talent level mean? Personel doesn't matter? You are singling out Memphis because they made this big turnaround but I can say the same thing about Minnesota (regarding records). I always thought the COY was given to the coach who had the most impact on his team. Not to take anything away from Hubie but Jerry Sloan worked with a team that was thought to have finished dead last in the NBA. Memphis was out of the playoffs until Bonzi was traded for and James Posey asserted himself. Back to my original point: Jerry West has as much to do with their success. Maybe more than Hubie. Jerry Sloan had no one to work with but he was still successful. Utah didn't add any players but they lost two hall of famers but still managed to be competitive in the West.

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Lets be honest here...Pau is a good player, but put him on any team in the NBA and how many times can u say he would be the best player on the squad...Pau wouldn't even be the best player in Utah (AK47 is better than him IMO)...</div>You don't win the ROY if you are not talented. To say that about Pau is completely undermining his talent. You may just look at his stats and say that he is subpar BUT that is due to the tight minutes that Hubie gives out. He is a very talented player and I can think of a lot of teams where he would be there best player. Look at the past ROY's and tell me how talented they are or are not. These awards do not fall off trees.

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Memphis has talent, no doubt, but they had talent last season also. Sure Sloan did a great job. And yes Memphis has more talent than Utah...but Memphis also finished 8 games ahead of Utah. It's not like we're comparing coaches with the same record. </div>I never said that we are comparing the two regarding their record. But like I said: Memphis has a very talented team. Utah doesn't. I am stating the fact that Jerry Sloan was competitive with his untalented team. Just because he missed the playoffs by 2 games doesn't mean he did anything insignificant with a weak roster.

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Everybody predicted the Jazz to be last prior to the season, but those same people also picked Memphis to be down near the cellar also....come on, be honest, you're talking about all the talent Mempihs has, but did u pick them to make the playoffs before the season started? Hindsight can be something else...</div>I'll be honest with you I didn't pick them. But I also did not discount their talent to make it there in the first place. I always told my friends "Hey, Memphis has a pretty good team if they get it together" (I also said that about the Clippers last year but you know how they ended up). I never discounted their talent. Before Bonzi came do you realize that they were out of the playoffs at the beginning of the season?

Utah on the other hand I left them for dead. I did not think they would be so competitive at all with their ugly roster. No one at all said one good thing about them all summer before the season started. Not even me.

The basic fact is: Hubie Brown had the personel to make it to the playoffs, Jerry Sloan did not. Hubie should share that award with Jerry West because they both did one hell of a job turning around Memphis. But the key word is: Share