OT: Who Are The Top Ten NBA Coaches Of All Time?

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by BigGameDamian, Jun 21, 2013.

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  1. BigGameDamian

    BigGameDamian Well-Known Member

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    :cheers:
     
    BigGameDamian, Jun 21, 2013
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  2. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

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    You have to answer/give your own opinion when you start these threads.
     
    SlyPokerDog, Jun 21, 2013
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  3. PtldPlatypus

    PtldPlatypus Let's go Baby Blazers! Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

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    Off the top of my head, and in no particular order: Jackson, Auerbach, Popovich, Riley, Ramsay, Daly, Wilkens...and then I'm not sure who else to include. I'm sure there are coaches from before my time who deserve mention.
     
    PtldPlatypus, Jun 21, 2013
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  4. Denny Crane

    Denny Crane It's not even loaded! Staff Member Administrator

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    Sloan. Nelson. Cunningham.

    Spoelstra has 2 championships in 5 years and all winning records.
     
    Denny Crane, Jun 21, 2013
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  5. PtldPlatypus

    PtldPlatypus Let's go Baby Blazers! Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

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    After further consideration and research, I'll add John Kundla, Red Holzman, and the surprisingly good Tommy Heinsohn (.613 winning percentage and two titles in nine years).

    Sloan and Nelson never won a title, and I think Spolstra's teams win in spite of him. Interesting suggestion of Billy Cunningham, but Only one title with that loaded Philly team?
     
    PtldPlatypus, Jun 21, 2013
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  6. Denny Crane

    Denny Crane It's not even loaded! Staff Member Administrator

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    Lakers/Celtics kept Cunningham from winning more.

    I was going to mention Heinsohn. He coached those great Celtics teams from their 2nd dynasty.
     
    Denny Crane, Jun 22, 2013
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  7. BBert

    BBert Weasels Ripped My Flesh

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    Ban him.
     
    BBert, Jun 22, 2013
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  8. MarAzul

    MarAzul LongShip

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    I don't know if Wilkens belongs on the list, but I would add Al Attles,Jerry Sloan, Rudy Tomjanovich, and Red Holzman. Attles and Sloan were both much better coaches than their
    tittle record would suggest.

    I would probably put Bill Sharman on the list before Wilkens.
     
    Last edited: Jun 22, 2013
    MarAzul, Jun 22, 2013
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  9. Run BJM

    Run BJM Heavy lies the crown. Staff Member Global Moderator

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    Sloan's gotta be in the top 10 IMO. No rings but great success and longevity, his best teams coincided with MJ's reign.

    Attles did win a ring in what I believe was his only finals appearance as a coach. Not sure if hes top 10 but hes the fuggin godfather in the Bay Area.

    Surprised no ones brought up Larry Brown. His legacy is less impressive when you only consider his NBA days but still decent with the Iverson 76ers and Pistons.

    Don Nelson is always interesting in these discussions. Lots of regular season success and whacky shit but 0 finals appearances. That said, he never had extremely elite talent like most of the coaches being mentioned in this thread. After the obvious 5 or 6 coaches that are clearly top 10 there's a big drop off, I think you could definitely make a case for Nellie, depending on what different measures are being used.
     
    Run BJM, Jun 22, 2013
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  10. BigGameDamian

    BigGameDamian Well-Known Member

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    Why Popovich? I mean sure he's good but one of the best? I think Pop my have screwd the Spurs chances in the NBA Finals more than anyone. He benched Duncan at the end of game six with less than a minute to go I think it was. Then Tony Parker is on the bench at the end of game 7 and when he got asked why be the media Pop replied "Because I wanted too." Not to mention Danny Green not only shot 1-13 he was fumbling around the ball everytime he had it and you have a player named Tracy McGrady on your bench? I'm sure TMac could have at least been better than that. I'm sure if it was the Portland Blazers Portland fans would want to give Pop the axe.
     
    Last edited: Jun 22, 2013
    BigGameDamian, Jun 22, 2013
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  11. PtldPlatypus

    PtldPlatypus Let's go Baby Blazers! Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

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    BGD--you can exclude Pop on the basis of two games this year, but I won't. Too much extended excellence to ignore.

    You're all probably right about Sloan. I wanted to include him, but I wanted to give preference to titles.
    MarAzul, you're probably right about Wilkens. Could be removed. I thought a bit about Rudy T, but wasn't sure if he was top 10 material either. I'd need a lot of education about Attles.
    Brown, to me, merits consideration, but his nomadic ways are a knock on him, IMO.

    I think Jackson, Auerbach, Pop, Riley, Holzman, and Kundla are gimmes based on their resumes. If titles are a major factor, then you probably go with Daly, Heinsohn, Rudy T, and maybe KC Jones. If long-term, continued success is important, then you throw in Nelson, Sloan, Brown and Ramsay.

    Maybe we should just go with a tier system instead...
     
    PtldPlatypus, Jun 22, 2013
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  12. Denny Crane

    Denny Crane It's not even loaded! Staff Member Administrator

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    Wow. I might put Pops at #3 behind PJax and Auerbach.

    One losing season, his first. Since then, the only sub 50 win team was in a strike shortened season where the Spurs went 37-13 .740.

    Four championships.
     
    Denny Crane, Jun 22, 2013
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  13. MarAzul

    MarAzul LongShip

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    Red is in close contention for the #1 slot. Knowledge of the game!

    http://www.nba.com/roundball/

    Most of the coaches mentioned are worthy of the consideration for top 10.
    Not for me to quibble Perhaps we have the first 7 then 5 tied for 8, 9, and 10.
     
    Last edited: Jun 22, 2013
    MarAzul, Jun 22, 2013
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  14. MARIS61

    MARIS61 Real American

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    Billy Donovan, KP, Caleb Kanales, Magic Johnson :cheers:
     
    MARIS61, Jun 22, 2013
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  15. BigGameDamian

    BigGameDamian Well-Known Member

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    Well, I know that you could make a case for Pop but at the same time great coaches don't blow it in big games such as the NBA finals and Pop did. I would really be quite curious to see what Spurs fans have to say about this topic.
     
    BigGameDamian, Jun 22, 2013
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  16. KeepOnRollin

    KeepOnRollin Well-Known Member

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    Not make a case. He is a lock for top 10 even with some questionable moments in this last Finals. 4 titles won outweigh the 1 lost for fans I would bet.
     
    KeepOnRollin, Jun 22, 2013
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  17. jlprk

    jlprk The ESPN mod is insane.

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    Most of the names in this thread are bad choices, but Cunningham is the worst. As soon as his assistant coach Chuck Daly left, Cunningham retired from coaching. He knew he was a flimflam man, a fake.

    Daly was a great coach. Two new names: Motta and Bird.

    You're a Bulls fan?.
     
    jlprk, Jun 23, 2013
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  18. blue9

    blue9 Well-Known Member

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    Nobody can legitimately question Pops as a Top 10 coach. I'm not familiar with pre-80s coaches, but assuming Red is #1 then Pops is #2, IMO. Sloan is also deserving.
    I'd add Larry Brown to the conversation - what he did in DET was great, and is highlighted even further by their rapid demise once being handed to Flip Saunders.
     
    blue9, Jun 23, 2013
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  19. jlprk

    jlprk The ESPN mod is insane.

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    Popovich moved up a spot because he's in my recent TV memory, so he may move back down in a year. Top 11, in order within each tier:

    1 Auerbach, Jackson, Daly
    2 Popovich, Motta, Heinsohn, Bird, Russell
    3 Sloan, Fitch, Nelson

    I know nothing about Kundla, who turns 97 in 10 days. I wasn't paying attention and missed the kid's career.
     
    jlprk, Jun 23, 2013
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  20. Denny Crane

    Denny Crane It's not even loaded! Staff Member Administrator

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    Did you pay attention to Abe Lincoln's career while that was happening?
     
    Denny Crane, Jun 24, 2013
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