Knicks · Schuman Article: The case for George Karl COY (page 1)

There are several great candidates for the Coach of the Year award this season. Doug Collins, Phil Jackson, George Karl, Nate McMillan, Gregg Popovich and Tom Thibodeau all deserve recognition for the job they’ve done with their teams.

Jackson and Karl have made their strongest case with how well L.A. and Denver have played since the All-Star break. And for Karl, we have to look back at how he well he kept the Nuggets together in the midst of the ‘Melo-drama that ran from September to February.

Dealing with the knowledge that his best player wanted to play for someone else and somehow putting together a 32-25 record in the midst of a media circus is the intangible aspect of Karl’s candidacy. But there is a very tangible aspect to it to, and the numbers may make the best case for Karl.

With the Nuggets original roster, Karl coached the No. 1 offense in the league. With a completely different kind of roster since the trade, Karl is coaching the No. 1 defense in the league.

Nuggets efficiency

Timeframe  Record Off. Eff. Rank  Def. Eff. Rank Diff. Rank 
Pre-break  32-25  109.7     1     107.2     23   +2.5  10 
Post-break  15-4  108.8     7      96.6     1    +12.2  1 
Overall    47-29  109.5     1     104.5     17   +4.9   7 

Off. Eff. = Points scored per 100 possessions
Def. Eff. = Points allowed per 100 possessions

The numbers obviously say something about Anthony and the other players involved in the trade. And maybe just as impressive as the Nuggets’ No. 1 ranking defensively since the trade is that they’ve been almost as efficient offensively as they were with the guy that was averaging 25 points per game.

There aren’t many teams in this league that can play at an elite level on both ends of the floor. The Miami Heat are the only team that ranks in the top five both offensively (109.3, second) and defensively (100.9, fifth) for the season.

Along with the Heat and Nuggets, the Lakers have ranked in the top five on one end of the floor before the All-Star break and on the other end of the floor since. L.A. was the fourth-best offensive team (108.6) before the break and has been the third-best defensive team (97.8) since.

But those numbers don’t match the Nuggets’ impressive transition from elite offensive team to elite defensive team. And that may be why George Karl deserves to be named Coach of the Year.

http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2011/04/05...

Doug Collins or Tom Thibodeau should get it. I favor Collins though as having come farther.

What team does Collins coach?

I think Chicago guy should, but Karl impresses me.

Olbrannon wrote:Doug Collins or Tom Thibodeau should get it. I favor Collins though as having come farther.

I agree. Its amazing what Karl has done thru all of the adversity that he has faced this year.

Karl or Thibs. You can't go wrong.

Yea, Thibs is real good. He took a Chicago team that no one really expected to be a contender and made them the best team in the East, that's big, that's really big right there.

Thibs wins, hands down.

orangeblobman wrote:Yea, Thibs is real good. He took a Chicago team that no one really expected to be a contender and made them the best team in the East, that's big, that's really big right there.

Thibs wins, hands down.

thibs should win, though i wouldn't say that people were down on the bulls. Many analysts had the bulls among the top teams in the east. so he inherited a good squad. Doug Collins is the most impressive considering the talent on the team. Karl has had personal issues to fight through, coaching wise, he had a pretty talented team before the trade, and pretty talented team after the trade. not saying he isnt good, just hasn't done anything to me.

I like Thibs but wouldn't be shocked if Collins one. George Carl? Hell no.

I'll echo Collins or Thibs, but also add Adelman to the list. Houston should be trash and they've played about as well as you cold expect them to

The thing with Collins is exactly who does he have? Yea, Brand and Iggy are good, but they've been there a while and have sucked.

Thibs is working with a much better cast - both probably have out performed - but to me, give it to the guy that has taken trash and made art rather than the guy working with super models

The thing about Thibs is that D.Rose, D.Rose, while talented and rising, was unproven before the season and is still very young human. And Boozer, he has been, up until this year, a moderately successful mercenary. Neither of Thibs's two stars has led a team to top dog position before this season. Sure, he has two very strong players, but two very strong players that have never achieved at this level.

Thibs, GO THIBS!

KArl has been great. Not his biggest fan but he kep his team focused through months of Melo drama then has them what? 15-4? Since the trade.

I would say Carlisle doesnt get enough credit. The MAvs have one really good player and a lot of pieces. I would love that guy here