1/25/09: A Great Day for the Western Conference

by hotstuffdb22 on Jan 25, 2009 6:09 AM PST Comment 41 comments

Check out these games today for Western Conference Teams:

Mavs @ Celtics (1pm EST, 10am PST)

I hope the Mavs lose so we improve our divisional standing. Who's worse - Mark Cuban or Kevin Garnett? I think Garnett is more of a foul taste, but Cuban is right up there in my view.

Spurs @ Lakers (3pm EST, 12 PST)

I think the Spurs can pull this out. Neither of these two teams are going to fall in the conference standings, so this should be an exciting game to watch. Possibly a preview of the Western Conference Finals in 2009.

Suns @ Hawks (6pm EST, 3pm PST)

Again, I hope the Suns will lose. Should be interesting to see whether they break their 3 game losing streak. When do we play the Suns next? We should be able to beat them now, they don't look that good.

Rockets @ Pistons (6:30pm EST, 3:30pm PST)

Hoping for a Rockets loss. I don't think the Rockets have a shot at this game after losing Yao (along with their other injuries).

Jazz @ Nuggets (8pm EST, 5pm PST)

Can both teams lose? I'd like to see the Nuggets lose, as this would distance us by 1 game from a Northwest division tie with them. However, after losing to the Cavs last night at home, I don't expect Utah to have the energy to pull this out. I hope they do, though. I do feel bad for the Jazz owner who just had some legs partially amputated.

Clippers @ Warriors (9pm EST, 6pm PST)

This will be like watching the JV teams play after the varsity squads. Nobody cares, but since it's later in the evening/day, what else do you have to do? Okay, we'll sit and watch this entertainment simply because it's basketball, but also a nice preview to tomorrow nights game for us against the Clips.

Nine Western Conference teams are playing today. Seven of these teams are the top 9 in the Western Conference. The only top 9 teams not playing are the Blazers and Hornets. Maybe somebody could set these two teams up on a Xbox and tell us the outcome?

A great day for the Western Conference. An even better day to improve our playoff position and hopes.

Go Blazers!

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Nice!!

So we got to play the Clippers on a BACK TO BACK for them. even BETTER.

Houston will lose for sure!
and i hope suns/utah falls. give a lil extra cushion in the Playoff Race.

I have a feeling the last game of the season… we play the Nuggets.. (Winner is Division Champs Game)

"Awesome! Totally awesome! All right, Hamilton!"

by B-ROYalty on Jan 25, 2009 7:31 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I have the same feeling about the last game with the Nuggets -

If Portland wins that game, makes the playoffs, and is the Northwest division winner, I’m calling the league office for Nate to be coach of the year – is that legitimate or am I too biased? Who else in the league is deserving?

by hotstuffdb22 on Jan 25, 2009 7:49 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

For us to win our division and be either the third or 4th seed

It would be totally legit for Nate to be coach of the year

This is what Lucas would do. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0aPkIE2qK0

by 123_G.O._RipCity on Jan 25, 2009 11:15 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Doug Collins picked Stan Van Gundy during the Magic-Celtics game.

by MiledAnimal on Jan 25, 2009 1:26 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

SVG is the odds-on favorite if they don't collapse in the second half.

If Orlando is in the top 3 of the NBA at the end of the year, it’ll be hard for anyone else to get votes.

by Timmay! on Jan 25, 2009 3:21 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree... at the same time, weren't they expected to be this good?

by hotstuffdb22 on Jan 25, 2009 3:55 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Nope.

Orlando is considered a bigger surprise than us right now. They were expected to be at a level under the elite.

It’s arguably harder to take a team from right at .500, add a defensive/rebounding presence (Oden) and move to a level above .500, than it is to take a good team, with minor offseason changes (Pietrus is it, right?) and make them elite.

I’m ignoring the emergence of Dwight Howard, since you could also argue our talent is emerging, so that’s a wash.

You could also easily argue that SVG hasn’t really done anything, it’s all because Dwight is getting better and the team was built well.. but hey they have to decide COY off something, right? There’s a reason that many COY’s are fired within a few years… it’s really an award for team improvement, credited (sometimes erroneously) to coaching. Ask Avery Johnson or Sam Mitchell.

SVG will also likely get the award this year because he was never rewarded for the Heat’s turnaround before Pat Riley yanked the carpet out from under him.

If we have a Summer where KP basically stands pat, and we go from good to great, that’s the year we’ll be in line for coach of the year.

Ok, done rambing semi-coherently.

by Timmay! on Jan 25, 2009 4:20 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Brown in Cleveland could also be in the running for COY

by Norsktroll on Jan 25, 2009 4:31 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Good point Norsk.

Much like SVG, Brown has a similar team to last year, and they took “the leap” this year… which is funny since they’ve already been to the finals, but it was seen as a fluke then.

I’m not sure, but I’m guessing the prevailing opinion is still “Brown isn’t a great coach, he just has Lebron”, similar to what’s said about Doc Rivers and his Big Three. It probably doesn’t help that Brown looked like he was out the door, until the team suddenly turned around.

I think SVG will be seen as doing more, with less. Not sure that’s a fair opinion, but nonetheless.

It’s one of those moments where you have to stop and wonder how important the coach really is.

by Timmay! on Jan 25, 2009 4:48 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Rick Adelmann

The way he has worked his team through all these injuries makes him my choice for coach of the year.

by usdblazerfan on Jan 25, 2009 4:11 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

i can't picture him winning

but he is definitely a deserving coach. it frustrates me when a guy like adelman gets no love since he hasn’t won a championship, but guys like flip saunders or doc rivers has.

The most hated Blazer is like the least hottest supermodel - Sabonis4Ever

by Philthyanimal on Jan 25, 2009 4:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Adelman has never won coach of the year. Sigh.

When Portland jumped into contention (1990), Pat Riley won, due to a good season, and as a lifetime achievement (they had never honored him before). Portland only won 4 games less than the Lakers, and made a huge leap.

In 1991, Portland dominated the league. And yet Don Cheney won for the 52-30 Houston Rockets.

He got ignored again when in Sacramento. But then, it looked a lot like nobody inside the NBA respected Sacramento during that period.

Adelman is way overdue for a COY award. He’s one of the best coaches to never receive it.

by Timmay! on Jan 25, 2009 4:54 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Along with Jerry Sloan and Chuck Daly.

by MiledAnimal on Jan 25, 2009 8:27 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I was thinking of Sloan, but forgot Daly. Good one.

Daly was selected one of the NBA’s 10 greatest coaches in 1997. And yet he never won coach of the year.

by Timmay! on Jan 25, 2009 8:29 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

yea that would be pretty epic

maybe Brandon can hit the game winner to clinch the division like Kobe did a few years back …

by BR7formvp on Jan 25, 2009 11:04 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Most Def

Specially with starting so many rookies.. and the injuries throughout the season so far. (losing our starting SF for half the year already).

Youngest team in the NBA (playing wise)

only other coach that come to mind is… guy from Miami… (if the make the playoffs this year, which they should)

"Awesome! Totally awesome! All right, Hamilton!"

by B-ROYalty on Jan 25, 2009 8:12 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

The Hawk's coach may be a consideration....

Also, if Philly keeps up the turnaround, whoever is at the helm should also be nominated – they’ve been pretty neat to watch recently. At the end, it’ll probably go to either the Cavs coach or Phil Jackson – I hope either doesn’t win it.

by hotstuffdb22 on Jan 25, 2009 8:50 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah,

Well the 76ers were expected to be a lil better, same with Cavs.

It sucks when they just give it to the coach with the best record and leave it as that. i mean for real… if you had LEBRON or KOBE on your team, they should expect you to win 45+ games.

"Awesome! Totally awesome! All right, Hamilton!"

by B-ROYalty on Jan 25, 2009 8:54 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

that's an interesting idea ... can an interim coach be nominated?

by BR7formvp on Jan 25, 2009 11:06 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think the award makes any distinction for interim status vs regular coach

I’d love to see an interim coach win due to a team turnaround. It would make for a fun story.

by Timmay! on Jan 25, 2009 4:57 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

surprised

i dunno…i agree but i also disagree. the 76ers made an unexpected showing at the playoffs last year, so we knew they had potential. i just don’t understand why they stunk it up under cheeks this year.

The most hated Blazer is like the least hottest supermodel - Sabonis4Ever

by Philthyanimal on Jan 25, 2009 4:38 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

If Philly really turns it around after Mo was fired

Then Mo’s going to have a hard time getting another head coaching gig.

He may pull a PJ and go back to assistant coaching for 5-10 years and wait for another chance.

by Timmay! on Jan 25, 2009 4:58 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't understand the whole philly thing either...

what was wrong with cheeks? Why couldn’t he get them to win? They got some real talent. Cheeks shoud’ve done better, but maybe they pulled the trigger on him too early.

by hotstuffdb22 on Jan 25, 2009 5:32 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

We play tomorrow against the Clippers and...:

1º.- Baron Davis (bruised tailbone), Zach Randolph (bruised left knee), Chris Kaman (Strained left arch) and Mike Taylor (fractured right thumb) will not play.
2º.- They play a back to back, coming back from Golden State.
3º.- Brian Skinner, Jason Hart, Mardy Collins and Marcus Camby (sprained left ankle, is questionable today) have different issues.

A must win.

Following Charlotte at home, Wednesday, also a bac to back for Charlotte. A must win and a sweet revenge, I hope.

Then UTAH at home. This is the game to show if our team is now as good as its record.

Sergio + Rudy = 16
Sergio + Bayless = 16
Batum 8+8=16

by amlmart1 on Jan 25, 2009 8:13 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Couldn't Agree

Any more!!!

Lets get a lil Win Streak going…

"Awesome! Totally awesome! All right, Hamilton!"

by B-ROYalty on Jan 25, 2009 8:45 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Agree - The Utah game is huge - One thing we haven't done much with this year

is beat a contending playoff team. We beat SA early on, and the Celtics recently, but we need a few more wins against upper-tier teams. A win against Utah would be a start – plus, we catch them on a back-to-back, whereas we’ll have two days off. Even more thrilling would be a win over both New Orleans and Dallas next week after a win against Utah. I think this might happen, especially if Oden can continue his recent production and Roy coming out of his mini-slump. Should be very interesting.

by hotstuffdb22 on Jan 25, 2009 8:47 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs