PUT ME IN COACH

There's an ESPN Insider heading today on the sites front page posing the question of who should be Coach of the Year in the NBA, Greg Popovich (Spurs) or Tom Thibodeau (Bulls). I don't belong to Insider so I cant see what is written, but if there's a strong case made for Popovich then someone is just lying to themselves for the sake of an article. Have the spurs been the best team this year? Probably. They have had the leagues best record from about a month and a half in to the season through now. Despite a stretch run collapse equivalent to the New York Mets in recent years, they should be a lock for the #1 seed out of the West. Pop has been doing it for years. After falling off their blistering pace though, the Spurs could expect anywhere from 60 - 65 wins by seasons end which has become common place for the leagues best. He has also had the luxury of a team that, until a few weeks ago, had made it most of the season injury free. On the other hand this is Thibodeau's first time at the helm. He has steered a Bulls team coming off of two .500 seasons to the best record in the East and approximately an additional 20 wins, with essentially the same players. The Bulls have dealt with serious injuries all season, and yet Thibodeau's defensive system has gotten them through. Now a lot of the credit also has to go to Derrick Rose and him taking his game to a whole new level. During the aforementioned injuries, specifically to key players Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah who both missed 20+ games this season, Rose carried the team. Combined though, its been Thibodeau's coaching that has made Rose a complete player. Popovich and the Spurs have always been applauded for their success by playing team ball. It also helps though when you potentially have the greatest power forward ever in Tim Duncan surrounded by other all star talent for the better part of his career. Thibodeau has Rose, a couple of near all stars, and another handful of guys that never play or have been this close to being traded a handful of times. I take nothing away from the Spurs and their 2010 - 2011 campaign. Being 35 - 5 halfway through the season when everyone said the team was too old is nothing to sneeze at. For Popovich to be a serious contender though, I think the Spurs would have had to exceed greatness along the lines of 70 wins or doing it without one of their big three for most of the season. Sometimes its just not your year. Thibodeau has made the most of his opportunity to the point where you have to wonder if the Celtics would still bring back Doc Rivers for another title run, or part ways to lock up Thibodeau for the next decade if they could do it again. As it is, Thibodeau has a small cushion over his old team for the East's best record and the advantage of an easier schedule to close out the season. Then, in June, Thibodeau can focus on where he would rather catch up to Popovich as far as awards go.