INITIALLY, I grappled with Mike Brown — endowed with the planet’s hottest selling/performing platinum player, LeBron James — being voted NBA Coach of the Year. Upon deliberation I realize the Cavaliers’ coordinator is atypical in that he didn’t mess up a good thing. Clearly, Brown has his priorities in order . . . by sticking to his Hippocratic Oath: First let me do no harm.
The Raptors aren’t distinct in considering Italian Ettore Messina as their head coach for next season, I’m informed. Two fail-safe sources reveal the Kings also are contemplating turning over the sidelines to the first ever non-American.
Currently coaching Cska Moscow, Messina was recently contacted by a Sacramento representative regarding interest in an interview. It’s in stone Raptors president Bryan Colangelo plans to meet with Messina during the European Final Four in Berlin (Barcelona vs. Cska, and Olympiacos vs. Panathinaikos) beginning May 1.
That’s official. Unofficially, I hear the Nets have made it known they intend to reach out to him as well.
Who says Shaquille O’Neal was off target in his denunciation of Stan Van Gundy? Due to Dwight Howard’s debility at the welfare line I understand being nervous about feeding him in the final frenzy of an unsecured playoff game. But how do you not go to your strength (31 points and 16 rebounds) more often in the fourth and instead settle for a predominance of springers?
One person on Orlando’s payroll — asking for anonymity so he can stay there — claims Shaq was on the money, too, regarding players’ distaste for Van Gundy. How can you like someone who’s forever moaning and groaning in public view when things go wrong and, in fact, frequently when they go right?
Characteristically, Van Gundy could not hide his displeasure at his team after Theo Ratliff tracked down an offensive rebound and Donyell Marshall tied Game 1 Sunday with his third trey of the night. His snit fit temporarily delayed calling a timeout. A half minute later, following a dry heave on Orlando’s last possession, there he was again whimpering about whatever as he walked from the bench.
Meanwhile, down the sideline a piece, Tony DiLeo looked completely composed as the 76ers rushed back from 18 points down.
Loved how his team spaced the floor and ran pick-and-rolls.
Loved how DiLeo relied on the experience of hardly-used formidable fossil Donyell Marshall at crunch time. Marshall went for 11 points in 11 minutes while averaging but 3.8 and 7.6 in 25 regular season games, whereas Ratliff recorded seven points, three rebounds and two blocks in 24 minutes; he averaged 1.9 points, 2.8 boards and 12.6 minutes.
Loved how he didn’t lose faith in Andre Iguodala after he’d blown two critical free throws that would’ve given Philly a one-point lead with just over a minute to go.
Loved how DiLeo showed confidence in Iguodala by putting the ball in his hands for the 76ers’ game-winner; the other part was recognizing this was the team’s best player at creating and downing a shot made incredibly difficult by defender Hedo Turkoglu.
Philly’s bench (Marshall and Ratliff hit 7-of-9 from the field) outscored Orlando’s, 42-13. Making matters worse, Howard had to visit the ophthalmologist after Samuel Dalembert give him an uncalled for eye exam.
Good thing Jeff Turner is tanned, rested and ready.
Fifteen coaches received votes in the media poll for coaching honors. DiLeo was the lone interim to get named on a (third place) ballot. He finished in a tie for last with Rick Carlisle and Scott Skiles despite turning the Elton Brand-less 76ers into a playoff team after replacing Maurice Cheeks.
Van Gundy finished third. He received 13 first place votes, 20 seconds and 25 thirds for a total of 150, one fewer than second place Rick Adelman and 205 fewer than Brown despite showing unmistakable promise for having what it takes to mess up the Magic’s good thing.
“Is it just me or is Jeff Van Gundy the most irritating and annoying announcer out there?” reader Sam Lefkowitz wonders.
No contest! But I that’s only because we have yet to be subjected to Stan’s incessant whining. It’s unimaginable (thankfully) what it must’ve been like at the Van Gundy dinner table when “Stan and Ollie” were kids.
As long as we’re on the topic of TV, when the Celtics and Bulls got down to the wire, both in regulation and overtime, why in the world would ESPN shrink the screen to show the all-important first few seconds of Pistons-Cavs?
Reportedly ESPN will not renew the contract of Stephen A. Smith when it expires next month. Ten out of 10 atheists surveyed finally believe there is a God.
Last item before we call it a column: What do you think happens first? The Blazers guard Yao Ming or the Hornets locate Chauncey Billups?