Fat Boy Club

The New Orleans Hornets were originated as the Charlotte Hornets in 1988. The franchise has made postseason appearances in 12 seasons. To date, the team has won 5 playoff matchups and one divisional championship. 9 coaches have managed the New Orleans Hornets and most sportsbooks think the best 3 head coaches of the team are Allan Bristow, Byron Scott and Paul Silas.

No. 3: Allan Bristow (1991 – 1996)

Allan Bristow was the third head coach for the Hornets organization, and he spent his entire NBA coaching tenure with the team. Bristow led the Hornets in the second-highest number of regular-season games, with 410 at a winning share of (51%). With 207 regular-season wins, he was a single win short of sharing with Paul Silas the organization record for the most wins. He managed the squad in 13 postseason games, winning five of them for a winning percentage of (39%).

No. 2: Byron Scott (2004 – 2009)

Byron Scott is the sole coach for the Hornets to win the Coach of the Year, doing so in the 2007 to 2008 season. Scott is rated second among all Hornets head coaches regarding postseason games, with 17, winning 8 of them for a postseason winning share of (.471). Scott has coached the most games, with 419, and is ranked third with victories, with 203 at a winning percentage of (48%).

No.1: Paul Silas (1998 – 2003)

Paul Silas has coached the Hornets in the most playoff contests to date, with 29, at a winning proportion of (45%). He has led the Hornets to the most postseason victories, with 13. He’s been part of 363 regular-season contests with New Orleans, winning at a percentage of (.573), which ranks the second-highest among all Hornets coaches. Silas has the most victories for the organization, with 208. When he took control of the team he coached the Hornets for 35 games during the rest of the year, coming out on top in 22 of them, but didn’t manage to make the playoffs. In the full seasons that he led the team, he made the postseason each time. He led the franchise to 2 first-round playoffs and two conference semi-finals.

Paul Silas was about quality, and he reflected this with approximately 50 less regular-season games coached than the highest-ranked coach, but still managed to get the most regular-season wins with the franchise and the most postseason success with the team. Paul Silas is the greatest coach for the New Orleans Hornets.

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The New York Knicks managed to avoid elimination. New York held on for a 89-87 win at home in Game 4. Miami will look to close out the series at home, as the series shifts back to Miami for Game 5 on Wednesday. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 EST and will be broadcasted nationally on TNT.

Oddsmakers aren’t expecting the Knicks to make any more noise in the series. Taking a look at the NBA spreads for this game, The Heat are favored by 11-points over the Knicks with the total set at 183. For the latest on this series click this link.

Miami

The Heat have to like their chances of advancing to the Eastern Conference Semifinals on Wednesday. Miami had no difficulty disposing the Knicks in their first 2 games at home. They they won both game by at least 10 points, including a lopsided 100-67 beating in Game 1. While the Heat went into Game 4 with a commanding 3-0 lead in the series, I was unsatisfied with the effort they put out. I understand the Knicks are playing better defense, but there isn’t any reason for Miami to have just 61 points after three quarters. This team didn’t come to play. The great teams finish off their opponents in elimination games. Even though it likely won’t change the result of this series, it may be a factor later in the playoffs.

The huge concern I have with Miami right now is the shortage of production they’re getting from anyone not named Chris Bosh, LeBron James, Dwayne Wade. James finished with 27 points, Wade added 22 and Bosh chipped in 17 points and nine rebounds. The remainder of the team combined to score only 21 points. Nobody else had more than 6 points. That might be good enough to beat the Knicks, but this team isn’t about to win an NBA title with that kind of production from their role players.

New York

The Knicks win in Game 4 snapped a playoff record 13-game losing streak, but it came at a cost. New York lost starting point guard Baron Davis to a dislocated right kneecap. The Knicks had already lost Ian Shumpert to a torn ACL, and Jeremy Lin isn’t anticipated to be back for the remainder of the series. Getting a win over Miami should give the Knicks a ton of confidence going into Game 5, but it’s tough to visualize this team pulling off the upset on the road.

If New York plans on returning home for Game 6, they, will require a similar performance out of Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire. Anthony scored a game-high 41 points, while Stoudemire returned returned to action to score 20 points and grab 10 rebounds. Very similar to Miami, New York has to get a bit more out of their role players in Game 5. The remainder of the team combined for just 28 points, with J.R. Smith next on the scoring list with just 7 points.

Players like Steve Novak, Landry Feilds and Smith have to contribute more offensively. I don’t think there’s anyway you can expect Anthony to put up 41 points in Game 5. I look for James to really make a statement defensively on Anthony, and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he held him way below 30 points. If the rest of the team doesn’t contribute, Miami is going to runaway with this game. Very similar to they did in Game 1, when James held Anthony to just 11 points on 3 of 15 shooting.

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The Boston Celtics took a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Atlanta Hawks with a 101-79 win on Sunday. The Celtics have rebounded back from a 74-83 loss in Game 1 with three straight wins. The series returns to Atlanta on Tuesday for Game 5. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 EST and will be televised nationally on TNT.

Oddsmakers have the Hawks favored by 1-point over the Celtics with the total set at 174 points. Get the latest on this series at Betfirms.

Boston

The Celtics didn’t just beat the Hawks in Game 4, they totally dominated that game from start to finish. The Celtics took a 23-point lead into the half and were able to cruise the rest of the way. If Boston can carry over the momentum gained from that win, I’ve got a hard time seeing this series returning to Boston for Game 6. Not only do the Celtics look poised to go to the Eastern Conference Semifinals, but you’ve got to like their odds of getting back to the Conference Finals. With the injury to Derrick Rose, the top-seeded Chicago Bulls are one-game away from being sent home. If the Bulls go on to lose, it would set up a very favorable matchup against the 76ers in the following round.

It’s hard enough to beat the Celtics with the way that they play defense, but when they are hitting their shots like they did in Game 5 it’s almost impossible. Boston shot 51.3% from the field and were an impressive 11 for 26 (42.3%) from long distance. Paul Pierce had a game-high 24 points on 10 of 13 shooting (4-6 from 3-point range) and Rajon Rondo finished the game with 16 assists and 20 points.

There’s going to be a lot of people who jump on the Celtics in Game 5. While I can’t blame anybody for desiring to take Boston after the performance they put on in Game 4, I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t have some kind of a letdown. As ugly as the Hawks played in Game 4, you have to believe they’re going to come out and put everything on the line to keep their season alive.

Atlanta

Plain and simple, the Atlanta Hawks didn’t come to play in Game 4. It really seemed promising for Atlanta after they were able to take Game 1 of the series and Boston was going to be without Rondo in Game 2. 3 consecutive losses have completely changed everything. Whether or not the Hawks can win Game 5 at home, I give them little to no chance of winning Game 6 in Boston.

Even though it isn’t all that surprising the Hawks were unable to win a game on the road, I don’t think anybody saw this team losing by 22-points, particularly with the return of Al Horfod to the lineup. Surprisingly, Horford played very well in his first game back. He had 12 points and 5 rebounds in just 20 minutes off action. Sadly the remainder of the team didn’t show up. Josh Smith was the sole starter in double-figures with 15 points, but he shot a miserable 5 of 13 from the field. Joe Johnson, who the Hawks greatly depends on offensively, had just 9 points. He was a respectable 4 of 8 from the field, but the Hawks have no shot at winning when he takes just eight field-goal attempts.

It wasn’t just the offense that failed to show up. Atlanta put forth minimal effort on the defensive side of the ball. I understand the Celtics were hitting almost everything they shot but a large amount of that was a result of wide open looks. It all starts with the poor defense being played on Rondo. When Rondo is able to do as he pleases, the Celtics offense becomes awfully efficient. Kirk Hinrich and Jeff Teague have to put more pressure on Rondo and do whatever it takes to get the ball out of his hands.

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The Indiana Pacers turned into a member of the ABA in 1967. The Pacers made a dynasty on the way to three ABA Championships, in 1970, 1972 and 1973. The successfulness of the team after switching to the NBA dwindled and the squad is yet to win the NBA championship. 14 head coaches have managed the Indiana Pacers. Our NBA handicappers assume the top three head coaches of All-time are Larry Brown, Larry Bird and Bobby Leonard.

No. 3: Larry Brown (1993 – 1997)

The Hall of Fame coach is tied for 2nd in Pacers history in regular-season games on the bench, with 328. He shares this total of contests with Jack McKinney and Rick Carlisle. His regular-season winning % stands at (53%), the second-highest by any Indiana head coach, having won 190 regular season contests, which is also ranked the second-highest. In the playoffs his winning rate stands at (.579), having led the Pacers in 38 playoff contests, winning 22 of them.

No. 2: Larry Bird (1997 – 2000)

Larry Bird spent his entire NBA coaching career with the Indiana Pacers. In his 3 years as boss coach he became the front-runner in winning % for the Pacers with (.687), having led the organization in 328 regular-season games and winning 190 of them. Bird also leads the organization in playoff winning percentage with (62%), having managed the team in 52 playoff contests, the second-highest by any Pacers boss, and winning 32 of these contests. Larry Bird was awarded Coach of the Year for the 1997 to 1998 season and is the sole coach of the franchise to lead the team to an Eastern Conference championship, but his team was taken down in the 2000 NBA Finals by the Los Angeles Lakers.

No. 1: Bobby Leonard (1968 – 1980)

As quickly as Bobby Leonard’s name is discussed, Indiana fans quickly think of the three ABA titles he brought to the franchise. He coached the team in a giant 985 regular-season contests, about three times as much as the next-highest total. He heads the team in most regular-season victories, with a formidable 529. He also holds the records for most postseason games coached and won, with 116 and 69 , respectively. His playoff winning percentage stands at (53%). The titles that Leonard won with the Pacers were achieved in 1970, 1972 and 1973.

Bobby Leonard is a cut above the rest in terms of the success he was able to have with the Pacers. Although faced with financial issues after the NBA alliance that saw his groups struggle for the primary 4 seasons of the NBA, he will be remembered for the wonderful success of the three ABA titles. Bobby Leonard is the greatest head coach for the Indiana Pacers.

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The Wizards have seen their organization move from city to city before finally settling in Washington in 1974. They were first called the Chicago Packers in 1961, as the first modern growth of the NBA. Nevertheless after only one year they changed their team from the Chicago Packers to the Zephyrs. In 1963 the franchise moved to Baltimore and became the Baltimore Bullets. In 1964, the Bullets managed to get Bailey Howell who became a great asset and helped them reach the postseason for the 1st time in franchise history.

In 1967, the team drafted two future hall of famers in Earl “the Pearl” Monroe and Wes Unseld. The organization improved significantly in 1969, but didn’t beat the New York Knicks in the first round. They would again meet in the 1970 playoffs, but NY would knock them out of the postseason once again. By the early 1970s the team managed to build a new core, despite trading away Earl Monroe and Gus Johnson. They acquired Elvin Hayes and drafted Kevin Porter to build a solid core around Unseld.

In 1973 the team moved yet again and modified their name yet again to be the Washington Bullets. In the 1975-76 season, the Bullets sailed through the regular season with a 60-22 record. They would make easy work of their opponents en route to their first championship appearance. They went into the NBA Finals heavily favored against Golden State, but would fail to win a single game. In the 1977-78 season, the Bullets would get redemption, as they returned to the NBA Finals and defeated the Seattle SuperSonics in 7 games to win their one championship in franchise history. Have a look at our odds to win the NBA Finals for 2012 to see if Washington is in the mix to win it all this season.

Though the organization has had tons of great players since Unseld retired from the game in the 1981 season, they haven’t ever been able to copy their success in the 70s. By 1995 the team was renamed the Washington Wizards. They featured players like Rex Chapman, Calbert Cheaney, Pervis Ellison, Chris Webber, Gheorge Muhresan, Rod Strickland, Juwan Howard, Gilbert Arenas and Larry Hughes in different time frames,but they’d never find long-lived success.

So the best team in franchise history is the 1977-78 team. That team won the organization’s only title and they featured hall of famers Wes Unseld and Elvin Hayes. That group of players truely played liked champs and are worthy of the title as the greatest team in franchise history.

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The Charlotte Bobcats joined the NBA in 2004, and are still trying to get on track. there were 4 head coaches so far in the Bobcats history and not one of them have managed to win a playoff game for the franchise. The best head coaches for the Charlotte Bobcats are Larry Brown, Bernie Bickerstaff and Sam Vincent.

No. 3: Sam Vincent (2007 “2008)

It’s not really saying much to include Sam Vincent as one of the best Bobcats coaches. He coached Charlotte for just one season (2007-08) and his team finished with 32-50 overall record. The sole other coach outside of the three on the list, is current coach Paul Silas. As unpleasant as Vincent was in his only year, Silas has arguably been worse. There’s no doubt there will be a better head coach to come along and kick Vincent off the list, it might take a few years with how tough the team is at present struggling.

No. 2: Bernie Bickerstaff (2004 “2007)

Bernie Bickerstaff had the difficult task of being the inaugural coach of the Charlotte Bobcats. While Bickerstaff lasted 3 seasons, his teams never finished with a winning record. Although the losing could not save his job, it is worth noting that Bickerstaff’s team showed improvement each year. In his first year the team went just 18-64. In his final season they’d end up 33-49. Bickerstaff gets a lot of respect for taking over a horrible team and at least making them competitive.

No. 1: Larry Brown (2008 “2010)

Hall of Fame head coach Larry Brown came into Charlotte with the expectation that he could turn this organisation around. Brown was able to lead the Bobcats to their very first winning record and very first playoff appearance in the 2009-10 season. Charlotte finished up the year 44-38 but were swept by the Orlando Magic in the 1st round. Brown’s run in Charlotte would end in discontent, as he stopped coaching the team the following season after the Bobcats got off to a miserable 9-19 start.

Ten years from now not one of these coaches could remain on the list, but when a team has only 4 head coaches in its history it’s not tough to select the top 3 and it is even easier when just one of them have carried the team to the playoffs. Have a look at our 2012 NBA championship odds to find out which teams are in the running this season. For his accomplishments with the Charlotte Bobcats, Larry Brown is the greatest head coach of All time for the Charlotte Bobcats.

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Although the Indiana Pacers had a lot of success as a member of the ABA from 1967-1976, winning 3 titles, things took a turn for the worse when they joined the NBA in 1976. They fielded players like Billy Knight and Don Buse. But they would have limited success in their first 13 seasons in the NBA. In that period of time the Pacers made only 2 postseason appearances and finished with just 3 winning seasons. Management is to blame for most of the teams inability to win. They traded their promising young players for old and out of their prime players. They traded Don Buse and Billy Knight in the 1978 season for Adrian Dantley, but traded him away after only a few months. They later traded a draft pick in the 1980s for a barely used center, Tom Owens, and traded away Alex English for a past his prime George McGinnis.

It wasn’t till 1987 when they drafted Reggie Miller did things start to head in the right direction. They missed the playoffs in Miller’s rookie season, but it allowed them to draft center Rik Smits. They were also able to swing a trade that landed them the Sixth Man of the Year in Detlef Schrempf. By the point they signed Larry Brown as their head coach in the 1993-94 season, they already had some valuable pieces in their search to get back to the playoffs. They traded away Detlef Schrempf for Derrick McKey and Gerald Paddio. They managed to reach the conference finals and finally permitted Reggie Miller to demonstrate his late game heroics.

For the following few seasons, Miller led the team to the conference finals before losing to teams like the Chicago Bulls and Orlando Magic. It was not till the 1998-1999 season that the Pacers finally got over the hump and made the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history. They’d go on to lose to the L. A. Lakers in 6 games and are still attempting to get back to the Finals to this date. Check our NBA Championship Odds to see which teams are in the running to win it all this season.

The Greatest team in franchise history could arguably go to the 1998-1999 team that went to the finals, but the shortened season might dissuade some hard-core fans. Thus I believe the greatest teamthe history of the Pacers should go to the 1997-98 Pacers. Under head coach Larry Bird, the Pacers would have a 19 game turn around to complete with a record of 58-24. They’d go on a magical playoff run breezing past the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks before losing to the Jordan-led Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals.

That team had tons of heart and played with great grit and resolve. They may have failed to get to the NBA Finals, but the proven fact that they pushed the Jordan-led Bulls to seven games makes them the best Indiana Pacers team ever.

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The Houston Rockets were originated in 1967 as the San Diego Rockets. After moving to Texas, the Rockets won the NBA Championship in 1994 and 1995. There have been 12 head coaches who’ve led the Rockets in their team history. The top sportsbooks see the top 3 head coaches for the Houston Rockets are Del Harris, Bill Fitch and Rudy Tomjanovich.

No. 3: Del Harris (1979 – 1983)

Del Harris coached the franchise in 31 postseason games at a winning share of (48%), winning 15 contests and just missing a winning record. In the regular season he coached the organization in 328 contests but won just 141 of them for a winning percentage of (43%). Despite some lack of regular-season success, Del Harris led Houston to the NBA Finals in 1981. He was succeeded by Bill Fitch, who made a place on this ranking too.

No. 2: Bill Fitch (1983 -1988)

Bill Fitch coached Houston for 410 regular-season games at a winning proportion of (.527). He won 216 regular-season contests, which rates second among all Houston head coaches. His postseason success stands at a (.538) winning p.c., having led the team in 39 playoff games, coming out ahead in 21. Fitch was famous for quickly improving losing teams and turning them around so they became good. He led the team to the 1986 NBA Championship but lost to the Boston Celtics that year. In five years with the Rockets, he managed to carry the team to the playoffs each year, except for his first year with the organization.

No. 1: Rudy Tomjanovich (1992 – 2003)

Rudy Tomjanovich paces every other Houston head coaches in regular-season games managed, victories, playoff games coached and playoff wins. He coached the organization in a sum total of 900 regular-season contests, winning 503 of them for a winning share of (.559). In the postseason he led the team in another round number of contests, 90, winning 51 for a winning percentage of (.567). Rudy Tomjanovich also brought the sole 2 NBA titles to Houston, winning a championship in 1994 and defending the championship in 1995. The capability of the Rockets and Tomjanovich to be successful could never be underestimated.

Tomjanovich brought the greatest success to the Houston Rockets franchise and was able to lead the team to well-deserved NBA success, with 2 back-to-back NBA titles during his time in Houston. Rudy Tomjanovich is the greatest coach for the Houston Rockets.

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The New Orleans Hornets first came into theNBA as the Charlotte Hornets in 1988. Typical of an expansion team, the Hornets struggled in their first couple of years of existence. They did not make the playoffs till the 1992-93 season. The 1992-93 Hornets team was led by rookie Alonzo Mourning, Larry Johnson and Muggsy Bogues. The Hornets eliminated the Boston Celtics in the opening round but would fall to the Knicks in the next round. Despite earning a playoff spot seven times, the Hornets attendance dropped until the franchise was relocated to New Orleans in 2002.

In New Orleans the organization would experience different levels of success, making the playoffs but losing in the first round. In the 2004 season, the team finished with a franchise worst record of 18-64, their first season with a losing record since 1992. In the 2005 draft, the Hornets selected point guard Chris Paul with the fourth pick. It didn’t take long for Paul to turn the franchise into a challenger, as many consider him to be the greatest Hornets player ever.

Because of the destruction of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the team relocated its base operations to Oklahoma City for 2 years till they could go back tp New Orleans in 2007. In the 2007-08 season, the team returned to New Orleans full time and had a winning record of 56-26, winning their first ever division title and clinching the number 2 seed in the West. They would go on to beat the Dallas Mavericks in the opening round before getting knocked out to the defending champion San Antonio Spurs in 7 games in the Western Conference Semi-finals. Check our odds to win the NBA Finals for a better look at which teams are in the running to win it all this year.

In the 2008-09 season, New Orleans would compile a 49-33 record but would lose to the Denver Nuggets in the 1st round. After failing to make the postseason in the 2010 season, they would make it back in 2011 with a 46-36 record and a first round match-up with the Los Angeles Lakers. They’d lose in 6 games and Chris Paul would afterwards ask for a trade till he was shipped to the LA Clippers on December 14, 2011.

The best New Orleans Hornets team in history has to go to the 2007-08 Hornets. After Hurricane Katrina’s devastating effects in 2005, the team looked to play inspired basketball in transit to their 56-26 record and a second round playoff berth. Although they’d lose in the second round, their performance that year was little short of uplifing.

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The San Antonio Spurs joined the then ABA in 1967. In the first stages of the franchise it fought to create a loyal fan base. After the organization was relocated to San Antonio, the franchise started to build itself as an elite club and would win itheir first title in 1999. Eighteen coaches have been a part of this franchise till now. The top three head coaches of the San Antonio Spurs are Gregg Popovich, Stan Albeck and Bob Hill.

No. 3: Bob Hill (1994 “1996)

Bob Hill was the predecessor of Gregg Popovich. He ended his time in San Antionio with a .681 winning percentage in 182 regular season games. He coached the team in 25 postseasongames with a winning percentage of (.560). He brought the Spurs their best regular season record of 62 wins in the 1994-95 season. In the 1996-97 season Hill’s Spurs got off to a dismal 3-15 start and as a consequence he was fired.

No. 2: Stan Albeck (1980 “1983)

The 9th coach of the Spurs was Stan Albeck, who is ranked second in most playoff games coached by a Spurs at 27. His playoff winning percentage stands at (.481). He posted a .622 winning percentage in 246 regular season games. Albeck’s regular season winning percantage is 5th on the all time list for Spurs head coaches. Albeck guaranteed the team came first in the Midwest all 3 seasons he was there, but never managed to make it pass the Conference Finals.

No. 1: Gregg Popovich (1996 “Present)

The current coach of the San Antonio Spurs has won 4 titles with the franchise, including their first championship in 1999. Check out our 2012 NBA championship odds to see if San Antionio is one of the teams to beat this year. He won the other titles in 2003, 2005 and 2007. The coach has made the playoffs in thirteen seasons and has a playoff winning percentage of (.631). Popovich has been the coach of San Antonio in 1,180 regular season games, winning 797 of them for a winning percentage of (.675). He's the Spurs all time leader in regular season games and playoff games coached and was named Coach of the Year for the 2002-03 season. He has spent his complete coaching career with the Spurs. Poppovich is known to always have a sarcastic nature in his interviews with the media. The coach drafted Tim Duncan and nurtured the player in building a dynasty for the Spurs franchise.

Greg Popovich is responsible for truly cementing the Spurs organization within the NBA. He brought to the San Antonio all four titles they currently hold. Popovich’s name is synonymous with the San Antonio Spurs and his great legacy continues to live on. Gregg Popovich is deservingly the greatest coach of the San Antonio Spurs.

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