Warriors Coach Steve Kerr Comes In Second Place For NBA Coach Of The Year

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- Even Warrior fans can't argue with this one.

Mike Budenholzer was the right choice as the NBA Coach of the Year.  No hanging chads, no East Coast bias, no Southern Hospitality.  Just the right pick.

Budenholzer received 67 first-places votes and 513 points in voting by sports writers with Kerr taking 56 first-place votes and 471 points.   Despite Kerr leading the Warriors to a franchise record 67 wins, he inherited a Mark Jackson team that won 51 games the year prior.  Let's face it, the Warriors roster was stacked.

Like Jim Harbaugh, Kerr inherited a gold mine.  Harbaugh couldn't get the 49ers a Super Bowl ring.  Kerr, though, has it better than Harbaugh.  But how battle-tested is he as a head coach?  A few media pundits pondered that thought in the make-shift press box as the Warriors surged towards a two-nothing series lead over the Pelicans.   That answer will come soon enough.

Mike Budenholzer coached an injury-plagued Hawks team that when 38-44 last year.�� Then there multitude of off-season issues ranging from an racially insensitive owner to general manager Danny Ferry who has missed the entire season after making racially insensitive remarks about Luol Deng's African heritage.   And you thought the 49ers had issues.

So all the Hawks did was put together a 19-game winning streak, win 60 games and grab the top spot in the Eastern Conference.  Along with his coaching duties, Budenholzer handled player personnel decisions when Ferry got an extended vacation.   No wonder he cried tears of joy at his coach of the year press conference.   Rock on, Budenholzer.

I'm not totally jumping ship on the Warriors with this blog because Budenholzer, as fate would have it, began his NBA career as an intern for the Warriors.  No, really.  An INTERN!    What was he doing, logging tapes of Big Smoothie for Don Nelson?    "Hey Budenholzer, get me another Bud!"

Don't sweat it, Warrior fans.  Steve Kerr's time will come.   Not even the East Coast writers can prevent the Warriors from winning a championship.

See you on TV.