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Pat Riley is a greater basketball mind than Gregg Popovich and Phil Jackson
Posted on 5/22/23 at 6:55 am
Posted on 5/22/23 at 6:55 am
Assuming the Heat closes out the Celtics, Riley will make his 16th NBA Finals appearances as a head coach or executive over a 42 year span (1981-2023). He's made NBA Finals in six consecutive decades as a head coach or executive.
Phil Jackson struggled as an executive with the Knicks without Jordan, Shaq, or Kobe. Gregg Popovich hasn't made it back to the NBA Finals without Tim Duncan and if he does make it back one day, it'll be on the back of being gifted another generational superstar in Victor Wembanyama. Pat Riley made two NBA Finals appearances after losing LeBron James. He took over a NBA franchise that had been in existence for seven years and had only two NBA playoff appearances to their name and turned them into a powerhouse. Pat Riley is the GOAT basketball mind.
Phil Jackson struggled as an executive with the Knicks without Jordan, Shaq, or Kobe. Gregg Popovich hasn't made it back to the NBA Finals without Tim Duncan and if he does make it back one day, it'll be on the back of being gifted another generational superstar in Victor Wembanyama. Pat Riley made two NBA Finals appearances after losing LeBron James. He took over a NBA franchise that had been in existence for seven years and had only two NBA playoff appearances to their name and turned them into a powerhouse. Pat Riley is the GOAT basketball mind.
17
Posted on 5/22/23 at 7:24 am to Bench McElroy
Dude really is great.
Posted on 5/22/23 at 7:33 am to Bench McElroy
We counting the bubble playoffs now 
In all seriousness though, yeah he’s been the best
In all seriousness though, yeah he’s been the best
Posted on 5/22/23 at 7:37 am to Bench McElroy
quote:
Pat Riley is the GOAT basketball mind.
He is better than the two you mentioned but Jerry West might be the GOAT in the front office. 8 rings while in executive positions.
This post was edited on 5/22/23 at 7:41 am
Posted on 5/22/23 at 8:51 am to Bench McElroy
That has always been true.
Posted on 5/22/23 at 8:55 am to Bench McElroy
I saw a tweet that said as a player, coach, or executive hes made almost 25% of all NBA finals
Posted on 5/22/23 at 9:06 am to Bench McElroy
Posted on 5/22/23 at 9:42 am to Bench McElroy
On top of everything in the OP, he won a title as a player. Also was 1st team AA and SEC player of the year at UK. Even played in that title game vs. Texas Western. Dude has been in the mix at the highest level for almost 60 years.
Posted on 5/22/23 at 10:12 am to Bench McElroy
I grew up a Celtics fan in New England in the 60's, moved to Miami in 1968 and I was still a Celtics fan in 1995. Also being an LSU alum, I also hated Riley because because he was a Kentucky guy in addition to hating him as coach of the Lakers and Knicks as Celitc fandom requires.
Everybody associates Riley with the Showtime Lakers but he took over a 32-win Heat team and won 61 games in year 2 on a roster and culture based on tencaious defense. It was fun to watch and I've been a fan ever since.
Everybody associates Riley with the Showtime Lakers but he took over a 32-win Heat team and won 61 games in year 2 on a roster and culture based on tencaious defense. It was fun to watch and I've been a fan ever since.
Posted on 5/22/23 at 10:19 am to Bench McElroy
Posted on 5/22/23 at 10:32 am to Bench McElroy
Building this Miami team to make two Finals without a LeBron/Shaq/Magic/Ewing-level superstar at a time when the East is fairly strong is the most impressive thing he's ever done IMO.
Posted on 5/22/23 at 10:38 am to Bench McElroy
Maybe his best move was selecting Eric Spoelstra as his successor to coach the Heat, and then sticking with him during some tough times and heavy criticism early in his tenure.
Posted on 5/22/23 at 11:11 am to Bench McElroy
Recency bias is so awesome.
Pat Riley has been great for a long long time. 1 more current deep run does not push him over the top
Pat Riley has been great for a long long time. 1 more current deep run does not push him over the top
Posted on 5/22/23 at 12:43 pm to Bench McElroy
He deserves credit for sticking with Spoelstra after the disasterous finals against the Mavericks. Most executives would have fired Spoelstra in that instance.
He stuck by him, and that has paid off dividends in the years since.
He stuck by him, and that has paid off dividends in the years since.
Posted on 5/22/23 at 2:42 pm to Bench McElroy
Riley, Red Auerbach and Jerry West are the top three IMO. Pop and Jackson as coaches can’t be ignored. But they haven’t really proved it on the executive side.
Posted on 5/22/23 at 4:08 pm to Bench McElroy
Miami and Denver are both teams that have been built over time and have long tenured coaches. It's nice to see in an era where everyone's trying to buy a championship.
I heard a few people today saying the Lakers gotta go get Kyrie. If they do that i doubt they would be able to keep guys like Reaves and Rui.
I heard a few people today saying the Lakers gotta go get Kyrie. If they do that i doubt they would be able to keep guys like Reaves and Rui.
Posted on 5/22/23 at 6:09 pm to Bench McElroy
David Aldridge
@davidaldridgedc
·
20h
Pat Riley is one win away from his 19th appearance in an NBA Finals as a player, coach or executive. Nineteen! That will mean Riley has either played in, coached in or been his team's top decision maker in 24.7 percent of ALL THE FINALS in NBA history!
@davidaldridgedc
·
20h
Pat Riley is one win away from his 19th appearance in an NBA Finals as a player, coach or executive. Nineteen! That will mean Riley has either played in, coached in or been his team's top decision maker in 24.7 percent of ALL THE FINALS in NBA history!
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