Fansided

20 bold predictions for the NBA’s second half

By Luke Dahlgren

Feb 14, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Magic Johnson (left) speaks during a tribute to Western Conference forward Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers (right) prior to the start of the NBA All Star Game at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 14, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Magic Johnson (left) speaks during a tribute to Western Conference forward Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers (right) prior to the start of the NBA All Star Game at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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October 27, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry (left), interim head coach Luke Walton (center), and head coach Steve Kerr (right) stand before the game for the ring ceremony at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
October 27, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry (left), interim head coach Luke Walton (center), and head coach Steve Kerr (right) stand before the game for the ring ceremony at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Steve Kerr will share the NBA Coach of the Year Award with Luke Walton

With respect to Rick Carlisle and Stan Van Gundy, the NBA’s coach of the year award is really a “two horse” race in 2016. Either the award goes to Spurs legend Gregg Popovich, or to whomever voters want for the Warriors, either Steve Kerr or interim Luke Walton.

This begs the question: ¿Por que no los dos?

Walton has done well, not only alone but also while supporting head coach Steve Kerr. Likewise, Kerr has been more than welcoming in sharing the spotlight with Walton, even allowing him to do some interactive job shadowing …

Jun 14, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr and assistant coach Luke Walton reacts to a call during the second quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in game five of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 14, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr and assistant coach Luke Walton reacts to a call during the second quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in game five of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
January 25, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr (right) and assistant coach Luke Walton (left) during the fourth quarter against the San Antonio Spurs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Spurs 120-90. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
January 25, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr (right) and assistant coach Luke Walton (left) during the fourth quarter against the San Antonio Spurs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Spurs 120-90. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
April 18, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors assistant coach Luke Walton (left) and head coach Steve Kerr (right) react during the second quarter in game one of the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the New Orleans Pelicans at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Pelicans 106-99. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
April 18, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors assistant coach Luke Walton (left) and head coach Steve Kerr (right) react during the second quarter in game one of the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the New Orleans Pelicans at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Pelicans 106-99. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Adorable.

In 2012, the NFL gave it’s Coach of the Year award to an interim, Bruce Arians after he helped to lead the Indianapolis Colts to the playoffs with a first year quarterback and a first year staff. That situation was different; Arians essentially coached the entire year in place of a head coach who hadn’t had time to exert his influence on a team.

Walton, though he has done a bang-up job, led a team with an already established lineup and philosophy. His job wasn’t to shape the team; it was to keep the team running. This makes him less eligible than Arians was for the NFL in 2012.

Kerr is back, and as it becomes solidified that the Warriors are the class of the NBA, he will be given his first NBA Coach of the Year Award. But Kerr has made it known that he wishes to give Walton credit for what he has done.

From ESPN:

"“I think it’s ridiculous,” Kerr told ESPN.com when asked about getting all of Walton’s wins. “I’m sitting in the locker room and watching the games on TV, and I’m not even traveling to most of the road games. Luke’s doing all the work with the rest of the staff. Luke is 15-0* right now. I’m not. So it’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard, to be honest with you. I don’t even understand it.”"

So, it would be likely that Kerr would give a large chunk of the credit to Walton for the award, essentially sharing it with him.

*At this point, Walton is unofficially 39-4 as head coach

Next: Trade deadline

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