If anyone can lend credence as to why Nate McMillan should at least be mentioned in the Coach of the Year talks, it’s Byron Scott. Scott received the award last season, easily showing shades of what McMillan has brought to life this season in Portland.

Last year McMillan and I sat in his office at the Rose Garden before a late season home game talking about the award and who should receive it. Scott was his choice then. Not shocking. When I broached the topic Friday night with the Los Angeles Lakers in town, McMillan played the Mike Brown card. Not shocking.

McMillan also played the modest card. He didn’t have to worry about that last year. But this season, it’s a topic he really can’t avoid. And when I tried to draw the comparison to Scott, Nate wasn’t having it. Still not shocking.

“People expected them (Cleveland) to be good. So I would look at Mike (Brown),” he told me for a story I was working on for HOOPSWORLD.

But isn’t that why McMillan should have a dog in the fight? Everyone expected Cleveland “to be good”. No one in the world anticipated Portland’s “Uprise” this fast, even this season.

I touched on this last week in a post – minus the Byron Scott factor - so won’t re-hash it here. But you have to at least recognize the similarities in their paths.

Four seasons; the victories; where their respective clubs finish in the West a season apart.

Now, Scott’s turnaround may have been more dramatic last season – with his New Orleans Hornets improving by 20 wins and the way they owed the West – but it’s worth the debate on mentioning Nate McMillan in the C.O.Y conversation because of Scott.

It’s a conversation that should be had.

pic via:espn.com

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