Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, May 15, 1990 TAG: 9005150104
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: INGLEWOOD, CALIF. LENGTH: Medium
"I know it's sort of ironic now, having our backs against the wall, but it is one I will cherish," Riley, whose Los Angeles Lakers are on the verge of their earliest playoff elimination in nine years, said Monday at the Forum.
"I'm really blown away by it. I'm tremendously honored. There have been a lot of great men, a lot of great coaches, who have won this award.
"It is a little bit of an irony, but I want to tell you right now, we have an opportunity to do something very significant and I have a feeling we will."
The Lakers, down 3-1 to Phoenix, play host to the Suns tonight in Game 5 of their Western Conference semifinal. Only four teams in NBA history have come back from a 3-1 deficit to win a best-of-seven playoff series.
Since Riley was named the Lakers' coach on Nov. 19, 1981, his teams have won four NBA titles - including back-to-back crowns in '87 and '88 - lost in the final three times and lost in the conference finals once.
This season, the Lakers (63-19) had the NBA's best regular-season record and won a ninth straight Pacific Division title. Under Riley, the Lakers have won at least 60 games five of the past six seasons.
Riley, 45, received 52 of 92 votes from a nationwide panel of sportswriters and broadcasters - three from each league city and 11 members of the national media. Philadelphia's Jim Lynam was second with 14 1/2 votes. Rick Adelman of Portland was third with 12 1/2 votes, followed by Detroit's Chuck Daly (5) and San Antonio's Larry Brown (4).
Riley, named The Associated Press professional coach of the 1980s, has a lifetime record of 533-194 and the .733 winning percentage is best in league history. In January, he became the 13th coach in NBA history to win 500 games. He did it in 684 games, fastest of any coach.
Keywords:
BASKETBALL
by CNB