Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, May 14, 1990 TAG: 9005140270
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: INGLEWOOD, CALIF. LENGTH: Medium
Riley's teams have won four NBA titles over eight seasons, including consecutive championships in 1987 and 1988. Yet it is his first coach of the year award. The award is voted on by NBA writers.
"I get a lot of credit for not getting enough credit," he once quipped.
Riley, 45, has said that the reason he had never been honored was that the Lakers were considered too talented not to win.
"When I got the head coaching job in 1981, I was looked at as a lucky guy who just walked into a situation where I had talented players," he said. "As the team continued to win, it was taken for granted."
This year, however, the Lakers' strong regular season has been followed by a sporadic effort in the playoffs. After eliminating Houston in four games in the first round, Los Angeles trails Phoenix 3-1 in a best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series.
Riley led the Lakers to a 63-19 regular-season record, the best in the league, and a ninth consecutive Pacific Division title.
Riley, voted The Associated Press professional coach of the decade for the 1980s, has compiled unequalled numbers:
His 102 playoff wins leads all NBA coaches.
His regular-season winning percentage of .733 (533-194) is the highest in NBA history.
In January, Riley became the 13th coach in NBA history to win 500 games. He did it in 684 games, fastest of any coach.
He took the Lakers to the NBA Finals in each of his first four seasons, bringing home two titles.
Under Riley, the Lakers have won at least 60 games five of the last six seasons. In 1987-88, they became the first team to win 60 games in four consecutive seasons.
A former Lakers broadcaster who joined the team as an assistant to head coach Paul Westhead in 1979, Riley replaced Westhead as head coach in November 1981. During a nine-year NBA career, Riley played for the San Diego Rockets, the Lakers and the Suns.
Keywords:
BASKETBALL
by CNB