Is Pat Riley the GOAT?

[WayOutWest]

My favorite coach of all time, IMO the greatest coach of all time, all due respect to Chuck Dailey, Larry Brown, Rivers, and Pop. Have no idea about coaches pre-1985 so my opinion could be off.

Now Riley is becomming the greatest GM/Coach ever! As a pure GM, "The Logo" is the GOAT, but as far as a guy who has been sucessful in both positions, Riley is unequaled IMO. He pulled off the Shaq robbery from the Lakers that got Miami a title, although technically the Lakers did parlay the Shaq trade in to two championships. Then Riley reloads the Heat with LeBron and Bosh for another title by being the closer at the pitch meeting. Now Riley is convincing great talent to hop on board the championship express and take a reduced role along with a reduced paycheck.

My Laker bias has just reawakened and informed me tha Mitch has actually done better, he has just as many titles and never let the Lakers drop to the lows that Miami has hit. While it may make Mitch a better GM, I don't think Mitch is the closer that Riley has shown to be recently, if he was Dwight would be a Laker already or Bynum wouldn't have the "I don't care if I'm a "Laker" attitude. Plus Mitch can't take the reigns of the team once he realizes Mike Brown is a horrible coach.

[Randy]

I think there is a difference, IMO.  Riley has been given a blank check to make the moves he wants and be the GM without any interference.  Mitch used to have a great deal of operating ability but I don't believe Mitch had any say in choosing Mike Brown as a coach.  I think that Jim Buss is calling the shots now and wanting to put his own stamp on the Lakers and he, IMO, has almost made Mitch's job as GM more like a GM on puppet strings.  Mitch is trying to make trades and such but often he finds out that Jim is pulling strings and he doesn't know how to do it.  IMO, we should all be thankful that Jim didn't mess up the Steve Nash signing. 

Oh, have I mentioned how much I hate that Mike Brown is the coach for the Lakers?  There are several coaches I would have like to have seen go to the Lakers -- Brown wasn't one of them.  Mitch can't fire Mike Brown -- he didn't hire him and he can't fire him until Buss says to.  I would rather see Jeannie running the show than Jim.

[Ted]

Don't forget that Mitch is on the better side of two of the arguably best trades in recent history:

1. Pau Gasol
2. Chris Paul (not his fault it didn't happen)