Around the NBA: Doc and Odom

Bullish on top coach

Doc Rivers, Frank Vogel, Lionel Hollins, Kevin McHale, Scott Brooks and even Mike Woodson deserve Coach of the Year consideration. But it's a two-man race between Tom Thibodeau and Gregg Popovich, and Thibodeau has the edge.

Popovich has the aging Spurs second in the West. Thibodeau, the 2011 Coach of the Year, has guided the Bulls to a 16-7 record without MVP Derrick Rose and they have the NBA's best record.

Thibodeau should have cemented the award when Chicago beat the Heat in overtime Thursday. He basically won it in OT with his bench.

Mavs wake up

The most surprising thing about the Dallas Mavericks putting Lamar Odom on the inactive list for the remainder of the season was how long it took. This relationship seemed destined for divorce throughout the season.

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Odom, who helped the Lakers win two NBA titles, wasn't happy and wasn't himself in Dallas. He exchanged words with owner Mark Cuban during the March 6 game against the Knicks.

In that same game, Odom kept looking into the crowd at his wife, Khloe Kardashian, and shaking his head in frustration. Apparently, he has done that plenty this season.

Odom is owed $8.2 million next year, but only $2.4 million is guaranteed if he's waived on or before June 29. If Dallas does that, Kobe Bryant could try to get Odom back in L.A.