Award Watch: Coach of the Year
After a third of the season, some of the league’s top coaches whose teams underperformed during the previous regular season have their clubs back on top, a handful of coaches are leading their teams to impressive victories, and some new head coaches are showing why they deserved a shot at the top job.
The most impressive statistic a coach can point to at this stage of the season is the pace his team is winning at. Pace projects the number of wins a team would have at the end of the season if they continue to win at their current rate and a handful of teams are getting close to a record pace.
Now entering the ninth week of the long NBA schedule, we are headed towards the Christmas match-ups and that middle stretch of the season that tests a coach’s ability to keep their team focused and on track.
#1 Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs 24-3, Pace 73, last year: 50-32
(Last week #1, 20-3)
Head coach Gregg Popovich watched his Spurs go 4-0 this week, pushing their current win-streak up to nine games and while it could be argued that the Spurs have not been tested as severely as some of the other top teams, there is no disputing that these Spurs are winning games that would have been losses in recent seasons.
The next month will test Popovich’s Spurs as they will face the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, and Boston Celtics. If they maintain this pace over that stretch of games, Popovich will be on the verge of a very special season.
#2 Doc Rivers, Boston Celtics 22-4, Pace 69, last year: 50-32
(Last week #2, 19-4)
Despite major and minor injuries, head coach Doc Rivers still has his veteran team playing better than anticipated as they have now rolled to 13 straight wins.
While it was hoped the O’Neal(s) could cover off the loss of center Kendrick Perkins until February, it has been the Celtics play without All-Star point guard Rajon Rondo that particularly impresses. Rivers has molded a very resilient team.
So far Rivers has accomplished everything necessary to be the leading contender for COY, except reach the 70-win pace of Popovich.
#3 Rick Carlisle, Dallas Mavericks 22-5, Pace 67, last year: 55-27
(Last week #3, 19-5)
Head coach Rick Carlisle’s Dallas Mavericks are flat-out impressive. A top-ranked defensive team playing with the passion of the 2006 NBA Finals Mavericks and the 67-win team of 2007.
The small signs of defensive slippage that ended the Mavericks 12-game winning streak the previous week vanished with three wins holding opponents to under 100 points this week, including an impressive 98-96 victory in Miami over the HEAT on Monday night.
It is challenging to raise the level of play of a strong team with veteran players, but Carlisle has already beaten the best teams in the NBA and is making a statement that supports his claim as the best coach this season.
#4 Mike D’Antoni, New York Knicks 16-12, Pace 47, last year: 29-53
(Last week #4, 16-9)
It felt like we were going out on a limb when head coach Mike D’Antoni’s eight-game winning streak propelled him into our top five and he confirmed our fears as the Celtics and HEAT took the wind out of the Knicks sails in Madison Square Garden. The OT loss in Cleveland was perhaps just another dose of reality.
However, the Knicks shouldn’t be embarrassed by losing to a couple of elite teams, and D’Antoni remains on a pace that justifies a coach of a 29-win team (last season) staying in place for another week.
#5 Monty Williams, New Orleans Hornets 16-12, Pace 47, last year: 37-45, (Bryon Scott/ Jeff Bower)
(Last week #5, 14-10)
Even rookie head coach Monty Williams has acknowledged that the Hornets may have been playing over their heads at 11-1 to start the season, but the 5-11 record since then does not reflect this team’s talent level. A couple of home wins followed by a pair of very close road losses this past week does more closely reflect who the Hornets are and signals Williams may be getting things back under control.
Williams does get a huge mulligan for the Hornets recent troubles as the NBA had to step in and buy the franchise. However, that mulligan will not be granted at the end of the season and Williams needs to maintain this pace or better to stay in consideration.
Honorable Mentions
Tom Thibodeau, Chicago Bulls 16-9, Pace 52, last year: 41-41, (Vinny Del Negro)
(Last week: Honorable Mention, 15-8)
As Carlos Boozer returns from injury, Joakim Noah takes a seat, and Head Coach Tom Thibodeau gets a true taste of life as a NBA head coach.
{AUTHOR_BOX}Thibodeau has been doing a commendable job as a new head coach and is leading his Bulls to what appears to be an easy first-place finish in their division. However, that is what most of us expected would happen with the roster moves the Bulls made during the off-season and losing to the Clippers during a two-game week isn’t the best way to make your case for COY either.
The Bulls are headed into a soft 10-game stretch where they can put some real distance between themselves and the field. Thibodeau needs to win most, if not all, of these games for a chance to move up in our rankings.
Jerry Sloan, Utah Jazz 20-9, Pace 57, last year: 53-29
(Last week: Honorable Mention, 18-8)
Once again head coach Jerry Sloan has the Jazz playing very well, splitting games against the best teams and winning most of the time against the rest, a very typical season for Sloan-led team.
The next 13 games for the Jazz represent their opportunity to make a move up the standings as their schedule eases significantly and winning in most all of these games is probably a requirement to create the exceptional season Sloan needs to move into serious consideration for COY.
Erik Spoelstra, Miami HEAT 21-9, Pace 57, last year: 47-35
(Last week: Honorable Mention, 18-8)
Head coach Erik Spoelstra’s HEAT met the streak busting Mavericks on Monday night and it could be argued that the best team won - another streak by a top team ending at the hands of Carlisle’s Mavs.
A 57-win pace for the HEAT will not get Spoelstra into serious consideration for COY, and until he can figure out how to get his guys to consistently win games against the other elite teams, Spoelstra has bigger problems.
Some Coaches to Watch
There are some coaches who continue to get our attention and could be moving up if things improve.
Scott Brooks, Oklahoma City Thunder 19-9, Pace 56 (last week: 17-8), last year: 50-32
Phil Jackson, L.A. Lakers 21-7, Pace 61 (last week: 17-7), last year: 57-25
Jim O’Brien, Indiana Pacers 13-14, Pace 39, (last week: 11-12), last year: 32-50
George Karl, Denver Nuggets 16-10, Pace 50, (last week: 14-9) last year: 53-29
Notes:
The NBA Coach of the Year (COY) is selected at the end of the regular season by a media panel whose members each cast votes for their first, second and third place choices.
HOOPSWORLD is ranking the COY race based on how the coach’s team is performing against last year’s record, this year’s preseason expectations, and on how they are handling adversity during the season. A strong winning record is almost mandatory, but merely meeting already high expectations will not be enough. There is only a slight chance of a lottery bound coach winning this award.
Did we miss someone? Let us know in the comments section below or contact us during HOOPSWORLD’s daily NBA chats.
You can send me comment or a question about me COY, the Toronto Raptors, or anything else in the NBA here and check back on Thursday at noon ET for a response.
Loading ...
