'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
There are a number of coaches who can stake their claim for the Coach of the Year award this year. While a couple of teams have performed way below expectations, most of the head coaches in the NBA are doing a steady job of keeping their teams relevant in the short term, while managing their long-term goals.
In this article, we wish to give credit where credit is due - in the sense that these coaches are not likely to win the award in June, but are leading their teams to records that are way above expectations.
Obviously, the very purpose of the award is to do that, but with the Toronto Raptors, Houston Rockets and Boston Celtics performing the way they are, Dwane Casey, Mike D'Antoni, and Brad Stevens are surely going to be in the conversation or on the ballot for the voting. The fact that the San Antonio Spurs are in the playoff race at all is a testament to Gregg Popovich's enduring excellence, and he is likely to be in the ballot as well.
Thus, we need to find a second tier of candidates for the award. Note: This list is unranked.
Quin Snyder - Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz resemble a sturdy playoff team with an identity thanks largely to Quin Snyder's expert coaching. They rank 3rd in the league in defensive rating and 5th in net rating with a spectacular 3.2 points per 100 possessions differential. The reason why Snyder makes this list is because they are doing it all after losing their best player (Gordon Hayward) in the offseason to free agency.
With a record of 38-30 and a stingy defense, the Jazz look one of the best bets to make the playoffs in the Murderers' Row that is the Western Conference playoff race. What is even more impressive is the fact that they have won 18 of their last 20 games, rejuvenated by Rudy Gobert's return from injury.
While Donovan Mitchell has been a revelation this season, a lot of credit has to be given to Snyder for giving the rookie the keys to his offense despite starting the season off on a bad shooting streak. Snyder has managed his wing rotations expertly, and Jae Crowder, who arrived in a trade for Rodney Hood, looks like a rejuvenated player on both ends of the floor under him.
Nate McMillan - Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers' head coach is at the center of probably the best underdog story in the NBA this season. According to various experts, the Pacers were projected to win a maximum of 32 games this season following the Paul George trade and Jeff Teague's exit in free agency.
The Pacers have benefited immensely from the improved play of Victor Oladipo, who should be making one of the All-NBA teams on the strength of his superstar-level stat line of 23.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.2 steals and 0.8 blocks per game. However, the lion's share of plaudits for the Pacers' current 40-28 record must go to the former Blazers head coach.
The Pacers are ranked 11th in offensive and defensive ratings and 10th in net ratings at a healthy differential of 2.0 points per 100 possessions. Youngsters Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner have developed their games significantly this season, while Darren Collison is having the most efficient shooting season of his career.
Scott Brooks - Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are currently playing the most team-oriented basketball that we've seen from any team this entire season. As Bradley Beal put it, everybody eats in the new offensive scheme that Scott Brooks had the necessity to put together, following John Wall's extended absence due to knee surgery.
While necessity has forever been the mother of invention, that should never take credit away from the inventor who went ahead and did the needful. Scott Brooks has, for long, been a much-maligned coach - a notion that stems from the fact that he wasn't able to lead the duo of Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant to The Promised Land that is an NBA title.
Slotting in Tomas Satoransky at the starting point guard role has paid dividends as the two-way play of the 6'7" guard allows the Wizards the luxury of fielding a veritable death lineup of Satoransky, Beal, Otto Porter, Kelly Oubre, and Markieff Morris when they go in search of buckets. Since 1 February, the Wizards have an offensive rating of 109.4 - 2 points better than their season average and 3.1 points better than their rating before that.
Erik Spoelstra - Miami Heat
The Miami Heat, based on the talent they have, should not be anywhere near playoff contention. True, they were awarded an All-Star selection when injury forced Goran Dragic to be named as a replacement for John Wall - but other than him and an ageing Dwyane Wade, none of the players on their roster have ever been named to an All-Star game.
And yet, they sit 5 games above the Detroit Pistons in 8th place, and the way they are grinding on the defensive end allows them to be a threat to any team in the league on a nightly basis.
The addition of Dwyane Wade has given them a healthy chance, as they can rely on the 12-time All-Star to close out games for them in clutch time while leading their bench to a healthy 2.1 net rating.
Spoelstra was wildly underrated when Miami made the Finals for four straight seasons during their Big Three era, and he continues to be so even 4 years after that.
Luke Walton - Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers, surrounded as they are by controversy most of the time, started the season off in predictably inept fashion. But bad turned to worse due to the whole LaVar Ball drama, some bad rotations run by Walton and some tough losses in close games against the likes of the Rockets and the Warriors.
The low point of their season was a 108-94 blowout loss to the reeling Charlotte Hornets, leaving them at a shabby 11-27 record with a .289 win percentage.
Walton did something very few coaches in the game have the guts to do - he responded by changing his rotations and limiting the minutes of veterans like Brook Lopez, Corey Brewer, and Kentavius Caldwell-Pope, while waiving Andrew Bogut.
The results have been nothing short of astonishing. Since 5th January (the day they lost to the Hornets), the Lakers have the 10th most efficient offense and defense in NBA and own a spectacular net rating of 3.4 points per 100 possessions. They boast of a 20-10 record in this period.
Walton responded to Lonzo Ball's six-week injury absence by playing Brandon Ingram as his point forward, with great results. Even much-maligned Lonzo looks like a different player now as compared to the start of the season - playing with more assertiveness and aggression than ever.
They were not even fazed by the trades of Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. - two solid bench contributors. Isaiah Thomas is slowly getting back to his best form in a new environment and finally looks happy in his situation after tough times in Cleveland.
Blooding a young team into the hard, competitive world of the NBA is up there among the toughest asks there is. Based on the evidence from the Lakers' last 10 weeks, Walton seems to be doing a heck of a job of it.
Guess the Lakers players!
