NBA : 5 underrated coaches this season

Luke Walton - Los Angeles Lakers

Luke Walton instructing the Lakers' new sixth man, Isaiah Thomas

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.