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NBA coaches are often known to get less of the credit and more of the blame. When players are on the court doing what they're good at, the coaching staff is observing everything on the floor and planning the next move.
Drawing crucial plays down the stretch and making strategical substitutions during the matchup are just two of the many duties a coach has to handle within 48 minutes. Casual fans often scoff at the idea of a coach's significance in a team's extended winning run more so than the star players' contributions. But players know where all the good stuff is stemming from.
On that note, it is about time to take a look at the front-runners for the 'Coach of the Year' honors for this season so far.
#5 Brad Stevens - Boston Celtics
Brad Stevens is leading the Boston Celtics to their sixth straight postseason appearance this year. Currently, the team's 39-16 (0.709) win-loss record is the third-best in the East, and fourth-best in the entire NBA. On top of that, Brad Stevens and co. are one of the most efficient offensive (112.5) and defensive (105.7) units in the NBA, hosting the top 5 ratings in both the categories.
As for Stevens' accomplishments, he has led the Celtics to four 48+ win seasons and five straight playoff berths ever since taking on the role of Head Coach back in 2013. Although the roster lost two key pieces in Kyrie Irving and Al Horford during the offseason, Brad's coaching IQ has ensured another top 5 seeding for the team this year.
However, it is ironic that with the coaching excellence of Stevens, he has never managed to finished better than third (2017-18) in the 'Coach of the Year' race.
#4 Erik Spoelstra
Erik Spoelstra might have a couple of NBA titles in his bag by now, but he is yet to get a grip of the 'Coach of the Year' hardware in his illustrious career. As far as this season is concerned, Erik's Miami Heat have been one of the most exciting teams to follow in the Eastern Conference. Spoelstra - who is tied for the second longest-tenured head coach in the league - has done a great job of tying all the young pieces together and incorporating a bonafide hustler in Jimmy Butler.
The Heat missed the postseason last year, but their meteoric rise back to the upper echelons of the league in just a year has been a sight to see. The team is now 35-20 (0.636) on the season, and are closing in on the third seed Boston Celtics and second seed Toronto Raptors.
#3 Billy Donovan
With the late inclusion of Chris Paul into the lineup in the backdrop of Russell Westbrook's exit, Billy Donovan has done a terrific job of keeping the ship steady. The franchise traded away major pieces for a host of draft picks and were expected to take a year off for the rebuild.
However, the Oklahoma City Thunder are sitting in the sixth seed in the Western Conference with a solid 34-22 (0.607) record, with no signs of slowing down before the playoffs. Under the aegis of Donovan, sophomore guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has evolved exponentially and meshed perfectly with veteran Chris Paul in the backcourt.
With the season winding down, this team has stood the test of time and played much better than their collective talent ceiling allowed all year long.
#2 Mike Budenholzer
Leading the league with 119.6 points per game, Mike Budenholzer's Milwaukee Bucks have made a regular-season impression for the 2nd straight year. This team holds a league-best 47-8 (0.855) win-loss record and also possess the best offensive (116.5) and defensive ratings (101.7) in the NBA at the moment.
With the Bucks on pace to have a historic regular-season run, Coach Bud is making a compelling case for a 'Coach of the Year' repeat. Time and again, Budenholzer has been credited with turning this franchise around and transforming Giannis Antetokounmpo into the leader that he is today.
#1 Nick Nurse
After just one and a half years as the coach of Toronto Raptors, Nick Nurse has placed himself in elite company. Coming off a title run last year, Nick's Raptors were not projected as contenders at all, sighting Kawhi Leonard's exit. Instead, this hardnosed team currently holds the second-best record in the East (41-15).
In just his second season as an NBA Head Coach, he has an overall coaching record of 98-39, which turns out to be the second-highest win percentage in the league's history among NBA head coaches (.715) behind Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr (.718).
Despite injuries to prominent names all year long, Nick Nurse-led a 15-game winning streak by getting the most out of his players. He has been able to win games consistently and is the clear No. 1 contender to be the 'Coach of the Year' this season.
