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We have crossed the midway part of the season and are approaching the NBA trade deadline and All-Star break. The NBA Coach of the Year race is blown wide open right now and isn't as tight as it was earlier. A few former candidates have slipped out of the top five as new names have started making a splash.
Players always play their best as we approach the All-Star Game so they can gather as many fan votes as possible. Teams pick up the intensity because they want to enter the midseason break on a high note and with a decent record.
The Memphis Grizzlies and Cleveland Cavaliers have turned it up a notch while the Milwaukee Bucks and Utah Jazz are surprisingly struggling in the new year. The Chicago Bulls are no longer in first place in the East, and the Brooklyn Nets have fallen to fourth. Hence, coaches like Mike Budenholzer, Quin Snyder and Steve Nash aren't in the top five of this power ranking.
Bulls coach Billy Donovan was narrowly edged out by Cavaliers coach JB Bickerstaff and can re-enter the top five down the line. So let's take a look at the final top five of the latest NBA Coach of the Year power rankings.
#5 JB Bickerstaff
Previous week's NBA Coach of the Year Power Ranking - N/A
Last Week: Games played - 3; Games won - 3; Games lost - 0
Overall: Games played - 49; Games won - 30; Games lost - 19
Offensive Rating: 110.9 (14th of 30)
Defensive Rating: 105.8 (3rd of 30)
Average Points Scored: 107.1 (22nd of 30)
Average Points Conceded: 102.2 (2nd of 30)
The Cleveland Cavaliers are great for the first time in 20 years without LeBron James in the lineup. Coach JB Bickerstaff has done a phenomenal job coaching the young guns on his team, and he has managed to win games despite suffering injuries to his players.
The Cavaliers are third in the NBA in defensive rating and allow the second-least points scored. In an era of small-ball lineups and high volume 3-point shooting, coach Bickerstaff is thriving with a lineup featuring multiple 7-footers.
They are now third in the Eastern Conference with a 30-19 record, ahead of the Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers.
#4 Erik Spoelstra
Previous week's NBA Coach of the Year Power Ranking - N/A
Last Week: Games played - 4; Games won - 3; Games lost - 1
Overall: Games played - 48; Games won - 31; Games lost - 17
Offensive Rating: 113.2 (3rd of 30)
Defensive Rating: 108.3 (7th of 30)
Average Points Scored: 108.6 (15th of 30)
Average Points Conceded: 103.9 (4th of 30)
After their 31st win of the season Wednesday, the Miami Heat have taken the first spot in the Eastern Conference. They are one of the few teams in the NBA that are top 10 in both offensive and defensive rating.
Coach Erik Spoelstra has done an incredible job in rallying other players to step up when the star players are injured. The Heat didn't have the services of Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo for numerous games while players also dealt with the NBA's COVID-19 protocols. However, they managed to win games in the face of adversity and many analsysts call them the deepest team in the NBA.
#3 Taylor Jenkins
Previous week's NBA Coach of the Year Power Ranking - N/A
Last Week: Games played - 3; Games won - 2; Games lost - 1
Overall: Games played - 26; Games won - 17; Games lost - 9
Offensive Rating: 111.8 (9th of 30)
Defensive Rating: 108.5 (8th of 30)
Average Points Scored: 111.8 (6th of 30)
Average Points Conceded: 108.4 (15th of 30)
The Memphis Grizzlies have established themselves as a legitimate threat in the West. They are blowing away opponents with their paint attack and physicality while defending at a high level. They are also one of the few teams that are top 10 in both offensive and defensive ratings.
One can say they have been successful because of the mind-blowing performances by Ja Morant, but the Grizzlies have gone 11-2 without Morant this season and that is all because of coach Taylor Jenkins.
#2 Steve Kerr
Previous week's NBA Coach of the Year Power Ranking - 1st (↓1)
Last Week: Games played - 3; Games won - 3; Games lost - 0
Overall: Games played - 48; Games won - 35; Games lost - 13
Offensive Rating: 111.0 (13th of 30)
Defensive Rating: 102.6 (1st of 30)
Average Points Scored: 109.9 (12th of 30)
Average Points Conceded: 101.6 (1st of 30)
Despite Stephen Curry's shooting slump, the Golden State Warriors have won games with other role players stepping up. Klay Thompson has taken a while to adjust to the intensity of the NBA, and Draymond Green has been out due to a spinal injury.
However, the Warriors have stayed as the NBA's best defensive team despite missing their Defensive Player of the Year candidate. They have the second-best record in the league at 35-13 and are getting back James Wiseman and Green soon with the expectation that Curry will eventually break out of his shooting slump.
#1 Monty Williams
Previous week's NBA Coach of the Year Power Ranking - 2nd (↑1)
Last Week: Games played - 3; Games won - 3; Games lost - 0
Overall: Games played - 47; Games won - 38; Games lost - 9
Offensive Rating: 112.8 (5th of 30)
Defensive Rating: 104.9 (2nd of 30)
Average Points Scored: 112.4 (3rd of 30)
Average Points Conceded: 104.4 (6th of 30)
The Phoenix Suns are dominating the NBA like no other team right now. They are the only team remaining in the league with less than 10 losses and are currently on a eight-game winning streak. Moreover, they went 16-0 in November to become just the sixth team in NBA history to go undefeated in a calender month.
They are top five in both offensive and defensive ratings, and coach Monty Williams has trained his men to step up despite injuries to key players. They are one of the deepest teams in the league and Williams is on pace to win his first COTY award.
Poll : Will Steve Kerr win his 2nd NBA Coach of the Year award?
Yes
No
63 votes
