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As we approach the NBA All-Star break, the players are performing their best ahead of the exhibition weekend.
The NBA Coach of the Year race has shifted as the standings have undergone major changes. The Philadelphia 76ers are down to fifth place in the East, while the Miami Heat have overtaken the others to take the top spot. Meanwhile, the top three teams in the West hold the best records in the NBA and are in a tier of their own.
Many are suggesting that coach Mike Budenholzer deserves a shoutout for the award as the Milwaukee Bucks have climbed to second in the East. On the other hand, coach Billy Donovan and coach Quin Snyder have fallen off our top five in the Coach of the Year power rankings as both the Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz have lost a plethora of games.
Additionally, if the sixth-seeded Toronto Raptors and Denver Nuggets enter the top four of their respective conferences, then coach Nick Nurse and coach Mike Malone, respectively, deserve consideration for the award.
So without further ado, let's take a look at the top 5 of the NBA Coach of the Year power ranking.
#5 J.B. Bickerstaff
Previous week's NBA Coach of the Year Power Ranking - 5th (-)
Last Week: Games played - 5; Games won - 4; Games lost - 1
Overall: Games played - 55; Games won - 34; Games lost - 21
Offensive Rating: 110.6 (17th of 30)
Defensive Rating: 105.8 (2nd of 30)
Average Points Scored: 106.5 (23rd of 30)
Average Points Conceded: 101.9 (1st of 30)
Cleveland Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff has done a phenomenal job coaching the young stars on his team. Darius Garland has earned his first All-Star selection, and he is the first non-LeBron James Cavalier to be named an All-Star since 2018. Bickerstaff has managed to win games despite suffering injuries on his roster. They are now fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 34-21 record, ahead of the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers.
The Cavaliers are second in the NBA in defensive rating and lead the league in opponents points allowed. In an era of small-ball lineups and high volume 3-point shooting, coach Bickerstaff is thriving with a lineup featuring multiple 7-footers.
#4 Erik Spoelstra
Previous week's NBA Coach of the Year Power Ranking - 4th (-)
Last Week: Games played - 5; Games won - 3; Games lost - 2
Overall: Games played - 55; Games won - 35; Games lost - 20
Offensive Rating: 112.8 (7th of 30)
Defensive Rating: 108.1 (6th of 30)
Average Points Scored: 108.9 (15th of 30)
Average Points Conceded: 104.4 (5th of 30)
The Miami Heat have taken the top spot in the Eastern Conference, and the only reason coach Erik Spoelstra isn't higher on this list is because the top three Western Conference teams have a better record. The Heat are one of the few teams in the league that are top 10 in both offensive (7th) and defensive (6th) rating.
Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo missed a bevy of games, but the Heat managed to win in the face of adversity. They aren't leading the conference due to the exploits of one superstar going berserk, like the Philadelphia 76ers, but rather winning by committee and teamwork. Multiple role players have stepped up in the absence of starters and they play as a cohesive unit.
#3 Taylor Jenkins
Previous week's NBA Coach of the Year Power Ranking - 3rd (-)
Last Week: Games played - 4; Games won - 3; Games lost - 1
Overall: Games played - 56; Games won - 38; Games lost - 18
Offensive Rating: 112.9 (6th of 30)
Defensive Rating: 108.5 (7th of 30)
Average Points Scored: 113.1 (3rd of 30)
Average Points Conceded: 108.6 (14th of 30)
The Memphis Grizzlies are now considered a legitimate playoff threat in the Western Conference. They are one of the few teams in the NBA that are top 10 in both offensive (6th) and defensive (7th) rating. Ja Morant is certainly on a scoring tear of late, but the Grizzlies went 11-2 without him this season and that was all because of coach Taylor Jenkins.
The team was rejuvenated in December after a poor start to the season, and several rankings suggest Jenkins deserves to be higher on the Coach of the Year ladder.
#2 Steve Kerr
Previous week's NBA Coach of the Year Power Ranking - 2nd (-)
Last Week: Games played - 5; Games won - 4; Games lost - 1
Overall: Games played - 55; Games won - 41; Games lost - 14
Offensive Rating: 111.7 (12th of 30)
Defensive Rating: 103.9 (1st of 30)
Average Points Scored: 110.5 (12th of 30)
Average Points Conceded: 102.7 (2nd of 30)
The Golden State Warriors recently went on a nine-game winning streak despite missing Draymond Green. Stephen Curry seems to be out of his shooting slump, and Klay Thompson is steadily finding his rhythm. They are still the NBA's best defensive team despite missing their Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
They have the 12th-ranked offense but still hold the best net rating in the NBA because their top-rated defense is so historically good. They have the second-best record in the league at 31-14 and are soon getting their injured players back in the lineup.
#1 Monty Williams
Previous week's NBA Coach of the Year Power Ranking - 1st (-)
Last Week: Games played - 5; Games won - 4; Games lost - 1
Overall: Games played - 54; Games won - 44; Games lost - 10
Offensive Rating: 113.7 (3rd of 30)
Defensive Rating: 106.0 (4th of 30)
Average Points Scored: 113.0 (5th of 30)
Average Points Conceded: 105.4 (6th of 30)
The Phoenix Suns are dominating the league, and coach Monty Williams is on pace to win his first Coach of the Year award. He is the sweeping favorite to win the award according to most sportsbooks and oddsmakers.
Although the Suns' offensive and defensive ratings have fallen, they are still top five in the league in both categories. Williams has done a terrific job of rallying his men to compete despite facing injuries to key players. They hold the best record in the league at 44-10 and are the current favorites to win the Western Conference.
Guess the Lakers players!
