With the 2016/17 NBA regular season in the books, we’re making our picks for the year’s major awards. The Hoops Rumors writing team has weighed in with our selections below, but we also want to know which players, coaches, and executives you think are most deserving of the hardware this season, so jump into the comments section below to share your thoughts.
We’re keeping things going today with the award for Coach of the Year. Here are our picks:
Dana Gauruder: Mike D’Antoni (Rockets)
Many people thought D’Antoni was washed up and might not get another head coaching job. The Rockets rolled the dice and D’Antoni’s decision to make James Harden the primary ball-handler turned out to be a brilliant stroke. Houston has the second-most feared offense in the league behind only the uber-talented Warriors.
Austin Kent: Mike D’Antoni (Rockets)
In his first year with the Rockets, D’Antoni completely changed the culture of the organization. He didn’t just gradually facilitate the inevitable improvement of his players — he transformed how the team approaches the game. From the get-go, D’Antoni executed an unconventional vision and his decision to let Harden steer the ship as a point guard instantly spurred the team’s offensive metamorphosis and pushed Houston from a forgettable good team to a dark-horse great team.
Chris Crouse: Gregg Popovich (Spurs)
Popovich is the best coach in the league. The Spurs remain in contention for a title every year and Popovich’s ability to get the most out of the team’s talent is a major reason why — just look at Dewayne Dedmon and Jonathon Simmons this season. David Lee appeared to be on his way to out of the league only two seasons ago, but this year under Popovich, you can argue that he had his most effective season as a pro. D’Antoni and Erik Spoelstra both deserve credit, but Pop continues to prove he deserves the award.
Arthur Hill: Brad Stevens (Celtics)
The Celtics were supposed to get better after adding Al Horford in free agency, but hardly anyone expected a No. 1 seed. Boston doesn’t have a superstar like the other elite teams, but Stevens constantly has the team playing above its talent level. He took Isaiah Thomas, who was cast off by both the Kings and Suns, and turned him into an MVP candidate, and he gave rookie Jaylen Brown a smooth transition into the rotation. Stevens has been recognized as one of the league’s best bench coaches for years, and now he has a No. 1 seed to back it up.
Luke Adams: Gregg Popovich (Spurs)
D’Antoni, Spoelstra, Scott Brooks, and a handful of other coaches have strong cases for this award, but it’s hard to vote against Popovich, who coaxed 61 wins out of a roster that’s not exactly loaded with All-Stars. While Kawhi Leonard is a bona-fide MVP candidate, many other Spurs are either past their primes (Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Pau Gasol) or haven’t yet peaked (Jonathon Simmons, Kyle Anderson, Davis Bertans). Tim Duncan‘s retirement seemed to mark the end of an era in San Antonio, but the Popovich-led Spurs didn’t miss a beat in Duncan’s absence.
Who is your pick for Coach of the Year? Share your choices and your thoughts in the comments section below!
Previously:
April 13: Executive of the Year
Still to come:
April 17: Most Improved Player
April 18: Sixth Man of the Year
April 19: Defensive Player of the Year
April 20: Rookie of the Year
April 21: Most Valuable Player
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Scott Brooks took a terrible Washington team and turned it into a leader in one season. How can anybody do better than that? He’s a terrific coach who also took a couple of good college ballers and turned them into Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant.
Come on….
I think D’Atoni should win it. He made Harden the center of the team. That led to more than one 50 point triple-double. That decision changed the Rockets from a trash team, to a better give it your all team. He Has To Win It.
1. Pop
2. D’Antoni
3. Spoelstra
Popovich. Best coach in the NBA. 60 wins and he did it with less. And he gets the respect of the players. Oh, and has never been fired like a couple of the others.
SPOLESTRA
I’ll give it to Stevens
Stevens
Dantoni
Brooks
Budholtzer ( why’d noone mention him)
Snyder
Pop? Love the guy but as the GM, he gets to dictate who’s on his team. D’antoni comes in raw to a new team and gets them and Harden to buy into his system (which is why Westbrook should be mvp)
That sounds more like an argument for Pop than against him. Plenty of other coaches have had a say in their roster but can’t consistently balance excellence in both.
Brett Brown. Sixers improved 18 games with half the roster missing
The HoiBoy, Fred’s my man.
Cuz offensive genius and all that…
And he turned Dougie McBrickIt into a bonafide superstar., worth Cameron Payne in trade as long as you throw in a draft pick.
He had the Bulls clicking so well they beat out the other genius Spoelstra for the last playoff seed.
I no the heat didn’t make the playoffs but Spoelstra should still be considered a top 2 canadidate for COY.
Coach Spo should win it hands down wo cares about making playoffs alot of teams couldn’t come out of 11-30 hole and all most makes the playoffs I know mike and pop etc..but what Miami did was still amazing despite missing the playoffs and I think the Nets are a horrible team owners and coaches y should they sit players who wasent going to make the playoffs anyway
Brooks-Wiz sucked last year and he figured out the Wall/Beal mess
D’Antoni-Made the Rockets good and got Harden to be an MVP candidate