After our Community Shootaround discussion on Tuesday focused on coaches who could be out of work this spring, it only seems fair to highlight the coaches on the opposite end of the spectrum today. There are several NBA head coaches who are not only safe to keep their jobs next season, but also deserve Coach of the Year consideration for the work they’ve done this season.
A handful of NBA.com analysts discussed the top Coach of the Year candidates today, and each of those five writers identified Raptors head coach Dwane Casey as a top contender for the award. Toronto had won at least 48 games for four consecutive years coming into 2017/18, so it’s not as if the team’s success has come out of nowhere. But after losing key players like P.J. Tucker, Cory Joseph, and Patrick Patterson in the offseason, the Raptors were considered likely to take a step back this year. Instead, an overhauled offensive system and a young, dangerous bench have the team on pace to win a franchise-record 60 games.
Casey isn’t the only coach who was named as a top candidate for Coach of the Year by multiple NBA.com writers. Steve Aschburner, Tas Melas, and Sekou Smith all praised the job Nate McMillan has done in Indiana this season — viewed by many as a probable lottery team or a borderline playoff club at best, the 37-27 Pacers are currently in position to claim home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
Another coach of a top Eastern Conference club earned mentions from several NBA.com writers, including John Schuhmann: Celtics head coach Brad Stevens doesn’t necessarily have his team exceeding preseason expectations, but those expectations were adjusted significantly after Gordon Hayward went down with a season-ending ankle injury in his first game as a Celtic. The C’s have hardly missed a beat since that injury, posting a 45-20 record and contending for the No. 1 seed in the East.
Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry, Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni, Clippers coach Doc Rivers, and Sixers coach Brett Brown were also named by NBA.com’s panel as Coach of the Year contenders.
Steve Kerr is worth mentioning too, since his Warriors may very well end up with the NBA’s best record again. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich is a perennial candidate — San Antonio has struggled recently, but the team remains 10 games above .500 despite being without Kawhi Leonard for almost the entire season. And let’s not forget Terry Stotts, who has the 39-26 Trail Blazers holding the No. 3 seed in the West.
What do you think? Who’s your current pick for the NBA’s Coach of the Year award for the 2017/18 season? Jump into the comment section below to weigh in!
I don’t think anyone would’ve picked the raptors over the Celtics or Cavs. But yet they’re number one in the east. I’m impressed. Keeping in mind it is the east, and the Cavs are having a bad year considering, that might bring him down. But I still would pick Casey, who I feel is a very underrated head coach in the nba. I’d even say he’s better than doc, thibodeau, and a lot of big names. That’s just me tho. You can argue dantoni, but that’s the only person I’d consider outside of Casey.
1. Casey
2. Stevens
3. Stotts
4. McMillan
5. D’antoni
I agree. Popovich could easily be in the top 5
The Pacers were predicted by the preseason guys to win 32 games.
1. Casey
2. Pop
3. Dantoni
1. McMillan
2. Stotts
3. D’Antoni
4. Casey
I’m not trying to hate on Casey at all. The players listed as reason for the raps to take a step back were hardly difference makers. I value overachieving much more when it comes to coach of the year, and while the raps may be to some degree, I don’t think it was out of the question for them to be East #1 with the Hayward injury and Cleveland implosion.