Coach of the Year
Zack Padmore – Brad Stevens (Boston)
When you’re talking best coaches in the league, you’ve got to mention Brad Stevens. He and the Celtics came up just short in the Eastern Conference Finals against Cleveland, but with a healthy Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward, this team is clearly the second best team in basketball, in my opinion. He could lead this team to 60+ wins.
They are such a deep team, they have a great system and great chemistry. Stevens has really done an amazing job giving this team an identity. This is a very scary Celtics team that you will always hate playing against.
Hayden Van de Maat – Kenny Atkinson (Brooklyn)
Despite winning just 28 games last season, the Nets were one of the best moneyball defenses in the league, in terms of denying shots in the restricted area and the three-point line. The Nets just didn’t have the talent on the floor last year for Atkinson’s schemes to take effect in the win column.
If I were buying the NBA League Pass and had to choose my five teams to watch, the Brooklyn Nets would certainly be in that group. They have a tremendously underrated crop of young talent with Spencer Dinwiddie (my pick for Most Improved Player), D’Angelo Russell, Caris LeVert who is one of the most exciting young players in the league, and Jarrett Allen who could emerge as a nightly double-double guy.
I also like their first-round draft selection Dzanan Musa who should be able to contribute immediately as a shooter. Their depth has also improved over last year and they have more veteran experience in the locker room. The Nets are my surprise team for this season, and I think Kenny Atkinson can take them to the playoffs and win Coach of the Year.
Josh Padmore – Gregg Popovich (San Antonio)
The best in the business. Maybe the best ever. I think people are sleeping on the Spurs. I see them as the third best team in the West. Pop has had to go through a lot. Manu Ginobili retiring, Tony Parker leaving, Kawhi Leonard being traded and his wife tragically passing away. I think he’ll power through all that and win this award.
Ryan Aston – Quin Snyder (Utah)
Coach Snyder received heavy consideration in the Coach of the Year race last season; this year, he may just win the thing.
If the Jazz manage to snag a top three seed in the Western Conference — which is well within the realm of possibility, Snyder will be a major reason why. Jazz brass erred on the side of continuity over the summer, while other teams in the West got better. It will be up to Snyder to foster the internal development and get the most of a “samey” roster.
I think he’s equal to the task, and will get recognized for his efforts.
Jared Woodcox – Brad Stevens (Boston)
Especially considering that last year’s Coach of the Year, Dwane Casey, was fired prior to winning the award, I think you could have made a firm argument that Brad Stevens should have won it last year. His team was overrun with injuries yet he still took them nearly all the way to the NBA Finals.
If Boston is as good as they’re projected to be this year, which is likely considering their overwhelming talent and Brad Stevens’ brilliance as a coach, I think he’s well overdue for earning Coach of the Year recognition.