NBA Takes…with Teresa: Rating the Top 10 coaches after the first 20 games
The NBA’s rating of the coaches last year was mostly fair. How do those coaches rate today? Let’s take a look to see how the 2020-21 coaches are doing.
I say mostly fair because, believe it or not, the NBA last season ranked a couple of coaches on how they used to coach. How could Steve Kerr be ranked number four with a 15-50 season? I love Gregg Popovich, and I know he has gone through some hard times lately, but when the Spurs, after 22 seasons, miss the playoffs, I don’t think he should be ranked number three.
These are my comparisons and rankings based on how things are going after the first 20 games. Please don’t hesitate to agree or disagree in the comments section below.
My Top 10 Current NBA Coaches
Honorable Mention – Tom Thibodeau – New York Knicks
So far this season, we’ve seen some pretty big turnarounds from a few of last season’s worst teams. I believe a coach is tantamount to a team’s success. Just look at the New York Knicks. At the 20 game mark last season, they were 4-16. David Fizdale only made it a couple of more games past this point.
NYK has cycled through a new coach every two years. With Tom Thibodeau at the helm, the Knicks, after 20 games, are 9-11 and are playing better than their fans have seen in at least seven seasons. For me, that makes Thibodeau a good coach. (I would have said great if he were not so stuck on keeping Elfrid Payton as the team’s starting point guard).
Honorable Mention – Lloyd Pierce – Atlanta hawks
Last season the Atlanta Hawks were the same as the Knicks. As a matter of fact, I believe they are one of the only teams the Knicks could beat. This season finds them at an even .500 with a 10-10 record. Some of last year’s teams are not doing well. Like the Knicks, Atlanta could very well be a playoff team this year.