Tyronn Lue, Los Angeles Clippers (Photo by Erik Drost, via Flickr).
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.
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).
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.
Last season, the Brooklyn Nets went to the bubble as a seventh seed and promptly got swept by Toronto in the first round. Jacque Vaughn became their coach after Kenny Atkinson’s dismissal. Several players opted out of playing, including Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, who was injured. Wilson Chandler and DeAndre Jordan didn’t compete there either.
Nash and D’Antoni have an unfair advantage as they have the only so-called “big three” in the league. I mean, who couldn’t win with Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, and James Harden. However, Brooklyn won’t go far if they don’t start playing defense. Their advantage this season so far is offense from three of the best players in the league.
The defending champion Los Angeles Lakers’ coach is ranked in ninth place because L.A.L. has LeBron James and Anthony Davis but sits in third place in the West. The Lakers should be fighting for first place with the Clippers far and away from the Western Conference pack. LeBron James and Anthony Davis, maybe the best one-two punch in the game, spell first-place team. They did it last year. What’s up now?
Ty Lue was not the head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers last season. He took over for Doc Rivers in October. Lue is in eighth place today because, like the Lakers and Nets, their roster should have them tied for first place. A roster with Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Marcus Morris, Lou Williams should be well ahead of Utah in the standings
Look back at their game against the Knicks last week. It should never have been that close.
Last season the Milwaukee Bucks led the Eastern Conference from December 1, 2019, forward. They exited last year’s playoffs in the Eastern Conference Finals. This season for the first 20 games, the Bucks are in third place with a 12-8 record. The New York Knicks defeated them by 20 points, 130-110. What is going on with that?
This is Nate Bjorkgren’s first season with Indiana. Actually, it’s his first season as an NBA head coach. The Pacers opened with a 12-9 record this season, which puts them fifth in the Eastern Conference. His former star Victor Oladipo is now in Houston.
It was the trade that bought Caris LeVert to the Pacers. LeVert is out of action because doctors found a mass on his hip during his team physical. This deal could have very well saved LeVert’s life. When he is back next season, all should beware. The young man is a beast!
Last season Stevens’ Boston Celtics were ranked sixth. This year Boston is in fourth place. Although they are playing great basketball, it could be because of their week-long hiatus due to Covid issues. I think Covid has had a lot to do with how the season stands today.
Boston has the talent to reach their first NBA Finals since 2010. It’s the next plateau for Stevens. It will also validate his eight-year run in Beantown.
As coach of the Phoenix Suns, Monty Williams has done a great job. They are currently fourth in the Western Conference with an 11-8 record. Led by Devin Booker, Phoenix had an unbeaten record in the bubble. Unfortunately, they were beaten out by the red hot Damian Lillard and his Portland Trailblazers and went home without making the postseason. I hope to see them in the playoffs this season without the play-in.
Mike Malone is just a fantastic coach. It’s easy to be a fantastic coach when you have such a great team. In fourth with a 12-8 record, Malone looks to be steering his team down that same path to the Western Conference finals. I don’t know, but they could make it to the finals this year.
Last season Doc Rivers was the Clippers’ coach. He and the Clips parted ways in October. Before his seat was cold at the Staples Center, Doc was the head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers. Doc Rivers is a great coach, and there shouldn’t be any way this team shouldn’t be in the Eastern Conference finals.
The Philadelphia 76ers coach last season was Brett Brown. At the 20 game mark, they were 14-6 in fifth place. Today with Doc Rivers, they are also 14-6, but this time it’s good for first place.
For this team, is it the coach or is it the players? We’ll see after the All-Star break. A team like the Nets should be easy to beat, especially since they don’t play any defense. Good luck this season Doc.
Through 20 games last season, the Utah Jazz last year were in sixth place. They ended last season with a first-round playoff loss. Remember, the NBA shut down after Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell came down with COVID-19. Could that have caused their early exit from the bubble?
This season finds the Utah Jazz at the top of the Western Conference, ahead of both Los Angeles powerhouses, and are on an 11 game win streak. The winning streak is why he is my number one ranked coach. Although the Knicks beat them, they are still, to me, a team that could win it all this season.
This season has me baffled so far, and I’m sure many of you are, as well. Erik Spoelstra and his Miami Heat, the defending Eastern Conference champions, are in 13th place at the 20 game mark. Rick Carlisle’s Dallas Mavericks are in 13th place in the west with Luka Dončić and on the roster.
I keep asking every week what is going on with Terry Stotts and the Portland Trailblazers??? It’s only 20 games, but I’ve seen some big differences from teams that were losing last season. I mean that In a good way.
We can check back after, say, 40 games and re-evaluate these coaches. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the Knicks will make the playoffs. If the Knicks make the playoffs and the Nets don’t make the finals, Knicks’ fans will be ecstatic, and the team will continue to own New York.
See you next week. Please keep yourself safe and healthy!