NBA Takes…with Teresa: Rating the Top 10 coaches after the first 20 games
10. Steve Nash, Mike D’Antoni, Jacque Vaughn
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.
9. Frank Vogel – Los Angeles Lakers
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?
8. Tyronn Lue – Los Angeles Clippers
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.