The mid-way point of the NBA season is right around the corner, and with that comes the anticipation towards the numerous awards handed out. One award race that’s been entertaining the past few seasons is the Coach of the Year.
Last year’s recipient, Dwane Casey, has since been fired from Toronto, and top-three candidate Quin Snyder’s Jazz aren’t even in the playoff picture in the Western Conference. The Coach of the Year race is always full of surprises and plot twists, and this season has been no exception.
3. Nate McMillan
The Indiana Pacers have shocked the NBA the past few months. They’re third in the top-heavy Eastern Conference and hold the best record since December 1. When compared to other conference contenders like Philadelphia and Boston, the Pacers’ roster would appear weaker. They lack a true superstar player, yet continue to prove themselves to be a top team in the East. Nate McMillan has turned the Indiana Pacers into the best defensive team in the NBA.
They hold their opponents to the fewest amount of points in the league. That stat alone shows they play the best defense in the league, but it’s how they do it that makes them so good. Using shot-blocking wizard Myles Turner as their centerpiece, the Pacers clog the paint and force their opponents to shoot from distance. Opponents attempt the second-fewest two-pointers in the league. The Pacers also hold opponents to the fourth-worst shooting percentage in the paint.
With little star power, Nate McMillan has transformed the Indiana Pacers into Eastern Conference contenders with a system based on defense, hustle, and chemistry. He’s quickly making a name for himself as a top coach and is surely a frontrunner for COTY.
2. Mike Budenholzer
Coach Bud has completely changed the Milwaukee Bucks. The team has gone from barely sneaking into the playoffs, to a finals contender within a year. Almost all of the credit goes to Mike Budenholzer.
The Bucks now hold the best record in the entire league. The new system that Budenholzer introduced at the beginning of this season has allowed each key player to capitalize on their offensive strengths. Last year, they finished 27th in three-pointers made. This year, they’re second in that very same category. Bud has allowed shooters like Brook Lopez, Khris Middleton, and Malcolm Brogdon to let loose, and the team has benefited greatly.
He’s also transformed Milwaukee’s defense. They currently boast the third-best Defensive Rating in the league, compared to last year where they were 18th. The Bucks also lead the league in Defended Field Goal %, proving that they’re one of the top defenses in the entire association. This is all thanks to Mike Budenholzer.
1. Mike Malone
No one expected a healthy Denver Nuggets team to lead the Western Conference this year. Now nearing the halfway point of the season, the Nuggets have done just that while being tormented with injuries. Will Barton has only played two games, while Paul Millsap and Gary Harris have missed 21 games combined. Yet, the Denver Nuggets continue to quietly dominate the West.
What Mike Malone has been able to do with the Nuggets while being so shorthanded is mind-boggling. Denver is fifth in Net Rating, second only to OKC in the West. But where they’ve truly shined is in rebounding. The Nuggets are sixth in rebounds per game and lead the league in Rebound %. They’re also first in Offensive Rebound %, which explains why they’re first in Second-Chance Points. Denver’s ability to grab boards on both ends of the floor allows them to completely take over games and play at a pace that they’re more comfortable with.
The Nuggets are also one of the top play-making teams in the NBA. They lead the league in Assist %, are third in Assist to Turnover Ratio, and hold the second spot in Assist Ratio. Denver Center Nikola Jokic is one of the best passing big men we’ve ever seen, and Malone has used him to the team’s full advantage. Jokic is averaging 7.5 APG, which leads all big men and is seventh overall. Using their center as their primary play-maker has enabled the Nuggets to space the floor in a way different from every other team in the league, and based on the results, it’s working.
Denver has done a full turnaround from where they were last season, and Mike Malone should get all the credit. His changes to their system have allowed Jokic to play at an MVP level, and he’s piloted the Nuggets to the first seed in the process. Even with the absence of key players from the lineup, Malone has still managed to conquer the West, which is why he leads my list of COTY candidates.