NBA Coach of the Year Power Rankings featuring Taylor Jenkins, Monty Williams and more | March 3rd, 2021
The second half of the 2021-22 NBA season is underway and the teams have come out of the midseason break rejuvenated and motivated.
Players and coaches are performing at their best as everyone wants to end their season with the best standing possible for the playoffs. The top and mid-tier teams want to maintain their position or grab home-court advantage, while the bottom teams are hoping to enter the NBA play-in tournament.
The top three teams in both conferences have been the same for weeks, and the NBA Coach of the Year ladder is mostly set. The Milwaukee Bucks have climbed to the fourth seed in the East, but it doesn't look like Mike Budenholzer will enter the race. Coaches Quin Snyder, Doc Rivers, Steve Nash and Budenholzer are out of the top five of the race despite having title-contending teams.
Coaches Ime Udoka of the Boston Celtics, Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks and Mike Malone of the Denver Nuggets have a tiny chance of entering the race, but their teams need to perform spectacularly in the final 20 games of the season.
On that note, let's take a look at the top five of the Coach of the Year power rankings by Sportskeeda.
#5 Steve Kerr
Previous week's NBA Coach of the Year Power Ranking - 4th (↓1)
Last Week: Games played - 3; Games won - 1; Games lost - 2
Overall: Games played - 62; Games won - 44; Games lost - 21
Offensive Rating: 111.9 (13th of 30)
Defensive Rating: 105.0 (1st of 30)
Average Points Scored: 110.9 (10th of 30)
Average Points Conceded: 104.0 (4th of 30)
Although they are dealing with an injured roster, the Golden State Warriors are losing winnable games. They have lost six of their last eight games, including losses to the New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves. They are still ranked first in defensive rating but are steadily slipping in that category as well
When Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala and Klay Thompson get back, then coach Steve Kerr has a chance to climb the Coach of the Year ladder.
Steve Kerr: “We’re going to be fine long-term. I’m excited about our team… We just have to weather this storm.”
#4 JB Bickerstaff
Previous week's NBA Coach of the Year Power Ranking - 5th (↑1)
Last Week: Games played - 4; Games won - 1; Games lost - 3
Overall: Games played - 62; Games won - 36; Games lost - 26
Offensive Rating: 110.7 (19th of 30)
Defensive Rating: 107.0 (4th of 30)
Average Points Scored: 106.5 (26th of 30)
Average Points Conceded: 103.0 (1st of 30)
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been the surprise of the season so far. They are dominating the NBA with a lineup featuring multiple seven-footers and are the league's best defensive team in terms of points conceded.
Coach JB Bickerstaff has a chance to climb the Coach of the Year ladder in the final 20 games. They have lost five of their last six games but have the 15th-easiest remaining schedule in the league.
JB Bickerstaff has this way about him of being honest but thoughtful, direct but respectful and authoritative but approachable...
I thought this quote from him tonight after another tough loss was a small reflection of that...
#Cavs https://t.co/gjHUg1ULIN