Sportskeeda Awards 2014: Top 5 NBA Coaches of the year
General Managers along with the rest of the front office put together the roster before the season begins. Over the course of the 82 game regular season grind, the players leave it all on the floor in the hopes of winning an NBA Championship. The job of a Head Coach is to translate the winning intentions of the management into the playing style of the team.Often the onus falls on the Coach, when his team puts up disappointing performance despite being healthy. However, when the alternate happens and the team surprises all with its great play, the credit goes to the players. So the job of a Head Coach is one of the toughest within a franchise.The last couple of seasons have seen a lot of activity in terms of the appointment of rookie head coaches or veteran coaches taking over new teams.The year of 2014 saw all kinds of coaches: Veteran Coaches showing their class while some young and rookie coaches stepped up. Here is the Sportskeeda’s list of the top 5 coaches for 2014:
#5 Mike Budenholzer - Atlanta Hawks
A Head Coach in his rookie season with the Atlanta Hawks makes it to the list. However, the surprise element in this achievement vanishes when you realize Mike Budenholzer was an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs before he took over the reigns in Atlanta. He was appointed the Head Coach by President of Basketball Operations for the Hawks Danny Ferry who was also once member of the Spurs franchise. Together they began building what many call the Spurs team of the East.
What earns him a spot on the list?
Two months into his first season with new head coach Budenholzer, Atlanta lost its All-Star center Al Horford to a shoulder injury which led to the team struggling the following month. The move that he made next is the sole reason he is on this list. He decided to change the team’s style of play. He decided to make the team play small ball, run the floor and knock down a lot of threes. The plan worked – not only did the Hawks recover to make the Playoffs as the eighth seed, they also gave the top seed in the Indiana Pacers a run for their money in the first round pushing the series to seven games.
Imagine how strong the Hawks would have been if Horford wasn’t injured?
Well, just follow the team this season because without making a lot of noise, the team is currently third in the East at 18-7, just two games behind the top seeded Toronto Raptors.