NBA Playoffs 2015: Power Ranking All Remaining Coaches
Who would you want commanding your favorite team from the sidelines in the NBA playoffs? Some may take Doc Rivers, due to his previous playoff success, and others may prefer this season's Coach of the Year, Mike Budenholzer.
As the playoffs progress, coaches will face more pressure situations in high-stakes bouts. Rivers and David Joerger have both dealt with injury absences by their guards and navigated smoothly into the second round.
Let’s take a look at the current power ranking of the eight remaining coaches in the NBA playoffs. The teams’ regular season records, coaches’ playoff experience and any awards each man received factored into this ranking.
8. David Blatt
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Cleveland Cavaliers' Regular Season Record: 53-29
David Blatt took over the head coaching job for the Cleveland Cavaliers before this season, replacing Mike Brown.
The Boston native took his first head coaching job in the NBA after winning the award for being the best coach in the Israeli basketball league for the fourth time.
Although Blatt won multiple championships in European basketball leagues, he lacks the NBA experience of the other coaches.
Plus, LeBron James basically calls all the plays anyway, right?
7. David Joerger
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Memphis Grizzlies' Regular Season Record: 55-27
David Joerger began his tenure as head coach of the Grizzlies in the summer of 2013. The 41-year-old head coach took over for Lionel Hollins after serving as an assistant in Memphis.
The Grizzlies earned a spot in the playoffs in their first two seasons under Joerger’s guidance. However, Memphis exited the postseason in the first round last season.
This year, the Grizzlies made quick work of the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round and have now split their series with the Golden State Warriors in the first two games.
Joerger is not off to a bad start in Memphis but lacks the experience of a lot of the other coaches remaining in the playoffs.
6. Kevin McHale
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Houston Rockets' Regular Season Record: 56-26
The former Boston Celtics great took control of the Houston Rockets in 2011, and quickly received All-Star talent in James Harden and Dwight Howard.
McHale, the NBA's sixth man of year twice as a player, now possesses a deep bench including Josh Smith and others. The Rockets play an exciting style based on the three-point shot.
However, Houston was knocked out in the first round of the playoffs the past two years before defeating the Dallas Mavericks in its opening series this year.
McHale’s teams are perennial preseason contenders but have not capitalized on that potential yet.
5. Randy Wittman
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Washington Wizards' Regular Season Record: 46-36
Randy Wittman subtly boasts one of the best career winning percentages in the playoffs coming out victorious in 69 percent of his postseason games.
Wittman's playoff success continued this season with a first round sweep of the Toronto Raptors. However, Wittman immediately faced adversity in the second round with John Wall suffering an injury requiring time off.
Washington's head coach steadied the ship and relied on the veteran experience of Paul Pierce without his star point guard. The Wizards now return to Washington with the series tied following the first two games.
4. Steve Kerr
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Golden State Warriors' Regular Season Record: 67-15
The Warriors finished the regular season with the most wins in the NBA, seven ahead of second-place Atlanta. Steve Kerr made a loud splash in his first season as the Warriors head coach, taking over for Mark Jackson last offseason.
Kerr is helped in large part by this year’s MVP, Stephen Curry, but boasts a balanced team that brings former All-Stars David Lee and Andre Iguodala off the bench.
The 49-year-old head coach got the Warriors back to their winning ways this season after Golden State exited the playoffs in the first round last season.
Kerr may lack experience as a head coach but is no stranger to pressure, winning five NBA titles as a player.
3. Mike Budenholzer
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Atlanta Hawks' Regular Season Record: 60-22
Mike Budenholzer led the Hawks to the best record in the Eastern Conference in his second year as head coach in Atlanta.
Budenholzer’s coaching ability was proven in winning 60 games without having a bonafide superstar, as the Hawks instead operated with great team play. All five of Atlanta’s starters averaged more than 10 points per game without a single player averaging 20 points.
Budenholzer put his players in a great position to succeed while earning himself this season's NBA Coach of the Year award. However, other coaches possess much more playoff experience.
2. Tom Thibodeau
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Chicago Bulls' Regular Season Record: 50-32
Tom Thibodeau is one of the more battle-tested coaches remaining in this year's playoffs after making his fifth consecutive postseason appearance.
Thibodeau won the coach of the year award during the 2011 season and led his team to the Eastern Conference Finals two years ago.
The Chicago head coach continued to show his experience this season while leading the team to the third seed in the East despite an extended absence from Derrick Rose.
Thibodeau, however, misses the top spot to a coach who has made it to the promised land.
1. Doc Rivers
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Los Angeles Clippers' Regular Season Record: 56-26
Doc Rivers is the only sideline general remaining in the postseason to win an NBA title as a head coach. Rivers won the NBA Championship in the 2007-2008 season with the Boston Celtics.
The Clippers traded for Rivers in the summer of 2013, giving up a first-round pick in the process. Los Angeles lost in the conference semifinals last season but finds itself in the same round again this year.
Rivers’ team won Game 7 against the San Antonio Spurs, knocking the reigning champions out of the playoffs in the first round. The veteran coach’s previous playoff success makes him the best coach remaining in this postseason.
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