Great Expectations: Top 10 NBA Coaches Who Need To Win Big In 2010-11

With great talent comes great responsibility. When your team is loaded it serves as both a potential spring board and pitfall. While it's great to have the cupboard filled it also means you must contend for a title or at least show drastic improvement.

There are many coaches that will enter the 2010-2011 NBA season with high hopes and big burdens.

The free agency period this off season has had it's share of twists and turns. In it's wake we are left with a list of head coaches that must insure their teams come out with guns blazing. More importantly it signifies that you must make some noise come playoff time.

The following list will take a look at what coaches jobs got easier, whose got harder and ultimately who must reign supreme at seasons end to be considered successful.

10. Tom Thibodeau: Chicago Bulls

Tom Thibodeau barely made the list because he is after all entering his first year as coach of the Chicago Bulls. That still doesn't mean that fans and team management are going to give him a lot of leeway this season.

Chicago added numerous pieces to a team that gave top seeded Cleveland a run for its money during last years playoffs. The new additions signify that the Bulls expect to improve and advance deeper into the post season this year.

Derrick Rose will be entering his third year in the league. He is already an all star but needs to show that he can be even better this year under Thibodeau and with Carlos Boozer brought in to compliment his talent.

Thibodeau will get criticized if his squad fails to win their division and reach the second round of the playoffs this year. An Eastern Conference or NBA Finals appearance would be deemed a huge accomplishment.

Side Note: If he were bald would Thibodeau look like Dr.Evil??? "Throw me a fricken bone over here"

9. Scott Brooks: Oklahoma City Thunder

Last years playoff performance versus the Los Angeles Lakers has placed coach Scott Brooks and the Thunder in the spotlight this upcoming season.

Had the Thunder just been swept by L.A. Brooks wouldn't be on this list. However nothing will heighten expectations like giving the two time defending champions all they can handle in a best of seven series.

Brooks enjoys a core of young talented players. It is apparent that the Thunder are amassing a plethora of capable players that are going to mature together and possibly become a force in the league for years to come.

For this season to be considered a success Brooks must lead the Thunder to at least a second round playoff appearance.

Side Note: Brooks resembles either Liam Neeson or the fat kid that played center in Teen Wolf  if he lost 100 lbs and became an NBA coach.

8. Mike D'Antoni: New York Knicks

Mike D'Antoni needs to get the Knicks into the playoffs this year.

The honeymoon is officially over and it's put up or shut up time for D'Antoni. This may seem a bit premature seeing how New York failed in its bids for LeBron James and Dwyane Wade but still this franchise needs to get back into the post season.

David Stern wants to see it happen, so do the MSG people and New York fans.

The addition of Amare Stoudemire and Raymond Felton should bolster the talent on the club even though losing David Lee may offset that a bit.

Whatever the case it is pivotal for the Knicks to make the post season. Namely because if you want to lure Carmelo Anthony next summer you need to show him the ship is headed in the right direction. Then again if they tank the season it might appeal to Carmelo because they'd be getting both him and a high draft pick to compliment Anthony and Amare.

A second round playoff appearance would do wonders for this team. Just making it to the post season would suffice. Anything less and the season would be viewed in a negative light and D'Antoni's job could be in danger.

Side Note: D'Antoni and his mustache should be offered a spokesperson position with the Pringles company.

7. Alvin Gentry: Phoenix Suns

Considering he just lost his most dominant big man (Amare) some would think that Alvin Gentry should get a bit of a pass this season but that's not the case.

The Suns still have the NBA's best point guard (in my opinion) with Steve Nash running the offense. While he is getting up there in age, Nash continues to be a play maker and is one of the select few players in the league that makes those around him better.

The additions of Hedo Turkoglu and Josh Childress along with the development of Jared Dudley, Channing Frye and Robin Lopez should secure yet another Suns playoff berth.

Gentry though needs to do much more than just make the playoffs. The Suns have been snake bit to an extent during the last 6 years.

In order to keep his job, Gentry needs the Suns to finally make it to the NBA Finals. At the very least they must reach a decisive game 7 in the Western Conference Finals. Anything else will just be more of the same from Phoenix and would likely mean the end of both Gentry and Nash in the Suns organization.

Side Note: Alvin Gentry may be Nostradamus. Seeing him throwing up on the sideline during Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals could have been prophetic if he foresaw the Ron Artest buzzer beating put back. That would have been enough to make any NBA coach sick to his stomach.

6. Rick Carlisle: Dallas Mavericks

Rick Carlisle must prove to owner Mark Cuban that he can lead Dallas back to the NBA Finals in order to secure his job.

The Dallas Mavericks resigned Dirk Nowitzki and kept intact a team that earned the number two seed in the West last year. Rodrigue Beaubois potential emergence along with the addition of Dominique Jones should help bolster the roster. Also Caron Butler will be better acclimated entering his first full season in Dallas.

Carlisle is in a really tough spot. He has to fend off tough foes in the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets to win his division. Then he has to guide his team past possible opponents such as Oklahoma City, Denver and Los Angeles.

Best case scenario for Carlisle is that Dallas makes an NBA championship. At the very least he needs to make the Western Conference Finals and take the Lakers or whomever they face to a Game 6 or 7. Anything less and Cuban will likely blow up the team and start from scratch.

Side Note: Not necessarily in this picture but in others I've seen Rick definitely resembles Jim Carrey a bit.

5. George Karl: Denver Nuggets

George Karl is quickly realizing just how thin the ice he's walking on is.

The Nuggets have underachieved for three to four seasons now and need to find a way to get over the hump.

Similar to Carlisle in Dallas and Gentry in Phoenix, Karl needs to get the Nuggets to upset Phil Jackson and the Lakers.

Karl must battle both his health problems and a talent loaded team that never seems to rise to the occasion.

This season is extremely important for Denver as anything less than a trip to the NBA Finals will all but assure the team that Carmelo Anthony walks away as a free agent next summer.

If Carmelo goes and Denver doesn't make the NBA or Western Conference Finals then you can say goodbye to Karl as well.

Side Note: Throw a captains hat on him and Karl looks a lot like the skipper from Gilligan's Island

4. Stan Van Gundy: Orlando Magic

Stan Van Gundy is a funny guy. Definitely the type that would be a blast to have some drinks and watch a  game at a bar with.He always tells you what he thinks and is great for one liners.

As far as coaching is concerned he's pretty good at that too. Since becoming a head coach in the NBA SVG has made it to the playoffs each and every season. He's also been to 3 Eastern Conference Finals and an NBA Finals.

Still in order for him to be viewed as having a good year in 2010-2011, he must lead the Magic back to the NBA Finals. This will be a daunting task considering the Heat and Celtics both got better while the Magic didn't do much to improve their roster.

He still has Dwight Howard who is an absolute monster in the paint. The Magic needed to land Chris Paul to truly stay on pace with Miami and Boston. As it stands the Magic have a strong lineup but it would be surprising if they navigate through the Eastern Conference playoffs and end up playing for a chance to win it all.

Anything less than an NBA or Eastern Conference Finals appearance would be seen as a failure. Even then management may expect more than that. Orlando is due for it's first championship but will need to add a quality player and dump Vince Carters salary to do so. Van Gundy's job should be safe but you never know in this league.

Side Note: Way too easy with Stan, the guy is a Ron Jeremy clone. If a career in coaching fails I'm sure Stan will get calls to do an adult movie starring along side Ron.. "Double Impact"...you already have the perfect title.

3. Doc Rivers: Boston Celtics

Doc Rivers is back for another season in Boston.

It was rumored that Doc might not resign in order to spend more time with his family in Orlando. However the allure of making one more magical run with this roster was too much to pass up.

Boston surprised many skeptics by eliminating both Cleveland and Orlando last season before falling to the Lakers in Game 7 of the Finals. Had it not been for Kendrick Perkins injury the Celtics may have won their second title in three years.

This off season Boston added players such as Shaquille and Jermaine O'Neal to bolster their depth at center. They also added a potentially explosive young player in Von Wafer and are in the running to trade Rasheed Wallace's expiring contract for Shane Battier.

Rivers has a mix of young and old players who are all capable of contributing big on any given night. The Celtics are deep and expect to make at least one last run at a title in the next two seasons before beginning a rebuilding/reloading process.

Rivers must guide Boston past new powerhouse Miami, strong contender Orlando, and then the bitter rival Lakers to win a title. Anything less than hoisting the trophy at seasons end will not do. Boston's expectations are justifiably as high as they can be.

Side Note: One must wonder if cleaning personnel around the league will be checking in odd places after visits by the Celtics to see if Doc hides $2000 plus dollars in their visitors locker room.

As George W Bush once said "Fool me once shame on....shame on you...fool me...you can't get fooled again."

2. Phil Jackson: Los Angeles Lakers

The two time defending NBA champions have their "Zen Master" back on the bench.

Phil Jackson aims to make a run at an unprecedented fourth three peat in his career. Say what you wish but this three year stretch is arguably the best as far as coaching is concerned when it comes to Jackson.

The Lakers added Matt Barnes, Steve Blake and kept Derek Fisher from joining the Heat in order to field yet another winner.

With Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom and Ron Artest all coming back the Lakers appear poised to easily fend off other contenders in the West and make it to their fourth straight NBA Finals.

At this point Phil Jackson has nothing to really prove. He is one of the all time legends in regards to coaching and can only enhance his image/reputation with another title. This is not to say he is the least bit complacent. More than likely Jackson must see this as his greatest challenge ever and a chance to ride into the sunset drenched in champagne one last time.

Jackson and the Lakers must win it all for this season to be deemed a true success. A Finals appearance is great but Los Angeles fans definitely want more.

Side Note: Jackson at times looks eerily similar to a young KFC Colonel Sanders

1. Eric Spoelstra: Miami Heat

No single coaches job got simultaneously easier and harder as a result of this off season than Eric Spoelstra's.

Entering his third season as Heat head coach some could argue Spoelstra has been blessed by the basketball Gods thanks to the additions of LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Mike Miller.

The good side is your roster is stacked with three of the leagues top 15 players and one of the best three point shooters as well. The bad news is you went from a guy who was over achieving with a mediocre roster to one that must win and win big...now.

Spoelstra has the challenge of trying to maintain three players used to being stars in line with a team first philosophy. Then he has to appease an entire roster that already knows it has to play second actually fourth fiddle to Dwyane Wade, Bosh and James.

As if that wasn't enough of a task he has to also meet the "Pie in the Sky" expectations of the teams superstars and fans.

Even worse he has a boss in Pat Riley who at a moments whim can sweep the rug from under Spoelstras feet and assume the position of Heat head coach once again.

The Heat must reach the NBA Finals for Spoelstra to have any job security. I genuinely believe Riley would love to help launch the next great coach by kick starting Spoelstra's career. Riley is older and realizes he doesn't want to have to coach again. Still at his core Riley is a man possessed by winning. If Riley see's that Spoelstra can't handle the challenge then Pat will step back up to the plate and give it another swing.

Due to the hype, renewed hope and huge additions, Spoelstra has to meet/surpass the greatest expectations of any coach this season. The weight on his shoulders will be a huge burden. Still this is what coaches get into this profession for and Spoelstra needs to prove he is the right man for the job.

Side Note: Spoelstra's young looks may be an asset with the ladies but it doesn't help him in regards to earning respect from his players. He looks more like a typical college student than an NBA head coach.