NBA Awards Watch: Draymond Green Makes Push For Defensive Player Of The Year

Coach of the Year

1.David Blatt, Cleveland Cavaliers (Last Week: 2, Up 1)

I understand that this might be a controversial swap, but the Warriors’ first loss has opened the door for a thoughtful conversation here finally. While Walton clearly processes a brilliant mind, you have to be careful with how much credit you give him with Curry, Thompson, and Green at their current basketball heights.

Remember, for the most part, the Warriors have been relatively healthy, while the Cleveland Cavaliers are just now preparing for that Kyrie Irving boost, but have dominated their competition nonetheless. Now with the undefeated record out of the way, the world can focus on that imminent, epic Christmas Day matchup that will have families scrambling for their TV remotes after dinner — this one, undoubtedly, will be a doozy.

However, with Iman Shumpert marking his return and Irving’s on the immediate horizon, the Cavaliers are surging at the right time. Blatt must be very happy to shake off some of those first-season jitters and media-members that wanted him fired all year long in 2014-15.

Revenge is dish best served at the top of the conference.

Blatt’s Win of the Week: 12/15, Cleveland Cavaliers 89, Boston Celtics 77
Week Grade: A-

2. Luke Walton, Golden State Warriors (Last Week: 1, Down 1)

So, they lost and now Luke Walton is at No. 2, am I a jerk? Sometimes when your best players are Curry, Green and Thompson, the coaching can often run itself, making Walton’s guidance suddenly less important than somebody like Blatt. Of course, Blatt has the sidekick of LeBron James helping ease the pressure of head coaching, but you still get the feeling that they’re on to some special in Cleveland.

However, it totally bears repeating:

Somehow, an interim head coach with no experience whatsoever at this level has the Golden State Warriors at 24-1 and playing better each and every game. Walton most certainly deserves heaps of praise for that. But now that they’ve lost, can they sustain that momentum and push for the NBA record?

Walton’s Win of the Week: 12/11, Golden State Warriors 124, Boston Celtics 119, 2 OT
Week Grade: F (Ha, just kidding — B)

3. Steve Clifford, Charlotte Hornets (Last Week: –, Up 1)

Finally — welcome to the list, Steve Clifford.

I’m not even sure if Charlotte Hornets fans even expected to be this high in the conference come Christmastime. As of today, the Charlotte Hornets sit in first place in the Southwest Division, tied with the Miami Heat at 14-9. The summer moves for Jeremy Lin and Nic Batum have been incredibly rewarding and it appears as if they might even be better off without Al Jefferson, so they’re in a really interesting situation now.

Do you trade the franchise player and really go for this golden opportunity they’ve been presented with? Or should Clifford roll with the NBA’s sixth-best defense and see just how high this roster can take him? Many expected that the Hornets might be sellers around now, but thanks to Clifford, they might have a chance to not only be respectable, but dark horse contenders in the Eastern Conference.

Clifford’s Win of the Week: 12/11, Charlotte Hornets 123, Memphis Grizzlies 99
Week Grade: B

Honorable Mentions: Mike Budenholzer, Atlanta Hawks; Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics; Stan Van Gundy, Detroit Pistons; Frank Vogel, Indiana Pacers; Doc Rivers, Los Angeles Clippers; Erik Spoelstra, Miami Heat, Jason Kidd, Milwaukee Bucks; Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs; Dwane Casey, Toronto Raptors; Quin Snyder, Utah Jazz

Week 1: Fred Hoiberg, Chicago Bulls
Week 2: Fred Hoiberg, Chicago Bulls
Week 3: Stan Van Gundy, Detroit Pistons
Week 4: Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics
Week 5: Luke Walton, Golden State Warriors
Week 6: Luke Walton, Golden State Warriors
Week 7: Luke Walton, Golden State Warriors
Week 8: David Blatt, Cleveland Cavaliers

Next: Flipping The Script