Hoops Habit
Fansided

2015-16 HoopsHabit NBA Awards

By Maxwell Ogden

Apr 10, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (30) is defended by San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker (9) and small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) during the second half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 10, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (30) is defended by San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker (9) and small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) during the second half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 7
Next
April 3, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts looks on against the Golden State Warriors during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Trail Blazers 136-111. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
April 3, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts looks on against the Golden State Warriors during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Trail Blazers 136-111. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Coach of the Year: Terry Stotts, Portland Trail Blazers

Votes: 38.5%

W-L Record: 44-38

Key Losses: Arron Afflalo, SG; LaMarcus Aldridge, PF; Nicolas Batum, G/F; Robin Lopez, C; Wesley Matthews, SG

The Portland Trail Blazers shouldn’t be anywhere close to as good as they are in 2015-16. Damian Lillard has been remarkable at point guard, and, as previously alluded to, C.J. McCollum has been a revelation at the 2 spot.

One simply cannot overlook the fact that Portland lost five starters from 2015-16, replaced them with—respectfully—inferior talents, and still made the playoffs.

Portland lost LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum, Robin Lopez, and Wesley Matthews—all of whom started at least 59 games for Portland in 2015-16. The Trail Blazers also parted ways with Arron Afflalo, who started 19 games and ranked No. 4 on the team in scoring.

Behind the leadership of head coach Terry Stotts, the Trail Blazers have made history in 2015-16.

That’s a shining example of why Stotts won HoopsHabit’s Coach of the Year award.

Portland has replaced Aldridge, Batum, Lopez, Matthews, and Afflalo with the likes of Al-Farouq Aminu, Allen Crabbe, Ed Davis, Gerald Henderson, and Mason Plumlee. With all due respect to said players, who have been very solid in 2015-16, the rosters simply do not compare.

Related Story: Who have been the biggest overachievers in 2015-16?

Portland was projected by most to be one of the five worst teams in the NBA. Stotts didn’t let that happen, and that’s why he’s Coach of the Year.

Others Receiving Votes: Brad Stevens (19.3 percent); Steve Kerr (13.5 percent); Steve Clifford (11.5 percent); Gregg Popovich (7.7 percent); Dwane Casey (3.8 percent); Dave Joerger (3.8 percent); Luke Walton (1.9 percent)

Next: Defensive Player of the Year