NBA: Top 10 candidates for Coach of the Year Award in 2017-18

3. Mike D’Antoni

Don’t count out the reigning Coach of the Year just yet. The Houston Rockets came dangerously close to becoming a one-year novelty after their disappointing second round playoff flameout, but they immediately breathed new life into Mike D’Antoni‘s high-powered offense with a strong offseason.

No one knows how it’ll work with two ball-dominant guards like James Harden and Chris Paul sharing the backcourt (outside of their plan to stagger their minutes), but there’s too much skill, talent and high basketball IQ for it to not eventually come together.

When it does, and the Rockets once again shatter records for 3-point makes while also possibly fielding a top-10 defense, you can be guaranteed Mike D will be in the Coach of the Year conversation again…especially if they surpass the Spurs in the standings and emerge as Golden State’s biggest threat out West.