NBA Awards Watch: Frontrunners for MVP, ROY and more through November
Coach of the Year: Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics
One month ago, Frank Vogel was the clear frontrunner for Coach of the Year and the first honorable mention was David Fizdale. My, how things can change in a month!
Even if the Orlando Magic hadn’t stumbled on a nine-game losing streak and the Memphis Grizzlies hadn’t fired Fizdale, Brad Stevens would’ve risen to the No. 1 spot on this list. Seriously, is anyone else even close right now?
Gregg Popovich deserves a ton of credit for keeping the San Antonio Spurs right in the thick of the hunt at the top of the West without Kawhi Leonard, but the Boston Celtics also lost arguably their best player in devastating fashion on opening night.
"I think the Celtics success this year is more about Brad Stevens being Coach of the Year than Kyrie Irving being MVP." - @bwood_33 #Celtics pic.twitter.com/eOJFTggRAs
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) November 20, 2017
While starting rookie Jayson Tatum and second-year wing Jaylen Brown, the Celtics have amassed the best record in the East, the best defense in the NBA and put together a 16-game winning streak after starting the season 0-2.
The offense could still use some work, but Stevens is extracting everything he can from a bench rotation that includes Terry Rozier, Daniel Theis and Aron Baynes. He’s got Kyrie Irving playing the best defense of his career, Al Horford looks like a fringe MVP candidate and the Celtics, against all odds, look like the premier team in the East.
They may not be favored in a seven-game playoff series against LeBron James just yet, but we can’t say enough about the job Stevens has done after Gordon Hayward‘s injury should’ve ended their season on opening night.
Honorable Mentions:
- Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs
- Stan Van Gundy, Detroit Pistons
- Mike D’Antoni, Houston Rockets
- Brett Brown, Philadelphia 76ers
- Terry Stotts, Portland Trail Blazers