NBA Quarter Pole Awards: Early season MVP and more

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NBA Coach of the Quarter – Tom Thibodeau

Honorable Mentions: Quin Snyder, J.B. Bickerstaff

This was very close but for right now the nod is going to Tom Thibodeau. The New York Knicks are exceeding expectations thus far and the amount of effort and improvement he is getting out of his players is staggering. Julius Randle is having a career year and is giving an effort on the defensive end of the court that is almost unprecedented.

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To hammer this point home, the New York Knicks are fourth in defensive rating. With much of the same roster last year they finished 23rd. That kind of improvement speaks to the connection Thibodeau has with the roster already. He is getting the most out of a roster that was generally seen as a negative on that side of the ball and they are becoming a nightmare to play against. Seeing the improvement of RJ Barrett and the emergence of rookie Immanuel Quickley pushes him further ahead.

Quin Snyder needs to be mentioned as the Utah Jazz are currently sixth in offensive rating and third in defensive rating. They are the only team currently in the top six of both categories. They are currently on a nine-game winning streak and are shocking the league as they push both behemoths in Los Angeles for conference supremacy. Like Thibodeau, J.B. Bickerstaff has brought the Cleveland Cavaliers close to playoff contention sooner than expected on the strength of their defense.

Keep an eye on both coaches should their teams continue to trend upwards.