Coach of the Year
Ashlin: Doc Rivers
This was easily the hardest choice to make. Mike Budenholzer did an amazing job coaching the Bucks to 60 wins, but Doc Rivers is my pick. Many analysts did not project to Clippers to be competitive this season let alone win 48 games. The front office did a fantastic job putting together this roster, but Rivers was able to maximize every player. Winning 48 games without a superstar is unheard of in today’s NBA.
Gershon: Steve Clifford
The longest playoff drought in the Eastern Conference was snapped this season as the Orlando Magic led by first-year head coach Steve Clifford snapped a streak that goes back to the 2011-2012 season when Dwight Howard was still on the team. Clifford who was fired by the Hornets a year ago came to an Orlando team that hadn’t won 30 games in four seasons and brought them to the postseason in just one season. No one’s more deserving for Coach of the Year.
Piper: Mike Budenholzer
Doc Rivers is also a great choice here, but Budenholzer led his team to a 60 win season and a number one seed in the east. Nobody expected anybody other than the 76ers or Celtics to finish at the top of the East before the season, but here we are at the end of the season and it is the Budenholzer-led Bucks at the top of the conference.
Corn: Mike Malone
Now, this was hard, But coach Malone took a 46 win and 9th place Denver Nuggets team and led them to be as of today 53 win 2nd seeded team in the West. Something that I for one didn’t see coming.