What's the easiest way to evaluate an NBA head coach?
Look at his talent pool and determine whether or not his team is underachieving, overachieving or playing about as well as it should. For example, it's easy to see what a tremendous coach Rick Carlisle is when his team of misfits, castoffs and scrap parts is seeded ahead of more naturally-talented teams like the Warriors, Nuggets, Timberwolves and Kings in the loaded Western Conference.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, it was easy to see what a terrible coach Mo Cheeks was for the Pistons when a team with Greg Monroe, Andre Drummond, Josh Smith (the elite rebounding frontcourt in the league) and Brandon Jennings failed to settle into a playoff spot in the laughable Eastern Conference. A completely justifiable firing.
Anyway, let's get into the rankings (starting with 30 because that's where they rank in the grand scheme)...
30. Larry Drew, Milwaukee Bucks: I'm not necessarily taking sides on this particular topic, but today's NBA players are very sensitive about their roles. They really want to know when they will be playing, and for how many minutes.
That being said, Larry Drew has managed his rotation worse than every other coach in the league this season. He's had players go from not playing at all (i.e. Luke Ridnour) to the starting lineup, then back to nothing. Nate Wolters is another example of a player who has suffered through Coach Drew's whimsical decision making. I'd be shocked to see him back on the Bucks' bench next year.
29. John Loyer, Detroit Pistons: He's only coached a couple of games since Mo Cheeks' firing, but I like what he's done with the rotation. He's played Greg Monroe more down the stretch and stopped wasting playing time on scrubs like Josh Harrellson, Gigi Datome and Charlie Villanueva. Just play the guys who are actually professional ballers.
28. Mike Brown, Cleveland Cavaliers: When I watched the struggling Knicks demolish the Cavs a couple weeks ago, I couldn't help but think, "Nothing about what the Cavs are doing resembles anything near professional basketball."
Their "star" player, Kyrie Irving, plays selfishly and shows no commitment to helping his teammates gel or improve. A terrible trait for a franchise point guard. Their offense consisted of four guys playing one-on-one (Irving, Dion Waiters, Tristan Thompson and Jarrett Jack) with no cutting, passing or continuity. Their collective lack of defensive effort was appalling. Their body language suggested a team defeated before it even touched the floor.
Simply put, it was an absolute shitshow and it was a direct reflection of their clueless head coach, Mike Brown. After the Pacers and Heat, the Cavs have one of the better individual talent pools in the light East, and yet they are 20-33, ranked 11th in the conference. Not acceptable. However, the Cavs have won four in a row, a fact which rescued Coach Brown from the dreaded No. 30 spot.
It's just an absolute disaster. He clearly has to go.
26. Tyrone Corbin, Utah Jazz: It's difficult to evaluate a head coach when he has one of the youngest and rawest rosters in the league. Utah has potential with players like PG Trey Burke, SG Gordon Hayward, PF Derrick Favors and C Enes Kanter, but I'm not sure any of those guys have superstar upside. With that in mind, it's tough to expect much from this season's Jazz in the stacked Wild West.
However, Corbin doesn't articulate himself well and doesn't sound like a great tactician. I'm not sure how well he communicates with his young players.
25. Jacque Vaughn, Orlando Magic: Another example of a team with a very limited talent pool. Orlando has solid guys like Arron Afflalo, Nikola Vucevic, Jameer Nelson and Tobias Harris, but there isn't much explosiveness or upside here.
On the other hand, they should be a decent halfcourt team with their specific personnel. And yet, they are not. They have struggled against every possible type of opposition. This is (in part) a reflection of Coach Vaughn's strategical shortcomings.
24. Brett Brown, Philadelphia 76ers: After a surprising 3-0 start to their season, the Sixers have been one of the worst teams in the history of professional basketball. I have never seen a more embarrassing defensive unit. Lazy, uninterested and seemingly lacking guidance and leadership. I think Coach Brown has done a shockingly terrible job with his young guys this season.
23. Brian Shaw, Denver Nuggets: Maybe this is too generous of a ranking for Coach Shaw. The Nuggets still have Lawson, Chandler and Faried (a big part of their core from last season's playoff team) and yet they are devolving into one of the weaker teams in the West. He doesn't play Timofey Mozgov -- his most skilled big -- enough and even when he does, he doesn't emphasize getting Mozgov the ball in the proper post position. The Nuggets are a bad team right now, and Shaw has been a major coaching disappointment.
22. Mike Malone, Sacramento Kings: Give me DeMarcus Cousins, Rudy Gay, Isaiah Thomas (the most improved player in the game?) and Marcus Thornton, and I will have this team in the hunt for the 8-seed in the Western Conference. But Coach Malone is having the same problem as Coach Brown in Philly...he can't get these kids to understand the importance of a consistent defensive effort. Not only is there a lack of effort, there seems to be a misunderstanding of rotations and individual defensive responsibilities. That's a major issue against top-tier competition.
21. Monty Williams, New Orleans Pelicans: Maybe I am being too tough on Monty (no Ryan Anderson or Jrue Holiday), but I expect better from him. He was a Coach of the Year candidate a handful of years back, and now he often seems too frustrated or apathetic. Outside of the Timberwolves, the Pelicans have been the worst fourth quarter team in the league this season, and that generally speaks volumes about a head coach's offensive sets and timeout playcalls.
Congrats fellas, on being the worst of the worst.
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