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NBA Awards Watch: Here Comes Kawhi Leonard

By Brad Rowland

Jan 16, 2015; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) reacts after a shot against the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 16, 2015; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) reacts after a shot against the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
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Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr addresses the media in a press conference before the game against the Washington Wizards at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr addresses the media in a press conference before the game against the Washington Wizards at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Coach of the Year

  1. Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors – Golden State has won nine straight games to reach a 60-13 mark on the season, and Kerr has been flatly ridiculous in the best possible way. The Warriors rank as the best defense in the league, but more impressively, Kerr has overhauled an offense that routinely underperformed a year ago, and the Dubs are in a virtual dead heat with the Clippers as the best offensive unit in the NBA for the season. Some will discount Kerr’s candidacy based on the fact that the roster is loaded, but much of the talent was in place a year ago, with the biggest change coming at the position of head coach.
  2. Mike Budenholzer, Atlanta Hawks – Budenholzer’s reputation as a Gregg Popovich clone was furthered over the weekend, as Atlanta’s head coach sat his entire starting lineup during a road loss against the Hornets. Still, Budenholzer has done an incredible job with this team, and he was only able to deploy that reduced roster due to the fact that the Hawks have clinched the top seed in the East. The Hawks aren’t quite as good as the Warriors, and because they play in the lesser conference, Budenholzer may be overlooked, but the roster does not match the record and Atlanta is lucky that they were able to lure the former Spurs assistant away prior to the 2013-2014 campaign.
  3. Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics – With a roster that has no business competing for a playoff berth, Brad Stevens has performed a miracle. The former Butler coach has quickly become a high-end tactician during his second season in Boston, and despite injuries and stealth “tanking” maneuvers via trade, Stevens continues to have this group playing solid basketball on a nightly basis. There are few coaches who are better in X’s and O’s already at this early stage, and Stevens is a rising star of the profession.

Next: Most Improved Player

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