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Power ranking NBA head coaches: 2015-16 season

By John Buhler

Oct 23, 2015; Manchester, NH, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens gestures from the sidelines during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Verizon Wireless Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2015; Manchester, NH, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens gestures from the sidelines during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Verizon Wireless Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 15, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies head coach Dave Joerger looks on late in the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors in game six of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at FedExForum. Warriors defeated the Grizzlies 108-95. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
May 15, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies head coach Dave Joerger looks on late in the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors in game six of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at FedExForum. Warriors defeated the Grizzlies 108-95. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports /

13. Dave Joerger, Memphis Grizzlies

Dave Joerger seems to have a frustrating relationship with Grizzlies management, but he is the head coach behind the Grit N’ Grind Grizzlies and that still matters. Memphis’ reputation as arguably the most physical team in basketball is well-known across the NBA. The Grizzlies dictate the game’s tempo at their speed: slow and very much inside of the three-point line.

In an era where everybody is going small, it’s nice to see a team win consistently playing a throwback style of basketball. Since taking over for Lionel Hollins at the start of the 2013-14 NBA Season, Joerger is 112-66, with back-to-back 50 win seasons in the incredibly tough Southwest Division in the Western Conference.

Joerger has a .500 record in the postseason (9-9) and has been in the organization since 2007-08 as an assistant head coach. While Memphis is 7-7 in their first 14 games of 2015-16 and not exactly doing eviscerating opponents with their unique brand of basketball, Joerger is a capable head coach that could lead Memphis to an NBA Championship if the pieces fell into place.

While the Grizzlies are an unthinkable 20th in team defense (106.4), they should gravitate back to a top ten level defense synonymous under Dave Joerger (3rd last year and 7th in 2013-14). In two plus years, Dave Joerger has proven to the basketball world that he can coach at a high level for a contending basketball franchise. He’s in good company in that regard.

Next: 12. Jason Kidd

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