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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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Jun 19, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Head coach Steve Kerr waves to the crowd during the Golden State Warriors 2015 championship celebration in downtown Oakland. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 19, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Head coach Steve Kerr waves to the crowd during the Golden State Warriors 2015 championship celebration in downtown Oakland. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors

Nobody had a better first-year as an NBA head coach than Steve Kerr did last year with the 2014-15 Golden State Warriors. While lingering back issues have kept him from coaching so far this season, what Kerr did last season is unheard of.

Since taking over the Golden State Warriors, his team has lost only 15 regular season games. Golden State won its first NBA Championship in 40 years and had the greatest outside shooting tandem in basketball history via the Splash Brothers (MVP point guard Stephen Curry and All-Star shooting guard Klay Thompson).

Under Kerr’s guidance, Golden State finished first in defense, first in pace, and second in offense. His decision to bring former All-Star small forward Andre Iguodala off the bench changed the game for the Warriors in 2014-15. Kerr’s ability to convince Iguodala to sacrifice playing time for his team’s betterment proved worthwhile as Iguodala won NBA Finals MVP.

Many teams have tried to recreate the magic of the Golden State Warriors small ball formula. While some have come close, there is no answer for the Stephen Curry/Draymond Green pick-and-roll when Green plays the five for the Warriors.

Kerr brought his championship pedigree (five-time NBA Champion as a player) to the Bay Area and now Golden State is the team everyone in the NBA aspires to play like. Golden State has yet to lose in 2015-16 through their first 14 games. Steve Kerr has created a basketball juggernaut in Oakland, California.

Next: 1. Gregg Popovich

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