M.D. Wright
11.2.09
No subjectivity here, results matter -- regardless of the players on the team. Good coaching is good coaching.
1. PHIL JACKSON. Los Angeles Lakers.
10 Titles. Best motivator in the game. Best players in the league or not, he keeps them focused so that they do not lose focus of the prize at hand.
2. GREGG POPOVICH. San Antonio Spurs.
He has done it at every level. He has coached, he has served as the Spurs' GM and helped build some of their best teams both as GM (in the past) and coach over the past 15 seasons. He'd be #1 on this list if not for Phil Jackson having the most World Championships ever. The model of consistency and perennially winning 55-60 games.
3. STAN VAN GUNDY. Orlando Magic.
SVG, as we call him, is a better coach than his brother Jeff Van Gundy (referred to as JVG by us online). Shaquille O'Neal tried his best to smear Van Gundy's name, but SVG proved his worth in the 2009 NBA Playoffs. He guided his team to the NBA Finals and should've had an opportunity to do it previously in 2006 before his frontrunning President/GM pushed him out of the door (due to O'Neal's rants).
4. NATE MCMILLAN. Portland TrailBlazers.
Nate is so underrated. He was built to coach, however. I watched his entire career as a player in Seattle and he was a floor general if there ever was one. That has transferred to the coaching seat. He has shaped this team in his own image and they play like those old Seattle teams did in the 80s and early 90s.
5. DOC RIVERS. Boston Celtics.
Doc was overrated to me before a couple of years ago, honestly. But he has learned how to settle on a rotation and gets the most out of what he has with the massive talent that he has at his disposal. Outcoached Phil Jackson in the 2008 NBA Finals -- which is worth noting.
Honorable Mention: Rick Carlisle, Eddie Jordan, Jerry Sloan.
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