2014-2015 NBA Coach Of The Year Candidates

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Mike Budenholzer-Atlanta Hawks

http://matchbin-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/public/sites/624/assets/IBY1_rgbhawks1.jpgLast season the Atlanta Hawks won 38 games for the entire NBA campaign. This time around the Hawks have already won 35 games and the month of January has not even concluded. Mike Budenholzer is in his second season as the head coach of the Hawks and his team has bought into his system. Budenholzer was an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs before taking over the Hawks and he brought with him the team first philosophy that has propelled the Spurs to being one of the best run franchises in all of professional sports. While the Hawks were riddled by injuries last season, they have been durable this time around and each of their five starters is averaging in double figures in scoring. The Hawks have the best record in the Eastern Conference and they are thinking about their first trip to the NBA Finals since 1961.

Jason Kidd-Milwaukee Bucks

http://www.sikids.com/sites/default/files/pages/images/cms/imce/users/dantec/2014/06/jason-kidd-nets-bucks-header.jpgJason Kidd shocked the basketball world last summer when he left his post as the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets to join the struggling Milwaukee Bucks. But Kidd is showing everyone that he knew what he was doing as he is turning around the Bucks. After winning just 15 games last season, the Bucks have already surpass that win total as they are 21-21 and they are currently in possession of the sixth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Kidd and the Bucks are doing this without small forward Jabari Parker who was the second overall pick of the 2014 NBA Draft. Parker was lost early this season with an ACL injury and the Bucks have not skipped a beat which is a credit to Kidd.

Steve Kerr-Golden State Warriors

http://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/41/files/2014/11/steve-kerr-stephen-curry-nba-san-antonio-spurs-golden-state-warriors-850x560.jpgSome people may say that first-year Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr inherited a good team, but he is doing a terrific job of not messing things up. The Warriors won 51 games last season under head coach Mark Jackson which made it surprising to some people when Golden State decided to part ways with him. Kerr has stepped in and made a good team better. The Warriors are currently 34-6 which is the best record in the NBA. Kerr knows where his bread is buttered and he has simply stayed out of his team’s way and allowed them to play basketball. This is a philosophy that Kerr hopes to ride to the first NBA Championship for the Warriors since 1975.

Jeff Hornacek-Phoenix Suns

http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Jeff+Hornacek+Phoenix+Suns+v+Los+Angeles+Clippers+8-j_Q9OeM1pl.jpgLast season was the first one for the Phoenix Suns under head coach Jeff Hornacek and his team overachieved by winning 48 games. In spite of going 48-34, the Suns were denied a trip to the postseason as they play in the tough Western Conference. The Suns played over their heads last season and it would have been easy for them to take a step backwards, but that hasn’t been the case as Phoenix has improved off of last year’s close call. The Suns are currently 26-18 which is currently good enough for them to own the final playoff spot in the Western Conference and under Hornacek, they are seeking their first trip to the NBA Playoffs since 2010.

Dave Joerger-Memphis Grizzlies

http://memphisport.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/jeorger3.jpgWhen Dave Joerger took over last season as the head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies, he inherited a team that had won 56 games in the previous campaign and they made a trip to the Western Conference Finals. But Joerger was able to keep the ship afloat last season as the Grizzlies won 50 games for a second consecutive season. However this time around the Grizzlies have jumped out of the gate with a record of 30-12 which is tops in the Southwest Division. The Grizzlies are eighth in the NBA in points allowed and they are known to make their opponents grind it out for four quarters. Joerger is attempting to lead the Grizzlies to their first division title in franchise history.

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