NBA Award Predictions Roundtable: Coach of the Year

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Apr 19, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni protests a call during the second quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in game two of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports /

Mike D’Antoni

“Mike D’Antoni’s hire was a major shock in Houston. A porous defensive team from the year before hired a coach infamous for being against improving defensively and instead simply scoring more. This season, the Rockets have set the league on fire defensively. The Rockets set the record for most made threes in a season, and pose a real threat to any team in the Western Conference due to D’Antoni’s incredible offensive weaponry.” –Evan Siegel

“Pop and Carlisle should always get the love. Spoelstra will get love, but I can’t give my vote to a coach with a win total in the low 40’s. I’m going with Mike D’Antoni. What he did in turning around Houston, that roster and making Harden the point guard has been amazing. Third seed in the West, he’s my pick.” –Isaac Harris

“This year’s COTY award has to go to the guy at the helm for the Houston Rockets, Mike D’Antoni. In his first season with the Rockets, D’Antoni has improved the Rockets’ number of wins by 14 from last season. Also, his style of offense has allowed the Rockets to become one of the most productive shooting teams this league has ever seen.” –Blake Heckel

Next: Erik Spoelstra