BOSTON – When it comes to NBA coaches it’s either feast or famine.
They get too much credit when all is well, or too much blame when things go sideways.
The NBA season is just getting started, but there have been a handful of coaches who have distinguished themselves.
It’s not enough to just get off to a good start and win games.
But these coaches are doing it in a way that, truth be told, goes beyond simply throwing five guys out there and hoping for the best.
They are for the most part making tactical adjustments that are not just giving their respective teams the best shot at winning, but sealing the deal by emerging victorious.
Here are the five coaches who have been instrumental in their teams getting off to a fast start this season.
5. Golden State’s Luke Walton
Record: 5-0
With head coach Steve Kerr out indefinitely, Luke Walton has filled in admirably by doing what probably doesn’t come naturally to a head coach – stay out of the way. That’s not to say he’s just sitting around on his hands doing nothing. What Walton has done is simply allow Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson continue to do what they do best offensively, and he seems to be allowing Draymond Green even more free reign to defend all five positions along with attacking whenever he believes the opportunity exists.
4. Washington’s Randy Wittman
Record: 3-1
It’s amazing how just a couple of years ago, Wittman was on the coaching hot seat and now he’s one of the hottest coaches out there. Beal has become a bigger part of their offense and despite having a bevy of big men to work with, Wittman is wisely making better use of small lineups that allow his stable of shooters like Beal, John Wall and emerging Otto Porter, more opportunities to impact the game.
3. Toronto's Dwane Casey
Record: 5-0
Casey and the Raptors are looking pretty smart right now in investing huge in DeMarre Carroll who may be the most impactful offseason signing thus far this season. But there’s more going on than that. Casey has the Raptors back to playing defense how they did a couple years ago. Only now that defense has an explosive offense at its side, resulting in Toronto being one of the best teams in the NBA thus far this season.
2. Detroit’s Stan Van Gundy
Record: 3-1
Van Gundy is the only one on this list who in addition to coaching, also has General Manager duties as well. Give him credit. He has gone about reshaping this roster in terms of the personnel as well as Xs and Os to where they are beyond competing but winning games. Andre Drummond is a legit league MVP candidate thus far, and the shooters around him have stepped up which is making Van Gundy look pretty smart right about now.
1. Portland’s Terry Stotts
Record: 4-2
Losing LaMarcus Aldridge (San Antonio) and Wes Matthews (Dallas) would devastate most franchises. Instead, Portland has gone all-in on Damian Lillard while surrounding him with a slew of players who are having career-best seasons thus far. There’s a lot of season left to be played, for sure. But Lillard’s knack for coming through in the clutch coupled with guys playing the best basketball of their lives, will keep hope alive in Rip City that the rebuilding process in Portland won’t be nearly as painful as predicted.