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The 2021-22 NBA season hasn't been ideal for many teams so far. Many rosters have been bit by the injury bug, and have been unable to keep up with the healthy ones. However, the championship contenders have started to separate themselves from the rest. Meanwhile, the mid-table teams are striving to reach the playoffs without negotiating the NBA play-in tournament.
The Boston Celtics have underwhelmed this season; they are ninth in the East with a 12-11 record. Meanwhile, the Portland Trail Blazers are eighth in the West, with an 11-12 record. The Sacramento Kings look nowhere close to ending their playoff drought, while the New Orleans Pelicans' postseason aspirations might be over, as Zion Williamson continues to be sidelined.
The Washington Wizards were spectacular to begin the season, but have now lost four of their last seven games. The Milwaukee Bucks are finally healthy, and have started to climb up the Eastern Conference standings.
The Brooklyn Nets are first in the East. However, their head coach Steve Nash isn't in the top five NBA Coach of the Year power rankings because he doesn't believe the Nets are close to the other title-contending teams just yet. They have faced an easy schedule, but are 3-6 against above .500 teams.
So without further ado, let's have a look at who comprises our top five NBA coaches of the year at the moment:
#5 Erik Spoelstra
Previous week's NBA Coach of the Year Power Ranking - 3rd (↓2)
Last Week: Games played - 3; Games won - 2; Games lost - 1
Overall: Games played - 23; Games won - 14; Games lost - 9
Offensive Rating: 111.7 (6th of 30)
Defensive Rating: 107.2 (12th of 30)
Average Points Scored: 108.0 (13th of 30)
Average Points Conceded: 103.7 (3rd of 30).
The Miami Heat have lost five of their last seven games, and have fallen off at the defensive end of the floor.
From rated top five to begin the season, they are now 12th in the NBA in defensive rating. With Jimmy Butler struggling with injury this season, coach Erik Spoelstra's men have struggled to win games without him.
They are now 3-3 without Butler. Now with injuries like Bam Adebayo and Markieff Morris as well, the Heat could lose more games going forward.
#4 Billy Donovan
Previous week's NBA Coach of the Year Power Ranking - 5th (↑1)
Last Week: Games played - 3; Games won - 2; Games lost - 1
Overall: Games played - 23; Games won - 15; Games lost - 8
Offensive Rating: 111.1 (9th of 30)
Defensive Rating: 106.6 (6th of 30)
Average Points Scored: 109.5 (11th of 30)
Average Points Conceded: 105.1 (8th of 30).
It is clear now that the Chicago Bulls weren't on a fluky start, and are here to make some noise in the East. They are 15-8 for the second-best record in the Eastern Conference, winning three of their last four games.
They have two players who are NBA MVP candidates this season - Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan. However, the Bulls have to get back to their dominant shape, as their defense has fallen off lately.
They went from second in the NBA in points conceded last week to eighth this week, and their defensive rating has fallen by 1.6 points.
#3 Quin Snyder
Previous week's NBA Coach of the Year Power Ranking - 4th (↑1)
Last Week: Games played - 3; Games won - 3; Games lost - 0
Overall: Games played - 22; Games won - 15; Games lost - 7
Offensive Rating: 116.5 (1st of 30)
Defensive Rating: 106.8 (10th of 30)
Average Points Scored: 114.2 (2nd of 30)
Average Points Conceded: 104.6 (5th of 30).
The Utah Jazz bounced back after a horrid last week, winning every NBA game this week. They redeemed themselves against the bottom-table New Orleans Pelicans after a disappointing loss against them last week.
However, the Jazz have slumped at the defensive side of the floor. They were consistently top five in defensive rating this season, but have plummeted to tenth this week. Golden State's Draymond Green is the new DPOY favorite over Rudy Gobert.
Nevertheless, the Utah Jazz should be top four in the West soon, as their team operates cohesively while sharing the ball.
#2 Monty Williams
Previous week's NBA Coach of the Year Power Ranking - 2nd (-)
Last Week: Games played - 5; Games won - 5; Games lost - 0
Overall: Games played - 20; Games won - 17; Games lost - 3
Offensive Rating: 111.2 (8th of 30)
Defensive Rating: 104.7 (2nd of 30)
Average Points Scored: 111.6 (6th of 30)
Average Points Conceded: 105.1 (7th of 30).
The Phoenix Suns might steal the mantle of the best team in the NBA right now. They went on a historic 18-game win streak that ended against the Golden State Warriors on Friday.
They are one of just six teams in NBA history to go 16-0 in a calendar month. So, unsurprisingly, coach Monty Williams was the NBA's coach of the month winner in November.
The Phoenix Suns won their showdown against the NBA-best Golden State Warriors on Tuesday before losing to them last night. However, in Tuesday's statement win, they kept the Warriors under 100 points for the first time this season, and their coverage on Stephen Curry was incredible.
Coach Monty Williams had every strategy figured out as the Suns held Curry under 20% shooting for the first time in his career.
#1 Steve Kerr
Previous week's NBA Coach of the Year Power Ranking - 1st (-)
Last Week: Games played - 3; Games won - 2; Games lost - 1
Overall: Games played - 22; Games won - 19; Games lost - 3
Offensive Rating: 113.3 (2nd of 30)
Defensive Rating: 100.2 (1st of 30)
Average Points Scored: 113.4 (3rd of 30)
Average Points Conceded: 100.3 (1st of 30).
Stephen Curry is the leading NBA MVP favorite; Draymond Green is the DPOY favorite, and coach Steve Kerr is currently running the NBA's best defense and second-best offense. All that has happened without future Hall of Famer Klay Thompson. The Golden State Warriors reclaimed the NBA's best record (19-3), bouncing back in a huge way after their Tuesday night loss against the Suns.
Quite impressively, they didn't require a 50-point explosion from Curry to get the job done. The rest of their players came up huge as coach Steve Kerr prepared his team for an intense battle. Stephen Curry scored just 23 efficient points, while Gary Payton II and Andrew Wiggins had 19.
They blew out the red-hot Suns by 22 points, holding them to under 100 points despite losing the free-throw battle by 17. The game showed the league once again that when they are at full strength, very few teams can compete with the Golden State Warriors at both ends of the floor.
