The proliferation of advanced metrics and statistics across the NBA has shed even more light on the performance of the teams and made it at least a little easier to gauge the job that coaches have done. That helps us understand who is maximizing potential according to the talent they have at their disposal.
However, in terms of fantasy basketball the rankings become a little easier as the best NBA coaches are judged almost solely in terms of their team’s ability to score. With that in mind, let’s take a look at which coach has been a boon to his team’s offensive performances and helped his squad shine in terms of fantasy.
Steve Kerr – Golden State Warriors
It might seem like a long time ago now but it was just a year ago that the Warriors ranked 10th in the NBA with an average of 104.3 points per game and seemed like a fringe contender under former head coach Mark Jackson. Fast-forward one year later and Golden State ranks at or near the top of the NBA in almost every major statistical category of note, including No. 1 in points per game with a ridiculous 109.6 average.
Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and the rest of a deep roster have provided Kerr with plenty of options. And those that took a shot with Andrew Bogut have been pleasantly surprised as he’s managed to stay healthy thanks to Kerr managing his minutes. It’s important not to underestimate the job that he has done to maximize the talent of this group at both ends of the floor in his first year as the Warriors head coach.
Doc Rivers – Los Angeles Clippers
Considering what Rivers gets paid by the Clippers on an annual basis, he should be among the best coaches in the league and he certainly lives up to that standard based on the fantasy numbers that his players continue to put up. Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, Chris Paul are the obvious ones but J.J. Redick is in the midst of a career year and Jamal Crawford has been a quality fantasy producer when healthy. Even the coach’s son, Austin, has seen his value climb in Los Angeles. That is based on Rivers’ ability to maximize the talent he has on the roster. Los Angeles ranks second behind only Golden State in points per game this season and Rivers deserves a ton of credit for that.
Kevin McHale – Houston Rockets
James Harden has had an MVP caliber season and ranks among the elite fantasy players but you have to admire how McHale has designed the offense around him in order to maximize the potential of the players on his roster. Harden has averaged over 27 points per game for a Rockets team that ranks fifth in the NBA in scoring this season.
While Dwight Howard has held his own when healthy, he has struggled to stay in the lineup. Trevor Ariza, Donatas Motiejunas, Terrence Jones, Corey Brewer and Josh Smith have all somehow averaged more than 10 points per game for Houston this season. Jones has emerged as a quality power forward, Ariza has soaked up Chandler Parsons minutes and production and even Josh Smith has been fantasy relevant after being a bust in Detroit. The fact that McHale has been able to get so much production out of different players depending on the night is a testament to the job he has done as a head coach this season.
Rick Carlisle – Dallas Mavericks
There is obvious reason for Carlisle to have been frustrated with Rajon Rondo earlier in the season when the two clashed because the latter ignored a call made by his head coach. It’s an especially irritating move by Rondo when you consider how good the Mavericks have been offensively this season. Dallas ranks third in the NBA in points per game this season and Carlisle has done an excellent job managing the likes of Dirk Nowitzki, Monta Ellis and even Rondo. Maybe a full offseason will help him better integrate.
