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Doc Rivers Absolutely Should Have Won Coach of the Year

By Ryan Snellings

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 03: Doc Rivers of the Los Angeles Clippers speaks to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 during the first half against the Houston Rockets at Staples Center on April 03, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 03: Doc Rivers of the Los Angeles Clippers speaks to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 during the first half against the Houston Rockets at Staples Center on April 03, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images) /
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Mike Budenholzer of the Milwaukee Bucks won the 2019 Coach of the Year Award. It should have belonged to Doc Rivers of the LA Clippers.

Last night during the NBA Awards, Mike Budenholzer of the Milwaukee Bucks won the 2019 Coach of the Year. This award should have belonged to the LA Clippers Doc Rivers.

Look, Budenholzer is very much deserving. He took the Bucks from a middling playoff team to having the best record in the Eastern Conference.

Some of his stats? Last season, Milwaukee ranked 25th in three point attempts. This year? They moved all the way up to second. This increase in attempts helped them to become the top scoring team in the league. They also became the number one ranked team in defensive efficiency. So yes, he was a worth winner.

But you know what? He also had the advantage of having this year’s MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo, on the roster. Call me crazy, but having the best player in the league probably is going to make your offense hum, especially once he’s figured out how to play. In regards to defensive improvement? Giannis was nominated for the Defensive Player of the Year.

One other thing I’ll note: Jason Kidd was their last coach. Call me crazy, but I think improving off the job he did in Milwaukee is something most coaches can do.

Meanwhile, Doc Rivers, who at one point was seemingly on the hot seat, had probably his best coaching season. No, there weren’t giant statistical jumps like there were in Milwaukee, but just look at the resume.

The LA Clippers somehow won 48 games and made the playoffs in the much tougher Western Conference. Did I mention they didn’t have a single current or former All-Star on their roster? There’s something to be said about that. There’s also something to be said about Doc starting a rookie point guard all season and still making the playoffs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was given the keys and proved Doc’s intuition right.

Speaking of rookies, Doc started another in Landry Shamet for almost half the year. How’d he acquire him? The team traded away arguably the best player on the roster. And still, Doc and the team persevered.

Next. Frank Finishes 3rd in Executive of the Year Award Race. dark

Maybe the award voters shouldn’t have looked at the records and numbers and instead have looked at the context of what each coach did. Perhaps then they would see the same thing that I do. Doc should have won Coach of the Year.

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