GM Survey: Pop no longer best coach in the NBA

[Uriel]

NBA.com 2018-19 GM Survey

Who is the best head coach in the NBA?

1. Brad Stevens, Boston – 47%
2. Gregg Popovich, San Antonio – 30%
3. Mike D'Antoni, Houston – 7%
Steve Kerr, Golden State – 7%

Also receiving votes: Rick Carlisle, Dallas; Quin Snyder, Utah; Terry Stotts, Portland

Last year: (http://www.nba.com/gmsurvey/2017#coaches) Gregg Popovich – 82%
http://www.nba.com/gmsurvey/2018#coaches

[Chinook]

Brad needs to win a title before he really gets my vote. But he's damned good. It's not someone like MDA over him.

[SAGirl]

Losing his star gets Pop a downvote probably. Whatever happened with Kiwi, those things are rarely one-sided. The season prior he admitted to overcoaching Lamarcus so he wasn't comfortable and wanted to leave... The post-Duncan era hasn't been kind to Pop.

[RD2191]

Eastern conference coaches:lol

[Hoops Czar]

Still too high.

[sasaint]

Anybody prefer Pringles or Kerr over Carlisle?

[SAGirl]

Anybody prefer Pringles or Kerr over Carlisle?
Kerr has to be acknowledged, but he has been injured for half a season and his assistant coaches have coached the team just fine. Has to be recognized for managing egos and such (something for which Pop deserves the downvote the past couple of seasons as I mentioned above. Ego and star managing is probably the most important aspect of a coaching job).

But overall I don't think anyone could have done better with that roster Carlisle has had in the past 3 or 4 years. I admire Brad Stevens bc it's only very recently that he has had a stacked team and his teams have always been competitive, they just lacked talent in the past. Have to see what he does with his roster right now.

[bklynspursfan]

Losing his star gets Pop a downvote probably. Whatever happened with Kiwi, those things are rarely one-sided. The season prior he admitted to overcoaching Lamarcus so he wasn't comfortable and wanted to leave... The post-Duncan era hasn't been kind to Pop.

Idk if GMs factored that in or are just on the Steven's hype train. Feels like most people felt the Kawhi drama + SA winning 47 games and making the playoffs with all the injuries and what not would've worked in Pop's favor to the media and his peers.

[sananspursfan21]

I can see how Stevens has earned some respect as a top coach in the league but I guess I fail to see how he surpassed Popovich, Kerr, or even Pringles.

[ceperez]

I agree that Brad Stevens is a better coach now than Pop. This is ignoring any historical accomplishments.

I don't think Pop has the kind of energy that Stevens has to work out all the minute details.

[duncan2k5]

People have to remember part of being a coach is player development... It's not as if Brad got the team with already great players... They developed to be that good under him... No one anticipated those players being that good... Give him that credit... He gives them room to be themselves... Pop is not so good at that... In Pop's head, players have to go through this gauntlet of being broken down before they get the freedom to be themselves... Pop with a rookie Taytum would probably have him in the G-League... Or if not he definitely would bench him after every mistake and then he wouldn't be pulling up for threes and going at ppl one on one with the confidence he had last year...

Same with Steph... Curry would never have been the threat he was because he would be benched the first time he pulls up from 40 on a fast break or take a quick shot...

[james evans]

People have to remember part of being a coach is player development... It's not as if Brad got the team with already great players... They developed to be that good under him... No one anticipated those players being that good... Give him that credit... He gives them room to be themselves... Pop is not so good at that... In Pop's head, players have to go through this gauntlet of being broken down before they get the freedom to be themselves... Pop with a rookie Taytum would probably have him in the G-League... Or if not he definitely would bench him after every mistake and then he wouldn't be pulling up for threes and going at ppl one on one with the confidence he had last year...

Same with Steph... Curry would never have been the threat he was because he would be benched the first time he pulls up from 40 on a fast break or take a quick shot...
That's my problem with him and his "my way or no way" style. When a young player makes a mistake, they look over to the bench in fear of being taken out. What kind of shit is that for a fucking all time great head coach? It's like young players have to play a damn near perfect game. Larry Brown was the same way with certain players

[TheGreatYacht]

Still too high.
Agreed. Slap in the face to Kerr, Donovan, and Rivers who have kicked his ass in recent years tbh..

[Pavlov]

People have to remember part of being a coach is player development... It's not as if Brad got the team with already great players... They developed to be that good under him... No one anticipated those players being that good... Give him that credit... He gives them room to be themselves... Pop is not so good at that... In Pop's head, players have to go through this gauntlet of being broken down before they get the freedom to be themselves... Pop with a rookie Taytum would probably have him in the G-League... Or if not he definitely would bench him after every mistake and then he wouldn't be pulling up for threes and going at ppl one on one with the confidence he had last year...

Same with Steph... Curry would never have been the threat he was because he would be benched the first time he pulls up from 40 on a fast break or take a quick shot...Yeah, look at all the players who didn't develop at all under Pop. He's obviously terrible at developing players.

[K...]

Gonna be fun when the warriors fall and suddenly sa are still contenders and messina gets coach of the year for riding dejonte, Lonnie, and poetl

[duncan2k5]

Yeah, look at all the players who didn't develop at all under Pop. He's obviously terrible at developing players.

Nice exaggeration...but lets not pretend as if curry would have had the freedom to take the shots he takes if drafted by Pop...he would have been benched so much that he wouldnt even have attempted half the crazy shots he does

[TheGreatYacht]

Gonna be fun when the warriors fall and suddenly sa are still contenders and messina gets coach of the year for riding dejonte, Lonnie, and poetl
:lmao you can't make up the stupidity of homers

[Pavlov]

Nice exaggeration...but lets not pretend as if curry would have had the freedom to take the shots he takes if drafted by Pop...he would have been benched so much that he wouldnt even have attempted half the crazy shots he doesYou go with that.

[Spurtacular]

The title of this thread should've been Pop is the most over-rated coach. Even if he really is second (and many debate that), Brad Stevens is still miles ahead of him.

[Arcadian]

Still too high.

Indeed.

[Mikeanaro]

Agreed, Stevens is good.

[J_Paco]

Yeah, look at all the players who didn't develop at all under Pop. He's obviously terrible at developing players.

Exactly, look at that lottery talent that Pop has had that has gone unfulfilled. He sure can't coach up elite prospects.......

Stevens is great cause he's built up a bunch of nobody, cast off, low 1st and 2nd round picks into stars and championships. All those great in - bound plays and adjustments helped them topple the Cavaliers and they're destined for championships....

[End Sarcasm]

[Nivek_ogre]

Agreed. Slap in the face to Kerr, Donovan, and Rivers who have kicked his ass in recent years tbh..

Lol..... Rivers and Donovan. No one mentions McMillan and what he did with less talent.

[exstatic]

The title of this thread should've been Pop is the most over-rated coach. Even if he really is second (and many debate that), Brad Stevens is still miles ahead of him.

In his five seasons, Stevens has had a non-playoff team, two first round outs, and two conference finals losses, never winning 60 games. His teams are 0-2 to LeBron, and they play in the far inferior Eastern conference.

In those same five seasons, Pop’s teams have a LoB, a conference finals loss, a second round loss, and two first round outs. They twice won 60 games, going for 128 in consecutive seasons. Pop’s taken LeBron’s lunch money twice, and only surrendered his once, and his teams play in the far tougher western conference.

Brad Stevens is a fine young coach, but like all things LA and Boston, probably overhyped, and on his best day isn’t worthy to do Pop’s laundry. He’s the shiny new thing, the flavor of the month, and if he doesn’t make the finals with LeBron gone from the east, there will be real pressure on his job.

[Spurtacular]

In his five seasons, Stevens has had a non-playoff team, two first round outs, and two conference finals losses, never winning 60 games. His teams are 0-2 to LeBron, and they play in the far inferior Eastern conference.

In those same five seasons, Pop’s teams have a LoB, a conference finals loss, a second round loss, and two first round outs. They twice won 60 games, going for 128 in consecutive seasons. Pop’s taken LeBron’s lunch money twice, and only surrendered his once, and his teams play in the far tougher western conference.

Brad Stevens is a fine young coach, but like all things LA and Boston, probably overhyped, and on his best day isn’t worthy to do Pop’s laundry. He’s the shiny new thing, the flavor of the month, and if he doesn’t make the finals with LeBron gone from the east, there will be real pressure on his job.

Your analysis pretends its apples and oranges. You're talking about an all-time great level team vs. a rebuild team, dude.

[acoelho1]

Nice exaggeration...but lets not pretend as if curry would have had the freedom to take the shots he takes if drafted by Pop...he would have been benched so much that he wouldnt even have attempted half the crazy shots he does

Yeah, like he benched Manu or didn’t play Parker as a rookie. Your takes are baseless and uninformed. Maybe you should follow Kawhi to Toronto cause we get it. Pop and RC are the problem. Last time I checked Stevens hasn’t even made it to the finals.

[exstatic]

Your analysis pretends its apples and oranges. You're talking about an all-time great level team vs. a rebuild team, dude.
Pop’s rebuilt his team constantly over 20+ years.

[J_Paco]

Pop’s rebuilt his team constantly over 20+ years.

At least 5 or 6 times going on the the 7th major time.....

Them in - bound plays, tho.....

It is ridiculous that he's leap frogged Kerr let alone Pop....

[Kobe'sAchilles]

Where was Lebron on the list? The dude coached his team to 4 straight finals and a championship over his career. Very underrated as far as the all time great coaches go imo

[Spurtacular]

Pop’s rebuilt his team constantly over 20+ years.

Stevens has only had an upward trajectory.

[Johnsyounger]

7% said Pringles...wtf this list

[SuperCam]

when does poop win a WCF playoff game without Tim tbh?

he was at one point top 3 for sure but the game has passed him by. snyder, stevens, kerr are the young guard ahead and carlisle has been better since 2010

[Clipper Nation]

As I've been saying for a while now, Stevens is the GOAT coach. He's probably the closest thing the NBA has to a great NFL coach in terms of implementing a system and putting every player in a position to succeed.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

As I've been saying for a while now, Stevens is the GOAT coach. He's probably the closest thing the NBA has to a great NFL coach in terms of implementing a system and putting every player in a position to succeed.


I like Stevens but I’ll wait for him to Title a couple of times before crowning him the GOAT.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

when does poop win a WCF playoff game without Tim tbh?

he was at one point top 3 for sure but the game has passed him by. snyder, stevens, kerr are the young guard ahead and carlisle has been better since 2010

Who’s ever won a title without a superstar? WCF? Doesn’t matter. Pop’s still a great coach.

[exstatic]

Stevens has only had an upward trajectory.

Stevens has only had 5 years. Call me in 2033, and let me know if his trajectory is still only upwards, if he has enough rings to fill one hand, and if he's still with Boston.

[Kobe'sAchilles]

Say what you want about PATFO, but atleast they never traded away a first rounder for a coach like the clippers did lol. They gave up the farm for Rivers and still never made it past the 2nd round. I still laugh at that.

[8FOR!3]

Idk I still feel like Pop is still a really good X's and O's coach and he coaches his players up and etc. and his legacy speaks for itself. But Brad Stevens is really good too. D'Antoni I'd put in the good not great category. Kerr idk, we'll see what kind of coach he is 5-10 years from now. Obviously GSW took a big step under him and he is a good play caller and etc.

[exstatic]

Idk I still feel like Pop is still a really good X's and O's coach and he coaches his players up and etc. and his legacy speaks for itself. But Brad Stevens is really good too. D'Antoni I'd put in the good not great category. Kerr idk, we'll see what kind of coach he is 5-10 years from now. Obviously GSW took a big step under him and he is a good play caller and etc.

Brad Stevens is a great young coach, but to call him the GOAT like some in this thread is just beyond stupid. I don't think you can even be in that conversation until you've coached in the NBA for 15 years.

[Spurtacular]

Stevens has only had 5 years. Call me in 2033, and let me know if his trajectory is still only upwards, if he has enough rings to fill one hand, and if he's still with Boston.

Stevens will get rings; not much doubt about that.

[SpursGenius]

Losing his star gets Pop a downvote probably. Whatever happened with Kiwi, those things are rarely one-sided. The season prior he admitted to overcoaching Lamarcus so he wasn't comfortable and wanted to leave... The post-Duncan era hasn't been kind to Pop.
He has always been over rated. Let’s see what he does with this team. Still has two perrenial all stars

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Brad Stevens is a great young coach, but to call him the GOAT like some in this thread is just beyond stupid. I don't think you can even be in that conversation until you've coached in the NBA for 15 years.

People don’t even know what GOAT means anymore. With 15 minute attention spans you could have a different GOAT every day.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

7% said Pringles...wtf this list

Yeah it’s a popularity contest all based on last year’s performances. Not even sure the GMs cared too much with their responses. Probably let their cat walk on the keyboard to answer the survey questions.

[Chris Fall]

Winning titles isn’t a requisite to be considered an all time great coach. For decades, Larry Brown was considered one of the greatest coaches ever without a championship. And vice verse. Doc’s championship in Boston doesn’t make me believe he’s some incredible basketball mind.

Pop wins zero titles without Duncan. And him rebuilding the Spurs over and over again always included Duncan as the centerpiece. And when it didn’t, things started to fall apart. If you can truly and honestly say you believe Pop wins titles if the Spurs never had Duncan, then by all means keep him in your own personal GOAT conversation. But anyone being truly honest with themselves wouldn’t.

You can hate D’antoni’s style of basketball all you want. He’s had more of an impact on the NBA and its recent evolution than any other current coach in the league. His influence, that impact, the different way he viewed the game and how to approach the game in a non-traditional way has been revolutionary. The greatness of a coach isn’t merely win-loss record and trophies. And it’s not just in-game strategy and player ego management. The way Billy Beane and Theo Epstein helped change how things worked in baseball, Mike D’antoni helped shape how basketball is played today. Now you may not like it. But that type of evolutionary influence is a mark of a great, great coach.

[TheCerebral1]

Who cares what other GM's think. He's the best coach in the NBA by a landslide. Tell me Steve Kerr is the best coach in the NBA, because he has the "Phil Jackson" luxury of having 4 of the top ten players in the league. HAH.

[duncan2k5]

Yeah, like he benched Manu or didn’t play Parker as a rookie. Your takes are baseless and uninformed. Maybe you should follow Kawhi to Toronto cause we get it. Pop and RC are the problem. Last time I checked Stevens hasn’t even made it to the finals.

That was when Pop was a great coach... If you think he is as good now as he is then, u are wrong... There is no way in hell the Pop of today would have started rookie Tony Parker... For goodness sakes look what he is doing right now... There are guys starting or getting serious playing time that either need to retire, be deep down on the bench, or in the G league... But because of his hierarchy promising young talent is buried on the bench... That's why Brad Stevens gets the nod... Before the season no one had expectations for that Celtics team because they had a lot of young unproven players, and he coached then up into legit stars

[duncan2k5]

Who cares what other GM's think. He's the best coach in the NBA by a landslide. Tell me Steve Kerr is the best coach in the NBA, because he has the "Phil Jackson" luxury of having 4 of the top ten players in the league. HAH.

They weren't 4 of the top 10 players before he got there tho (except Durant)... So he deserves the credit for coaching them and getting them there

[exstatic]

Winning titles isn’t a requisite to be considered an all time great coach. For decades, Larry Brown was considered one of the greatest coaches ever without a championship. And vice verse. Doc’s championship in Boston doesn’t make me believe he’s some incredible basketball mind.

Pop wins zero titles without Duncan. And him rebuilding the Spurs over and over again always included Duncan as the centerpiece. And when it didn’t, things started to fall apart. If you can truly and honestly say you believe Pop wins titles if the Spurs never had Duncan, then by all means keep him in your own personal GOAT conversation. But anyone being truly honest with themselves wouldn’t.

You can hate D’antoni’s style of basketball all you want. He’s had more of an impact on the NBA and its recent evolution than any other current coach in the league. His influence, that impact, the different way he viewed the game and how to approach the game in a non-traditional way has been revolutionary. The greatness of a coach isn’t merely win-loss record and trophies. And it’s not just in-game strategy and player ego management. The way Billy Beane and Theo Epstein helped change how things worked in baseball, Mike D’antoni helped shape how basketball is played today. Now you may not like it. But that type of evolutionary influence is a mark of a great, great coach.

Wow, your goalposts aren't just moved, they're doing the Macarena. The greatness of a coach or a player is ALL about win-loss record and trophies.

I laughed at an interview with Three First Names about the time when he was out of basketball, and watching GS win their first 'chip. He was feeling all validated, and I was thinking "Motherfucker, GS plays some God Damned DEFENSE. That's why they're raising the trophy, and your teams never have or will". D'Antoni is a flawed coach in that to him, defense is just that time when you don't have the ball, and can catch your breath. You can also go back MUCH farther and see the same types of offenses that he implemented. A couple of iterations of the Denver franchise were running that shit as far back as the late 70s. D'Antoni is just the latest shiny thing for the press to drool over.

[exstatic]

They weren't 4 of the top 10 players before he got there tho (except Durant)... So he deserves the credit for coaching them and getting them there

Curry was also All NBA before Kerr got there.