11. Steve Clifford, Charlotte Hornets
If you’re asking why the Charlotte Hornets head coach is ranked No. 11 on this list, I really can’t help you. In fact, 11 might not even do Steve Clifford justice. He’s that good.
Don’t believe me? Just look at the job he did against the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs last season. When they went down 0-2 and lost Nicolas Batum to a bad ankle injury, the Hornets could very well have just laid down.
They didn’t. Instead, they fought their way back to take a 3-2 series lead. Even though the Hornets didn’t win the series, the fact that they even got to a Game 7, despite their injuries, was impressive. Clifford was a huge part in the team changing their game plan after falling short in Games 1 and 2.
Next: No. 10