NBA: Power Ranking The 30 NBA Head Coaches Entering 2016-17

May 10, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich gives direction to his team against the Oklahoma City Thunder in game five of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
May 10, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich gives direction to his team against the Oklahoma City Thunder in game five of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
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Feb 9, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle signals to his team during the first half of a game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 9, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle signals to his team during the first half of a game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

3. Rick Carlisle, Dallas Mavericks

Ah, Rick Carlisle, or as I like to call him “the coach that always seems to do the most with the last”. Carlisle is a coach that doesn’t always get the respect that he deserves. Even when he doesn’t have the most talent, his guys play.

Look no further than last season. Does anyone else know how he led that team of has beens to the NBA playoffs, and in the Western Conference? Deron Williams, Wes Matthews (coming off of an ruptured Achilles), and a past-his-prime Dirk Nowitzki…really, how did this team make the playoffs?

Now, at least, Carlisle will have some young blood to mold in Harrison Barnes. If anyone is going to help Barnes reach his potential, who better than Carlisle?

Next: No. 2