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