Is there a consensus NBA Coach of the Year shortlist?

The race feels wide open with just weeks to go.

Good morning. Let’s basketball.

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Evening; Red Tree; Piet Mondrian; 1908-10

The NBA Coach of the Year award is both one of the more fuzzy trophies the league hands out in addition to one of its least debatable. Measuring the impact of coaching compared to other team-based factors like roster changes, player development, luck and competitive context is difficult. By the same token, there is usually a consensus shortlist of candidates.

It doesn’t feel like there is a consensus shortlist this year. Unless something coalesces over the next couple of weeks, this could end up being a pretty competitive race with lots of coaches receiving votes.

Let’s look at the longlist of coaches reasonably expected to be in the running.

ATLANTIC DIVISION
Joe Mazzulla, Celtics
Tom Thibodeau, Knicks

CENTRAL DIVISION
J.B. Bickerstaff, Cavaliers

SOUTHEAST DIVISION
Jamahl Mosley, Magic
Erik Spoelstra, Heat

NORTHWEST DIVISION
Mark Daigneault, Thunder
Michael Malone, Nuggets
Chris Finch, Timberwolves

PACIFIC DIVISION
Ty Lue, Clippers

SOUTHWEST DIVISION
Willie Green, Pelicans
Jason Kidd, Mavericks
Ime Udoka, Rockets

That’s 12 names out of 30 coaches. It’s a long list of names that a reasonable person might be able to make a top-3 case out of. But we can cut it down further.