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Milwaukee Bucks: Predicting NBA Awards

By Brian Sampson

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts after a slam dunk against the Phoenix Suns during the first half of the NBA game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on March 04, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Bucks 114-105. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts after a slam dunk against the Phoenix Suns during the first half of the NBA game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on March 04, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Bucks 114-105. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – MARCH 09: Mike Bud enholzer of the Milwaukee Bucks is seen looking on during the game between the Marquette Golden Eagles and the Georgetown Hoyas at Fiserv Forum on March 09, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – MARCH 09: Mike Bud enholzer of the Milwaukee Bucks is seen looking on during the game between the Marquette Golden Eagles and the Georgetown Hoyas at Fiserv Forum on March 09, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /

Coach of the Year

Now, this is a good race. It’s as deep as ever and there are as many as four or five really good candidates. Here are the top guys as I see them: Kenny Atkinson, Michael Malone, Nate McMillan, Doc Rivers and Mike Budenholzer.

Atkinson has led the charge in Brooklyn and has the team on the cusp of a playoff birth-an amazing feat. Malone is the guy in Denver where he has the Nuggets on the verge of locking up the second seed in the Western Conference. McMillan is the head coach in Portland and has done a great job in positioning the Trail Blazers in fourth place in the West. Doc Rivers has perhaps done the most with the least in Los Angeles.

And then there’s our guy Budenholzer. Budenholzer is my pick to win the Coach of the Year award for numerous reasons. First, he took a team that was the seventh seed in the East last year and turned them into the best squad in the entire NBA. Not just the East, but the entire NBA. No matter who the Bucks have played this season, they’ve beaten up on them.

Secondly, he’s gotten more out of his players than anyone besides Rivers. The Bucks don’t have a clear second star behind Antetokounmpo, yet they keep on rolling. Budenholzer has also implemented the perfect scheme to maximize the talent on his roster. All of this has put him in the clear lead for the 2019 Coach of the Year award.

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