Up to NBA Betting Trends

posted May 9, 2008 at 14:19 in NBA Betting Trends

While most NBA basketball betting fans, bettors and experts know that it takes good players to win in the NBA more than anything else, the contributions of a masterful head coach are often understated and play more of a role then you would think in making an online betting decision. They can either make or break a team depending on their style of managing their respective players.

With the 2007-08 NBA sports betting playoffs in full swing in the BetUS Sportsbook, this NBA playoff wagering article focusing on each of the remaining head coaches in the playoffs, will give the BetUS NBA betting community some insight into which head coaches are going to actually help their respective teams this postseason and which ones could hinder their clubs with head-scratching moves.

With the conference semifinals moving right along, let’s get started.

1. Gregg Popovich – San Antonio Spurs – (632-302)

Popovich, for my money, is the best head coach in the entire NBA, even though his career record isn’t as long or as glossy as some of the other head coaches on this list.

The 2003 NBA Coach of the Year has led the San Antonio Spurs to four NBA Championships in his 11 seasons as head coach (1999, 2003, 2005 and 2007) and has been able to get the unadulterated respect of every player who has ever suited up for him including, sure-fire Hall of Famer Tim Duncan and Hall of Famer in-waiting, David Robinson. Popovich is also one of just five coaches in league history to win at least four NBA titles, joining Red Auerbach, Phil Jackson, John Kundla and Pat Riley.

Forget the statistics that say ‘Pop’ has the second-best career playoff winning percentage of all-time behind Phil Jackson and the third-best career regular season winning percentage of all-time, (.643). What makes Popovich the best head coach in the league is his ability to get the most out of every player on his roster while simultaneously molding the Spurs into a perennial contender despite the annual change of players that accompanies the NBA these days. The San Antonio Spurs are +1000 to win the NBA championship in the BetUS Sportsbook.

2. Phil Jackson – Los Angeles Lakers – (976-418)

Jackson won the 1995-96 NBA Coach of the Year award, but that isn’t what makes him arguably the greatest head coach of all-time.

Yes, Jackson is the NBA's career leader in playoff victories and playoff winning percentage and has won nine NBA titles to equal the late, great Red Auerbach for the most in NBA history, but I think it is Jackson’s ability to make others reach their very best in everything they do, even off the court, is what separates him from every other head coach who has ever coached in the league.

While some may argue that Jackson has had great players, including Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, lead him to each of his nine titles, the fact of the matter is that Jackson got each of these three star players to achieve something they never did until he came along – win an NBA championship. Having Jackson infinitely increases the Los Angeles Lakers’ chances of winning the Western Conference title if not more this season. The Los Angeles Lakers are +150 to win the NBA championship in the BetUS Sportsbook.

3. Jerry Sloan – Utah Jazz – (1089-717)

Ask me if I care that Sloan hasn’t won an NBA title yet and I adamantly say that despite his lack of an NBA championship, that Sloan is one of the best head coaches of any generation – ever.

While Sloan has also been denied several time of winning the annual NBA Coach of the Year award, he does have the fourth most wins in NBA history and the seventh-best winning percentage (.600) of all-time.

I know Sloan’s 1997 and 1998 Jazz teams reached the NBA Finals before being thwarted on each occasion by Michael Jordan and that he has also won six division titles in his career and led the Jazz to 16 consecutive winning seasons, but for me, Sloan’s ability to teach the game the right way, develop young players and play to his team’s strengths make him the third-best head coach remaining in the 2008 playoffs. The Utah Jazz are +3000 to win the NBA championship in the BetUS Sportsbook.

4. Byron Scott – New Orleans Hornets - (300-316)

I think Scott, the newly named 2007-08 NBA Coach of the Year is a better head coach than almost anyone realizes. Scott led the New Jersey Nets to back-to-back NBA Finals appearances in 2003 and 2004 and though his team lost on each occasion, the fact that Scott got the Nets to overachieve at all, is an accomplishment in itself. To win the NBA championship in the BetUS Sportsbook wuld be the icing on the online sports betting cake.

Scott has been the head coach of the Hornets since 2005 has done an admirable job under the dire circumstances of Hurricane Katrina that left the franchise playing most of its game in Oklahoma City. Scott is also one of the best perimeter shooting coaches in the game and led the Hornets to their first Southwest Division title this season with a spectacular 56-26 record that earned them the second seed in the conference playoffs. The New Orleans Hornets are +500 to win the NBA championship in the BetUS Sportsbook.

5. Mike Brown – Cleveland Cavaliers – (145-101)

Say what you like about the Cavaliers’ Mike Brown, I say he’s one of the most underrated head coaches in the league. While it’s true that Brown has the luxury of coaching the best all-around player in the league in superstar LeBron James, the fact of the matter is that Brown has molded this team into a near carbon copy of the San Antonio Spurs franchise he spent almost a half-decade with. Brown has turned the Cavaliers into one of the best defensive teams in all of basketball and has clearly learned from former mentors like Greg Popovich, Bernie Bickerstaff and Rick Carlisle.

Currently the third youngest head coach in the NBA, Brown certainly doesn’t get the proper amount of respect he desreves for the Cavaliers success with James grabbing the lion’s share of media attention because of his often, jaw-dropping, highlight-reel plays Still, I say Brown is a defensive genius who keep the Cavaliers in every contest because of his style of ball. Of course, having James on his side doesn’t hurt either. The Cleveland Cavaliers are +3000 to win the NBA championship in the BetUS Sportsbook.

6. Stan Van Gundy – Orlando Magic – (164-103)

While Van Gundy certainly does not have the high profile of some of the other coaches on this list, I believe he is one of the better coaches in the NBA today, particularly on the offensive end of the floor.

Van Gundy spent twelve years with the Miami Heat organization, beginning as an assistant coach to the legendary Pat Riley in 1995 but took over as head coach when Riley abruptly resigned as coach prior to the 2003-04 season.

Van Gundy took over the Heat and led them to a solid 42-40 record and an appearance in the second round of the 2004 playoffs after the franchise posted just 25 wins under Riley the season before. Van Gunday led the Heat to a 59-win season the next year after the franchise acquired Shaquille O’Neal in the offseason but Van Gunday was eventually forced out of the position by Riley and O’Neal who often treated Van Gunday like a first-time high school coach.

Van Gunday resigned as the head coach of Miami in December of 2005 but has bounced back better than a 1970s super ball after accepting the head coaching job with the Orlando Magic prior to the start of the 2007-08 season.

Van Gundy has been absolutely masterful in leading the young Orlando Magic to 52 wins in the regular season and the third best record in the Eastern Conference. Maybe it’s me, but I think this guy is seriously underrated. The Orlando Magic are +6000 to win the NBA championship in the BetUS Sportsbook.

7. Doc Rivers – Boston Celtics – (339-328)

Rivers won the 1999-2000 Coach of the Year award and led the Orlando Magic to four consecutive postseason appearances before being fired in 2003, but I’m really not that impressed with Rivers’ coaching ability or decision-making. Rivers became head coach of the Boston Celtics in 2004 and watched helplessly as the team struggled year after year while rebuilidng with youth – until this season when the Celtics acquired Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to go along with resident superstar Paul Pierce.

All I’m going to say about Rivers and his coaching ability is that he got totally outcoached by Atlanta Hawks head coach Mike Woodson in the first round and will likely get outcoached by Cleveland’s Mike Brown in the second round even if the Celtics do continue their winning ways. The Boston Celtics are +140 to win the NBA championship in the BetUS Sportsbook.

8. Flip Saunders – Detroit Pistons – (587-396)

I’ll admit that Saunders is an offensive genius when it comes to coaching the game of basketball. Too bad none of his teams have ever played much defense until he took over the already defensively formidable Detroit Pistons following the 2005-06 season.

Saunders also failed to get the Minnesota Timberwolves out of the first round of the playoffs for seven straight years and watched helplessly as the T-Wolves lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2004 Western Conference Final despite being favored to win. Saunders’ Pistons have also underachieved in a big way the last two postseasons after winning the NBA title just four seasons ago.

If the Pistons succeed in the playoffs this season, it likely won’t be because of Saunders’ contributions. The Detriot Pistons are +500 to win the NBA championship in the BetUS Sportsbook.

You’ll find the latest 2007-2008 NBA odds and lines in the best online sportsbook, BetUS.com. Betting on NBA player and game props makes every aspect of the game exciting. Join BetUS.com today to bet on the NBA and make online sports betting work for you!