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ESPN.COM'S NBA HEAD COACH RANKINGS
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Coach
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Team
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Comment
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1. Phil Jackson
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Lakers
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The Zen Master is at 9 titles and counting
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2. Larry Brown
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76ers
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So good he led Clippers to the playoffs
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3. Jerry Sloan
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Jazz
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Would've had two rings if MJ stayed retired
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4. Pat Riley
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Heat
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Stunning stat: 16 division titles in 20 years
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5. Don Nelson
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Mavericks
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Like Riley, a 3-time Coach of Year winner
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6. Rick Carlisle
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Pistons
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Coach of Year last season as rookie
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7. Gregg Popovich
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Spurs
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One of five active coaches who've won it all
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8. Jim O'Brien
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Celtics
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Led C's to first East finals since Bird heyday
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9. Flip Saunders
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Timberwolves
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Guided T-Wolves to playoffs 6 straight years
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10. Rudy Tomjanovich
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Rockets
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Won back-to-back titles in 1994 and '95
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11. Rick Adelman
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Kings
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Two NBA Finals, four West finals
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12. Doug Collins
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Wizards
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Had 50-win seasons in Chicago, Detroit
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13. Doc Rivers
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Magic
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Won Coach of Year as rookie ('99-00)
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14. George Karl
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Bucks
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Has Worlds debacle tarnished his résumé?
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15. Nate McMillan
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SuperSonics
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Surprisingly led Sonics to playoffs in '02
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16. Lenny Wilkens
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Raptors
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The NBA's all-time winningest head coach
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17. Paul Silas
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Hornets
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Three straight playoff berths with Hornets
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18. Byron Scott
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Nets
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Deserves more credit for Nets' Finals berth
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19. Maurice Cheeks
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Trail Blazers
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First season as head coach: 49 wins
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20. Alvin Gentry
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Clippers
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On second stint as NBA head coach
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21. Don Chaney
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Knicks
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1990-91 Coach of Year with Houston
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22. Bill Cartwright
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Bulls
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17-38 last season as Floyd's replacement
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23. Isiah Thomas
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Pacers
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Two seasons, two playoffs, two early exits
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24. Lon Kruger
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Hawks
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Record so far in Atlanta: 58-106 (.354)
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25. Sidney Lowe
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Grizzlies
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He's 79-220 coaching T-Wolves, Grizzlies
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26. John Lucas
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Cavaliers
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Won 55 games with Spurs in 1993-94
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27. Frank Johnson
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Suns
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Replaced Scott Skiles in February
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NR. Jeff Bzdelik
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Nuggets
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Just got the job; let's see if he can coach
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NR. Eric Musselman
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Warriors
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Just got the job; let's see if he can coach
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