But before we get to the goods, let’s take a gander at the top betting favorites to win the prestigious award. Per the best online sportsbooks, these five head coaches have the best shot at claiming the hardware at season’s end:
| Coach |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Monty Williams | -200 | -200 |
| J.B. Bickerstaff | +325 | +325 |
| Taylor Jenkins | +800 | +800 |
| Erik Spoelstra | +900 | +900 |
| Billy Donovan | +1200 | +1200 |
2022 NBA Coach of the Year Pick
You saw the NBA betting odds above, this bet is really down to two candidates — Monty Williams and JB Bickerstaff. Taylor Jenkins is a dark horse candidate, but we’ll be making our 2022 NBA Coach of the Year pick between the two co-favorites. Here’s where our thoughts are amidst the All-Star break:
Fade The Favorite Williams
We’ll cut right to the chase and say the not-so-obvious: do NOT wager Williams and his current -200 betting line. Why, you ask? After all, Phoenix has the league's best record at a whopping 48-10 — six-and-a-half games better than the next-best team. Welp, the remainder of the season won’t be nearly as smooth for Williams or the reigning Western Conference champions.
That’s because Chris Paul could be out ‘til playoff time (or close to it). It was just announced the team leader is expected to miss six-to-eight weeks after suffering an avulsion fracture in his right thumb. For reference, there are only seven weeks left in the NBA regular season. Without Paul, don’t expect the Suns to be anywhere near as dominant.
To gauge Paul’s impact on the team, look no further than the team’s efficiency rating with Paul on the court and without. When Paul is playing, the Suns' offensive efficiency rating is at 115.9, while defensive efficiency sits at 105.4. Paul’s plus-10.5 net efficiency rating is actually third-best among NBA players. But without Paul, those team ratings dip big time. Phoenix's offensive efficiency is 104.9 and their defensive efficiency is 100.7 with Paul sitting.
Welp, Paul will be sitting for a long time, which should slow down the Suns coming out of the All-Star break. They’ve won enough games where they’ll still finish above the 60-win mark in all likelihood, but ending the season poorly could negatively influence Williams’ Coach of the Year chances. The media that votes on the MVP isn’t immune to decency bias, after all.
That’s why we’re staying away from Williams in this bet. Perhaps if his betting line was shorter we’d take the risk even without Paul, but his current -200 price isn’t worth it. Instead, our betting money is going to the next man underneath:
Bet On Bickerstaff To Pull Off The Upset
The Cavs are the biggest surprise of the season by far. This team was in shambles once LeBron James left town (again), but after three years of rebuilding, Cleveland is now in playoff contention and well-suited to be a future conference contender (especially if James returns like he’s hinted). With a 35-23 record, the Cavs are stunningly in third place in the Eastern Conference — ahead of teams like Bucks and the Nets.
Even more surprising, Cleveland’s done this despite injuries to key players like Collin Sexton and Ricky Rubio (who they’ve since traded). In light of these injuries at the point position, Bickerstaff hasn’t been afraid to go “big” with his lineup — a rarity in today’s NBA landscape. In other words, the Cavs should’ve slowed their winning pace long ago, but the opposite has happened instead.
Cleveland acquired Caris LeVert at the trade deadline. LeVert is the ball-handler this offense desperately needs to surge post-All Star and as he continues to get acclimated to his new team, we’re of the belief the Cavs can improve as the season wears on too. For Bickerstaff to win Coach of the Year, his team will need to finish strong (recency bias, remember?) and we’re betting that indeed happens. Take Bickerstaff in this bet now while his odds are still hovering around three-to-one at the majority of betting sites for the NBA.
How To Bet On NBA Futures?
Indeed the Coach of the Year battle will go down to the wire, but so will a host of other awards — MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, etc. To bet on NBA futures such as those, visit one of the betting sites listed underneath. They carry every single line and offer it and bettor-friendly prices, too.
Speaking of bettor friendly, don't overlook the sportsbook's lucrative bonuses either. Hundreds to thousands of dollars in free play could be yours by redeeming one or more of these bonuses. It may sound "too good to be true", but it's not — and the best bonus offers are listed in the underneath table. To redeem your money, just hit one of the "play now" buttons!
