Raptors’ Dwane Casey: Coach of the Year candidate, or lucky so far?

The Raptors are in second place in the competitive East. Should Dwane Casey get attention for his profession’s top trophy?

The NBA’s Coach of the Year [CoY] award honours the man whose team has most exceeded expectations in the season just completed. While it’s relatively early to be mulling over this topic, I think the Toronto Raptors’ Dwane Casey has injected himself into a conversation which has a number of worthy candidates.

More from Raptors Rapture

• Scottie Barnes talks Raptors expectations after bumpy 2022-23
• Raptors’ Dennis Schroder completes Cinderella story, wins FIBA World Cup with Germany
• 3 players Raptors could replace OG Anunoby with at trade deadline
• NBA insider praises Raptors’ hiring of “star” Darko Rajakovic
• Raptors fans will love Markquis Nowell’s insane confidence on Instagram

Our man was named the Eastern Conference’s Coach of the Month for January as he led the Raptors to a 12-2 mark. Whether winning one or more of these monthly awards has any bearing on the CoY voting is unknown, but I’m thinking probably not.

Sam Mitchell was the only Raptors’ bench boss to ever win the CoY award; doing so in the 2006-07 season, when the team finished 47-35. Those Raptors flamed out badly to Vince Carter and the New Jersey Nets. That was the Raptors’ second of five straight defeats in the playoffs’ first round since 2001-02, a record we’d all dearly love to see broken this post-season.

Sam has resurfaced in Minnesota this season, although he’s unlikely to retain the head coach’s job. The T’Wolves are wretched, again, and Sam has been criticized for running an outdated offense.

Last year’s winner was Mike Budenholzer in Atlanta, whose Hawks managed a 60-win season before falling in the Conference finals to LeBron’s Cavaliers. His recognition was well-deserved.

Greg Popovich of the San Antonio

Buzzsaws

Spurs has three of these awards on his mantle, though he probably couldn’t care less. That guy is all about the team, and so are his players.

Back to Casey – his chances of gaining consideration revolve around how the Raptors do in the playoffs. I’ve had a quick glance back at some of the predictions made by respected pundits for the team’s record, and the consensus number was high forties-low fifties in wins. We’re on track for 50+ at the moment (a .500 record the rest of the way sees them at 50), so that’s not going to build the buzz for Casey. A trip to the Eastern Conference finals, and giving the Cleveland Cavaliers all they can handle? Now you’re talking.

Which teams have been better than expected to date? In the West, the Dallas Mavericks have been a huge surprise, as have the Portland Trail Blazers. Those teams are led by Rick Carlisle and Terry Stotts, respectively, both of whom are highly regarded. Carlisle was the CoY in 2001-02 with the Detroit Pistons. Popovich has to be given props once again. I don’t know whether Steve Kerr in Golden State can even be considered as eligible, given how many games Luke Walton coached.

Eastern teams exceeding forecast include the Boston Celtics, and their Brad Stevens is all but certain to win CoY one of these years. If the Charlotte Hornets make the playoffs, Steve Clifford should receive serious consideration; likewise the Detroit Pistons’ Stan Van Gundy.

Final thoughts: what makes a great coach? For me, there are several factors. First there are those questions which need a positive answer. Does he make his players better? Does the team improve? Do his players resign with the team when given the option? Is he a sound tactician (this issue is worth a post in itself: How does the team do following timeouts? Are the last-shot plays a pleasant surprise, or same-old same-old? Does he burn out his top players at the expense of his bench? Tom Thibodeau got canned in Chicago, and that was one of the main reasons.)

Next: Raptors best draft picks ever - slideshow

Then there are those questions for which “No” is the desired response. Does he pick fights with players/refs/the league? Is his relationship with his GM a frosty one? Do assistant coaches bolt town? Do Q4 leads keep slipping away? Did his team collapse following injuries to key personnel?

I may take a second run at this topic near season’s end. For now, Dwane Casey has earned the right to be in CoY contention.