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Taylor Jenkins is in a three-man race for NBA Coach of the Year award

By Jacob Ellerbee

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - FEBRUARY 10: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies talks with head coach Taylor Jenkins while playing the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on February 10, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. The Memphis Grizzlies won the game 132-107. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - FEBRUARY 10: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies talks with head coach Taylor Jenkins while playing the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on February 10, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. The Memphis Grizzlies won the game 132-107. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Taylor Jenkins, Memphis Grizzlies
MIAMI, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 06: Head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies Taylor Jenkins reacts argues with referee Brian Forte #45 against the Miami Heat during the first half at FTX Arena on December 06, 2021 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

The Memphis Grizzlies have played way above the expectations that any and everyone set for the team prior to the start of the 2021-22 campaign.

Much of the team’s success should be given to the players. Guys like All-Star starter Ja Morant, sharp-shooting Desmond Bane, bouncy sixth-man Brandon Clark have all been crucial to the team’s success.

However, the man who is threading all the needles together is Head Coach Taylor Jenkins, who has done more with less better than just about any other coach in the NBA this season.

Memphis Grizzlies Coach Taylor Jenkins more than deserving of COTY award

Our sister site, Betsided, currently has Jenkins listed as having the third-best odds to win the coveted award that signifies the best coach of the NBA season.

Jenkins (+500) only trails Monty Williams (-300) of the Phoenix Suns and J.B. Bickerstaff (+250) of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Williams has an impressive resume. He narrowly missed out on winning the award last year to New York Knicks Head Coach Tom Thibodeau, despite earning more first-place votes for the award. He currently has his Suns sitting atop the NBA with the league’s best record.

Bickerstaff, a one-time Grizzlies coach, has been winning with a young team and with utilizing three starters who are 7-feet or taller— something unheard of in today’s three-point heavy NBA.

Jenkins has coached the Grizzlies through a stretch of a dozen games or so without Ja Morant and did not miss a beat, winning 10 out of 11 games without one of the league’s best players.

The Memphis Grizzlies have the luxury of having a very deep roster with unselfish players. Having this group of players who are unselfish and approach the game with equal parts of seriousness and looseness enables Jenkins to go 10-players deep sometimes.

Or, if an injury occurs, he can plug in the next player with little-to-no drop in production. Just look at Dillon Brooks, who has been sidelined with injuries for the bulk of the season.

What the Grizzlies coach has been able to do has been nothing short of impressive. He’s the reason why experts and analysts are starting to think Memphis could make a serious run in the playoffs and make it to this season’s NBA Finals.

Hot. Put some respect on Brandon Clarke's name. light

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