Billy Donovan is now 8-3 in post season in his NBA rookie coaching season against the likes of Rick Carlisle and Gregg Popovich. NBA Coach of the Year Steve Kerr looms on the horizon as his next coaching matchup.
Donovan has done a good job. He got Serge Ibaka off the floor in Games 4 & 5 and went with the Adams/Kanter combo. Not sure Scott Brooks would have pulled that trigger, but it was the right thing to do. Donovan has apparently settled in on Randy Foye versus rookie Cam Payne as his post season backup point guard as Foye has made a big three in each of the last three games of the Spurs series.
I like what Donovan has done with Dion Waiters as well with him manning some point responsibilities. After the Game 1 blowout loss, you’d have to say Donovan won the battle between the coaches. His team’s defense buckled down, Westbrook responded with three solid games after the Game 3 debaucle, and the Thunder’s bench made some tangible contributions.
Anotherwords, Donovan didn’t seem in awe of Gregg Popovich.
The matchup with Golden State should be fascinating from a coaching standpoint. Various intriguing matchups. Golden State’s small ball combos versus the Thunder’s bruising rebounding lineup. But OKC can go small as well if it needs to. Should be a great series.