With only three weeks to go in the NBA regular season, award races are heating up.
That includes NBA Coach of the Year, which has become a two-horse race between Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla and Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff.
Both have compelling cases after leading their teams to the top two seeds in the Eastern Conference. Bickerstaff's Pistons have led the East pretty much all year, but that may be in jeopardy now due to Cade Cunningham's injury.
Meanwhile, Mazzulla's Celtics have remained one of the best teams in the NBA despite losing Jayson Tatum for most of the season, not to mention much of their championship core last offseason.
Earlier this week, NBA writer Gary Washburn explained why he thinks Mazzulla deserves the trophy.
.@GwashburnGlobe thinks Coach of the Year is Joe Mazzulla's to lose👀
"[The Celtics] have basically been one of the more impressive teams in the NBA."
"They've dealt with their main guy being out. And they've won 6 or 7 games with Jaylen being out, so gotta give it to Joe."… pic.twitter.com/Z0TW62aKGv
— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) March 19, 2026
"I think the Coach of the Year is his to lose at this point," Washburn said on the Big 3 NBA Podcast. "The fact that they're the No. 2 seed and they have not slipped... They have basically been one of the more impressive teams in the NBA... Gotta give it to Joe."
Entering play on Friday, Boston has the fourth-best record in the NBA at 46-23. It also ranks second in net rating, second in offensive rating and fourth in defensive rating.
Not only have the Celtics thrived without Tatum for most of the year, but they've also played well when Jaylen Brown has needed to sit, too. Boston is 6-1 without both of those guys this year, a testament to Mazzulla's ability to win regardless of who's available.
As of Friday morning, the odds are virtually even at FanDuel Sportsbook. Bickerstaff is the slight favorite at -125, while Mazzulla is right behind him at +115.
While several award races have been settled already, this one is still very much up for grabs and could be decided by which team plays better down the stretch.
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