The NBA has not been easy on its coaches so far this season, as four men have already received their pink slips after awful-to-average starts: Sam Mitchell (Toronto), Randy Wittman (Minnesota), Eddie Jordan (Washington), and P.J. Carlesimo (Oklahoma City). But here are the top five coaches that have nothing to worry about, at this year. To no one’s surprise, all of these coaches manage teams with great NBA betting odds, and online sports betting players will like to know that three of these coaches have combined to win eight of the last ten NBA championships.

Phil Jackson, Los Angeles

No coaching discussion can be held without mentioning the “Zen Master”, who is going for his tenth ring as a head man (he also won two as a player). Jackson has steered the Lakers, who are one of the top NBA betting favorites for the title after winning 18 of their first 21 games, through some off-court troubles (Lamar Odom as a sixth man, Andrew Bynum wanting more time). But as long as he has reigning MVP Kobe Bryant backing him up, much like Michael Jordan did in Chicago, Jackson will have the Lakers in serious contention for the NBA championship.

Gregg Popovich, San Antonio

“Pop” is in his 13^th season with the Spurs, a relationship that has brought four titles to the franchise. San Antonio has been hit hard by injuries this season, namely Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, but hoops betting players and offshore sportsbooks know that as long as the Pop-Tim Duncan is in town, the Spurs can never be counted out.

Jerry Sloan, Utah

Sloan is in his 21^st season in charge of the Jazz, and he is the only coach in NBA history that has won 1,000 games or more with the same team. Sloan’s Utah teams are known for their consistency, as there is a solid NBA betting chance that the Jazz will come close to 50 wins and get into the playoffs. Only a title is missing from Sloan’s resume (he has lost twice in the Finals), but he will go down as a coaching great regardless.

Doc Rivers, Boston

People wondered if Rivers would have any trouble motivating the Celtics after last year’s title win, and Boston has responded by winning 20 of their first 22 games. Rivers’ biggest challenge last season was to mesh the egos of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen with captain Paul Pierce, and to say he did a great job is one of the understatements of the year. Rivers coaches the way he played: always calm and intelligently. As a result, the Celtics will be battling the Lakers for NBA betting action throughout the season.

Mike Brown, Cleveland

Having the best player on the planet does not hurt, but Brown is navigating this team brilliantly as the Cavaliers have gotten off to a blazing start, winning 19 of their first 22 games, and usually by a sizable margin. Like Rivers, Brown’s biggest challenge is to get everyone to play a role. LeBron James is the star of the show, but Brown has the entire team playing defense, and even James is looking inspired on the defensive end in addition to his offensive explosiveness. Brown has also assimilated off-season pickup Mo Williams into the offense seamlessly, taking some of the load off James, and this is made the Cavaliers one of the top hoops betting favorites for the title behind Los Angeles and Boston.