NBA Coach of the Year odds, best bets: Doc Rivers undervalued in Philly

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Few markets are more fun to bet than the NBA Coach of the Year, which has been unpredictable and full of long-shot values in recent years.

This has been a newcomer's award for the better part of three decades - 18 of the last 28 winners have been in their first or second full season with their team, including 12 first-year head coaches. All but one of the last 20 winners have also led their squad to at least a 50-win pace.

Here are the odds to win this year's Coach of the Year, along with our three favorite value bets on the board:

Doc Rivers, 76ers (+1400)

Rivers is such a quintessential Coach of the Year candidate that I'm surprised he isn't the favorite. The 76ers' new coach won this award in his first year with the Magic in 1999-00, and he walks into an ideal situation with superstar talent, a well-built roster, and relatively low expectations in a loaded Eastern Conference.

Rivers' teams have won at least 60% of their regular-season games in nine of the last 13 years, a pace that would match what past coaches have accomplished in their award-winning seasons. The Sixers might not be done dealing for stars, either, which makes it an intriguing time to buy.

Monty Williams, Suns (+1600)

The Suns are one of my favorite upside bets this season after trading for Chris Paul, the best backcourt teammate Devin Booker has had in his six-year career. He'll also take defensive pressure off Booker, who is primed for a breakout year offensively on a playoff-worthy roster.

Phoenix won 34 games a year ago, and it should easily improve with Booker, Paul, and a full season of Deandre Ayton in Williams' second year at the helm. All of the ingredients are there for the Suns to snap their 10-year playoff drought and possibly flirt with a 50-win pace, which should be all Williams needs to take home this award.

James Borrego, Hornets (+4000)

Borrego will have his work cut out for him in his third year with the Hornets, but he shouldn't be tied for the longest odds on the board. The trio of Gordon Hayward, LaMelo Ball, and Devonte' Graham is easily a top-half group in the East, and Charlotte has enough athletic bigs to complement its high-upside backcourt.

The Hornets are +360 to snap their four-year playoff drought, which is underselling their chances if Hayward can rediscover his All-Star form. Turning a team that won 23 games a year ago into a playoff team this season would skyrocket Borrego up the board, making him an easy bet at 40-1.

C Jackson Cowart is a betting writer for theScore. He's an award-winning journalist with stops at The Charlotte Observer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Times Herald-Record, and BetChicago. He's also a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his love of sweet tea is rivaled only by that of a juicy prop bet. Find him on Twitter @CJacksonCowart.