The Red Auerbach Trophy is an award that goes to the NBA's best coach during the season in which they receive the award.
Whenever a coach wins the award, it is usually because they are the head coach of the best team that season.
It can also mean that a team has made a turnaround from the previous season without adding any major parts to the roster.
Maybe it's just me—but I've never been a fan of coaches winning Coach of the Year after their team added major parts during the offseason.
In 2005, Mike D'Antoni of the Phoenix Suns won Coach of the Year.
Phoenix won 62 games that season, but Quentin Richardson, Joe Johnson, and Steve Nash—who went on to win the MVP award the next two seasons, had been added to the roster.
This season, the same situation could potentially happen in Boston, where Doc Rivers' Celtics has had a wonderful turnaround season.
But not so fast: Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, James Posey, and Eddie House all were new faces in Boston coming into this season.
Not to take anything away from Doc Rivers, because a 31-win turnaround from last season with 14 games to go is always impressive.
So should be this year's Coach of the Year?
A case can be made for all these guys:
1. Byron Scott, New Orleans Hornets (46-21)
After being plaqued by injuries last season, the Hornets got off to a fresh start this year by going 29-12 the first half of the season.
Last season, New Orleans finished the season with 39 wins and of course didn't make the playoffs.
The play of Chris Paul has been a huge reason for the turn around this season. But Byron Scott gets the credit as well.
Considering that Scott coached the New Jersey to two consecutive Finals appearences in 2002 and 2003, it really should come to no surprise that the Hornets are one of the Western Conference's best teams.
The Hornets also stand atop the same division that features both San Antonio and Dallas.
2. Jerry Sloan, Utah Jazz (45-25)
Eleven 50+ win seasons, including three 60+ win season, and two NBA Finals appearances.
What does Jerry Sloan have to do to win Coach of the Year?
Coach Sloan doesn't try to force his players into a system. He's also never been known to complain about the lack of talent on his team.
Instead, he looks at the players he has and molds a system around them.
It's amazing that he has never won the Coach of the Year award.
After leading Utah to the Western Conference Finals last season, Sloan and Co. seem to be on same track.
Sloan's team is first in their division and fourth in the conference, but that can change within one day.
Aside from the addition of Kyle Korver, Utah is pretty much working with the same unit they had one year ago.
Sloan might get snubbed from the award again this season, but no one is more deserving of the award than this guy.
3. Stan Van Gundy, Orlando Magic (46-25)
Van Gundy was the preseason favorite to win Coach of the Year by the experts at ESPN, and he his right there at the top of the race.
This guy has to be overwhelmed with joy this season, especially since his former team, the Miami Heat is sitting dead last in the NBA.
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