Last season, Avery Johnson received the Red Auerback trophy in his first full year as a head coach, leading the Mavericks to a franchise-record 60 wins. This season, Dallas is on pace to surpass that mark by six. Could AJ be the first coach to win the award two years in a row? Perhaps Phil Jackson deserves his second award ... or George Karl his first.

Maurice Brooks:
Despite all of the success over his illustrious career, Phil Jackson has only won the award once. It is hard to get credit for your team’s success when the roster includes Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen or Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. This year’s version of the Lakers still has Kobe, but little else. Seriously, scan over the roster and give the Zen Master his props for Los Angeles’ 27-15 record.

Jeff Dengate:
The writers and broadcasters, when determining the winner of the Red Auerbach trophy, don’t normally repeat themselves; no coach has been named best in the league two straight years. That could change this year if Avery Johnson guides the Mavs to the league’s top mark. Johnson has worked in a number of new bench players this season, while keeping his team focused on getting back to the Finals. You won’t hear Johnson’s troops talking about how they were the better team last year; they’re out to prove it this time around.

John Hareas:
The best regular-season coaching job of his career, which is saying something considering Phil Jackson was already headed to Springfield, what, like 10 years or so ago?

Dave McMenamin:
The Mavericks lost eight straight games spanning the last four games of their Finals collapse followed by a 0-4 start to the regular season and it could have all fallen apart. That is, if Avery Johnson wasn’t the coach. Johnson has passed on to his charges the no-nonsense attitude and tireless work ethic that served him so well as a championship point guard for the Spurs. Dallas is 34-4 since their rocky start and is third in the league with a +7.11 point differential. Johnson has his team on a mission.

Rob Peterson:
Why George Karl and not an Avery Johnson or a Phil Jackson or a Jerry Sloan? While I can understand the fine arguments made by my colleagues for all (and I could understand a spirited defense of Mike D'Antoni as well -- and why isn't there one?), but with the Nuggets at 22-17, George has done a great job of keeping the Nuggets afloat in the Western Conference and in the Northwest Division while Melo sat for 15 games for his haymaker and J.R. Smith took a league-mandated 10-game break for his participation in the fight. That, and Karl hasn't had his starting power forward, Kenyon Martin, for the whole season, and the Nuggets still nip at Utah's heels in the division. So, why not Jeff Van Gundy for doing the same thing in Houston? You could make a case, but I prefer Denver's style of play to Houston's. My vote, my guidelines.

Chris Rosenbluth:
No one could blame the Mavericks if they fell off a little following last season’s run to The Finals, especially when that run ended in heartbreak. But The Little General has his troops looking hungrier, deeper and more disciplined than ever. They have the best record in the Association, as much a credit to Avery Johnson's talents as to those of his players.

John Schuhmann:
He's focused, man! Avery Johnson is on a mission. You know the memory of last June is burned in his mind and won't go away until the unfinished business is taken care of. And he's been able to transfer his fire to his players, even those who weren't around seven months ago, who are clearly the best team in the league.