Lakers' Jackson is the coach for all years

DENVER -- Happily, Red Auerbach, after whom the NBA would name the trophy it gives its coach of the year, did actually win the award . . .

Once.

That's once in four seasons after they began giving the award . . . while his Boston Celtics won four titles . . . to go with their five in the previous six seasons.

It could be argued that coaching wasn't even the best thing Auerbach did. He was a genius at personnel, building the Celtics tradition with stars other teams could have had first (Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, John Havlicek, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, et al.)

Of course, Red was executive of the year only once too.

If that doesn't say something about awards as opposed to the real world, try this:

After winning four titles in his first seven seasons with the Lakers, Pat Riley was finally named coach of the year in his ninth in 1990 . . . the day after the Phoenix Suns stunned his heavily favored team in the Forum, tying their second-round series, 1-1.

Said Riley, still in shock from the previous night's loss, at the news conference to announce his award: "Now we'll see if I can coach."

The Suns then eliminated them in five games with Riley's players in revolt following his Game 3 explosion, even losing ultra-loyalist Magic Johnson, worn down by trying to serve as Riley's liaison to the other players.

Said Johnson afterward, "It wasn't any two ways about it. It was one way. He had to go."

Knowing it was over, Jerry Buss then eased Riley out the door with a multi-million-dollar severance package and his Red Auerbach Trophy.

Then there's Phil Jackson, who has won the award -- once -- to go with his nine titles.

He got that one in 1996 after his Chicago Bulls won a record 72 games in the regular season, which is when voters select the winner, which is the problem.

Even the MVP holds up better (with the exception of last season's when Dirk Nowitzki got his after playing poorly in the Dallas Mavericks' first-round loss to Golden State) than coach of the year.

A coach is defined by his team's finish, which is defined by how it does in the playoffs.

The award tilts heavily toward surprise with New Orleans' Byron Scott expected to run away with it this season after taking a 39-43 team to No. 2 in the West.

Scott deserves this award many times over . . . but it won't look the same if Jackson, Doc Rivers, Jerry Sloan or Gregg Popovich winds up in the winner's circle with his team.