Objectively speaking, Kenny Atkinson of the Cavaliers should be the runaway favorite to win Coach of the Year. 

In his first year in charge, the Cavaliers (47-10) have enjoyed significant upticks in winning percentage (.585 to .825), points per game (112.6 to 122.9), net rating (2.5 to 10.8) and all defensive metrics. The impressive aspect is Atkinson inherited the exact roster from J.B. Bickerstaff and altered how the Cavaliers play — specifically on offense.

Even the oddsmakers agree, with Atkinson (-700) the overwhelming favorite to win the award over the Rockets' Ime Udoka (+700) and Pistons' Bickerstaff (+1600).

All that said, the Lakers' JJ Redick deserves serious consideration for the job he's done as a rookie head coach. L.A. has made only marginal improvements from the Darvin Ham era, but Redick's impact has been felt in the intangibles: hustle, effort and team morale.

Over the last 15 games, the Lakers own the No. 1 defensive rating in the NBA despite the lack of size in the frontcourt. Redick's wily defensive schemes have put wings Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt and Dorian Finney-Smith in spots to cover for the lapses of Austin Reaves, LeBron James and Luka Doncic. The scheme was so effective that Nikola Jokic was held to only seven shots against the Lakers this past weekend, as he was routinely denied the ball out of traps and weak-side pressure. 

After the game, Redick said he "didn't sleep for two days" game planning for Jokic, shedding light on his commitment to the job.

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