In light of Ron Washington guiding the Rangers to their first World Series, this wasn't a no-brainer. But Rick Carlisle pushed all the right buttons in leading the Mavericks to their first NBA championship. After he shaved his head to honor his dad, Preston, and then it kinda didn't grow back, he looked like a scary Jim Carrey. But whether it was inserting DeShawn Stevenson into the lineup, believing in J.J. Barea or knowing when to throw a zone defense or even Ian Mahinmi at the Miami Heat, Carlisle was as valuable to Dallas' title run as anyone this side of the giant German. And to think, he was this close to being fired had the Mavs lost in the first round to Portland.