Mike Brown is the NBA's coach of the year after leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to their greatest regular season.

He was honored yesterday after guiding the club to a franchise-record 66 wins, a second Central Division title and the No. 1 overall seed in the postseason. Cleveland leads the Detroit Pistons 1-0 in the first round of the playoffs.

"I look at this as a partnership," Brown said. "Yes, my name is on this, but this is the ultimate team award from a coaching standpoint. I haven't put on a uniform or done anything out on the floor. The players have done it all. The coaching staff has done a lot and when you win an award like this, you can't do it by yourself.

"You have some great people around you."

Brown joined the Cavs in 2005 after two seasons as an assistant with Indiana. Bill Fitch in 1976 is the only other Cleveland coach to win the coaching award.

Brown has created a tightly knit team led by LeBron James. The 38-year-old coach also has given more power to his assistants.

NOTES

CELTICS:

Celtics general manager Danny Ainge, 50, attended Boston's shootaround yesterday after being released from a hospital following a heart attack but was not at the second game of the playoffs series against the Chicago Bulls.

MAGIC:

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard says he's going to get his eyes examined after he was inadvertently scratched by Philadelphia 76ers center Samuel Dalembert on Sunday. Howard said yesterday the injury won't keep him sidelined for Game 2 against the 76ers tomorrow night.

RAPTORS:

General manager Bryan Colangelo said he will offer forward Chris Bosh a contract extension this summer. Bosh, a four-time All-Star, has two years and approximately $33 million remaining on his current contract.