If you're like me and six months of professional basketball is nowhere near enough, it looks like we have a very exciting post season ahead of us. While the Lakers, Celtics, and LeBron are still very much relevant in terms of top contenders for the chip, the Spurs won the West, the Bulls won the East, and the Knicks have STAT and Melo (STAT and Melo, STAT and Melo). What I'm trying to say is that the playoffs are absolutely wide open this Spring, but let me tell you who I think the regular season award-winners should be...
MVP: Chris Bosh, Miami Heat
When the Heat acquired Chris Bosh and LeBron James in July of 2010, NBA fans worldwide thought to themselves "how can anybody stop this trifecta of omnipotence?" But what they really thought was "uh-oh, Chris Bosh finally got the help he needs to be the greatest player in the world! His dominance in the post mixed with his deadly touch from outside will remind people of Wilt!"
Ok, so now that you know I'm totally kidding...I think the real MVP of the 2010-2011 NBA Season has to be...
Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
Regardless of how far this team goes beyond this point, one thing will always be remembered about the 2010-2011 season: the Bulls finished the season with the best record in the league and nobody was even close to as responsible for their teams success as Derrick Rose was. LeBron may be the best player in the league, and the Lakers may very well three-peat come June, but the Bulls won 62 games with Carlos Boozer missing 23 games, and Joakim Noah missing 34 games.
Rose finished the season in the top-10 in points (25 ppg) and assists (7.7 apg), and was the fuel behind the league's hottest fire (no Dylan). With offseason controversy surrounding Derrick Rose possibly not wanting a LeBron or Dwyane Wade to play next to him, Rose showed that he has what it takes to be the man and lead a team that really lacks another go-to guy. The Bulls went 8-3 against Boston, Miami, and Orlando this season and Rose really took a huge step towards greatness as he deserves to take the LeBron James award home this season.
Next in line (In order): Dwight Howard, Magic, LeBron James, Heat, Kobe Bryant, Lakers
Coach of the Year: Tom Thibodeau
A ton of credit for the Bulls success has been given to Derrick Rose, but realistically, we already knew how good D. Rose was. We did not however know what kind of a head coach rookie Tom Thibodeau would be, and although we (and John Paxson) suspected that he had what it took to make it in the league, I don't think anyone expected his Bulls to post the best record in the league in his first season at the helm. The Bulls improved by 21 wins since last season, easily the best improvement in the league this season. And aside from the addition of Boozer, who we mentioned missed 23 games this season, this Bulls team wasn't all that different from last seasons team...just with a new coach. You add all of those factors up and I don't see how anyone other than Thibodeau is named Coach of the Year.
Next in Line: Nate McMillan, Blazers, Lionel Hollins, Grizzlies, George Karl, Nuggets
Rookie of the Year: Blake Griffin, Clippers
I can't remember the last time this award was as big of a runaway as it is with Blake Griffin. Keep in mind that most years a season like either John Wall or DeMarcus Cousins had would be good enough to win the award, but Blake Griffin may even be named to an All-NBA team this season. After missing the entire season after being drafted, The Blake Show played in all 82 games his rookie season and averaged 22.5 ppg (12th in NBA) and 12.1 rpg (4th). Griffin recorded 63 double-doubles, good for third in the NBA (just three shy of the league high), and is the first rookie since Elton Brand back in the 99-00 season to average 20 points and 10 rebounds in a season. Griffin was named to the All-Star team and won the Dunk Contest, and had the best rookie season since Tim Duncan back in 97-98. Griffin was one of the most entertaining aspects of the NBA this season and is one of professional sports most up-and-coming athletes.
Next in Line: John Wall, Wizards, DeMarcus Cousins, Kings, Landry Fields, Knicks (told you!)
Defensive Player of the Year: Dwight Howard, Magic
Come on, if the Magic and Bulls finished with the same record this might've been the year that Dwight Howard was named league's most valuable...however it was another year of less than greatness in Orlando despite Superman's attempts. Howard's nickname is fitting for the man is just an unbelievable specimen. Howard averaged 14.1 rebounds per game (2nd in the NBA) and 2.38 blocks per game (4th) this season and is probably the most dominant player in the league on the defensive end. He's one of maybe a handful of guys that deters opposing offenses from even thinking about entering the paint, and in today's offense heavy NBA, hardwood is deserved for that kind of ability on the effort end of the floor.
Next in Line: Rajon Rondo, Celtics, Chris Paul, Hornets, Tony Allen, Grizzlies
Most Improved Player of the Year: Kevin Love, Timberwolves
This one was tough, but some kind of recognition has to be given to Kevin Love for the incredible season he had. Love finished second in the league with 64 double-doubles, but first in the league in rebounds (a Rodman-esque 15.2!!!), while averaging over 20 points per game and shooting almost 42% from downtown. It's incredible how overlooked a remarkable season can be in Minnesota. While guys like Kris Humphries, Love's teammate Michael Beasley, and even D. Rose really stepped their games up this season, Love would probably be a First Team All-NBA'er if he would have put those stats up on a winning team. After starting only 22 games last season, Love's increase in playing time really worked out for the lowly Timberwolves (worst record in the league aside).
Next in Line: Kris Humphries, Nets, Eric Gordon, Clippers, Marcin Gortat, Suns
Comeback Player of the Year: Andrew Bogut, Bucks
Most of you probably saw (and cringed at) Andrew Bogut's season ending injury back in April of 2010, but in case you missed it, Bogut broke his his right hand, sprained his right wrist, and dislocated his right elbow...also if you didn't know, Bogut's a righty. The timetable for Bogut's return wasn't anywhere near the amount of time it actually took Bogut to heal up and get back into playing shape. Bogut played in 65 games this season, leading the league in blocked shots per game and finishing fifth in rebounds per game. There must be something in that Australian water, because not many guys would be able to return and be so efficient (not to mention physical) after an injury like that.
Next in Line: I got nothing. No one holds a candle to Bogut's feat.
Executive of the Year: Donnie Walsh
Ok, little bit of a homer pick, but the Knicks aren't the Thunder. They're not a team that has had some awesome pieces who have developed nicely with some other pretty good additions to that core. The Knicks have undergone a complete overhaul and have gone from the ugly chick with glasses and paint on her overalls to a legit contender for Prom Queen (Not Another Teen Movie reference). If you would have looked me in the eyes a year ago and told me "one year from now the Knicks will be in the playoffs being led by Chauncey Billups, Carmelo Anthony, and Amar'e Stoudemire" I probably would have been pissed off because I didn't hear you mention LeBron James name. Then I quickly would have gotten over that and been in disbelief. To go from Chris Duhon, Al Harrington and David Lee to the trio of stars currently rocking the orange and blue is like Extreme Makeover Home Edition meets NBA Trade Machine. Over the course of a few years Walsh has turned water into wine, and although the wine isn't fine yet, it's a lot better than the contaminated water Knicks fans were forced to drink for the last decade. Get the guy a new contract, a key to the city, and an NBA Executive of the Year award.
Next in Line: Sam Presti, Thunder, Pat Riley (he deserves the credit), Heat, Danny Ferry, Spurs
Sixth Man Award: Lamar Odom, Lakers
The NBA's Sixth Man Award usually goes to a player who gives his team a spark coming off of the bench and is probably good enough to start if given a chance with a different team. Enter Lamar Odom. Odom's good enough to start for the two-time defending champs, has almost as many double-doubles as he does games started (28-35), but plays his role off the bench probably better than any player in the league. Odom's versatile enough to run the point-forward or be a post presence on both sides of the court, and considering he's most comfortable scoring outside of the paint, Odom's career best 53% field goal shooting helped make up for the 28 games the Lakers were without Andrew Bynum. Bynum is such a unique player in today's NBA in the sense that he's a dinosaur amongst men, but the Lakers don't skip a beat without him as Odom (and obviously Pau Gasol) still give the Lake Show the size and efficiency it takes to be the powerhouse that they've been for almost four seasons now. No bench player has as big of an impact on his teams success as Odom, so he's my clear choice for this award.
Next in Line: Toney Douglas, Knicks, Jason Terry, Mavericks, Shawn Marion, Mavericks
First Team All-NBA
G - Derrick Rose
G - Kobe Bryant
F - LeBron James
F - Kevin Durant
C - Dwight Howard
Second Team All-NBA
G - Dwyane Wade
G - Chris Paul
F - Dirk Nowitzki
F - Blake Griffin
C - Pau Gasol
Third Team All-NBA
G - Rajon Rondo
G - Steve Nash
F - Carmelo Anthony
F - Kevin Love
C - Andrew Bogut
First Team All-Defense
G - Rajon Rondo
G - Chris Paul
F - Tony Allen
F - LeBron James
C - Dwight Howard
All-Rookie Team
G - John Wall
G - Landry Fields
F - Blake Griffin
F - Greg Monroe
C - DeMarcus Cousins
Those are my picks for the 2010-2011 season...let me know what you guys think and enjoy the playoffs!
Go New York Go New York Go!
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