End of Season Awards
Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 10:47 pm
Well, with the final days of the NBA season upon us and the playoffs starting this weekend, what is everyone's awards and ballots looking like?
Most Valuable Player
LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers)
- Kobe Bryant
- Dwyane Wade
- Chauncey Billups
- Dwight Howard
REASONING: I was going to go with Kobe if the Lakers had the top record. Bron and the Cavaliers have lost a lot of games to the big name teams, including losing in both meetings against the Lakers. Since they clinched top spot however, Bron is the guy.
Rookie Of The Year:
Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls)
- OJ Mayo
- Marc Gasol
- Russell Westbrook
- Brook Lopez
REASONING: From Day 1, Rose has been ROY. Clearly more mature than his young age. Understands the game like a veteran and is almost like the guard version of Al Horford last year, in my opinion. You can't rule out what Mayo and the younger Gasol have done, however.
Coach Of The Year:
Stan Van Gundy (Orlando Magic)
- Phil Jackson
- Mike Brown
- Rick Adelman
- Greg Popovich
REASONING: I wanted to go with Phil, but we never got the top record. I don't know why Phil never gets votes. He manages talent extremely well, he hasn't allowed the team to lose focus too much (haven't lost 3 consecutive games, etc) and he guided us to sweep the Celtics and the Cavaliers. However, Stan Van Gundy gets it. Losing Nelson, etc and he's kept them almost at 60 wins. Most people expected Orlando to be a good team, but THIS GOOD? Plus, that stache bastard has beaten us twice this year. WTF!
Defensive Player of the Year:
Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic)
- Dwyane Wade
- Kobe Bryant
- Tim Duncan
- Shane Battier
REASONING: Howard's the obvious choice. Changes just about every shot. Wade's second.. I think Kobe's the better overall defender, but Wade had 100 blocks this season and apparently that's something that hasn't been done before by someone of his height. Can't hate on Kobe though, he shut down LeBron and Wade in just about every meeting.
6th Man Of The Year
J.R. Smith (Denver Nuggets)
- Nate Robinson
- Jason Terry
- Travis Outlaw
- Lamar Odom
REASONING: If Odom would have played 82 games off the bench, I think he'd run away with the award. For the first time in his life, he came off the bench and we've played our best ball with him riding the pine for the first 7 minutes. However, because of Bynum's injury, he was inserted into the starting lineup and got most of his big time statistics through starting. I don't like going with Jason Terry either, because he's pretty much a starter. JR Smith has had an unbelievable year. Along with Chris Andersen.. so props to him as well.
Most Improved Player:
Danny Granger (Indiana Pacers)
- Chris Andersen
- Devin Harris
- Trevor Ariza
- Thaddeus Young
REASONING: I just about gave this award to Andersen. The guy was busted for smoking meth and doing coke! And NOT Coca Cola! Who bounces back from that and becomes one of the most intimidating players in the league around the basket? It just doesn't happen. Big props to him. Granger, for his part, gets the award because he's carried a lousy team known for having more DUI's and gun charges than victories.
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So what does everyone think?
Most Valuable Player
LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers)
- Kobe Bryant
- Dwyane Wade
- Chauncey Billups
- Dwight Howard
REASONING: I was going to go with Kobe if the Lakers had the top record. Bron and the Cavaliers have lost a lot of games to the big name teams, including losing in both meetings against the Lakers. Since they clinched top spot however, Bron is the guy.
Rookie Of The Year:
Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls)
- OJ Mayo
- Marc Gasol
- Russell Westbrook
- Brook Lopez
REASONING: From Day 1, Rose has been ROY. Clearly more mature than his young age. Understands the game like a veteran and is almost like the guard version of Al Horford last year, in my opinion. You can't rule out what Mayo and the younger Gasol have done, however.
Coach Of The Year:
Stan Van Gundy (Orlando Magic)
- Phil Jackson
- Mike Brown
- Rick Adelman
- Greg Popovich
REASONING: I wanted to go with Phil, but we never got the top record. I don't know why Phil never gets votes. He manages talent extremely well, he hasn't allowed the team to lose focus too much (haven't lost 3 consecutive games, etc) and he guided us to sweep the Celtics and the Cavaliers. However, Stan Van Gundy gets it. Losing Nelson, etc and he's kept them almost at 60 wins. Most people expected Orlando to be a good team, but THIS GOOD? Plus, that stache bastard has beaten us twice this year. WTF!
Defensive Player of the Year:
Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic)
- Dwyane Wade
- Kobe Bryant
- Tim Duncan
- Shane Battier
REASONING: Howard's the obvious choice. Changes just about every shot. Wade's second.. I think Kobe's the better overall defender, but Wade had 100 blocks this season and apparently that's something that hasn't been done before by someone of his height. Can't hate on Kobe though, he shut down LeBron and Wade in just about every meeting.
6th Man Of The Year
J.R. Smith (Denver Nuggets)
- Nate Robinson
- Jason Terry
- Travis Outlaw
- Lamar Odom
REASONING: If Odom would have played 82 games off the bench, I think he'd run away with the award. For the first time in his life, he came off the bench and we've played our best ball with him riding the pine for the first 7 minutes. However, because of Bynum's injury, he was inserted into the starting lineup and got most of his big time statistics through starting. I don't like going with Jason Terry either, because he's pretty much a starter. JR Smith has had an unbelievable year. Along with Chris Andersen.. so props to him as well.
Most Improved Player:
Danny Granger (Indiana Pacers)
- Chris Andersen
- Devin Harris
- Trevor Ariza
- Thaddeus Young
REASONING: I just about gave this award to Andersen. The guy was busted for smoking meth and doing coke! And NOT Coca Cola! Who bounces back from that and becomes one of the most intimidating players in the league around the basket? It just doesn't happen. Big props to him. Granger, for his part, gets the award because he's carried a lousy team known for having more DUI's and gun charges than victories.
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So what does everyone think?
