Now that the 2010-11 NBA regular season is over, it's time to hand out some awards. This has been the most exciting NBA season in recent memory. I haven't been keeping track of it here on the blog, but I've definitely kept a close eye on the league. I can't wait to see what the post season has in store for us! It's going to be an exciting playoff throughout I believe. With that said, here are my regular season awards.
Most Valuable Player: LeBron James
The King has not been a popular fellow ever since he took his talents to South Beach, but his play has more than backed up his reputation of being the league's best player. The Heat small forward put up stellar numbers this season (27 ppg, 7 rpg, and 7 apg). A lot of people thought that it would be questionable whether he was the best player on the Heat because he's now paired up with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, but I think he established his dominance from the opening night. No player in the league faces anywhere near the amount of scrutiny he faces on a nightly basis. Even with all the pressure, he had a phenomenal season and deserves his third-straight MVP award.
Defensive Player of the Year: Dwight Howard
No player in the league impacts the defensive side of the ball like Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard. That's why he's my pick for DPOY. The big fella controls the paint by blocking/altering shots. His presence allows the perimeter defenders to play tighter defense because he acts as a safety blanket in the back. I cannot even imagine how bad the Magic defense would be without Howard. With him on the court, he makes the other four players he plays with a lot better defenders. You would be hard-pressed to find another player that plays defense the way Howard does in this league.
Rookie of the Year: Blake Griffin
The Los Angeles Clippers power forward is a slam dunk for this award. If he doesn't win by a unanimous vote then there is something wrong with who ever voted different. Other than Miami Heat small forward LeBron James, I don't think there is a more athletic freak in the NBA. Griffin has brought a buzz back to an organization that looked dead in the water a few years ago. As a rookie, he averaged 22 points and 12 rebounds a game while making the Western Conference All-Star team. That is a very impressive stat line for any player let alone a rookie. The Clips have definitely found themselves a piece that they can build around for the future.
Most Improved Player: Kevin Love
Mr. Love (as ESPN's Dick Vitale used to call him) has had himself one heck of a year. Last season he averaged 14 points and 11 rebounds per game which are pretty good numbers. This season though, he stepped it up and averaged 20 points and 15 rebounds per game. The Minnesota Timberwolves power forward led the league in rebounds per game this season. Mr. Love new nickname should be Mr. Double-double since he had a streak of 52 straight dating back to last season. I don't think Love is a go-to-guy on a championship team but he can definitely be a Robin to sombody's Batman. The T'Wolves got themselves a productive player.
Sixth Man of the Year: Lamar Odom
The Candy Man himself, Los Angeles Lakers power forward Lamar Odom is my pick for Sixth Man of the Year. Odom serves as instant offensive production off the bench for the two-time defending champions. His stat line of 15 points and 9 rebounds per game is crazy since he doesn't even start. Down the stretch Lakers head coach Phil Jackson always has Odom in the game. He's as versatile a player we have in this league. There's nothing on the court he cannot do. The funny thing is that he could probably start for 95 percent of the teams in this league. That probably speaks to how good the Lakers have been the past few seasons. Odom is definitely a valuable piece to their franchise.
Coach of the Year: Tom Thibodeau
Chicago Bulls rookie head coach Tom Thibodeau would have to be my Coach of the Year. What he's done with that Bulls team in only one season is remarkable. To be honest, I didn't think Thibodeau was a good hire for the Bulls this summer, but he's done nothing but prove me wrong. Last season the Bulls were the eight seed in the East; they now have the best record in the entire league. Thibodeau successfully implented the defensive scheme he used in Boston to Chicago. Right now the Bulls are the hottest team in the league heading into the playoffs. Let's see if Thibs and company can do it in the playoffs.
Real quick, here is my All-NBA 1st and 2nd team:
All-NBA 1st team
PG: Derrick Rose
SG: Dwyane Wade
SF: LeBron James
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Dwight Howard
All-NBA 2nd team
PG: Chris Paul
SG: Kobe Bryant
SF: Kevin Durant
PF: Pau Gasol
C: Al Horford
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