2009-10 Regular Season Awards Time

[nickagneta]

MVP - LeBron James - is there really any reason for me to say why?

Most Improved Player - Kevin Durant - tough category with a bunch of really good candidates but when you take the leap for borderline All-Star to top 5 players in the game in one year, for me, that's the clincher. Durant increased an already very high PER by over 5 points. He we probably win the scoring title. He increased his production in just about every category imaginable and lower the ones you would want him to lower. Add in that he is a much improved defensive player and you can see where a Durant-LeBron Finals will soon be the new Nike Puppet Show in a year or two.

Defensive Player of the Year - Gerald Wallace - yes, this is probably going to buck the trend of giving it to Mr. Shot Blocker, Dwight Howard, but Wallace has a much tougher assignment in today's NBA. Howard has to guard, what I believe, when comparing eras, is a low quality group of centers and hence gets tons of time to play help defense and pick up stats. Wallace has to guard, when comparing eras, a high quality group of elite wing players. And he does it as good as any. Only two players in the league average over 10 rebounds per game, over 1 steal per game and over 1 block per game, Gerald Wallace and Marcus Camby, a recent DPOY himself.

Rookie of the Year - Tyreke Evans. Is there really any question who this award belongs to. 20 PPG, 5.8 APG, 5.3 RPG, a respectable TS% of 52.8 and a PER over 18.0. And he's 20 years old. Scary to think what the Kings could be building towards if they land DeMarcus Cousins.

Sixth Man - Jamal Crawford - to think that all the Hawks gave up for this guy last summer was Acie Law and Speedy Claxton. 17.8/3.0/2.8 coming off the bench and he gives Atlanta two closers at the end of the game when teamed with Joe Johnson. It makes Atlanta a very tough team to beat in close games. Runaway winner here, IMO.

Coach of the Year - Scott Skiles - yes Scott Brooks has had a great year in OKC but he also has Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Skiles turn around of the Bucks is with a coached up and rejuvenated Andrew Bogut, a rookie PG that few considered had a long term chance and smoke and mirrors after that. The improvement of the ball club and the individual players is a magnificent single season achievement given the overall talent level in Milwaukee. If Bogut hadn't gotten hurt, Milwaukee was going to be that team nobody wanted to play in the East.

All-NBA -

1st team - Dwight Howard, Dirk Nowitski, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash

2nd team - Amare Stoudemire, Chris Bosh, Kevin Durant, Dwayne Wade, Deron Williams

3rd team - David Lee, Zach Randolph, Carmelo Anthony, Brandon Roy, Chauncey Billups

All-Defense

1st team - Dwight Howard, Anderson Varejao, Gerald Wallace, Kobe Bryant, George Hill

2nd team - Joakim Noah, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, LeBron James, Aaron Afflalo, Russell Westbrook

Executive of the Year - Donn Nelson - his signing of Shawn Marion and Drew Gooden have been about the most successful of free agent signings last year, he drafted Rodrique Beaubois, the PG of the future, late in the first round and pulled off the best trade at the deadline dumping Josh Howard and parts for Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood. Best job by any front office person this year, IMO.

[Redz]

Who'd have thunk David Lee and Zach Randolph would show up together on someone's 3rd Team and not look absurd.

[nickagneta]

Who'd have thunk David Lee and Zach Randolph would show up together on someone's 3rd Team and not look absurd.

I didn't think of it like that. TP. Pretty funny actually.

[Redz]

Who'd have thunk David Lee and Zach Randolph would show up together on someone's 3rd Team and not look absurd.

I didn't think of it like that. TP. Pretty funny actually.

Randolph's season is one of the more underrated stories of the year.  

As for Durant winning most improved, it's sound logic, but you don't usually see the award go to a Super Star, they like to go more for the "Rags to Riches" story.

I'd lean towards George Hill, maybe a Landry...Bogut was more of a hybrid Comeback/Most Improved story.

[nickagneta]

Who'd have thunk David Lee and Zach Randolph would show up together on someone's 3rd Team and not look absurd.

I didn't think of it like that. TP. Pretty funny actually.

Randolph's season is one of the more underrated stories of the year.  

As for Durant winning most improved, it's sound logic, but you don't usually see the award go to a Super Star, they like to go more for the "Rags to Riches" story.

I'd lean towards George Hill, maybe a Landry...Bogut was more of a hybrid Comeback/Most Improved story.

Bogut probably has a comeback player of the year award in his very near future.

[jdpapa3]

Like your lists very much for the most part. Disagree on Gerald Wallace as DPOY. Gotta go with Dwight since he has that team at the top of the charts and the rest of the roster is littered with guys known as defensive liabilities for their whole careers. He's able to neutralize more than one position. For instance, against us, he usually locks down Rondo and Perkins, and definitely affects how Ray and Pierce finish around the rim. Just amazing.

And one cool thing about this season is that there are more good teams than were expected. I remember at the beginning people thought only 3 or 4 teams had a legit shot, but the Western landscape looks to be more open than previously believed. As an oddsmaker, I'd have Cleveland as heavy favorites and everyone else on a lesser tier. LA's vulnerability is exciting to me.