The 2007-08 NBA campaign has been a great year so far, if we ignore the performance of The Greatest Franchise In Professional Sports (you may know them as the Knicks.) Whereas some players clearly deserve certain awards, there are other situations where any numbers of players could make a case for a trophy. Unfortunately, even though in my heart I know that Jamal Crawford should win the MVP award, as well as several other honors, I have tried my best to give out awards and all-star bids to those most deserving from a fairly unbiased perspective.
MVP:
Chris Paul - CP3 has almost single-handedly lead a team that only three above-average players to an excellent record in one of the most difficult divisions in the NBA. His stats back up his play as he's averaging 20 points, 10 assists, and 3 steals a game while managing to be extremely efficient both in terms of shooting and turnovers. Without him it is very tough to see the Hornets with more than 15 wins.
Runner up: Caron Butler
Rookie of the Year:
Kevin Durant - The fact that Durant is dropping about 20 points a game puts him head and shoulders above the rest of this mediocre rookie class.
Runner up: Al Horford
Defensive Player of the Year:
Josh Smith - He's got more energy than anyone in the game and is a big reason why the Hawks are in the middle of the playoff race for the first time since the mid-90's. The fact that Josh leads the league in steals + blocks at 5.1 per game emphasizes the fact that he's making the biggest difference on the defensive end on a team that really doesn't possess much of a threat on that end of the ball.
Runner up: Marcus Camby
Sixth Man of the Year:
Leandro Barbosa - It's a crime that this potential all-star contuinuously rides the bench behind the likes of Raja Bell and Boris Diaw. Even doing so he's averaging 17/3/3 and contributes in ways that the stats can't even begin to show. I can only hope that he is extremely unsatisfied with his current situation so my Knickerbockers could sign him to a lucrative long term contract when the opportunity presents itself.
Runner up: Manu Ginobilli
Most Improved Player of the Year:
Chris Kaman - It's been great watching play this year, now that he's no longer on Ridilin. He's a lock to continue being an 18/14/3 kind of force for the rest of the year, numbers that many thought he would never be capable of before the season began.
Runners up: Jose Calderon, Andrew Bynum
Coach of the Year:
Eddie Jordan - After Gilbert Arenas went down with an injury a week in, the season looked bleak for this once playoff-hopeful Wizards team. Jordan gave no ground though, and has led an overacheiving Washington club to an almost guaranteed playoff berth and possibly much more.
Runner up: Mike Woodson
Executive of the Year:
Kevin Pritchard - The job he's done with the Blazers is incredible and no one else is even close to winning this honor.
Runner up: Nope
NBA All-Star Teams (at least those who deserve it)
East:
F LeBron James
F Kevin Garnett
C Dwight Howard
G Andre Iguodala
G Jose Calderon
Reserves:
F Caron Butler
F Jason Richardson
F Antawn Jamison
C Chris Bosh
G Mo Williams
G Michael Redd
G Chauncey Billups
West:
F Dirk Nowitzki
F Carlos Boozer
C Amare Stoudemire
G Kobe Bryant
G Chris Paul
Reserves:
F Shawn Marion
F David West
C Chris Kaman
C Yao
G Steve Nash
G Baron Davis
G Allen Iverson
As opposed to the Western roster, the East has the potential to really gel together and play as a team. Every player, except maybe JRich who lives for the 3-pointer, plays with the team in mind. For this reason, I feel that the East will come out ahead in the most boring, yet fudnamentally sound all-star game in recent memory.
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