Awards season
This writer's awards ballot was e-mailed to the NBA office tonight from San Antonio
MVP
1. Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers 2. LeBron James, Cleveland 3. Chris Paul, New Orleans 4. Kevin Garnett, Boston 5. Deron Williams, Utah
Comment: As one of two first-place Bryant voters last season, I think he's beyond due to win his first MVP. All he's done this season is lead the Lakers to the best record in the Western Conference while playing with a torn ligament in his pinkie since the All-Star break and enjoying his "best year ever as far as an overall team player," according to Phil Jackson.
There's also no disputing Williams' value for those of us who watch him for 82 games a season. He's only averaged 18.9 points and 12.4 assists since the All-Star break while assuming leadership of the Jazz (along with Carlos Boozer) in just his third season. As Boozer has said before, it's scary to think what Williams will be doing in his eighth year.
All-NBA
First team C Dwight Howard, Orlando F LeBron James, Cleveland F Kevin Garnett, Boston G Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers G Chris Paul, New Orleans
Second team C Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix F Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas F Paul Pierce, Boston G Manu Ginobili, San Antonio G Deron Williams, Utah
Third team C Tim Duncan, San Antonio F Carlos Boozer, Utah F Pau Gasol, L.A. Lakers G Tracy McGrady, Houston G Steve Nash, Phoenix
Comment: Howard would be a leading MVP candidate any other year in averaging 20.9 points and 14.3 rebounds for the Magic. Both Stoudemire and Duncan played the majority of their minutes this season at center. The case for Gasol starts and ends with the fact that the Lakers are 22-5 with him in the lineup. Tough to leave out both Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson.
Coach of the year 1. Phil Jackson, L.A. Lakers 2. Byron Scott, New Orleans 3. Rick Adelman, Houston
Comment: Not only did he successfully navigate Bryant's trade demand last summer, Jackson also integrated Pau Gasol into the triangle offense at midseason. But Jackson deserves the most credit for the way the Lakers' youngest players - - Jordan Farmar, Sasha Vujacic, Ronny Turiaf and Andrew Bynum - - have developed since his return as coach.
Rookie of the year 1. Kevin Durant, Seattle 2. Luis Scola, Houston 3. Al Horford, Atlanta
Comment: Durant improved throughout the season despite being thrown into a toxic situation in Seattle. It's easy to forget Durant was the youngest player in the NBA this season and averaged 20 points with little in the way of a supporting cast. Scola was the NBA's most polished rookie, which was to be expected from the 28-year-old Argentine star.
Most improved player 1. Andrew Bynum, L.A. Lakers 2. Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee 3. Al Jefferson, Minnesota
Comment: Although he only played 35 games before suffering a knee injury, Bynum (13.1 points, 10.2 rebounds) was head and shoulders the NBA's most improved player the first two months of the season. If he makes a complete recovery, there's little doubt he will be a future All-Star and a cornerstone of the Lakers for year to come.
As an aside, the NBA offers some guidance for this award by saying it should go to an "up-and-coming" player. As strong a season as Hedo Turkoglu had in Orlando, it's difficult to make the case that at 29 years old, having played eight seasons in the NBA, he's an "up-and-comer."
Sixth man 1. Manu Ginobili, San Antonio 2. Leandro Barbosa, Phoenix 3. Ben Gordon, Chicago
Defensive player of the year 1. Kevin Garnett, Boston 2. Shane Battier, Houston 3. Marcus Camby, Denver
Comment: Both of these awards were no-brainers. More than Tony Parker or Tim Duncan, Ginobili probably was the Spurs' driving force this season. There are those in the Jazz organization who believe he is the NBA's most underrated player. Garnett's impact on the Celtics, especially on the defensive end, is unquestioned.
--Ross Siler
MVP
1. Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers 2. LeBron James, Cleveland 3. Chris Paul, New Orleans 4. Kevin Garnett, Boston 5. Deron Williams, Utah
Comment: As one of two first-place Bryant voters last season, I think he's beyond due to win his first MVP. All he's done this season is lead the Lakers to the best record in the Western Conference while playing with a torn ligament in his pinkie since the All-Star break and enjoying his "best year ever as far as an overall team player," according to Phil Jackson.
There's also no disputing Williams' value for those of us who watch him for 82 games a season. He's only averaged 18.9 points and 12.4 assists since the All-Star break while assuming leadership of the Jazz (along with Carlos Boozer) in just his third season. As Boozer has said before, it's scary to think what Williams will be doing in his eighth year.
All-NBA
First team C Dwight Howard, Orlando F LeBron James, Cleveland F Kevin Garnett, Boston G Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers G Chris Paul, New Orleans
Second team C Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix F Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas F Paul Pierce, Boston G Manu Ginobili, San Antonio G Deron Williams, Utah
Third team C Tim Duncan, San Antonio F Carlos Boozer, Utah F Pau Gasol, L.A. Lakers G Tracy McGrady, Houston G Steve Nash, Phoenix
Comment: Howard would be a leading MVP candidate any other year in averaging 20.9 points and 14.3 rebounds for the Magic. Both Stoudemire and Duncan played the majority of their minutes this season at center. The case for Gasol starts and ends with the fact that the Lakers are 22-5 with him in the lineup. Tough to leave out both Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson.
Coach of the year 1. Phil Jackson, L.A. Lakers 2. Byron Scott, New Orleans 3. Rick Adelman, Houston
Comment: Not only did he successfully navigate Bryant's trade demand last summer, Jackson also integrated Pau Gasol into the triangle offense at midseason. But Jackson deserves the most credit for the way the Lakers' youngest players - - Jordan Farmar, Sasha Vujacic, Ronny Turiaf and Andrew Bynum - - have developed since his return as coach.
Rookie of the year 1. Kevin Durant, Seattle 2. Luis Scola, Houston 3. Al Horford, Atlanta
Comment: Durant improved throughout the season despite being thrown into a toxic situation in Seattle. It's easy to forget Durant was the youngest player in the NBA this season and averaged 20 points with little in the way of a supporting cast. Scola was the NBA's most polished rookie, which was to be expected from the 28-year-old Argentine star.
Most improved player 1. Andrew Bynum, L.A. Lakers 2. Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee 3. Al Jefferson, Minnesota
Comment: Although he only played 35 games before suffering a knee injury, Bynum (13.1 points, 10.2 rebounds) was head and shoulders the NBA's most improved player the first two months of the season. If he makes a complete recovery, there's little doubt he will be a future All-Star and a cornerstone of the Lakers for year to come.
As an aside, the NBA offers some guidance for this award by saying it should go to an "up-and-coming" player. As strong a season as Hedo Turkoglu had in Orlando, it's difficult to make the case that at 29 years old, having played eight seasons in the NBA, he's an "up-and-comer."
Sixth man 1. Manu Ginobili, San Antonio 2. Leandro Barbosa, Phoenix 3. Ben Gordon, Chicago
Defensive player of the year 1. Kevin Garnett, Boston 2. Shane Battier, Houston 3. Marcus Camby, Denver
Comment: Both of these awards were no-brainers. More than Tony Parker or Tim Duncan, Ginobili probably was the Spurs' driving force this season. There are those in the Jazz organization who believe he is the NBA's most underrated player. Garnett's impact on the Celtics, especially on the defensive end, is unquestioned.
--Ross Siler
12:15 AM
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2 Comments:
Good calls Ross. Especially putting Paul at number 3. I don't know why the MVP might go to a guy who not only sucks at defense, but sucks bad at defense. Like, throw the steals out of the window; he was one of the worst defending pg's in the league if you go by opponents FG%. (Of course then again we got Dirk, Nash and Nash the past three years, so maybe it's just me.
Also, Steve Luhm take you to task yet for picking Kobe? After all, he was once accused of rape. Hell, he's as bad as Bonds and Palmeiro. Don't you know Ross?
darrell armstrong wins mip at age of 30 why not hedo cant get it
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