Dear 2009-2010 NBA Regular Season
Well... It's all over. But at the same time, it's all beginning. NBA season, you came and went in a whirlwind, and I can honestly say this was one of my favorite ones (minus the All-Star Weekend. I always get a little upset around this time, mainly because the basketball season is coming to a close. The NCAA Tournament is doneions, and you, the NBA season are at your end In 2 days, the Playoffs will begin, and the top 16 teams will duke it out for the title. It's only fair that I do a recap of this season, including the awards and top plays. Tomorrow and Saturday, I'll break down your distant, yet oh so sexy cousin, the Playoffs and who's going to take the title home, as well as the top plays of the season. Here goes nothing:
NBA MVP: LeBron James
Come on... Did you honestly think anyone else was even remotely worthy of this honor? In the 2009-2010 season, it's been LeBron, with Kobe, Durant D-Wade at a close second, and then everyone else. Half of the time, LeBron doesn't even have to score to do something remarkable, and hell, the other half of the time, it doesn't even look like the man is trying. King James put up improving numbers in his FG percentage, assists and blocks, while playing less minutes. At this rate, it's hard to see anyone challenging this man for MVP in the next decade, and with good reason: he's the best player on the planet, and will be for years to come...
NBA Rookie of the Year: Tyreke Evans
This one was a toss-up to me, because there were three young gunz that really deserved it. Brandon Jennings is in the Playoffs, and Stephen Curry has been lights out since the All-Star break. But I'm going to give it to the one that put up the best numbers consistently, made his team that much better and had them in the mix in the West up until an injury slowed him down a bit. Tyreke Evans is still a monster. You try to put a PG on him, and that PG gets bodied. You try to put a SG on him, and that SG gets blown by or crossed up. Reke is the only rookie since Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan and LeBron James to average 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists per game. That company in and of itself is more than enough reason to give him the award...
NBA 6th Man of the Year: Jamal Crawford
Fun Fact: Jamal Crawford has the most four-point plays in NBA history. Along with being one of my favorite players, Jamal Crawford is also one of the deadliest offensive players in the league. I dare anyone to contest that. He's just constantly been on mediocre or underperforming teams. That said, upon his trade to the Atlanta Hawks, he was expected to come off the bench and be that spark that the Hawks needed to keep them afloat against the titans of the East. He's done all that and more, starting no games, yet playing over 30 minutes a game. He also has a bunch of game-winners to add to his collection and has helped push Atlanta into a 3rd straight playoff berth, this time against the Milwaukee Bucks. He truly is 'the difference' on this Hawks team...
NBA Defensive Player of the Year: Dwight Howard
While I despise the man offensively (and in general), defensively, there isn't a bigger intimidator on the court today than Dwight Howard. Look at it this way. The Orlando Magic's guards and forwards, with the exception of Mickael Pietrus, are average defenders at best. In fact, if I were to pick any team's backcourt to go up against with the game on the line, it'd be Orlando. That they are fourth in the league in points allowed is a tribute to Howard anchoring down that squad in the paint. Also, the man has decent (subjective) numbers this year, notching a league-leading 13.2 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game. He changes the game, and makes teams change their game, simply by being on the court defensively, even if he doesn't do the same on offense...
NBA Most Improved Player of the Year: Aaron Brooks
When Aaron Brooks came into the league, I was skeptical as to whether he could become a legitimate point guard in this league. He put all that skepticism to rest this season, because of how poised he became in Houston, despite a constant shuffling of players through injuries and trades. As a matter of fact, he's arguably been the most consistent Rocket this season, especially since Carl Landry left via the trade to Sac-Town. Averaging almost 20 points per game, after averaging 11 and 5 in his previous two seasons, as well as a string of 30 point games during the season make him the most improved player, and a player people should be looking out for next season...
Coach of the Year: Scott Brooks
This one could have gone a few ways, with Milwaukee's Scott Skiles carrying the Bucks to the playoffs and Lionel Hollins making a push with Memphis. However, Coach Scott Brooks of the Oklahoma City Thunder has gotten the youngest team in the league to commit not only to defense, but to sharing the basketball. He turned Kevin Durant into an MVP candidate, Russell Westbrook into a burgeoning star, and has made great role players out of guys like Thabo Sefalosha and Serge Ibaka. I honestly didn't know whether the Thunder would be able to make that push from a talented young team into a playoff team. Scott Brooks has done that and more, while keeping the young Thunder's heads on straight and their eyes on the prize. They might not be in the finals, but definitely are heading in the right direction...
There you have it people!!! This year's awards. Check back tomorrow for the best plays of the season and on Saturday for a playoff preview...
NBA MVP: LeBron James
Come on... Did you honestly think anyone else was even remotely worthy of this honor? In the 2009-2010 season, it's been LeBron, with Kobe, Durant D-Wade at a close second, and then everyone else. Half of the time, LeBron doesn't even have to score to do something remarkable, and hell, the other half of the time, it doesn't even look like the man is trying. King James put up improving numbers in his FG percentage, assists and blocks, while playing less minutes. At this rate, it's hard to see anyone challenging this man for MVP in the next decade, and with good reason: he's the best player on the planet, and will be for years to come...
NBA Rookie of the Year: Tyreke Evans
This one was a toss-up to me, because there were three young gunz that really deserved it. Brandon Jennings is in the Playoffs, and Stephen Curry has been lights out since the All-Star break. But I'm going to give it to the one that put up the best numbers consistently, made his team that much better and had them in the mix in the West up until an injury slowed him down a bit. Tyreke Evans is still a monster. You try to put a PG on him, and that PG gets bodied. You try to put a SG on him, and that SG gets blown by or crossed up. Reke is the only rookie since Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan and LeBron James to average 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists per game. That company in and of itself is more than enough reason to give him the award...
NBA 6th Man of the Year: Jamal Crawford
Fun Fact: Jamal Crawford has the most four-point plays in NBA history. Along with being one of my favorite players, Jamal Crawford is also one of the deadliest offensive players in the league. I dare anyone to contest that. He's just constantly been on mediocre or underperforming teams. That said, upon his trade to the Atlanta Hawks, he was expected to come off the bench and be that spark that the Hawks needed to keep them afloat against the titans of the East. He's done all that and more, starting no games, yet playing over 30 minutes a game. He also has a bunch of game-winners to add to his collection and has helped push Atlanta into a 3rd straight playoff berth, this time against the Milwaukee Bucks. He truly is 'the difference' on this Hawks team...
NBA Defensive Player of the Year: Dwight Howard
While I despise the man offensively (and in general), defensively, there isn't a bigger intimidator on the court today than Dwight Howard. Look at it this way. The Orlando Magic's guards and forwards, with the exception of Mickael Pietrus, are average defenders at best. In fact, if I were to pick any team's backcourt to go up against with the game on the line, it'd be Orlando. That they are fourth in the league in points allowed is a tribute to Howard anchoring down that squad in the paint. Also, the man has decent (subjective) numbers this year, notching a league-leading 13.2 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game. He changes the game, and makes teams change their game, simply by being on the court defensively, even if he doesn't do the same on offense...
NBA Most Improved Player of the Year: Aaron Brooks
When Aaron Brooks came into the league, I was skeptical as to whether he could become a legitimate point guard in this league. He put all that skepticism to rest this season, because of how poised he became in Houston, despite a constant shuffling of players through injuries and trades. As a matter of fact, he's arguably been the most consistent Rocket this season, especially since Carl Landry left via the trade to Sac-Town. Averaging almost 20 points per game, after averaging 11 and 5 in his previous two seasons, as well as a string of 30 point games during the season make him the most improved player, and a player people should be looking out for next season...
Coach of the Year: Scott Brooks
This one could have gone a few ways, with Milwaukee's Scott Skiles carrying the Bucks to the playoffs and Lionel Hollins making a push with Memphis. However, Coach Scott Brooks of the Oklahoma City Thunder has gotten the youngest team in the league to commit not only to defense, but to sharing the basketball. He turned Kevin Durant into an MVP candidate, Russell Westbrook into a burgeoning star, and has made great role players out of guys like Thabo Sefalosha and Serge Ibaka. I honestly didn't know whether the Thunder would be able to make that push from a talented young team into a playoff team. Scott Brooks has done that and more, while keeping the young Thunder's heads on straight and their eyes on the prize. They might not be in the finals, but definitely are heading in the right direction...
There you have it people!!! This year's awards. Check back tomorrow for the best plays of the season and on Saturday for a playoff preview...