NBA 2010 Season Awards

     With the playoffs kicking off last Sunday, it's also time to take a look at which players should receive individual recognition for their efforts.


Most Valuable Player (MVP)

     I only look for three things in my MVPs.  First, is the player putting up tremendous numbers?  Second, will the player's team absolutely lose its way without him? Last, is the player a great ambassador for the NBA and basketball in general.  With that, I only see four candidates, Lebron James (Cleveland Cavaliers), Kobe Bryant (L.A. Lakers), Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic), and Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder).  All these four players satisfy the first question, but only two will satisfy each of the next two questions.  While James will in no way satisfy the third question, it is the least important of my questions, so as much as it pains me, Lebron James must be MVP a second straight year.  His numbers are simply other-worldly, with averages of 29.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 8.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 1 block per game.  Furthermore, it is beyond obvious that the Cavaliers would be absolute crap without him.






Defensive Player of the Year

     The defensive MVP, as I call it, has the nasty reputation of being given to players by virtue only of their reputation, but my pick for this year, Orlando's Dwight Howard, has certainly earned it.  For yet another year, Howard had led the NBA in both rebounds and blocks, averaging 13.2 and 2.8 respectively.  While people keep touting how talented offensively the Magic are, they often overlook that the Magic has led the NBA in opponents' field goal percentage.  Everyone knows that the Magic's imposing defense is anchored on Howard. 


















Sixth Man of the Year

     The choice becomes tricky when certain bench players are "upgraded" into the starting line ups whether by injury or by their stellar play.  That is why the campaigns of Manu Ginobili (San Antonio Spurs) and Carl Landry (Houston Rockets/Sacramento Kings) are in jeopardy as they finished the year in their teams' starting line ups.  Even overlooking their upgrades, though, my choice is still the Atlanta Hawks' Jamal Crawford.  While the Hawks became a playoff team two years ago, they are a decidedly more dominating and consistent team this season. This is thanks in no small part to Crawford, who has become a second go-to-guy for the sometimes offensively stagnant Hawks.  With numbers like 18.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 3 assists per game, and at least three game-winning shots, Jamal Crawford should be experiencing his first playoffs as the super sub of the year.








Most Improved Player


     What a difference a year makes for a lot of young NBA players, but none more so than George Hill (San Antonio Spurs).  Given an increase in playing time with Tony Parker's absence, Hill has turned up his numbers, showing significant increases in points, FG percentage, assists and most importantly, Coach Gregg Popovich's trust.  Just how well has Hill played this year? His health is actually a significant issue for the Spurs as they battle the Dallas Mavericks in the playoffs.


Rookie of the Year

     This batch of rookies features a ton of game changing point guards and it's only natural that a point guard should win Rookie of the Year.  Sacramento Kings guard Tyreke Evans should take the trophy over Golden State's Stephen Curry.  What sets Evans apart are two things.  First, he is the first rookie since that guy named Lebron to average over 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists per game as a rookie.  Second, he was by far the most consistent rookie of the season, bypassing any "rookie wall" that plagues most if not all rookies at some point.