MVP
Kevin Durant: At this point in the season, how could you go against KD? He's posted numbers that are rivaled only by some of the best to ever play the game and is currently on a streak of scoring 25 points in a game for 38 straight games. The person he's chasing in order to break the record? Michael Jordan's mark of 40 straight games. Not exactly bad company to be in. On top of Durant's ridiculous and consistent output, his efforts have helped him average 32.2 points per game while grabbing 7.5 rebounds per game and dishing out 5.7 assists per game. Not to mention Durant is shooting 51% from the field, 41% from three point range, and 87% from the charity stripe. Even without Russell Westbrook being on the floor this season, Durant managed to keep the Thunder atop the Western Conference standings and has proved to be the best player in the league this year.
Blake Griffin: Wait...what? Blake Griffin is a legitimate MVP candidate? Believe it. This season Griffin has gone from just a freak athlete to a freak athlete with an all-around game. The alley-oops and put-back dunks will always be what people see in the highlights, but Griffin's improvements in his jump shot and ball handling have not received the attention they deserve. The Los Angeles Clippers' power forward is pouring in 24 points per game and snagging just under 10 rebounds as well and while the individual stats are nice, Griffin has helped this team become a legitimate contender in the West, not just a highlight reel for Sportscenter. He won't win the MVP award, but Blake Griffin has definitely established himself as one of the most dominant all-around players in the league.
Joakim Noah: The Chicago Bulls season seemed all but lost to those outside of the Bulls' fan base after starting point guard and former MVP Derrick Rose went down with yet another knee injury. Throw that in with the Luol Deng trade and the Bulls were seemingly done for the year. However, no one could have predicted that Joakim Noah would emerge as a deserving MVP candidate. While the addition of DJ Augustin and the overall play of the rest of the team is something nothing short of admirable, Joakim Noah has been the driving force behind a well-balanced attack for the Bulls. He has earned the title as the most dynamic center in the game and is the best passing big man the league has to offer. Noah is currently averaging 12.5 points per game while reeling in 11.1 rebounds per game. He is tied with Kevin Durant for second place in terms of most triple-doubles this season with three though he has flirted with that achievement numerous times. If the award was truly based off of how valuable a player is to his team, Noah would have to be the recipient if not barely falling short behind Durant. Yet with the award being based off statistics, Noah's MVP campaign will not be complete this season.Defensive Player of the Year:
Roy Hibbert: The 7'2 center for the Indiana Pacers has improved every year he has been in the league and has certainly played a major role in the Pacers' success up to this point. Even though he may be a better rim protector than Joakim Noah, Hibbert's defensive presence is not as effective. Hibbert does average 2.3 blocks per game but his defensive rebound average is only 4.2 per game as opposed to Joakim Noah's 6 a game. Again, Hibbert may have the advantage when playing defense in the paint because of his bigger frame, but Joakim Noah is more versatile and has the statistics to prove it. By no means is Hibbert not deserving of the award, but this year the trophy will not belong to him.
Paul George: It's telling that the Pacers have two players that have made the final four candidates. This year we have seen Paul George emerge as one of the best two-way players in the league, if not the best. George has the task of essentially guarding the opposing team's best player night in and night out and has already shown us that he can hang with the league's elite. He has been as big a part of the Pacers' league-leading 91.8 points against per game as Hibbert has and he even averages more defensive rebounds per game than the Indiana big man (5.2). The 23 year-old is also playing with active hands as he is averaging nearly 2 steals per game. There is no doubt that George has evolved into an elite defender and it is definitely justifiable that he will end the season as a contender for the honor.
Andre Iguodala: The Golden State forward has flown under the radar in this year's race simply because his team has not received the attention of the once-dominant Pacers or the ailing Chicago Bulls. Nonetheless, Andre Iguodala has been a force on the defensive side of the ball. Much like George he is averaging more defensive rebounds per game than the 7'2 center Hibbert with 4.6 per game and is right on George's heels in the steals column with 1.7 per game. Iguodala has been a major acquisition to the Warriors' defense and has helped keep opponents to 99 points per game on average which is currently 8th of the league's 30 teams. There's no doubt Iguodala is one of the better defenders the league has to offer, but "Andre Iguodala" and "Defensive Player of the Year" won't be synonymous at the conclusion of this season.Rookie of the Year
Michael Carter-Williams: The former Syracuse guard stormed into the league posing a triple-double threat on nearly a nightly basis to begin the season. That was also when the Sixers still seemed to be a playoff team. Now, Carter-Williams has come down to earth and his team has gone even lower than that. And while the Rookie of the Year is an individual award, the success of the team has to factor into the equation, and that is exactly what will keep MCW from walking away with the award. He has put up great numbers for his rookie campaign averaging 16.5 points per game, 6.3 assists per game, and 2 steals while being the center piece of what will hopefully be a better Sixers team in the future. It's sad to see Carter-Williams play such great basketball for such a downtrodden team, which is why it is sad to see the lack of success in Philadelphia be the determining factor in Carter-Williams missing out on this award.
Victor Oladipo: Orlando is not much better than Philadelphia which may make the team's success not as much of a factor as I perceive it to be. However, Oladipo has come in and produced in every way right from the start averaging 14 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. Not bad for an undersized rookie shooting guard. It is incredibly tough to choose between Carter-Williams and Oladipo but I believe Oladipo will walk away with the Rookie of the Year honors because he has put on a better all-around performance. This has ultimately led to more success for his team, even if that means his team has won 21 games as opposed to Philadelphia's 16.
Tim Hardaway: It's unfair that Hardaway's rookie campaign has been lost among the underachieving season of the New York Knicks. Between Carmelo Anthony's upcoming free agency, Mike Woodson's job security (or lack there of), Phil Jackson's hiring, and JR Smith's antics, it's easy for a rookie like Hardaway to get lost in all of that. But don't be fooled, even though the Knicks have suffered this season, they have a bright spot in the former Michigan guard. Hardaway has managed to average 10 points a game and just under one assist off the bench. Not bad numbers for a rookie, all things considered. Not to mention Carter-Williams and Oladipo have had the luxury of being consistent starters. Hardaway doesn't have the numbers to trump the two aforementioned players, but his ceiling is high.
Trey Burke: The fact that Trey Burke missed a large chunk of the season and is still a top four candidate speaks to how weak this draft class was. Nonetheless, Burke has still managed to put together a nice rookie campaign which has included a game-winning three in the month of March. Sound familiar Michigan fans? Burke is currently averaging 12.5 points and 5.3 assists per game while shooting a respectable 89% from the free throw line. The sad thing is that Burke's absence for the first few months of the season will ultimately keep him from winning Rookie of the Year. But one can only imagine what he will be like when he sees a full season of action next year. The Jazz are a young bunch, but with Burke at the helm they might just be alright down the road. Most Improved
Gerald Green: Much like Blake Griffin, Green used to be known solely for his highlight reel dunks. And while the constant replaying of the dunks these two players put down is perfectly justifiable, Green, like Griffin, has shown that he has more in his arsenal than just an explosive vertical. Green seemed to only take up roster space during his days in Boston, Houston, Minnesota, Dallas, New Jersey, and Indiana. The fact that he is 28 and has played on seven teams in what is now a seven year career shows that his production was never quite there. Yet here we are in April and Green is on a Suns team that is flirting with a playoff berth. He is averaging 15.5 points per game which more than doubles his average from the previous season (7.0 points per game in Indiana). Not only has his scoring average gone up but so has his rebounding (2.4 in Indiana to 3.2 in Phoenix) and his free throw percentage (80% in Indiana to 85% in Phoenix). Morris and Green both have the Suns looking at a bright future, but neither Phoenix player will be in possession of the Most Improved Player award this season.
Lance Stephenson: It's hard to turn away the guy who is leading the league in triple-doubles. Throughout the Pacers' season it has shown that when Lance Stephenson is on his game, so are the Pacers. He has worked his way into a starting role and has shown hints of maturity, though they are few and far between. However, Stephenson's 14 points, 4.6 assists, and 7.3 rebounds per game is nothing short of impressive. Every one of his averages, with the exception of blocks and steals, has gone up since the previous season and even though he is not often talked about by the media because of the attention Paul George and Roy Hibbert attract, it's no secret that Stephenson is a major contributor to the success in Indy this season. Sadly, Stephenson will fall just short of this year's Most Improved.
DeMarcus Cousins: Things are looking up in Sacramento and "Boogie" Cousins is in the middle of it. The one-and-done from Kentucky has worked his way into the discussion of being a top 5 center in the league and has become a force on both sides of the ball. He now averages 22.3 points and 11.7 rebounds per game and has increased his average in literally every column this season. Despite a questionable attitude, Cousins may just be the best up-and-coming big man in the NBA. Averaging a double-double by a considerable margin is deserving of praise and that is part of the reason Cousins will win this year's Most Improved Player award.6th Man of the Year
Markieff Morris: If you weren't a believer in the evolution of Morris' game, perhaps the fact that he is a final candidate for two awards will sway you. The Suns are the current eight seed in a jam-packed and deep Western Conference and their bench is a big reason why they are in that situation. Again, the Suns are young, but Morris' growth has powered Phoenix because his production does not leave any holes between his role off the bench and that of a starting power forward. He is a consistent and attention-drawing threat on both sides of the ball and has logged meaningful minutes for head coach Jeff Hornacek this year. The Suns have been impressive many a time this season and Morris has had himself a solid year, but much like the Most Improved honors, the former Kansas Jayhawk will miss out on receiving this honor.
Jamal Crawford: It took a season or two, but the Clippers now look like a legitimate contender in the West. And while Lob City is now coming into it's own, Jamal Crawford has been consistent for much, if not all of his career. This season is no different as Crawford has provided his usual spark off the bench as he is averaging 18.6 points per game. His ability to come off the bench and prove to be a game-changer has the Clippers looking at a three seed for the playoffs. Not to mention the fact that his scoring average has increased by two points per game. There is no doubt that Jamal Crawford's scoring is a valuable asset to Doc River's bench, but sadly the numbers speak to only the offensive side of the ball which will cost Crawford the 6th Man award.
Manu Ginobili:Is there a more consistent role player in the league? The Spurs have been fortunate to have a player like Manu Ginobili for the past twelve seasons as he has averaged double figures in points per game every season except his rookie season in which he averaged 7.6. Ginobili has also increased his scoring from 11.8 points per game last year to 12.3 this season. However, there has been a slight regression in his rebounding and assists which could hurt him when the votes are tallied up. Nonetheless, Ginobili is still getting the job done at the age of 36 and will surely play a monumental part in the Spurs quest to return to the Finals. With that in mind, Ginobili will have to produce without the 6th Man award in his possession.
Taj Gibson: The Chicago Bulls' sixth man has been a big contributor to their unlikely regular season success. Logging more fourth quarter minutes than the starter Carlos Boozer more often than not, Gibson's production and defense has warranted other teams' attention and the media's recognition. Averaging 13.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, the former USC Trojan is more than deserving of this year's 6th Man of the Year honors. He has improved or maintained last season's averages in every category, namely his scoring (8.0 points per game last season) and his free throw percentage (68% last season to 74% this season). Amidst the posterizing dunks and rim-protecting blocks is an evolved Taj Gibson that will bring home the hardware when the 6th Man of the Year is announced.Coach of the Year
Steve Clifford: The Charlotte Bobcats used to be the laughing stock of the NBA and while they aren't exactly a powerhouse, they are noticeably better than years past. First-year NBA coach Steve Clifford took the job in Charlotte and has the Bobcats in position to be the seven seed in the playoffs while being just two games under .500. At 36-38, Clifford is looking like he will coach the Bobcats to their best season in the team's history and has already won 15 more games than last year and 29 more than in 2012. The Bobcats are young and still have experience to gain, but with the way Clifford has run the team up to this point, they just may become a consistent playoff team in the near future. Sadly, a sub-.500 team just doesn't warrant Coach of the Year honors.
Tom Thibodeau: The Chicago Bulls have been a tough team since Thibs got there and instilled a passion to play defense. Yet who in the NBA has dealt with more season-changing injuries than Thibodeau? No one. The Bulls have been without their superstar Derrick Rose the past two seasons and have still managed to be a top four team in the East while being at least ten games over .500. Not to mention Thibs also lost Luol Deng in a trade earlier this season that caused for even more of a roster shake-up. But here we are in April and the Bulls are tied for the three seed in the East. Thibs has kept the Bulls focused and hungry in the midst of plenty of injuries. Few coaches in the league can do what Tom Thibodeau can do but when it's all said and done, Thibs will have to wait to claim his second Coach of the Year award.
Gregg Popovich: A mastermind in his own right, Gregg Popovich once again has the Spurs not only playing well, but playing better than anyone in the league. Nearing a 20-game win streak, the Spurs are poised to make another run to the Finals with a perfectly balanced roster. Aside from the personnel, however, is the way that Pop manages his team. During this win streak, Kawhi Leonard leads the team in minutes played per game at just over 30. 30 minutes per game is the highest? That means a guy who is on the bench for about a quarter and a half is leading the team in logged minutes? Don't question it, just enjoy it. Popovich knows how to run a team and even with the aging Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili he has once again helped his future Hall of Famers defy Father Time on their way to the best record in the NBA. Unless another team comes up big, there's no stopping this Spurs team from returning to the Finals. Gregg Popovich is without a doubt this year's Coach of the Year. The Starters Awards are scheduled for Monday April 7th at 6 PM Eastern Time on NBA TV.
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