Awards Time

[zmac]

Since no one has started one yet (at least thats what I have sought out), I decided, since the season has nearly ended we'd discuss the player awards.

MVP.
If Cavs win 50+, Lebron, if not, close between LeBron, Nash, Dirk, with Nash most likely taking out the honors.

6th Man.
Mike Miller. Scored at least 15 9 games straight since goin off for 41. Recorded a tripple double. All this and more off the bench.

Defensive player.
Gerald Wallace. He is one of the only players to get 2 and 2 in steals and blocks.

Most Improved.
Boris Diaw. Helped lead Phoenix to a division title with some extraordinary versatility.

Rookie.
Chris Paul. Simple....

GM of the year.
Danny Ferry?

Coach of the year.
Flip Saunders. Put some more o in Detroit whilst keeping the D, in only his first season as their coach, quite an accomplishment.

Encouragement Award.
Darko Milicic.

[peaches]

MVP

Who'll win it: KobeWho i want to win it Chauncey Billups, Nash

6th Man

Derek Fisher

Defensive Player

If not Camby, got no idea.

Most Improved

Diaw.

Rookie

Chirs Paul, then Channing Frye.

Tool Of The Year

Ron Artest

[Nick]

MVP - Steve Nash
It seems kind of illogical to give it to him last season but not this season.

6th man - Mike Miller
Can't think of any other 6th men apart from Claxton.

DPOY - Gerald Wallace
He's putting up insane stats. (In January he averaged 3.2 steals and and 3.0 blocks, along with 6.6 defensive rebounds.)

MIP - David West
Tough one. Jameer Neslon, Boris Diaw, Mike James and even Gerald Wallace could get it. Gilbert Arenas could even get it again, lol. I can't decide, but West seems like he'd get the votes because he "came from nowhere" the most. Oh, Kevin Martin too. Martin improved the most, though his improved season wasn't as spectacular as the other names.

ROTY - Chris Paul
He could develop into an MVP candidate in a few more seasons too.

GM of the year - Isiah Thomas
Nah, i don't know, whoever the bucks GM is? I can't remember who made good moves.

Coach - Flip Saunders

[koberulz]

GM of the year - Isiah Thomas

GM of the year this year will be picked on the least number of crap moves, not the most good ones, for obvious reasons.

[Jugs]

MVP: Shawn Marion (O RLY, yes RLY).
6th Man: Speedy Claxton (Great compliment to CP3)
DPOY: Gerald Wallace (Like Nick said)
MIP: David West (Like Nick said, came from nowhere the most)
ROTY: Chris Paul (Obviously)
Coach: Flip Saunders. (Cool.)

[Fresh8]

MVP: Chauncey Billups | Runner-Up: Steve Nash
Sixth Man: Mike Miller | Runner-Up: Mo Willaims,
DPOY: Ben Wallace | Runner-Up: Gerald Wallace
MIP: Mehmet Okur | Runner-Up: David West
ROTY: Chris Paul | Runner-Up: Charlie V
Coach: Flip Saunders | Runner-Up: Avery Johnson

[Kemp]

MVP: Lebron James
Sixth Man: Mike Miller
DPOY: Shawn Marion
MIP: Boris Diaw
ROTY: Chris Paul
Coach: Flip Saunders

[Pera]

MVP: Lebron
Sixth Man: Mo Williams
DPOY: Gerrald Wallace
ROTY: Chris Paul
Coach:Flip Saunders

[Andrew]

I've decided to post my suggestion as well as a prediction. Not all of them match up.

Most Valuable Player: Steve Nash
Prediction: Steve Nash

Last year I felt he was given the award by default, somewhat riding the hype; I felt it went against tradition/the standard unnecessarily. This year, I have to eat my words. The Suns' roster is new, Amare is out and yet they are still a dangerous team, still up there in the West.

I know a lot of people will want to give the award to Kobe, and he has been carrying the Lakers while scoring at will. But I still don't feel comfortable with the idea of someone on a seventh seeded team getting the MVP. To me, Kobe is more of a "MVP by default" choice, take him away and the Lakers will be terrible simply because they are that thin. Also, one has to consider that whether they're struggling or on a roll, Kobe's been playing the same way. Sometimes he can carry them, sometimes he can't. Thin as his supporting cast may be, they probably don't get enough credit.

Sixth Man of the Year: Mike Miller
Prediction: Mike Miller

Earlier on I might have said Maurice Williams, but he has missed a bunch of games. Andres Nocioni has been playing well for the Bulls off the bench but they're sub .500 and even though he's started few enough games to qualify, he's back in the starting five now which would probably draw attention away from what he's done coming off the bench. Likewise, Ben Gordon won't be going back to back even though he's improved statistically; even if the Bulls were doing better, he'll end up having started more than 50% of the games he's appeared in.

I'd have to agree with Mike Miller. He's posting some of the best all around numbers of his career and doing so in a reserve role. It's the classic sixth man role: he gets a good amount of minutes, he's productive anchoring the second unit and playing with starters, and he'll start if need be.

Defensive Player of the Year: Andrei Kirilenko
Prediction: Ben Wallace

I know, Gerald Wallace's stats are amazing. But he's missed more than 20 games, which could go against him. Andrei Kirilenko is in the same boat. He's a versatile defender and has nice stats but he's missed time due to injury. Having said that, I'll give AK-47 the slight nod over Wallace.

However, because both have missed time I wouldn't be surprised if both are snubbed and the award goes to the more durable Ben Wallace. He's got the stats and the reputation to justify selection, if those two are eliminated because of missed time.

Most Improved Player of the Year: Boris Diaw
Prediction: Boris Diaw

Yes, he probably was already this good. But his stats are suitably and significantly up from last year and he deserves some recognition for his versatility and the contributions he's made to Phoenix remaining a top team in the West.

Rookie of the Year: Chris Paul
Prediction: Chris Paul

Very simple: he's been the best rookie this year. He's got the stats; 16.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 7.9 apg and 2.28 spg. The Hornets are doing better than most people expected, even if they have fallen out of the top eight. Charlie V and Frye deserve a mention but Chris Paul is the clear favourite.

Coach of the Year: Flip Saunders
Prediction: Flip Saunders

Normally I don't like to just hand the COY award to whoever's coaching the team with the best record. If that was the be-all, end-all criteria, there's a lot of coaches throughout history who have been cheated. Perhaps it's a case of too much Larry Brown worship but I don't think many people expected the Pistons to have this kind of regular season when he left for New York. That's not a knock on Flip, simply the fact that conventional wisdom says there's an adjustment period, even with a great team and the kind of start Detroit enjoyed is very rare to say the least.

He came in, took the reigns and they're winning more than they did last year. You have to applaud the effort of taking a great team and making them look even better. Turning around a terrible team is a great effort too, but it's easier to spot. But when results like those Flip has achieved with the Pistons so far stand out, he deserves just as much recognition.

GM of the Year: Danny Ferry
Prediction: Danny Ferry

The Cavaliers are in the playoffs and he made some nice additions over the offseason. True, Cleveland only just missed out on the postseason last year but I don't think there's any other standout candidates this year.

[cklitsie]

Who I want:
MVP: Lebron
6th: Mike miller
MIP: David West
DPOY: AK47
ROY: Paul
coach: mike Brown
GM: NO/OK's

[J@3]

Who I want:
MVP: Kobe Bryant
6th Man: Mike Miller
DPOY: Gerald Wallace
MIP: Boris Diaw
ROY: Andrew Bogut (ok, Chris Paul)
GM: Jerry West/Larry Harris
Coach: Larry Brown

Who I think:
MVP: Steve Nash (yawn)
6th Man: Mike Miller
DPOY: Ben Wallace (yawn)
MIP: Boris Diaw (yawn)
ROY: Chris Paul (yawn)
GM: Danny Ferry (yawn)
Coach: Flip Saunders (yawn)

[eisfeld]

MVP: Steve Nash
Like said by some above, last year he did not deserve it, this year he clearly does.
But I think Billups will do it, because of the Pistons Hype. He deserves it no less than Nash, but Steve has done more for his team.
Outside Chances for Nowitzki. LeBron's time will come, but not this year.

6th Man: Mike Miller
No doubt about it.

MIP: Boris Diaw
No doubt too.

DPOY: Bruce Bowen
Some consider him playing dirty but he is the best perimeter defender in the league. I've never seen a guy who can limit the stars to season low's. But: As no perimeter defender has won the award in the last years I'm pretty sure they overlook him and choose Ben Wallace or AK47.

ROY: Chris Paul

Coach: Avery Johnson or Flip Saunders, but I'd go with Johnson because everyone thought the Mavs would suck this season without Finley but they're even better. I won't choose Saunders because he had the Advantage of having a healthy starting 5 throughout the whole season. Maybe without injuries Spurs, Suns, Mavs or Heat would be on top.

GM: I'd also go with the guy from the Hornets.

[Null17]

Too lazy. I pretty much agree on Andrew's list.

[BIG GREEN]

I agree with andrew's excellent post..cept i think the MVP is Lebron James but i predict Nash will win it also. Providing the cav's ending record will most likely be over 50, likely they will pass the first round, considering their performance the second half of the last season, not to mention his amazing jordan/magic-esque stats...bron should get it imho.

[Deadmaninc]

My predictions:

MVP.
Difficult, I predict it will come between LeBron James, Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant

6th Man.
Mike Miller

Defensive player.
Gerald Wallace or Ben Wallace

Most Improved.
Boris Diaw

Rookie.
Chris Paul

[Keo]

MVP: Steve Nash

6th Man: Mike Miller

Defensive: Andrei Kirilenko

Most Improved: Boris Diaw

Rookie: Chris Paul

Coach: Flip Saunders

[Anthony15]

MVP: Kobe
6th: o hell no, F*ck Miller, lezz go with Boykins
DPOY: AK 47
MIP: David West
Rookie: Paul
Coach: Saunders

[Sir Robbie]

There are only a few people in contention for the MVP, although they've all had great seasons (Which is a great problem).

Nash, Billups and Nowitzki are probably the three favourites I think because of their season-long consistency. Also the fact that their teams mad ethe playoffs helps their cause.

I think if LeBron James got the award there would be a lot of criticism, because he is seen by some as the NBA's "boy." You can't really argue against his ability though. He is averaging comfrotably over 30 points a game, as well as 7 rebounds and 6 assists. The other two 30+ PPG scores don't have the all-around stats of LeBron. Plus, the fact that he carried his team to their first playoff series in 8 years gives him a strong chance.

[DB]

MVP:

Kobe Bryant! Just give the damn MVP already! (He should've won it 2003.)

This year:
81 points on 61% shooting.
62 points through 3 quarters on 58% shooting.
Outscoring an entire team through 3 quarters. (Kobe 62- Mavs 61)
4 50+ point games.
23 40+ point games. matching Elgin Baylor for franchise record. (which he will break)
45+ points in 4 straight games. Hi Wilt. wave
2500+ points in a season. not since MJ...
43.4 PPG average for a month. 8th all-time. the first 7, Wilt owns...
One of two players to average 40+ PPG in 2 months. Wilt. wave
Reached 15,000 and 16,000 point mark this season. (youngest to do so)
Franchise record 55 points in a half.
Franchise record 30 points in a quarter.
Franchise record 18 FGM in a half.
Franchise record 23 FTM.
Franchise record 16 FTA in a quarter.
Franchise record 14 FTM in a quarter.
Franchise record 62 straight FTM.
Franchise record 7 straight 3's made w/o a miss.
Franchise record 6 steals in a half.
Has scored 20+ points in 55 consecutive games. (and obviously still going)
playoffs!
...


If you know anything about the lakers history and all the players that used to play for this ballclub.....that's impressive.


6th Man: Mike Miller
DPOY: Ben Wallace
MIP: Boris Diaw
ROY: Chris Paul
COY: Flip Saunders

[Jackal]

Using records set by a player to prove he's the MVP is a load of cock. He wasn't the league's MVP. He couldn't even lift the Lakers.

There are far more qualified people. If they were serious contenders AND he did all that, then I'd say he's a lock, as of right now, Kobe Bryant isn't my MVP.

[DB]

Well i'm sorry that what i said is a "load of cock" to you, but there's A LOT people who do agree with me here...and that's why he's gonna get the MVP this year.

[Jackal]

They agree with you based on nothing. How can someone win an MVP without even being a winner?

Kobe Bryant will not win the MVP award.

[Nick]

Who I want:
MVP: Kobe Bryant
6th Man: Mike Miller
DPOY: Gerald Wallace
MIP: Boris Diaw
ROY: Andrew Bogut (ok, Chris Paul)
GM: Jerry West/Larry Harris
Coach: Larry Brown

Who I think:
MVP: Steve Nash (yawn)
6th Man: Mike Miller
DPOY: Ben Wallace (yawn)
MIP: Boris Diaw (yawn)
ROY: Chris Paul (yawn)
GM: Danny Ferry (yawn)
Coach: Flip Saunders (yawn)

You forgot to yawn the top Diaw

[J@3]

The Lakers are .533. What would you consider a "winner"?

[-BHZMAFIA-]

Andrew's picks are right on the nose. I just hope AK-47 does win it over Big Ben.