2012 NBA Awards Races: Picks and Top Contenders for Every Award

With the 2012 NBA regular season coming to a close, the playoff picture in both conferences is beginning to shape up. The favorites have clinched, the stars have begun resting and as one could only expect, talks of the 2012 NBA MVP are growing louder.

Certain individuals in this NBA season have played at levels unmatched by their peers. Here's a list of who those players are and what awards they could be winning.

Rookie of the Year

Despite a strong second half from Denver's Kenneth Faried, this has been a one-man race since Ricky Rubio went down with a season-ending injury. In other words, don't be shocked to see a unanimous decision.

First-overall draft choice Kyrie Irving has been phenomenal this season, scoring, passing and defending like a veteran point guard. He leads all rookies in points per game, is second to Rubio in assists and sixth in steals. He's also second amongst rookies in terms of three-point percentage and player efficiency rating.

While Faried, who has the highest PER of any rookie, has been phenomenal coming down the stretch, Irving's season-long consistency takes the cake. While it wouldn't be shocking to see a unanimous vote, don't be too surprised if Faried's name ends up on a couple of ballots.  

My Pick: Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers

Other Contenders: Kenneth Faried, Denver Nuggets; Ricky Rubio, Minnesota Timberwolves

Most Improved Player of the Year

It's very rare that a player with Andrew Bynum's star power wins this award, but in 2012, it would be hard to argue against him. Bynum has raised his averages in every way, including a 7.3-point and 2.8-rebound increase.

That's a leap from 11.3 points and 9.4 rebounds to 18.6 points and 12.2 rebounds per contest.

What's most impressive is that Bynum does what every coach and former player will tell you matters most: He plays beyond the statistics. Bynum has greatly improved in the pick-and-roll and has even developed a face-up game.

It's these additions to his game, as well as his statistical development, that set him apart from the rest. 

My Pick: Andrew Bynum, Los Angeles Lakers

Other Contenders: Ryan Anderson, Orlando Magic; DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings; Jeremy Lin, New York Knicks; Nikola Pekovic, Minnesota Timberwolves

Sixth Man of the Year

This was a one-man race before the season even began, as fans and media members had already crowned Oklahoma City's James Harden as the best sixth man in the NBA.

His play has supported those claims.

While Philadelphia's Lou Williams and the Clippers' Mo Williams are both worthy suitors, Harden has played at a different level. He's scoring efficiently, defending well and even taking on the role of facilitator from time to time. He's also one of the best individual players on the Western Conference's best team.

While Harden's minutes may cause some to view him as having an unfair advantage over his potential opponents, his play warrants the extra time. He has a player efficiency rating of 20.37, is averaging 16.5 points per game and has even tallied 4.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per contest. 

Paired with his 48 percent shooting from the floor and 38 percent conversion rate from distance, it's hard to find a more deserving player than Harden.

My Pick: James Harden, Oklahoma City Thunder

Other Contenders: Lou Williams, Philadelphia 76ers; Mo Williams, Los Angeles Clippers; Taj Gibson, Chicago Bulls 

Coach of the Year

There are several coaches in the NBA who have done an outstanding job; Doc Rivers has turned the Celtics around after a subpar first half, Frank Vogel has transformed the Indiana Pacers into an Eastern Conference elite and Tom Thibodeau has kept the Bulls at the top without Derrick Rose. 

With all due respect to each and every one of those names, there is no comparison when Gregg Popovich is taken into consideration. 

Pop has taken San Antonio back to the top of the Western Conference despite Manu Ginobili's absence in 30 of the team's games. In response to his star guard's absence, the 2003 Coach of the Year has developed bench players like Daniel Green, Tiago Splitter, Gary Neal and rookie Kawhi Leonard. Balance has become the Spurs' driving force behind their push for first place out West.

While Scott Brooks is also deserving of some recognition, it's Popovich who has mastered the art of coaching in 2012.

My Pick: Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs

Other Contenders: Scott Brooks, Oklahoma City Thunder; Doc Rivers, Boston Celtics; Tom Thibodeau, Chicago Bulls; Frank Vogel, Indiana Pacers

Defensive Player of the Year

Dwight Howard is the only player in the NBA who is currently averaging greater than 2.0 blocks and 1.5 steals. He's also hauling in 14.5 rebounds per game, including 10.8 on the defensive end of the floor. That's 1.6 higher than the next leading rebounder in Kevin Love, who averages 9.2 defensive boards per game.

Furthermore, Howard has been the anchor behind the NBA's fourth-best scoring defense. That's quite significant considering Howard's frontcourt mate, Ryan Anderson, offers next to nothing on the defensive end.

Yet another fine performance by the NBA's most dominant defender.

My Pick: Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic

Other Contenders: Tyson Chandler, New York Knicks; Mike Conley, Memphis Grizzlies; Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City Thunder; LeBron James, Miami Heat; Josh Smith, Atlanta Hawks

Most Valuable Player

This one was hard to decide. Many will go with Kobe, as he leads the league in scoring, while others will go with the well-rounded LeBron James or budding superstar Kevin Durant.

Despite their best efforts, I simply cannot award them my vote for MVP.

In a year where new legends have been created and a youth movement has taken over the NBA, an 11-year veteran has quietly played the best basketball of his life. This statement is significant considering that the player in question is a three-time NBA Champion, four-time All-Star and the 2007 NBA Finals MVP.

In 2012, Tony Parker has posted career bests in assists and free-throw percentage, all while scoring the most points of his career since 2009. What's most important, however, is that Parker has taken an injury-ridden San Antonio Spurs team that has been without Manu Ginobili for 30 games and led them to the playoffs.

Most impressively, Parker has led them to one of the top two seeds in the West.

2012 could be a special year in San Antonio. 

My Pick: Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs

Other Contenders: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers; Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder; LeBron James, Miami Heat