With the NBA regular season coming to an end, speculation will now begin as to who will be taking home some individual hardware this year. As a journalist, I feel as though its only proper procedure that I share with you all my predictions for this year's award recipients.
Rookie of the Year
It would have been intriguing if we had been able to see Greg Oden play this year, and he might have had a good shot to win it this season. He'll probably have a tough time taking that award home next year, competing with the likes of Michael Beasley and Derrick Rose.
To me, this one is a no-brainer. Kevin Durant is my pick for Rookie of the Year (shocking).
Durant is averaging 20 points and just over four rebounds per game. He is the face of a franchise that is going through hard times now, with the likely move from the only home the Sonics have ever known in Seattle, and will most likely be moving to Oklahoma City.
Although the Sonics have had a rough season, they will get help with a lottery pick in what has the making to be a very deep draft. Imagine a young three of Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, and Beasley or Rose. Give a trio like that a few years to develop, and bring some solid free agents into the picture, and the Sonics could become an elite team in the West.
Most Improved Player
I've heard a lot of people saying they think Dwight Howard is a lock for Most Improved Player because he went from a dominant player last year, to an elite player this year.
He went from averaging 17.6 points and 12.3 rebounds per game to 21 points and 14.4 rebounds per game this season. I believe that more than just stats needs to play a role in choosing this award, and that is why I believe it should go to the Boston Celtics' Rajon Rondo.
Rondo has had a brilliant sophomore campaign, improving his numbers from 6.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg, and 3.8 apg, to 10.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg, and five apg.
Beyond the improvement in numbers, Rondo met, and in my opinion, exceeded expectations set fourth of him when the Celtics acquired Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. Rondo stepped up to the plate, and took control of the Celtics' offense, helping the franchise hold the best record in the league.
Sixth Man
This person shouldn't even be in the running for this award, because he should be a starter. If he were to be on any other team, I'm sure he would be a starter. Of course, I'm talking about the Chicago Bulls' Ben Gordon.
Gordon has averaged just less than 19 points a game to go along with three assists per contest. It will be interesting to see what the Bulls and Gordon do in the off season. Gordon has said he wants money that the Bulls have previously said they will not pay, and there have also been reports that the Bulls may look to move Kirk Hinrich to make some room for the Chicago roster that is bloated with guards.
Defensive Player
For this award, I believe we could be seeing a repeat winner; Marcus Camby of the Denver Nuggets.
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