2007-08 NBA Headlines, Award Winners, Finals Prediction

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Top NBA Headlines of the year –

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With the NBA season coming toward a close I thought I’d look at the biggest headlines of the NBA season. 

"Boston Celtics achieve greatest turnaround in NBA History"

The 2006-2007 Boston Celtics team won 24 total games.  The 2007-2008 Boston Celtics recorded their 24^th victory on December, 27^th. 

Two big off-season moves by Danny Ainge and the Celtics front office last summer gave the Celtic faithful hope.  The first move the day of the NBA draft brought over Ray Allen from Seattle to give Paul Pierce a formidable running mate. 

One month later they traded away a nucleus of young talent along with two draft picks to Minnesota for perennial MVP candidate Kevin Garnett.

These moves proved to Celtic fans that there was a method to Danny Ainge’s madness.  They did give up Al Jefferson, a rising star, but Ainge wants to win now and Kevin Garnett has completely changed the Celtics attitude on both ends of the floor. 

The Celtics have their first 60+ win season since the 1985-86 campaign.  Two games remain on the schedule for Boston against the New York Knicks and the New Jersey Nets. 

Even if they lose these next two games they are still 40 games better than last years squad.

"The Houston Rockets 22 game win streak. 
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The Houston Rockets had the second longest win streak in NBA history this season.  After an eight point home loss to the Jazz the Rockets rallied around each other playing inspired basketball to get them near the top of the Western Conference. 

The streak looked as it was about to end when during their home win against Sacramento, Yao Ming went down with a season ending injury.  Many people have questioned Tracy McGrady’s leadership skills throughout his career as he is yet to escape round one of the playoffs. 

Instead of feeling sorry for themselves and packing it in, they played together getting inspired play from rookies Carl Landry and Luis Scola, as well as veteran Dikembe Mutombo.

"The NBA Trading block is where it’s at!
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I have never seen the NBA trading block have so much action in one season.  The Celtics got the ball rolling acquiring Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, although the other contenders were not far behind. 

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The Lakers address their need at big man acquiring Pau Gasol from Memphis.

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The Lakers acquire:  Pau Gasol and a 2010 second-round draft pick
Memphis acquires:  Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, Marc Gasol’s draft rights, first round picks in 2008 and 2010.

" New Jersey and Dallas were able to make the deal for J-Kidd.
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Dallas received:  Jason Kidd, Antoine Wright, and Malik Allen
New Jersey received:  Devin Harris, Trenton Hassel, Maurice Ager, DeSagana Diop, Keith Van Horn, and first-round draft picks in 2008 and 2010.

"Cleveland, Chicago, and Seattle complete 11-player deal on the last day of the deadline.
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Cleveland received:  Ben Wallace, Joe Smith, Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West, and a 2009 second-round pick from the Bulls.
Chicago received:  Drew Gooden, Cedrice Simmons, Larry Hughes, and Shannon Brown
Seattle received:  Ira Newble, Donyell Marshall, and Adrian Griffin.

"Atlanta acquires sought after point guard Bibby to help the playoff push.
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Atlanta received:  Mike Bibby
Sacramento received:  Anthony Johnson, Tyronn Lue, Lorenzen Wright, Shelden Williams and a 2008 second-round draft pick.

"The Diesel is on the move again!
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Phoenix received:  Shaquille O’Neal
Miami received:  Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks

"The Wild, Wild West!
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I’ve already wrote an article about this situation but it’s even more evident now.  As of April 4^th, not one team in the West had clinched a playoff berth. 

There are still four teams that could finish as the number one seed with just two games to go.  Houston, LA, San Antonio, and New Orleans are all within 1.5 games of each other. 

This is the best NBA season I can remember in all my days of watching basketball. 

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MVP (Most VALUABLE Player) – Chris Paul – New Orleans Hornets

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What Chris Paul has done this season in New Orleans is nothing short of incredible.  The Hornets had fallen off the basketball map before Paul got there. 

Every year he has been there they have improved upon the previous season.  He turned David West from a good post player to a 20/10 All-Star. 

He has given Tyson Chandler confidence to start developing into the player he was expected to be.  He leads the NBA is assists and steals and scores 20 PPG himself. 

He took a team most expected to be an eighth seed at best and has them contending to win the most competitive Western Conference race maybe ever. 

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Sixth Man of the Year – Manu Ginobili – San Antonio Spurs

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This is an easy one.  Ginobili is the only player in the NBA to average 20 PPG while playing under 32 minutes a game. 

Many would say he’s the MVP of the Spurs team which may not be a stretch.  Ginobili almost shouldn’t be considered a sixth man because he plays over 30 MPG. 

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Defensive Player of the Year – Kevin Garnett – Boston Celtics

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KG has completely turned the Celtics defensive philosophy this season.  Celtic opponents are scoring 10 less points a game this season compared to last year.

His stats don’t give justice to how great he has been on defense.  He’s taken the Celtics and got them to buy into a defensive philosophy that turned them into the NBA’s best defensive squad. 

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Rookie of the Year – Kevin Durant/Seattle and Al Horford/Atlanta

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We should see the first co-rookie of the year award since Steve Francis and Elton Brand in 1999.  Durant has started every game for the struggling Supersonics.  He’s averaging 20 PPG, 4 RPG, and 2 APG. 

The only thing alarming about Durant’s season to me is that he is yet to record a double-double.  He was averaged a double-double at Texas.  He is playing more on the perimeter now and is looked to score every time he touches the ball. 

Horford on the other hand has been a double-double machine for the playoff bound Hawks.  He’s recorded 25 double-doubles this season.  

These two have been sharing rookie of the month honors all season, which is why they will share this award.

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Coach of the Year – Byron Scott – New Orleans Hornets

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I was close to having co-coach of the year with Scott and Doc Rivers.  Rivers has more talent than most in his starting line-up, however he basically took 12 new guys and got them to buy into playing as a team. It’s not easy to take three guys that are used to being “the man” and getting them to play together. 

I take Scott here however because he’s coaching in the West.  Coach of the year awards usually goes to a coach whose team dominates the league and surprises everyone.  I would say Byron Scott’s team did that easily this year. 

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Most Improved Player - Al Jefferson - Minnesota Timberwolves

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Many people are saying Rudy Gay or Monta Ellis for this award.  I don't have a problem with either but I think Al Jefferson is the man for this award. 

Jefferson is having career highs in points, rebounds free throw and field goal percentage.  He is a bright spot on a team full of young players to fill the void KG left. 

All-Rookie First team
G – Mike Conley Jr – Memphis Grizzlies
G – Al Thornton – Los Angeles Clippers
F – Kevin Durant – Seattle SuperSonics
F – Luis Scola – Houston Rockets
C – Al Horford – Atlanta Hawks

All-Rookie Second Team
G – Rodney Stuckey – Detroit Pistons
G – Jamario Moon – Toronto Raptors
F – Thaddeus Young – Philadelphia 76ers
F – Carl Landry – Houston Rockets
C – Joakim Noah – Chicago Bulls

All-NBA First Team
G – Chris Paul – New Orleans Hornets
G – Kobe Bryant – Los Angeles Lakers
F – LeBron James – Cleveland Cavaliers
F – Kevin Garnett – Boston Celtics
C – Dwight Howard – Orlando Magic

All-NBA Second Team
G – Deron Williams – Utah Jazz
G – Allen Iverson – Denver Nuggets
F – Carmelo Anthony – Denver Nuggets
F – Dirk Nowitzki – Dallas Mavericks
C – Amare Stoudemire – Phoenix Suns

All-NBA Third Team
G – Steve Nash – Phoenix Suns
G – Joe Johnson – Atlanta Hawks
F – Andre Iguodala – Philadelphia 76ers
F – Carlos Boozer – Utah Jazz
C – Pau Gasol – Los Angeles Lakers

All-NBA Defensive First Team
G – Chris Paul – New Orleans Hornets
G – Kobe Bryant – Los Angeles Lakers
F – Josh Smith – Atlanta Hawks
F – Kevin Garnett – Boston Celtics
C – Dwight Howard – Orlando Magic

All-NBA Defensive Second Team
G – Raja Bell – Phoenix Suns
G – Jason Kidd – Dallas Mavericks
F – Bruce Bowen – San Antonio Spurs
F – Tim Duncan – San Antonio Spurs
C – Marcus Camby – Denver Nuggets

The last thing I have left to do is make my prediction for the NBA finals.  Now, even though the playoffs are not set I am going to go ahead and put my prediction out there. 

In the Eastern Conference there is no doubt in my mind the final series will be a Celtics/Pistons match-up.  I think the big three are too focused and committed to finishing what they started by coming to Boston.  I predict the Celtics to beat Detroit in six games. 

The Western Conference playoff race has me scratching my head and asking myself this question:  Why even put a prediction down? 

Well, here goes. 

This year the NBA finals will rekindle one of the great NBA rivalries of all-time.  It’s been over twenty years since the finals have showcased a Celtics/Lakers series and this year it will go down again. 

After watching the Lakers dismantle San Antonio this afternoon I think they are clicking at just the right time for Kobe to get back to the Promised Land without Shaq. 

I think Boston is going to take this series in a classic seven game slug fest.  Game Seven in Boston will be a great game and I believe the Big Three will be holding up the Larry O’Brien trophy.