2009-2010 NBA Pre-Season Awards

With last season's contenders improving even greater, this year is going to receive tons of hype.

But who's going to win the Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player, Sixth Man, Most Improved, and Rookie of The Year award?

And you can't forget about the Coach of the Year..............................................

Most Valuable Player

Okay, before you call me crazy, just hear me out. The obvious choices are Kobe and LeBron. But they have made huge additions to their teams, which should lower their stats a little bit.

However, Chris Paul and his Hornets are having a minor economic problem, and they are looking to deal one of the top centers in the league.

So it looks like Chris Paul is going to have to carry the New Orleans Hornets on his back, majorly improving his numbers.

That is of course, if LeBron doesn't go for triple doubles every night.

Defensive Player

No it's not Kobe Bryant, it's the guy next to him, Gerald Wallace. For those of you who haven't heard of him, this guy is a shut down defender.

He has had some injury problems that have cost him some stats, but in his healthiest season, '06-'07, he averaged exactly two steals and one block.

The season before, which he only played 55 games, he averaged 2.5 steals and 2.1 blocks.

If he helps his Bobcats reach the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, look for him to get some major considerations for Defensive Player of the Year.

Sixth Man

With Mike Bibby and Joe Johnson looking like they'reir going to start at guard, the newest Atlanta Hawk, Jamal Crawford, is likely to come off the bench.

Although his shot selection is always questioned, he is a scoring machine and when he's hot, he is almost unstoppable.

Mike Woodson understands the kind of game Jamal plays and when he's on the court, the offense should be focused around him.

Most Improved

Marcin Gortat is hot in this year's free agency market. He is rumored to either go to Dallas, or Houston.

Either way, he will most likely get a starting job and make a big impact on his team. Last year he got only 12 minutes per game and averaged 3.8 points, and 4.5 rebounds per game.

I look for his minutes to come close to tripling, and having his points go up by at least 10 per game and most likely double his rebounds, which will probably leave him as the front runner for the Most Improved player of the 2009-2010 season.

Rookie of the Year

Surprise! Now that the Clippers have traded Zach Randolph, the talented yet troubled power forward, it looks like Griffin is prompted to start.

Playing with guys like Chris Kaman and Marcus Camby, who don't necessarily need a lot of touches down low, it looks like he will get the majority of the post-ups.

Baron Davis, if he returns healthy this year, should help the growth of Blake Griffin, so look for Griffin to have an outstanding rookie year.

Coach of The Year

Richard Jefferson, A+. Dejuan Blair, Jack McClinton, A+.

Now as a Rockets fan, this is going to kill me to admit, but I look for Gregg Popovich to win the Coach of the Year award this season.

He is widely respected around the league, and the Spurs have made major acquisitions this off-season.

If they can get to the magic number of 60 wins, he should win Coach of the Year Award.