NBA Awards After the First Quarter of the '08-09 Season
I know weāre only one quarter of the way through the 2008-09 NBA Season, but some glaring surprises headline the Seasonās Awards so far.
MVP
LeBron James- Cleveland Cavaliers
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Give this award according to what the honor actually says, Most Valuable Player. Whether you want to say āto his teamā or āto the league,ā LeBron stands out among the elite so far.
Heās most valuable to the Cavs. If you take LeBron away from the Cavs you have...well, Oklahoma City.
Sure, Mo Williams has provided somewhat of a relief for LeBronābut letās be honest, itās still a one-man show.
LeBron is also most valuable to the league right now. How does $170 million grab you? This is the current amount of sponsorship deals James has, according to Fortune Magazine.
His competition includes Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, and Chauncey Billips. I believe that Kobe is still the best all-around player on the planet, but LeBron is the most valuable. Take Kobe away from the Lakers and you still have a playoff team capable of even winning a first-round series. Same with Garnett.
Rookie of the Year
OJ Mayo - Memphis Grizzlies
This is a tough one. Many may say Derrick Rose and you really cannot argue with either choice, however, Mayo gets the nod for his scoring, consistency and durability.
Other considerations: None in serious contention.
Coach of the Year
Mike Woodson - Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks have been the surprise team of the 2008-09 NBA season. Mike Woodson has proven to be a survivor in this ultimate age of: āWhat Have You Done For Me Latelyā. A few months ago, Woodson didnāt know if he would even be given a contract. Last yearās showing in the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the eventual Champion Boston Celtics has energized the young team and a city thirsty for a winner.
Other considerations: Mike Brown of Cleveland could be seriously considered with the start the Cavs have accomplishedābut anything less than a Finals appearance is considered a failure with LeBron and company.
Phil Jackson in LA has Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom, and an unlimited supply of resources to acquire players. They have the second-best record in the leagueābut second-best is also a major disappointment, Iām afraid.
Greg Popovich has done his best job in years holding down the fort with key injuries to Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili but the nod has to go to Woodson. His Hawks are off to a 15-10 record despite an unfavorable schedule (14 road games) and injuries to key players.
Most Improved Player
Zach Randolph - Los Angeles Clippers
Escaping one circus (New York) and landing in another (Clipper Nation) has not affected Randolph at all this season. He has always been considered one of the premier low post scorers in the league but this year he is making a strong case for an All Star birth in the loaded Western Conference. Averaging 22 points, 11 rebounds, and a surprising 37.6 minutes per game, Randolph is making the surging Clippers forget all about Eldon Brand.
Other considerations: Nene Hilario, Nate Robinson, Rajon Rondo and Mike Bibby.
Sixth Man of The Year
Jason Terry - Dallas Mavericks
Most people donāt even know that this guy is a sixth man. Jason Terry is averaging 21 points per game while shooting 47 percent from the field and 82 percent from the free throw line. He has accepted his role as the energizer for a Mavs team still trying to find their identity.
The emergence of Jose Barea as a starter and Rick Carlisle as the new coach has seemed to provide some sense of excitement to an otherwise disappointing last few months.
Other candidates: Nate Robinson, JR Smith, James Posey, and Joel Przybilla.
GM of the Year
Mark Warkentien/Rex Chapman - Denver Nuggets
What appeared to some as being an even trade turned out to be lopsided. The Nuggets' acquisition of Chauncey Billips has propelled Denver into one of the top teams in the Western Conference. The confidence they showed in Nene Halario as their center Ā also allowed Denver to trade Marcus Camby and free up money and acquire draft picks for the future.
Other candidates: Daryl Morey (Houston), Rick Sund (Atlanta), Larry Bird (Indiana).
