NBA 2011-2012: First-Quarter Awards
With the first quarter of the season upon us, most teams have had their share of surprises, disappointments and injuries.
Teams and their players will have had to deal with the shortened season and a plethora of games week-by-week.
With talks of major trades still in high gear and some surprise teams such as Indiana, Houston and Utah having early success, the season is getting more exciting by the week.
Injuries have been rampant and have cost teams serious manpower that has been tough for some to overcome. With every new season, the NBA has been blessed to have new players stepping into the elite class of the NBA's best ballers.
Some players have truly seized this opportunity to showcase their abilities on a higher level, making them worthy of the early recognition in 2012.
Let's take a closer look at our first quarter of the season award winners.
Stretch Four Making Some Noise
1 of 6Most Improved Player
Ryan Anderson: Orlando Magic
This young forward has been under the radar, but that is obviously about to change drastically after some of the games he has had so far this year.
He is currently averaging over 17 points a game to go along with more than seven rebounds while he keeps spacing on the floor ample for teammate Dwight Howard to operate in the paint.
The true stretch four has seen his scoring and shooting percentage from three-point range increase each year in his three years in the league. His 42 percent shooting from downtown makes him such a formidable weapon that the struggling Nets are now wondering why they let him go in a trade four years ago.
Anderson had a season high of 30 points versus the Knicks.
Rubio Is Leading the Way for the T-Wolves
2 of 6Rookie of the Year
Ricky Rubio: Minnesota T-Wolves
This passer extraordinaire has such a good feel for the game that it makes the game easier for his teammates in a Steve Nash type of way. His vision and passing skills were well-known prior to entering the league, and he has not disappointed. His eight-and-a-half assists this year are growing steadily by the week.
Considered a poor shooter, Rubio is shooting about 50 percent from three-point range while averaging about 11 points a game so far this year. At 6'4" and lanky he has shown the ability to get four-and-a-half rebounds and two-and-a-half steals a game. The more minutes he gets are going to spike in his stats and confidence.
For these reasons and his team's early success, he gets the nod over Kyrie Irving and Iman Shumpert in the first quarter.
All-Defensive Team and Defensive Player of the Year
3 of 61. Andre Iguodala, G/F, Philadelphia 76ers
One of the best on-ball defenders has the ability to defend three positions with efficiency.
2. Lebron James, F, Miami Heat
'Bron is all over the place—truly evolving into one of the best defenders so far.
3. Iman Shumpert, PG/SG, New York Knicks
He has been one of the most ferocious ball hawks so far, and his effort on the defensive end lands him here as the early surprise.
4. Tyson Chandler, C, New York Knicks
His ability to play his man in the post and the perimeter make him the premere big man on the defensive end. His communication with his teammates is very good.
NBA Defensive Player of the Year
Until another major force comes into the league and does what Howard has been doing lately, we can almost gift wrap this award.
Howard's defense is actually improving year-by-year, as is his overall presence in the paint. This year he is averaging over two-and-a-half blocks and almost 12 defensive rebounds a game, which shows he owns the boards on that end of the floor.
He is an above-average pick-and-roll defender whose strength and athleticism allow him to dominate opposing centers on both ends of the floor. Add to this the fact that Howard is also stealing the ball almost twice a game.
One can see why the offers are getting better and better for Howard as of late.
All NBA First, Second and Third Teams
4 of 6First Team All-NBA
SF, Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
PF, Lebron James, Miami Heat
C, Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
Second Team All-NBA
PG, Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
PF, Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
PF/C, LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland Trail Blazers
PF/C, Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves
Third Team All-NBA
PG, Kyle Lowry, Houston Rockets
SG, Monta Ellis, Golden State Warriors
SG Joe Johnson, Atlanta Hawks
PF, Chris Bosh, Miami Heat
C, Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzles
Most Valuable Player
5 of 6Most Valuable Player
Lebron James, Miami Heat
It is quite evident that Lebron doesn't take losing easily, and what he is showing on the court is looking scary for his opponents.
With Wade on the mend, Lebron has truly zoned in and is playing like the best player in the NBA.
Not only is he dominating on both ends, but he has led his team to a 7-1 record so far in games Wade has not played in.
Lebron might be the only player who can actually average a triple-double in the league and will certainly have a chance if Wade lingers on the sideline.
Lebron has seemed to figure out what is really takes to win a championship, and that's solid play at both ends.
His aggressiveness has taken a turn for the better, and if he overcomes his fourth quarter woes...watch out NBA!
Coach of the Year
6 of 6Coach of The First Quarter
Doug Collins, Philadelphia 76ers
Yes, the East is once again looking weak so far this year, but kudos to Coach Collins for having his team playing a better brand of basketball in the early season.
At 12-5, they are sitting on top of the division and dominating both ends of the floor as the data shows below. Collins has seven players scoring in double digits and an eighth player right at the cusp of it.
With teams in the division struggling, the 76ers have a chance to gain a big lead and ensure themselves of a great playoff seed.
Other notable coaches so far have been Larry Drew of the 13-5 Hawks and Frank Vogel of the Indiana Pacers.
POINTS PER GAME
99.9 Third OVERALL
REBOUNDS PER GAME
43.9 Fourth OVERALL
ASSISTS PER GAME
22.2 Fifth OVERALL
POINTS ALLOWED
88.0 Second OVERALL
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