2012 NBA Awards Races 3.0: Updated Picks and Top Contenders for Every Award

The 2012 NBA regular season has come to a close and the postseason is officially underway. Lasting impressions have been made, for better or worse, and the annual awards ceremonies have begun to take shape.

While a portion of these individual awards seem to have definite destinations, others remain up in the air. For a full breakdown of each individual award and its potential winner, as well as a columnist pick from yours truly, click ahead!

Reason for debate will not be scarce.

Rookie of the Year

Kenneth Faried deserves all the credit in the world for his two-way play. Klay Thompson has been a legitimate lead scorer for half of a season.

Isaiah Thomas has been the spark plug for an otherwise lifeless Sacramento Kings team. Ricky Rubio may be the Minnesota Timberwolves' true MVP, with the T's going 5-20 in his absence.

Despite all of their best efforts, no one has been quite as phenomenal as Kyrie Irving.

Irving has already solidified himself as one of the better point guards in the NBA, displaying as well-rounded a repertoire as any point guard you'll find. He has limitless range on his jump shot, excellent footwork, patience on defense and somehow thrives as a facilitator on a thin Cavaliers team.

Cut it anyway you'd like, Kyrie Irving is the 2012 NBA Rookie of the Year.

Front-Runner: Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers

Columnist Pick: Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers

Fellow Candidates: Kenneth Faried, Denver Nuggets; Ricky Rubio, Minnesota Timberwolves; Isaiah Thomas, Sacramento Kings

Most Improved Player of the Year

Andrew Bynum's postseason triple-double all but sealed his fate as winner of the Most Improved Player of the Year award. To state that he is the only deserving candidate, however, would be quite misleading.

Sacramento's DeMarcus Cousins averaged 14.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 0.8 blocks in 2011. In 2012, Cousins improved across the board and took the leap to elite. Averages of 18.1 points, 10.9 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.2 blocks are evidence to back such a claim.

While Bynum is the sure-fire winner here, it's only fair to give Cousins his due. Just don't forget about Bynum's 10 blocked shots in Game 1 of the Los Angeles Lakers' series against the Denver Nuggets.

Front-Runner: Andrew Bynum, Los Angeles Lakers

Columnist Pick: Andrew Bynum, Los Angeles Lakers

Fellow Contenders: Ryan Anderson, Orlando Magic; Jeremy Lin, New York Knicks; Greg Monroe, Detroit Pistons; Nikola Pekovic, Minnesota Timberwolves

Sixth Man of the Year

James Harden's postseason play has only further enforced what was already known: the Thunder's sixth man is the best in the NBA.

Harden's 16.8 points per game lead all players coming off of the bench, but it's the former Sun Devil's ability to distance himself from the label of "pure scorer" that has him so far ahead of the competition. Averages of 4.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.0 steals per game are solely statistical backing for such a claim.

More important than the statistics, however, is Harden's overall impact. The Thunder often look to him with the game on the line, as well as when a pace needs to be set. Due to this fact, Harden has placed himself a step above the rest.

Front-Runner: James Harden, Oklahoma City Thunder

Columnist Pick: James Harden, Oklahoma City Thunder

Fellow Contenders: Al Harrington, Denver Nuggets; Jason Terry, Dallas Mavericks; Lou Williams, Philadelphia 76ers

Coach of the Year

If you think the ripple effect of Derrick Rose's late-game injury will not find it's way into the Coach of the Year selection process, you're fooling yourself. It will, and that's exactly why Tom Thibodeau will not win the award.

As for who will, that honor is likely to find it's way to Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs. Pop has led the Spurs to the best record in the NBA, all while Manu Ginobili missed 32 games. Pop has also helped mold Tony Parker into a legitimate MVP candidate.

Amidst the re-emergence of veteran coaches and the fall of the defending Coach of the Year is a new and young face on the rise: Frank Vogel, head coach of the Indiana Pacers.

Vogel has made the most significant strides of any coach in the NBA. In 2011, the Pacers allowed an average of 100.9 points per game. In 2012, Indiana allowed an average of 94.4. That's a full 6.5 point per game drop.

The elevated level of play on defense is just one of the numerous reasons the Pacers have gone from a .451 win percentage in 2011 to a .636 win percentage in 2012. Due to this drastic improvement, Frank Vogel may be the most deserving coach out there for this award.

Front-Runner: Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs

Columnist's Pick: Frank Vogel, Indiana Pacers

Fellow Candidates: Tom Thibodeau, Chicago Bulls

Update: Gregg Popovich was named Coach of the Year on May 1

Defensive Player of the Year

Dwight Howard hasn't done anything to lose the award that he's won three years running. Tyson Chandler has changed the culture of the New York Knicks, taking one of the worst defensive units in the NBA to a reputation as a respectable foe. Even LeBron James has garnered some interest, as his versatility has bred respect and consideration.

Through all of the household names, could it be possible that an All-Star center is being overlooked? Spoiler Alert: the answer is yes.

In 2011, the Indiana Pacers were one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA. At the heart of this was their porous interior defense, which led to their allowing 100.9 points and 11.4 offensive rebounds per game. Both of those statistics ranked in the bottom half of the NBA.

In 2012, Roy Hibbert has played a major role in covering up those holes. While the offensive rebounds are still there, the points are not. A major reason is that Hibbert averages 2.0 blocks and 5.5 defensive rebounds per game. His 7'2", 260-pound frame is a factor as to why.

While Hibbert is not my choice for winner of this award, he deserves consideration for all he's done.

Front-Runner: Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic

Columnist Pick: Tyson Chandler, New York Knicks

Fellow Candidates: Roy Hibbert, Indiana Pacers; LeBron James, Miami Heat; Josh Smith, Atlanta Hawks

Most Valuable Player

Quite a few readers opposed my selection of Tony Parker, claiming that the award deserved to go to the best team's best player. At the time, that man was either Kevin Durant or LeBron James as Derrick Rose sat out due to injury.

At this point in time, however, it is the San Antonio Spurs who have finished the regular season with the best record in the NBA. It's also the San Antonio Spurs who took Game 1 of their series with the Utah Jazz behind 28 points, eight assists, four rebounds and a steal from Tony Parker.

Let the debate begin.

Front-Runner: LeBron James, Miami Heat

Columnist Pick: Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs

Fellow Candidates: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers; Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder; Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers