The NBA Regular Season Award Winners

Monday Morning Point Guard
4/13/09

This is the last Monday prior to the start of the NBA Playoffs, and my last chance to reflect on the NBA regular season.

This 2008-09 season has been full of ups and downs—from highlights (LeBron James and Cleveland exceed all expectations) to low lights (injuries end season of Amare early).

In between all of that, we had some excellent basketball played on the floor, and I have selected the LayupDrill.com first annual NBA Regular Season Award Winners.

Besides the normal award categories, there are a few exclusives to LayupDrill.com I have added.

The process of choosing some of these awards was tougher than expected, but rather than select what many major media outlets will tell you will win the award, I give you the person who “should” win.

My Rookie of the Year: Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls

The Bulls have not been a .500 ball club since early November, and they are peaking at the right time.

Derrick Rose has been one of the major reasons why Chicago is in this year's playoffs. Even when Chicago brought in veterans John Salmons and Brad Miller to the team, Rose never lost the command of the team he was chosen to lead with the No. 1 pick overall.

Runners-up: Russell Westbrook, O.J. Mayo

My Defensive Player of the Year: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

It’s not often that a MVP candidate can also get strong consideration for the Defensive Player of the Year award as well, but with James on the floor, the Cavs went from good to great on both ends.

James’ greatest improvement, though, came on his defense, where he anchored a team that was among the top of the defensive stats all season.

Runners-up: Dwight Howard, Chris Paul

My Coach of the Year: Rick Adleman, Houston Rockets

This was one of the tougher awards to decide on, with Cleveland’s Mike Brown, Orlando’s Stan Van Gundy, and Adleman all deserving.

However, when taking everything into consideration, Adleman had one of his greatest coaching jobs of his career.

With the Rockets battling injuries of their big three all season, and having the services of their franchise player (Tracy McGrady) for only 35 games this season, Houston has not missed a beat.

Developing young players like Von Wafer and Aaron Brooks allowed the Rockets to contend in the West, and have a shot and locking up the No. 3 seed later this week.

Runners Up: Mike Brown, Stan Van Gundy

My Sixth Man of the Year: Jason Terry, Dallas Mavericks

Terry would be a starter on nearly every other team in the league. Yet, unlike some talented shooting guards, he has embraced his role coming off the bench, and has made himself, and his team, much better because of it.

Runners-up: Nate Robinson, Lamar Odom

My All-NBA First Team

There are two ways you will see people select this group. If you pick one player per position, then you will have to make some very tough choices (Wade/Kobe).

If you select simply the five best players this season, you may have some overlap, but you give credit where its due. I attempted to mix the two, and here are my five.

Point Guard: Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets

Without him, the Hornets would be the Memphis Grizzlies.

Shooting Guard: Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat

I have been telling you for weeks that Wade was the MVP, though James will win the award.

Swingman: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

Bryant has done everything he can to put the Lakers at the top of the standings. Another outstanding season from one of the best in the world.

Forward: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

James was one of the two best players in the world last season, and somehow he elevated his game to get better this season. The scariest thing of it all is he is only 24.

Center: Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic

Howard gets the slight nod over Yao in the paint. His defensive presence and ability to draw double teams allowed Orlando to be a very dangerous squad this year.

MY NBA MVP: Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat

Like I said earlier, James will win the NBA MVP this season. There is no doubt in my mind about that.

However, using only two sets of criteria, Wade gets the nod.

Wade did more with less talent around him than James, and Wade took a team that won a handful of games and was in the lottery last season—with the help of two rookies starting—to the No. 5 seed in the East, and a good chance of advancing in this year's postseason.

Trying to pick between Wade, James, and Bryant is like choosing between a BMW, Mercedes-Benz, or Lexus. Either way, you can’t lose.