NBA Quarterly Report: Revisiting Preseason Expectations and Surprises

The year is off and running and we are beginning to see some of the best teams in the NBA come together.

After a quarter of the season, we are starting to see where teams stack up in the league. Therefore, it's time to revisit the predictions we made at the beginning of the season.

Most Valuable Player

Preseason Prediction: Kevin Durant

Quarter Prediction: Derrick Rose

-Yes, Kevin Durant leads the NBA in scoring. But is he even the best player on his team? Russell Westbrook is putting up a crazy numbers. Durant is putting up those numbers on a pathetic 42 percent shooting from the field and 28 percent from three. And this is coming from a shooter. The only thing saving him is the refs. On jump shots.

Derrick Rose on the other hand is ridiculous. For the first time since Jordan, the Bulls had a winning record on their dreaded West Coast Circus Trip. I would say that Rose might have been a part of that since he averaged 30.5 ppg during the trip. He also showed his clutch ability.

The Bulls have been down in virtually all of their games this season, and Rose is the only thing bringing them back. And he has brought the Bulls to 13-8 despite having the hardest schedule in the league so far this year DESPITE not having their second best player for the circus trip! All in all, the frontrunner for MVP.

Defensive Player of the Year

Preseason Prediction: Dwight Howard

Quarter Prediction: Dwight Howard

-I shouldn't really need to justify this. Near the top in blocks and rebounds. And is also perhaps the most fearsome post defender ever. Enough said. 

Most Improved Player

Preseason Prediction: Raymond Felton

Quarter Prediction: Kevin Love

-Ray Felton is far from being a bad pick. He's surprisingly turned out to be a great point guard in Mike D'Antoni's offense. He's putting up fantastic numbers next to fellow offseason acquisition Amare Stoudemire, including career highs in points, rebounds, assists, field goal percentage, free throw percentage, and steals per game. Plus second highest in three point percentage.

Basically, he is having by far the best season of his career. Here's a shocking stat for you, Stoudemire and Felton are beating out Bosh and LeBron for most combined points between two offseason acquisitions on the same team. All in all, a good candidate.

However, Kevin Love is by far has made the biggest jump. He nearly jumped 5 rebounds per game more than last year AND six points per game more.

He's become effectively the best rebounder in the league and is really a go-to scorer on that Timberwolves team. If he could learn to play defense, he would be a star. 

Coach of the Year

Preseason Prediction: Rick Adelman

Quarter Prediction: Rick Carlisle 

-I picked Adelman to win Coach of the Year because I predicted the Rockets to be a surprise team this year. However, Yao has been more of a hindrance than a help, and that's when he's actually been cleared to play.

Yes, this team has had one of the hardest schedules in the league and a multitude of injuries, but there's no excuse to be on pace to win 30 games when your expectations are the playoffs. 

When you hear of a team led by Dirk Nowitzki, be honest, defense is not one of the first words that comes into your mind. However, Rick Carlisle has really put his stamp on this team, and has led them to one of the best records in the league thus far. 

Sixth Man of the Year

Preseason Prediction: Jamal Crawford

Quarter Prediction: Jason Terry

-I predicted that Crawford would win Sixth Man of the Year because he's a spark of offense off the bench for Atlanta. He has been so far, but he has not been consistent.

Either he's scoring over 20 efficiently or he's jacking up 20 shots and hitting few of them. Also, Atlanta has not been as good as they really should have been thus far.

On the other hand, Terry is not putting up numbers that are blowing you away. However he's really having a big effect on the outcome of games and his Mavericks are winning. That's really why I'm putting him first.

This is a very exciting time in the NBA and make sure you keep up!

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