NBA Midseason Awards: MVP, Rookie of the Year, Most Improved and More
As the 2011 NBA All-Star Game draws near, the NBA midseason awards also come to light.
While LeBron and his talents continue to grow down in Miami, there are plenty of other teams, players, coaches and storylines grabbing headlines as well.
The Knicks are trying to take back New York City and it slowly looks like it might happen...eventually.
The Spurs and Celtics are proving that age is just a number and that they can be as good as any team.
And Carmelo Anthony, well...
Here is a look at the midseason awards for the 2011 NBA season.
Most Obnoxious Storyline: Carmelo Anthony Trade Saga
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Every day it seems there is something new developing in the Carmelo sweepstakes.
We know he wants to get out of Denver.
The Nuggets sit in the seventh seed in the Western Conference and Melo is averaging 23.1 points per game and eight rebounds.
The Nets continue to make a strong push on the trade market but the trade will not go through without Carmelo agreeing to a long-term deal.
The Knicks are still very much in the mix and we know he wants to go there.
Plain and simple, it's obnoxious waiting around for this to happen and maybe ESPN should put an hour-long special on for Melo so we can finally get a decision on what team he will be playing for on the East Coast.
Other candidates: Anything LeBron James
Most Heartbreaking Storyline: Brandon Roy and Yao Ming
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Brandon Roy's knees will prevent him from ever being the player he could have been.
Yao Ming's newest injury will keep him out for another season; he only lasted five games this year.
We very likely have seen the best from these two very promising players.
Roy may still continue playing, but the knees will limit him on both ends of the court and he will be a shell of his former self.
Yao's future is still to be determined and the massive fan base for the big man may have seen him suit up in the NBA for the last time.
Most Disappointing Team: Houston Rockets
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Outside of the Yao injury, the Rockets still could have been a good team this season with a talented roster.
At 19-23, the Rockets are outside the playoff picture in the Western Conference and last in their division.
The Rockets average 104 points per game but also give up 104 points per game defensively.
They have lost 19 of their games when giving up over 100 points.
Fortunately the season is long and they may be able to make a playoff push if they can sort things out.
Other candidates: Phoenix Suns
Executive Of The Year: Pat Riley, Miami Heat
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The Heat finally got it together and with a 30-12 record, they have the third-best mark in the league right now.
Both Dwyane Wade and LeBron James are putting up big numbers—inside the top six in scoring—and it looks like they really could be the dominant force they should be.
Riley had to do a ton of work to make this happen this offseason and it will all pay dividends if they can keep it together.
Other candidates: Donnie Walsh, Knicks; Otis Smith, Magic
Coach Of The Year: Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs
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The easiest on the list, the Spurs are a revelation at 35-6 overall.
Pop has done everything correctly: He kept Tim Duncan fresh and he has five players averaging double-digits in scoring.
The Spurs have put together a more up-tempo offensive attack and it all seems to be paying off; they average 104 points per game.
They have only lost three conference games all season and have a five-game lead on the No. 2 seed Los Angeles Lakers.
Other Candidates: Tom Thibodeau, Bulls; Jerry Sloan, Jazz; Mike D'Antoni, Knicks
Sixth Man Of The Year: Jamal Crawford, G, Atlanta Hawks
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Crawford is fourth on the team in minutes per game, but he has not started a game all year.
Atlanta is 27-15 and Crawford's numbers off the bench are a big reason why.
Crawford averages 16 points, 3.5 assists and two rebounds in 31 minutes per game.
The Hawks are currently fourth in the Eastern Conference.
Other Candidates: Jason Terry, Mavericks; Carl Landry, Kings
Defensive Player Of The Year: Dwight Howard, C, Orlando Magic
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Dwight Howard is doing it like he always does—blocking shots and grabbing rebounds.
Superman is fifth in the league in blocks and second in the league in rebounds.
The defending DPOY leads all centers with 1.2 steals per game as well.
His team is sixth in the league in points against.
Other Candidates: Tyson Chandler, Mavericks; Andrew Bogut, Bucks
Most Improved Player: Kevin Love, F, Minnesota Timberwolves
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Kevin Love burst onto the scene for the Timberwolves with incredible numbers rebounding, scoring points and recording double-doubles.
Love leads the league with 37 double-doubles in 42 games played.
He has put up 21 points and 15.7 rebound per game, improving by 7.2 points and 4.7 rebound from a season ago.
His increase in playing time has pushed a significant increase in his numbers.
Other Candidates: Michael Beasley, Timberwolves; Raymond Felton, Knicks; Eric Gordon, Clippers
Rookie Of The Year: Blake Griffin, F, Los Angeles Clippers
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Blake Griffin's numbers say it all:
22.5 points, 12.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 37.3 minutes per game.
Griffin has recorded 33 double-doubles on the season and continues to dunk on anyone and everyone in his path.
The Clippers are exciting to watch and have won 15 games so far this season.
Other Candidates: Landry Fields, Knicks; John Wall, Wizards
MVP: Amar'e Stoudemire, F, New York Knicks
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The Knicks big offseason acquisition has brought life back to Madison Square Garden.
Amar'e averages 26.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 2.4 blocks per game.
Stoudemire's impact, along with Raymond Felton and a group of youthful talent, has the Knicks four games over .500 and actually in contention in the back end of the Eastern Conference.
Without Stoudemire, though, the Knicks would hardly be anything close to what they are now.
Other Candidate: Derrick Rose, Bulls; LeBron James, Heat; Deron Williams, Jazz; Kevin Durant, Thunder
