Winfield's Analysis: 2010-2011 NBA Award Races and All-NBA Teams

It's almost award time.

With about two weeks left in the regular season, coaches, journalists, players, and panelists are putting in their votes for NBA regular season award winners. I know that my votes have no bearing whatsoever in the actual voting process, but it doesn't hurt to let my predictions be known, does it?

Most Improved Player: Dorell Wright (Golden State Warriors)

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OAKLAND, CA - JANUARY 19: Dorell Wright #1 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after the Warriors made a basket in the final minute of their game against the Indiana Pacers at Oracle Arena on January 19, 2011 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User e

Wright's '09-'10 Stats: 7.1 ppg, 1.3 apg, 2.2 rpg, 0.4 blkpg, 0.7 stlpg, 20.8 minutes per game

Wright's '10-'11 Stats: 16.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.0 apg, 0.8 blkpg, 1.3 stlpg, 38.3 minutes per game

The Miami Heat front office must be beating themselves up for letting this guy go. Dorell Wright, a player who was mainly known for his athleticism and defense back in Miami, has emerged as one of the Golden State Warriors primary offensive options. He worked on his 3-point shooting during the offseason, and it paid off with him earning a trip to the 3-point shootout during this year's All-Star Weekend. Wright's stats have almost doubled in every category, making him the embodiment of someone whose hard work pays off. He should have the award in the bag. 

Sixth Man of the Year: Lamar Odom (Los Angeles Lakers)

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LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 31: Lamar Odom #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after his third consecutive three pointer with Steve Blake #5 during a 110-82 win over the Dallas Mavericks at Staples Center on March 31, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE T

Odom's Stats Off the Bench:14.4 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 3.0 apg, 0.7 blkpg, 0.6 stlpg, 53.9 fg%

Before you waste your breath saying Lamar Odom isn't eligible for this award, the Sixth Man of the Year Award is given to a player who exhibits exceptional performance from off the bench. He must come off the bench in more games than he starts.

Odom's started 34 of the 74 games he's played in, making him the perfect candidate for this award. No bench player has had more of an effect on a team than Lamar on the Lakers. The saying goes, if Odom plays well, the Lakers win. And he's lived up to the hype, playing phenomenal basketball and helping his team capture the second seed in the Western Conference.

There's no question Jason Terry and Jamal Crawford are in the conversation. Terry's numbers are always great; he's averaging 16.1 points, 4.2 assist, and 1.2 steals per game, all while shooting 37 percent from the field. Crawford's numbers slightly decreased: 14 points, 3.2 assists, and 1.7 rebounds per game. But Lamar Odom is nearly averaging a double-double. He's been snubbed as the Sixth Man of the Year in the past; his time has come. 

Coach of the Year: George Karl (Denver Nuggets)

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LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 5: Head coach George Karl of the Denver Nuggets complains to an official duirng the game with the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on March 5, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and a

Not who you expected it to be? Well, think about it.

After losing Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups to the New York Knicks, many people began to count the Denver Nuggets out of the Playoff hunt. They believed without that main scorer in Carmelo, Denver couldn't compete in the Western Conference. Coach Karl proved them terribly mistaken.

Since the trade, Denver is 14-4, losing to teams like Miami, Orlando, Portland, and Los Angeles. They've got great depth with essentially two starting lineups. They've grasped the No. 5 seed in the West and are looking to make noise when the Playoffs come around. George Karl has taught this team and helped develop their chemistry. The only other coaches that could possibly win Coach of the Year over him are Tom Thibodeau and his Chicago Bulls, Gregg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs, Lionel Hollins with the Memphis Grizzlies, and Nate McMillan and his Portland Trail Blazers. But George Karl definitely deserves the Award. 

Defensive Player of the Year: Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic)

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PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 13: Hakim Warrick #21 of the Phoenix Suns attempts a shot over Dwight Howard #12 of the Orlando Magic during the NBA game at US Airways Center on March 13, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Magic defeated the Suns 111-88. NOTE TO USER:

You ever take a multiple choice question test, and on questions 1-5 the answers are all "C?" What's the first thing you think?

Something has got to be wrong.

Well, this marks the third year in a row that Dwight Howard has stood apart from the pack in the Defensive Player of the Year standings. Let's look at his stats:

10.3 DEFENSIVE rebounds per game

2.4 blocks per game

1.3 steals per game

I don't know anyone else who does the things that Dwight Howard does. He rebounds the ball at ridiculous rates, swats everything that goes up, and gets an occasional steal. And the biggest thing he does? Superman puts fear in the hearts of all of his enemies. When opposing players attack the basket, they know who's waiting down there. Just his presence influences the opponents' shots. He changes more shots than, arguably, anyone else in the league.

Just because the answers are the same each question doesn't mean they're not the right answer. Dwight Howard is the right pick for Defensive Player of the Year. Just give it to him.

Rookie of the Year: Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers)

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CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 07: Blake Griffin #32 of the Los Angeles Clippers smiles as he walks down the court against the Charlotte Bobcats during their 92-87 victory at Time Warner Cable Arena on March 7, 2011 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: Use

Do I really need to say anything? The stats should probably speak for themselves:

22.4 ppg, 3.7 apg, 12.1 rpg, 0.5 blkpg, 0.7 stlpg

We all know about his dunks. We all know about his athletic ability. Blake Griffin is a phenomenon. He doesn't care what's in his path; all he sees is the basket. Once he develops an efficient post game and a working 15-18 foot jump shot, Griffin will be one of the best players in the NBA.

Most Valuable Player: Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls)

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CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 25: Derrick Rose #1 of the Chicago Bulls chases down a loose ball with Mike Conley #11 of the Memphis Grizzlies at the United Center on March 25, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls defeated the Grizzlies 99-96. NOTE TO USER: User exp

Derrick Rose has been incredible this year. Without Joakim Noah or Carlos Boozer, Rose put the Chicago Bulls on his back and catapulted them to the No.1 seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 55-20. Averaging 25 points, 7.9 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and one steal per game, Rose has become a shoe-in for the Most Valuable Player Award. Anyone else would be absurd.

All-NBA First Team

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ORLANDO, FL - JUNE 11: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Dwight Howard #12 of the Orlando Magic exchange words in the second half of Game Four of the 2009 NBA Finals on June 11, 2009 at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User ex

Derrick Rose: 25.0 ppg, 7.9 apg, 4.2 rpg, 1.0 stlpg, 43.9 fg%, 85.5 ft%

Kobe Bryant: 25.2 ppg, 4.8 apg, 5.2 rpg, 1.2 spg

Kevin Durant: 27.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.8 apg, 1.1 spg, 1.0 blkpg, 46.3 fg%, 87.8 ft%  

Kevin Love: 20.3 ppg, 15.3 rpg, 47.0 fg% 85.1 ft%

Dwight Howard: 23.1 ppg, 14.2 rpg, 2.4 blk pg, 59.6 fg%, 58.9 ft%

All-NBA Second Team

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MIAMI, FL - MARCH 25: Guard Dwyane Wade #3 and Forward LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat celebrate against the Philadelphia Sixers at American Airlines Arena on March 25, 2011 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that,

Deron Williams: 20.5 ppg, 10.1 apg, 1.2 spg

Dwyane Wade: 25.8 ppg, 4.5 apg, 6.5 rpg, 1.5 spg

LeBron James:26.6 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 6.9 apg, 1.5 spg, 50.7 fg% 

Dirk Nowitzki: 23.3 ppg, 7.9 rpg., 0.7 blkpg, 52.2 fg% 

LaMarcus Aldridge: 21.9 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 1.2 blkpg, 1.1 stlpg, 50% from the field

All-NBA Third Team

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LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 20: Amare Stoudemire #1 of the New York Knicks and the Eastern Conference stands with Carmelo Anthony #15 of the Denver Nuggets and the Western Conference after the Western Conference won 148-143 victory in the 2011 NBA All-Sta

Chris Paul: 16.3 ppg, 9.8 apg, 2.4 spg, 39.3% 3-point shooting, 88.7% free throw shooter 

Monta Ellis: 24.1 ppg, 5.7 apg, 3.6 rpg. 2.1 stlpg

Carmelo Anthony: 25.5 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.9 apg, 0.9 stlpg

Blake Griffin: 22.4 ppg, 12.1 rpg, 0.5 blkpg, 0.7 stlpg, 50.5 fg% 

Amar'e Stoudemire: 25.5 ppg, 8.4 epg, 1.9 blkpg, 50.5 fg% 

All-Defensive Team

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ORLANDO, FL - OCTOBER 10: Chris Paul #3 of the New Orleans Hornets attempts a shot against Dwight Howard #12 of the Orlando Magic during the game at Amway Arena on October 10, 2010 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees

Chris Paul: Leads NBA with 2.39 steals per game

Tony Allen: Top 2 in NBA SGs in both steals and blocks: 1.76 steals and 0.56 blocks per game. *Allen only plays 20.2 minutes per game.

Gerald Wallace: Top 4 in NBA SFs in both steals and blocks: 1.44 steals and 0.96 blocks per game

Josh Smith: Top 4 in NBA PFs in both steals and blocks: 1.39 steals and 1.61 blocks per game.

Dwight Howard: No. 1 in NBA C's in Steals. No. 3 in NBA C's in Blocks: 2.39 blocks and 1.33 steals per game

All-Rookie First Team

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LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 18: John Wall #2 of the Washington Wizards and the Rookie Team and Blake Griffin #32 of the Los Angeles Clippers and the Rookie Team laugh on the court in the second half during the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and Youth Jam at St

John Wall: 16.0 ppg, 8.6 apg, 4.5 rpg, 1.6 stlpg, 3.8 topg 

Gary Neal: 9.6 ppg, 1.1 apg, 2.5 rpg, 41.1% 3-point shooter 

Landry Fields: 9.9 ppg, 1.9 apg. 6.5 rpg 

Blake Griffin: 22.4 ppg, 3.7 apg, 12.1 rpg, 0.5 blkpg, 0.7 stlpg

DeMarcus Cousins: 14.1 ppg, 2.4 apg, 8.5 rpg, 0.8 blkpg, 1.0 stlpg, 

All-Rookie Second Team

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WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 05: Jordan Crawford #15 of the Washington Wizards puts up a shot while being guarded by Nikola Pekovic #14 of the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Verizon Center on March 5, 2011 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowl

*Jordan Crawford (Washington Wizards/Atlanta Hawks): 10.2 ppg, 2.2 apg, 2.3 rpg

Wesley Johnson (Minnesota Timberwolves): 9.0 ppg, 1.9 apg, 3.0 rpg 

Paul George (Indiana Pacers): 7.8 ppg, 1.1 apg, 3.7 rpg

Greg Monroe (Detroit Pistons): 9.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 0.5 blkpg

Derrick Favors (Utah Jazz/New Jersey Nets): 6.6 ppg. 5.1 rpg, 0.8 blkpg

*After being traded from the Atlanta Hawks to the Washington Wizards, Crawford's averages skyrocketed from 4.2 points, 0.2 steals, and 0.9 assists to 15.9 points, 1.6 steals, and 3.3 assists in nearly triple the playing time.