However, amongst all the playoff drama and decisive games, the conclusion of the regular season marks the last date in which players can make their cases for various performance awards. Aside for playoff positioning, the players try their best to win the individual awards and also bolster their reputation around the league.
This season has seen an unprecedented number of great performances and unbelievable feats; however, there can only be one winner for each performance award. Although there are several candidates for the six accolades, only one player will have the privilege to hoist the coveted trophy.
Next: Candidates for Most Improved Player
Winner- Kevin Love- Minnesota Timberwolves
The 2010 FIBA World Championships was a watershed event for the former UCLA Bruin Kevin Love. Love used the lessons and valuable playing time in Turkey to emerge as one of the top power forwards in the NBA. Prior to this season, Love was an average player who was overlooked by fans and analysts.
Love, an acolyte of the game of basketball, came into the 2010-2011 season a completely new player. Although the Timberwolves have been a debacle for the past several seasons, the jocular Love has fans in Minnesota looking forward to a future of success and prosperity. The seemingly innocuous Love has a knack for achieving double-doubles and he shows great tenacity in the paint. Love currently has 64 double-doubles, including 53 consecutive games with such numbers. A yearly average of 20.3 points per game and 15.4 rebounds per game surely deserves the Most Improved Player Award.
Runner-up- Dorell Wright- Golden State Warriors
Dorell Wright of the Golden State Warriors has surprised the entire league with his breakout season and his uncanny three-point shooting. Wright was previously a member of the Miami Heat, but he saw very little playing time and he could never showcase his talents while backing up Dwayne Wade. However, the Golden State Warriors gave Wright the minutes he deserved and he has been a valuable contributor to the team’s success.
Although the Golden State Warriors will most likely not make the playoffs this season, they will be making plenty of noise in the Western Conference with Dorell Wright in the lineup. In the 2010-2011 season Wright has been averaging 16.6 ppg (nearly nine points higher than last season) and his 38.2 minutes per game average is nearly 18 minutes higher than last season in Miami.
3rd Place- Russell Westbrook- Oklahoma City Thunder
Russell Westbrook has emerged as one of the best point guards in the NBA, and he was named to his first All-Star team in 2011. Westbrook is developing into a serious offensive threat and he is helping the Thunder become a legitimate contender in the Western Conference. However, Westbrook will not win the award due to the major improvements by Wright and Love. Nevertheless, Westbrook’s 22.1 ppg and 8.3 apg are very impressive statistical feats.
Next: Candidates Sixth Man of the Year
Sixth Man of the Year
Winner- Lamar Odom- Los Angeles Lakers
The clear-cut winner of the best reserve for the 2010-2011 is Los Angeles Lakers’ big man Lamar Odom. Just as Kevin Love improved his game during the FIBA Championships, Odom’s leadership qualities and confidence were boosted thanks to his time in Turkey. Although Odom played a vital role in the Lakers’ previous two championships, his involvement and importance to this season’s team in indescribable.
The Lakers have had trouble beating the upper echelon teams without a stellar performances by Odom. His versatile performance and his ability to play every position is irreplaceable and no other Laker can fill the void if Odom were to miss a game. The Lakers are near unstoppable if Odom plays at his best, and unlike any other player in the NBA, Odom is guarded by a less capable player nearly every game. This season, Lamar Odom has been averaging 14.4 ppg, 8.8 rpg and 3.0 apg; with only a few weeks left in the regular season, Odom will certainly deserves to win the Sixth Man of the Year Award.
Runner-up- Jason Terry- Dallas Mavericks
Jason Terry is always in the running for Sixth Man of the Year, as he is a valuable asset for the Mavericks coming off the bench. Terry won this award in 2009, but this season he has not been performing at the level he is accustomed to. Terry is no longer a prolific scorer and is unable to provide the Mavs with the scoring explosion he was once did. This season the “Jet” has averaged 16.4 ppg and 4.2 apg, but his numbers have been overshadowed by the amazing play of Lamar Odom.
3rd Place- Jamal Crawford- Atlanta Hawks
Jamal Crawford is the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, and he had a spectacular season last year with the Atlanta Hawks. Crawford was a potent offensive player and his contributions off the bench helped the Hawks secure a top seed in the Eastern Conference. However, this season Crawford is not putting up the same numbers and in certain games he is ostracized from the Hawks’ offense. Jamal Crawford is currently averaging 14.3 points per game, nearly four points less than his average in the 2009-2010 season.
Next: Defensive Player of the Year
Defensive Player of the Year
Winner- Dwight Howard- Orlando Magic
Aside from Dwight Howard, there are no other serious candidates for Defensive Player of the Year. Howard has won the award in the past two seasons and offensive players fear the 6-11 center when driving the lane. Howard has the ability to thwart players from penetrating in the paint and his occasional powerful blocks always find themselves atop the highlight reels.
Howard is no doubt the best defender in the NBA, and by seasons ends he will surely win his third consecutive crown. The 265 pound tank for the Orlando Magic is averaging 23.1 points per game, 14.2 rebounds per game and 2.4 blocks per game.
Runner-up- Josh Smith- Atlanta Hawks
Despite the fact that Dwight Howard is the clear-cut winner of this performance award, Josh Smith deserves praise for his own defensive prowess. Smith has a penchant for blocking shots, and although his on ball defense is poor, his rejections are very valuable and important for the Hawks. In the 2010-2011 season, Smith is averaging 8.6 rebounds per game and 1.6 blocks per game.
3rd Place- Dwayne Wade- Miami Heat
Although Dwayne Wade is a 6-4 guard in the NBA, he has the ability to blocks shots and plays great on ball defense against his opponents. He may be far from Dwight Howard in the award voting, but Wade has been spectacular on the defensive end of the court. Wade is accustomed to rejecting seven-foot centers’ shots, and his 1.1 blocks per game average is quite amazing considering he spends little time in the paint.
Next: Candidates for Coach of the Year
Coach of the Year
Winner- Tom Thibodeau- Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls have emerged as a serious Eastern Conference contender and they are looking to capture the top seed in the Eeat. The Bulls have transformed from an eight seeded team to a upper echelon squad due in large part to Derrick Rose, but also the hiring of defensive minded coach Tom Thibodeau. Thibodeau, a defensive maestro, changed the landscape of the Boston Celtics and he was the mastermind behind the Celtics’ defensive success in 2008 and 2009.
This season, Thibodeau is forcing his young Bulls team to make defense their top priority and his motives are clearly the reason why the Bulls are able to beat the top teams in the NBA. The Bulls currently allow the fewest points per game in the NBA, and they are definitely capable of knocking off an Eastern Conference powerhouse in the playoffs. Tom Thibodeau converted the Bulls from an offensive oriented team to a squad that prides itself not on scoring 100 points, but holding the opponent under 100 points.
Runner-up- Phil Jackson- Los Angeles Lakers
Phil Jackson has 11 NBA championship rings in his closet, but there are a lack of Coach of the Year trophies in that closet. Jackson is regarded as the best coach in professional sports, and he has a unique way in dealing with his team and its problems. Jackson is a stoic coach, and he has a laid-back attitude when sitting on his throne. Jackson has been consistent his entire career, and a 55-win season is nothing new to the Montana-native.
Although consistency is something worth praising, that characteristic has hurt Jackson in his quest for the Coach of the Year award. If any other coach were to lock-up a top seed in their conference or win 50+ games he would surely win the accolade, but since Jackson does it every season the feat is overlooked.
3rd Place- George Karl- Denver Nuggets
George Karl of the Denver Nuggets had been dealing with team issues for the entire season and he had to battle Carmelo Anthony rumors nearly every night. However, the resilient Karl never let the media faze him and he continued to coach his Nuggets. Once the “Melo-Drama” ended, Karl had to integrate several new players into his system, a process which can take several months. Many believed the Nuggets would falter and that the Carmelo trade would lead to the demise of the team. However, Denver accepted Karl’s philosophy and they are playing better basketball without ‘Melo than with him.
Next: Candidates for Rookie of the Year
Rookie of the Year
Winner- Blake Griffin- Los Angeles Clippers
Blake Griffin has dazzled fans with his wide variety of offensive moves and his incredible leaping ability. Griffin found himself on various highlight reels thanks to his dunks and jaw-dropping plays. Although Griffin was drafted in 2008, he is still considered a rookie since he never played last season due to a knee injury.
In his time on the bench Griffin learned valuable lessons from the league veterans and his training allowed him to gain an advantage on the incoming draft class. Griffin does not look like an average NBA rookie since his play is mature and he already added an All-Star game selection to his resume. In his first NBA season, Blake Griffin has averaged 22.4 points per game and 12.0 rebounds per game.
Runner-up- Landry Fields- New York Knicks
Despite the fact that Landry Fields was a second-round draft pick by the Knicks, he has developed into one of the best rookies in the 2010 Draft Class. Fields was not expected to make much of an impact on the Knicks, but he has earned himself a starting role in Mike D’Antoni’s lineup. Unlike Blake Griffin or John Wall, Fields does not always make spectacular plays or eye-popping moves. Instead he does the intangible things for his team, and while his play is not flashy, it is effective and efficient. This season, the Stanford alum is averaging 10.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg and 2.0 apg.
3rd Place- John Wall- Washington Wizards
John Wall was the first overall pick of the 2010 NBA Draft, and many analysts believed he could become one of the best point guards in the league in a matter of a few seasons. There was a lot of hype following Wall early on in the season, and he proved to be a dynamic facilitator and scorer. However, Wall’s Rookie of the Year chances dwindled down due to his injuries and inconsistent play. Wall’s 16.1 ppg, 8.6 apg and 1.7 spg is still very impressive for a first-year guard in the NBA
Next: Candidates for Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
Winner- Derrick Rose- Chicago Bulls
Derrick Rose stated in the beginning of this season that he would like to be known as the best player in the NBA, and that he wanted to become the league’s Most Valuable Player. Rose perfected his game in the off-season and his extensive training has allowed him to compete with the best players in the league. In seasons prior, Rose was under-appreciated by many and he was not considered a top point guard in the NBA.
However, as his game matured and he developed a consistent jump-shot, Rose emerged into a premiere player. Rose has been carrying the Bulls on his shoulders for the entire season, and he stepped up when key teammates went down with injuries. Unlike LeBron James or Kobe Bryant, Rose does not have the best talent around him and he must have a prolific scoring performance in order for his team to have a chance at winning. Not only is Derrick Rose the top point guard in the NBA, his 24.9 ppg and 7.9 apg will allow him to become the Most Valuable Player in the 2010-2011 season.
Runner-up- Kobe Bryant- Los Angeles Lakers
Kobe Bryant has only won one MVP in his career, but for Kobe the Larry O’Brien trophy carries more meaning and it is a much more valuable accolade to possess. Bryant will fall short of winning this season’s MVP due in large part to the Lakers problems that emerged early on in the season. Although the Lakers are currently the hottest team in the NBA, the team’s and Kobe’s inconsistency was troublesome and caused a great deal of panic in Los Angeles. Bryant will no doubt lead his team to a strong playoff run this season, and a Finals MVP may well be a reachable goal; however, the regular season title will go to Derrick Rose.
3rd Place- LeBron James- Miami Heat
LeBron James is still in contention for the Most Valuable Player award despite having to share the ball with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. James is the reigning two-time defending MVP and he has been one of the best players in the league for the past several seasons. He is continuing to put up unprecedented numbers, and his presence on the court is something the Heat cannot replace. Although James would much rather prefer winning a ring than an MVP trophy, he would not refuse to add another one to his closet.