NBA Mid-season Awards

NBA Mid-season Awards

With the all-star break here and the races heating up for the playoffs and certain awards we decided to clear up certain controversy about those races. Here is our mid-season awards a playoff predictions.

 

Most Improved Player

Jimmy Butler –  Chicago Bulls

Without a doubt Butler should win this award, you could even argue him for the MVP award. His numbers greatly approved and his above average defending skills have grown. He is now greatly involved in the Bulls offense and is one of the big reason we believe the Bulls will make a deep run into the playoffs.  

Honorable mentions: Rudy Gobert (UTAH), Jeff Teague (ATL), Brandon Knight (MIL)

 

Comeback Player of the Year

Derrick Rose – Chicago Bulls

Another Bulls players taking an award home. Rose has basically missed 2 years due to a torn ACL and a torn Miniscus another year, he has comeback nicely leading the Bulls to the 3 seed heading into the break. Rose has shown flashes of his MVP season (2010-11) and when he is on he is one of the NBA’s best. Only time will tell if he will return to his full MVP type form but if he can, he will be one of the leagues best once more.

Honorable Mentions: Russell Westbrook (OKC)

Rookie of the Year

Andrew Wiggins- Minnesota Timberwolves

Andrew Wiggins basically wins this sward by default. He is basically the “last rookie standing” since Joel Ebiid, Jabari Parker, and Julius Randle are all out for the year. If Jabari Parker didn’t tear his ACL we believe he would of won the rookie of the year honors. The man averaged 12 points 6 rebounds 2 assists and a steal shooting 50% a game. He was killing it and i believe he would of went on to continue to tear it up. Hats off to Wiggins though since he is the only rookie that is really performing this year.

Honorable Mentions: Nikola Mirotic (CHI), Jusuf Nurkic (DEN), K.J. McDaniels (PHI)

Sixth Man of the Year

Marreese Speights – Golden State Warriors

The Warriors have been great in every aspect of the game this year. And to be 42-9 going into the break you have to have a good bench and a great 6th man and thats what Speights brings to the table. He could easily be a starter on some other teams and his lock down defense can make him a candidate for defensive player of the year.

Honorable Mentions: Lou Williams (ATL), Isaiah Thomas (PHX), Jamal Crawlford (LAC)

Coach of the Year

Mike Budenholzer- Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks are the surprise team of the year with the second best record so far, with a lineup consisting of role players such as Kyle Korver and DeMarre Carroll. Budenhozer is doing a fabulous job. Without him the hawks would struggle and not be as good. It help when you have 4 all-stars but none of them would be All-Stars without the second year coach. The Atlanta Hawks look like prime contenders with an offense similar to the Spurs(since Budenholzer is a disciple of Greg Popovich.)Watch out for the Hawks in the Playoffs.

Honorable Mentions: Steve Kerr (GSW), Jason Kidd (MIL)

Defensive Player of the Year

Draymond Green- Golden State Warriors

The warriors are just a flat out great team this year. Draymond Green has been a huge surprise and was even considered as being an All-Star. He has been shut down this year and contests every single shot that comes near him. Draymond is not only getting 1.4 blocks but, he is also getting 2 steals a game this year and has been a defensive anchor. He is also rebounding with the best of them this year grabbing 8.3 a game. He is a big reason the Warriors are so great this year.

Honorable Mentions: Anthony Davis (NOP), Tim Duncan (SAS), Marc Gasol (MEM)

MVP

James Harden- Houston Rockets 

James Harden is simply backpacking his team this year. Dwight Howard has been injured basically all year and Harden hasn’t missed a beat since. His efficiency this year is off the charts and that is why he edges Curry. Curry has gotten a lot of help from his sidekicks like Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. Harden is great from the free throw line and 3 point line and is the most dominant scorer this year. He has been the hardest man to cover one on one and is the definition of an all around player.

Steph Curry (GSW), Anthony Davis (NOP), Marc Gasol (MEM), LeBron James (CLE)

ALL NBA 1st Team                                                             ALL NBA 2nd Team

G-Steph Curry (GSW)                                                        G-John Wall (WAS)

G-James Harden (HOU)                                                   G-Klay Thompson (GSW)

F-LeBron James (CLE)                                                     G-Jimmy Butler (CHI)

F-Anthony Davis (NOP)                                                   F-Marc Gasol (MEM)

F-Lamarcus Aldridge (POR)                                           F-Demarcus Cousins (SAC)

 

ALL Rookie 1st Team

G-Elfrid Payton (ORL)

G-Andrew Wiggins (MIN)

F-Nikola Mirotic (CHI)

F-Nerlens Noel (PHI)

F-Jusuf Nurkic (DEN)

 

ALL NBA 1st Team Defense

G-Tony Allen (MEM)

G-Kawhi Leonard (SAS)

F-Draymond Green (GSW)

F-Anthony Davis (NOP)

F-Tim Duncan (SAS)