We're more than half way past the mid-way point of the season, so before teams hit 50 games played, I'd better get this down so that I can still say "I called it."
MVP - Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets - I can actually see LeBron start to hum in the second half of the year and stealing this from CP3, but I'm saying Paul wins it just in the hope that writing it will actually make it happen. Paul's steals have dipped of late (2.5 a game is still good), but if he can stay over 20 PPG and 10 APG (he's currently at 20.7 and 10.9) and his team can stay in the top four in the West, Paul should win. If he does take it and the league announces it before his May 6 birthday he'll join Wes Unseld (1968-69) as the only player to win the MVP at 23. Moses Malone was the last 24-year-old to win it in 1978-79 (for those of you wondering, MJ won his first at 25 in 1987-88).
Rookie of the Year - Kevin Durant, Seattle SuperSonics - I'm pretty sure Stern sent the award to the engravers as soon as he heard that Oden was out for the year. Along with Executive of the Year (see below) this race was won before the season began. Durant's finally got his FG% up to 40% while averaging 19.5 PPG on a team that - seriously - gives him the ball and stands around waiting for a rebound. Note: I thought that Seattle officially dropped the "Super" from their name a few years ago but, apparently, they're still the SuperSonics.
Most Improved Player - Chris Kaman, Los Angeles Clippers - Without Elton Brand the paint belongs to the Caveman for the other LA team. He's doubled his blocks from 1.5 last year to 3.0 this year and added seven points a game (10.1 to 17.2) and six boards (7.8 to 13.9). Plus he finally cut those threads of string off of his head and returned them to the Yarn Barn. The last Clipper to win this award was Bobby Simmons, who has gone right back to being shit with the Bucks. Which makes me wonder, can one player can win the MIP award more than once?
Defensive Player of the Year- Marcus Camby, Denver Nuggets - Camby currently has 40 more blocks than his closest competitor, Josh Smith, as well as 628 boards which puts him second behind Dwight "baby-daddy" Howard. Anyone who doesn't own Camby in a fantasy league knows how infuriating it is to see 11-block, 24-rebound lines like the one he posted against Utah earlier this year. Barring injury (Camby didn't play more than 63 games in any of his first seven NBA seasons, remember Raps fans?) Camby will be the repeat winner.
Coach of the Year - Byron Scott, New Orleans Hornets - A decent case could be made for Nate McMillan of the Blazers but I think that the Blazers will come back down to earth in the second half of the year. Yes, Phoenix has already passed the Hornets for first in the West, but New Orleans (Oklahoma) were 39-43 last year; they're already 32-14.
Sixth Man of the Year - Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs - This is finally the year for basketball's own Roberto Benigni. In fact, the only reason Ginobili probably hasn't won it before is because everyone knows that his "bench" status is entirely perfunctory. When does he enter games, three minutes into the first? Whatev, career highs so far in points (19.5), assists (4.2) and rebounds (4.8) per game should do it with 1.7 steals to boot.
Executive of the Year - Danny Ainge, Boston Celtics - ...Then one morning, Ainge awoke to find Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen standing at his front door saying, "Can we play?" And all the veterans in the league wanted to join them...What kills me every time I think about the Celtics is that Doc fucking Rivers is coaching this team. Did you see him during half time against the Mavs the other day? This is what he said in the locker room: "Come on guys, you've got to finish your lay ups!" No joke.
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