2014 NBA Playoff Predictions: First Round

Eastern Conference

Indiana Pacers (1) vs. Atlanta Hawks (8)

Don't be fooled by the seedings, as this is not going to be a walk in the park for the Pacers.  Indiana, although going into the postseason with the best record in the East, is far from the best team in the Conference.  Their struggles as of late have made them a very vulnerable team, and many including the Hawks have gotten the chance to capitalize off of this.  The last time these two teams met, the Hawks pounced on the Pacers in Indy, winning 107 to 88.  At one point, the Hawks were up by over 30 points, I repeat, in INDY. The penetration and quickness of Jeff Teague gave the Pacers nightmares, and a bit of a preview as to what may happen in this series. Nevertheless, I predict that this series will ultimately end 4-2 in favor of the Pacers, as the hawks are bound to run out of gas.  I do, however, look for the Hawks to surprisingly steal game one. 

Miami Heat (2) vs. Charlotte Bobcats (7)

This series, to me, is the one most likely to be a blow out (Hey, remember LeBron's 61?).  I had initially picked Charlotte to at least win game 3 on their homecourt, due to Big Al's paint dominance; however, I reconsidered my prediction simply because one man (or even two if you include a stellar game from Kemba) is unlikley to beat the Heat.  The Bobcats don't have enough weapons to give the Heat enough of a problem to constitute a win.  The Heat simply have too many weapons for the Bobcats to deal with.  If they turn it up defensively, it's going to be a long...long series for Charlotte.  With that being said, I pick the Heat to sweep the series and proceed to rest up for the next round.  Need I say more?

Toronto Raptors (3) vs. Brooklyn Nets (6)

Upset Alert! Yes, like most people, I too believe that Brooklyn will get the better of the Raptors in what is promised to be an exciting series to watch.  The Raptors have had an excellent season, reaching heights that nobody expected them to be capable of; however, I believe that the veteran expertise of the Nets will ultimately overcome the youthful exuberance of the raptors.  I expect the Raptors to win game 1, feeding off of the energy of their playoff deprived fans.  I do, however, expect Brooklyn to silent the noise and steal game two, and ultimately win the series 4-2.  This promises to be a very competitive series in regards to scores; more competitive than the 4-2 prediction would indicate.  Expect the intensity of a 7 game series each game, as each is likely to be a nail bitter. 

Chicago Bulls (4) vs. Washington Wizards (5)

I have no gut feeling when it comes to this series.  A part of me thinks the Wizards will prevail; another part thinks that the Bulls will pull through.  If this were to go to a 7th game, I'd pick the experience of the Bulls; however I don't think this series will go that far.  I pick the young energetic Wizards to close the deal in 6. Although the Bulls are known for their dominant defense as well as their well structured system, the Wizards are simply more talented.  I have little faith in the ability of the Bulls to keep up with the scoring of the Wizards.  Although they'll most likely dictate the pace, they do not have a go-to guy if they really need a bucket down the stretch (no offense to Noah, Boozer, DJ or anyone who may take offense to this...although if anoyone Taj should be offended by this); whereas the Wizards can rely on John Wall to create plays for himself or others, or Bradley Beal to create his own as well.  I see this series going to 6 games with the Wizards winning 4-2.

Western Conference

San Antonio Spurs (1) vs. Dallas Mavericks (8)

Dallas is undoubtedly disappointed to have lost the season finale to Memphis, as that would've given them a shot at the OKC Thunder; a team that they match up well with.  Considering the turn of events nonethless, I think the Mavs have fallen into a very unfavorable match-up against the well-oiled machine Spurs.  The Mavs simply have no shot. The Spurs are just way too structured and disciplined to beat themselves; which is the only way the Mavs could win against San Antonio, as they are simply not good enough to do so themselves.  I expect Dirk and Monta to have a good series; however, those two cannot outdo the entire Spurs gang.  Considering the Mavs are not necessarily a good defensive team, I don't see them stopping the Spurs, and they're certainly not going to outscore them in 4 games.  I expect the Mavs to win game two (yes, in San Antonio); however I see this series ending in 5 with the Spurs winning 4-1.

Oklahoma Thunder (2) vs. Memphis Grizzlies (7)

Weird to say, but Memphis would have been better off getting the lower 8th seed and playing the Spurs.  I saw that as a much more favorable matchup for them as opposed to the Thunder.  Regardless, I think they'll do OKAY against the Thunder; however not good enough to win the series. The MVP will do his usual damage, and I expect Westbrook to flourish as well.  Gasol and Randolph will give Perkins and Ibaka enough trouble to get Memphis two wins at home, plus KD is bound to have at least one bad shooting night.  This will however be it for the Grizzlies; OKC should have enough to get by, winnig the series 4-2.

Los Angeles Clippers (3) vs. Golden State Warriors (6)

This series is bound to be the most exciting out of all the first round match-ups.  Just think of this: Chris Paul vs. Steph Curry, Blake Griffin vs. David Lee, Klay Thompson vs. Jamal Crawford, Andrew Bogut vs. DeAndre Jordan, Marc Jackson vs. Doc Rivers, dunks vs. 3 pointers, Lob City vs. the Splash Brothers.  So many beautiful match-ups within this heated rivalry.  I believe that this is going to be one of those series where the home team wins each game; hence the Clippers winning 4-3 in exiciting game 7 fashion.  Both teams are extremely talented and deep, which makes for a competitive series.  I do however think that the Clippers are more balanced, and the better defensive team.  The bench is really the key: can the Warriors bench produce enough to nullify the production of Jamal Crawford and Darren Collison? I don't think so.  I do however think that the Oracle Arena fans will produce enough energy to ignite some stellar shooting performances by the Warriors in at least 2 games.  Look for the series to go to at least a game 6, but hopefully a game 7 for us hoop lovers.

Houston Rockets (4) vs. Portland Trailblazers (5)

This is another series which features two evenly matched teams: both with a "dominant" inside scorer, and a host of productive peremiter shooters.  In fact, these teams are so evenly matched that I wouldn't be surprised if this series also went to a game 7, although I do not expect that to be the case.  In the first 5 games of the series, I expect the home team to conventionally defend home court; in game 6, however, I expect James Harden to go off and have a 40+ type performance and kill any chances of the series going back to Houston for a game 7.  I expect Harden to have one of those "Wow, did you see that game" type of performances that will have the whole league in awe for a couple of days.  That is what I believe it will take for the Rockets to ultimately win the series and advance 4-2.

Photo Credits:
www.zimbio.com
fansided.com
fansided.com
wizofawes.com
dallassportsfans.com
sbnation.com
cbssports.com
ripcityproject.com

Looking Forward: Regular Season Awards

As the end of the NBA season approaches, the topic of MVP (Most Valuable Player), DPOY (Defensive Player of the Year), ROY (Rookie of the Year), etc comes up amongst the conversations of many hoop fans like myself.  Without further ado, I'd like to present my picks for individual recognition this season.

Rookie of the Year - Michael Carter-Williams

This category was hard for me to decide because I had initially picked Victor Oladipo to win this award when the season began.  MCW totally surprised me, and probably a majority of hoop fans, with his emergence ever since his season debut against the Heat.  Averaging 16.8 points per game, 5.8 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game, MCW has the best statistics of any rookie across the board.  Oladipo, averaging 13.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.1 points is a close second, with his overall versatility and impact on the Orlando Magic.  I had debated giving Oladipo a slight edge for leading his team to more wins; however considering both teams are terrible, and neither have a shot of making the playoffs, I will simply base my decision off of statistics and the impact on the court.  Neither player shoots the ball exceptionally well, with MCW shooting 39.6% from the field and 26.7% from three-point land, and Oladipo shooting 41.5% from the field and 31.6% from three.  Although these percentages could certainly use improvement, these rookies get a pass, due to the circumstances that they are in (being focal points of struggling teams, while trying to adjust to the NBA game).  With that being said, MCW has a slight edge over Victor Oladipo, hence worthy of the Rookie of the Year Award.

Most Improved Player of the Year - Anthony Davis

The leap Anthony Davis has made this season has been very refreshing to watch.  Coming into the league as a potentially dominant player on the defensive end, Davis has proven to the league that he can do a lot more than block shots and wreak havoc on the defensive end.  Going from 14 and 8 with 2 blocks in his rookie year to 21 and 10 with 3 blocks in his sophomore season, Davis has lived up to the expectations of being the first overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft.  His play this season has made him worthy of the Defensive player of the year award; however I believe that he deserves to be rewarded for more than just his defense. A healthy Davis has resulted in career highs in all major statistical categories thus far, and some outstanding individual performances like the 40-20 game he had earlier this week (the first and only in Pelican history). At this rate, Davis is bound to be a top 5 power forward in this league for many years to come.  Watch out Blake, Kevin, and Lamarcus.

Sixth Man of the Year - Taj Gibson

Taj Gibson has had an outstanding year in the absence of Derrick Rose.  Providing his team with a consistent spark off the bench, it is fair to say that Taj Gibson is the second most valuable player on the Chicago Bulls, behind Joakim Noah.  13 points and 7 rebounds might not seem significant but for a bench player on a low scoring defensive minded team, every bit of that contribution is needed.  If you had asked me this question about a month ago, I would say without a doubt that Jamal Crawford was the clear-cut winner of this award; however, with his injury and the emergence of Blake Griffin and the Clippers overall, Jamal's contributions are no longer critical to the Clipper's regular season (although his play will definitely be needed in the post season).  With that being said, Taj Gibson is the clear cut winner of the Sixth man of the year award because the Bulls will not as successful as they have been this year without his contributions.

Defensive Player of the Year - Roy Hibbert

Using the criteria that awarded Marc Gasol this award last year (anchor of the best defense in the league), Roy Hibbert deserves this year's honor for his defensive prowess.  The Pacers are number one in the league in points allowed, keeping teams to an average of 92 points a night.  Individually, Roy Hibberts blocks 2.4 shots a game in about 30 minutes of play.  His defensive impact goes far beyond the statistical value of his blocks, as he alters countless shots in the paint on a nightly basis.  Other worthy candidates include DeAndre Jordan of the Clippers, Anthony Davis from the Pelicans, Serge Ibaka from the Thunder, and Joakim Noah of the Bulls.  Considering the Clippers, Thunder and the Pelicans aren't necessarily good defensive teams, that narrows down my choices to Noah and Hibbert.  Although Noah does a lot of things that isn't credited on the box score (such as his pick-and-roll defense), his rim protection does not nearly match the impact that Hibbert does for the Pacers.  If Hibbert gets a point for his rim protection and Noah gets one for his pick-and-roll defense, the .1 difference in points allowed per game (92.2 points allowed by the Pacers, and 92.3 points allowed by the Bulls) gives Hibbert an edge (even though minimal) because it is enough to have the Pacers ranked one above the Bulls.  In addition, Hibbert's 2.4 blocks per game average is much more imposing than the 1.5 of Joakim Noah.  With that being said, Hibbert gets my vote for Defensive Player of the Year.

Coach of the Year - Dwane Casey

Before we get into this category, let's give a round of applause for the great work of a lot of the coaches this year.  From Greg Popovich to Steve Clifford to even a Mike Budenholzer, these coaches deserve a lot of credit for making the most out of the rosters that they have been assigned.  Initially, Jeff Hornacek was my pick for Coach of the Year; however, I do not think that a coach can be rewarded for his work if his team does not make the playoffs, and it looks like the Suns have permanently lost the 8th seed to the Grizzlies.  With that being said, Dwane Casey of the Raptors is my pick for Coach of the Year.  Although the Eastern Conference is relatively weak, I do not believe that anybody (probably even Raptor fans) would have picked the Raptors to finish top 4 in the conference.  Dwane Casey has made the most out of a young bunch, giving them the confidence to play at a level higher than even the players were probably aware that they were capable off.  A lot of credit has to be given to the Raptors General Manager Masai Ujiri for putting together a well balanced roster with a group of young talented athletes and a solid veteran group coming off the bench to compliment them.  Casey's ability to elevate the play of this group makes him worthy of the Coach of the Year honor.

Most Valuable Player of the Year - Kevin Durant

1. 

Finally, the cream of the crop.  The best of the best players this NBA season (emphasis on THIS season).  As a LeBron fan, it is very odd for me to make an argument for anybody besides LeBron when it comes to this award; however as an objective fan, it is my job to present the NAYked truth.  Long story short, the MVP for the 2013/2014 season is without a doubt Kevin Durant.  Although LeBron has made a late serge to reclaim what has seemingly been taken away from him, the MVP award is going to Oklahoma to Kevin Durant, unless something miraculous happens.  Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma Thunder has had a phenomenal year to say the least.  KD has always been known as a scorer; however this season he has taken that, as well as other parts of his game to different heights.  Durant is averaging 32 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists while shooting 51% from the floor, 40% from three point land, and 87% from the free-throw line; outstanding.  I don't know what's more impressive: the fact that his point average is the highest yet of his career, or the fact that a shoot first, shoot second player is somehow averaging 6 dimes a game.  KD has done everything possible to propel his team to  great heights, including scoring 25 points for 32 straight games (and counting), and 30 or more points for 12 consecutive games.  No argument really needs to be made here (as hard as it is for me to say as a LeBron fan), KD is the clear-cut winner of the MVP award thus far.

Photo Credits:
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espn.go.com 

The Great Debate: Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo

By: Kwame Awuah

In our modern world where everyone is obsessed with ratings and knowing who is the best and at what, the question all football (soccer) fans always argue is: who is better? Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. For starters, let’s compare a bit of their basic statistics and honors. For Ronaldo, he is the taller, faster and stronger player. For Messi, his lower center of gravity and ball control are second to none. Cristiano’s on ball skills and his desire to run at defenders are impeccable. There is no doubt that Messi’s finishing and his passing ability are unmatched by any other player (and yes that includes the ‘Pass-masters’ Xavi and Iniesta). Lionel Messi has 3 Ballon D’or awards while Ronaldo has 1. They both have an extensive list of awards, individual accomplishments, and records that will take me all day to discuss if I were to start so I won’t.

 Let’s pick a starting point to compare these 2 giants. How about the 2009-2010 season. I picked this season because it was Ronaldo’s first with the Whites and the season Messi won his first Ballon D’or (coincidentally also the first season he played with short hair and also the departure of Ronaldinho- we all know how much that meant for him). Since that season, Messi has scored 260 goals compared to Ronaldo’s 238 with Messi having almost 100 more official appearances. Take that how you want but to me, goals are not all that determine how effective a player is. A great player not only brings in the goals, but also means so much to his team that they are lost without him (just ask David Moyes and Manchester United). Being an avid football fan, I’ve watched Real Madrid and Barcelona play for years with and without their key players. The structure that Barcelona plays on is one that strongly leans on having key players on the field in order to penetrate these tough impregnable La Liga defenses. If you replace a Messi, Xavi, Busquets or even Pique with an inexperienced player, it always proves detrimental to the team. Case in point, when Barca played against Sociedad in early February, Tata Martino decided to play Marc Batra in place of the great diver Busquets on the right side of the field. This threw off the whole team as Sociedad just pounded away on that one side with no support from Pique or Dani Alves- we all know that man does not understand the concept of defense. Sociedad went on to win 3-1 scoring 2 goals in a five-minute spell. My point is even misplacing Batra for Busquets proved detrimental; imagine not having Messi play at all. Barca had one of their worst spells I’ve seen in a long time while Messi was out injured. There is no doubt that Messi is very important to that team.


With the Los Blancos, it’s quite the opposite; without Ronaldo (out on suspension for slapping a Bilbao player) recently the whites won all their games because players like Bale, Marcelo, and Benzema do not need other players in order to perform. Ronaldo is less valuable to Madrid than Messi is to Barcelona.


But that still doesn’t answer the question of who is the better player. Arguably, I thought Maradona was more valuable to Argentina than Pele was to Brazil and yet many consider Pele to be the best. But looking at it in terms of who is more valuable to their team, Messi is an amazing football architect who without him, his team is almost nothing. Like the great No. 10 Zidane said on losing Makelele: “It’s like putting a fresh coat of paint on the Rolls Royce when you are losing the whole engine.” Without an important player on a team, that team loses its identity and the player’s absence is felt. To me that’s what makes a player great.


Although Ronaldo does hold the record for being the best player, being the stronger, more agile, more aerial ability, I think Messi’s contribution to his team at the moment would make him the better player; the player I would start a team with.

LeBron's 61

Mark this date down: March 3, 2014; the day LeBron James scored 61 points in an NBA game. Impressive? Absolutely. Meaningful? Maybe not so much. This performance nonetheless has certainly given us hoop fans something to debate for the next few days. I struggled for the most part of the first quarter trying to find an online stream to watch the game against the unlucky Bobcats (who allowed Carmelo Anthony to drop 62 on them earlier this year), and once I did, boy was I glad. LeBron put on a show, needless to say; even though many might belittle the performance claiming that "it was against the Bobcats...." If you ask me, 61 points is 61 points, regardless of who you drop it on. Lets not forget the fact that it was mostly dropped on Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, one of the best perimeter defenders in the league, or the fact that he did it on only 33 shots. If you watched the game, you can agree that this was not an easy 61 points, as he mostly did it from long range going 8 for 10 from three. The first eleven points in the first quarter were mostly easy: lay-ups or finishes around the basket; then the three-point onslaught poured on in the second quarter, ending with twenty-four at halftime. Hot? think again, he turned it up another notch in the third quarter adding twenty-five in the quarter. I mean this was as good of a performance as I've seen live in a long long time, maybe since watching Kobe drop 81. The fourth quarter, where history was made, was not as impressive in my opinion because you could get the feeling that his teammates were pushing for him to get the record, as opposed to him getting shots in the flow of the offense like he did in the first three quarters. Nevertheless it was a great performance, and the topic of discussion until somebody else does something extremely impressive.

So what does this performance mean? For LeBron? For this Season? For his legacy? Well, if you ask me, not much.  LeBron James has and probably will always be a pass-first player for his entire NBA career.  If he wanted to go out and drop 40 every night, the man could easily do it, but it's simply not his style.  I admit, it is rare for him to explode in this fashion, but it's nothing surprising considering his talents and overall skill set. Many have gone on to make the statement that this performance puts LeBron ahead of Kevin Durant in the MVP race.  I would have to disagree, as KD's body of work this season cannot easily be shattered by the tear LeBron has been on lately.  I will however say that LeBron's peak form certainly makes this a closer competition than it was about a month ago.  What this performance DOES however indicate is that LeBron is ready for the playoffs.  LeBron has turned up his game at the perfect time, heading into the end of the regular season.  With about 25 games left in the season, he seems to have gotten his legs under him, and his conditioning back to the form we have grown accustomed to.  Even though tonight's performance was absolutely amazing, I have a feeling that the new masked man might have a couple more tricks up his sleeve.  It may not be another 60 point game, or another record breaking performance; but if he keeps shooting the ball at this rate, all I have to say is....be afraid, be very afraid NBA.

Photo credit:
www.latimes.com

Danny's New Home

On Thursday, February 20 at approximately 2:40 PM (ET), the NBA announced arguably the biggest trade transaction to transpire at this year's deadline. This swap, which moved Evan Turner and Lavoy Allen from the Philadelphia 76ers to Indiana for Veteran forward Danny Granger, surprised many, including myself. Although a good move for the Pacers (or so it seems), very few saw this coming. Danny Granger had not made it public that he wanted to be moved, nor did the Pacers show any signs of wanting to cut ties with the ninth year veteran out of New Mexico. Granger seemed to buy into the concept of making sacrifices for a championship, and he was starting to embrace the role of the primary offensive option off the bench. Nevertheless, this trade was made, and with Granger being eventually waived by the 76ers, his new role might be even better for him.

The Los Angeles Clippers are one of the best teams in the NBA this season; surprisingly enough, they are yet to reach their peak. With the growth and development of Blake Griffin, and the return of CP3, the Clippers are bound to turn it up another notch, and raise their level of play to a different plateau. As my pick to make it out of the west and represent the conference in June, an acquisition like that of Danny Granger only adds more weapons to an already deadly threat. Some question if Granger would be able to find playing time on an already extremely talented team; however I believe that Granger might be the missing piece to put this Clipper team over a western powerhouse like the Oklahoma Thunder.

Talent is without a doubt plentiful in Clipper land. The Clippers started out this season with a line-up of Paul, Redick, Dudley, Griffin, and Jordan. With the various injuries that the team has experienced this season, the current starting five consists of Paul, Crawford, Barnes, Griffin and Jordan. With Crawford and Barnes being inserted into the starting line-up, the secondary unit has lost much its scoring boost. This has led to the starters being expected to play majority of the game, due to a lack of offensive prowess coming off the bench. The acquisition of Big Baby Davis and Danny Granger can certainly address this issue; with Granger doing so a bit differently.

Danny Granger is a starting caliber talent in this league. As a two-way player, the 6th man role does not suit this 6'9" forward. Although Granger can put up points, he's much more than just a scorer; he is a presence on the defensive end. Many forget that Granger's calling card coming into the league was his defense. His size as well as agility has made him a solid defender in this league for many years. So where am I going with this? Danny Granger deserves to be the starting small forward for the Indiana Pacers. No knock on Matt Barnes, but Matt Barnes is no Danny Granger. Matt Barnes is a great defender and a streaky shooter; however he is nowhere near the offensive player that Danny Granger is capable of being. With that being said, the starting small forward position has Danny Granger's name written all over it.

Being accustomed to the niche of a role player, Matt Barnes will not be affected by any means if he were to return to a bench role. After all, that is where he started out this season. Jared Dudley on the other hand can completely disregard seeing the floor, as his inconsistency shooting the ball has made him unreliable and somewhat of a liability for this Clipper basketball team. With that being said, the acquisition of Danny Granger will address the weakness of the Clippers; the small forward position, and make them a complete basketball team. As a Miami Heat fan, I believe that this improves Granger's chances of winning a championship as opposed to being a Pacer, as he will at least have a chance to make it to the finals. Hey Danny, you might not get a ring, but you'll at least get to see the Larry O'Brien trophy.....from afar.

Photo credits:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1967769-whats-next-for-danny-granger-after-philadelphia-76ers-trade#articles/1967769-whats-next-for-danny-granger-after-philadelphia-76ers-trade

http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/clippers/post/_/id/6033/drawing-power-an-asset-for-clippers?ex_cid=espnapi_public

Steve Nash Chronicles: The Perfect Fit

     

     Rumor has it that Steve Nash is most likely going to be on the way out of Phoenix before the start of next season.  The two time former MVP despite his loyalty to the Phoenix Suns has made it clear that he plans on going elsewhere unless the Suns improve vastly.  With the chances of the Suns vastly improving being rather slim, the question of "where to" arises.  Most people assume that Steve will join a title contender in hopes of finishing his career with that illusive championship ring.  I however believe that Steve, though probably too old to be the star of a team, still has a lot of game left and shouldn't settle for a small role on an already elite team. With that being said, I believe that Steve Nash will be taking his talents to a somewhat mediocre team and creating Magic with them (hint hint).
     Throughout his career, Steve Nash has established himself as arguably the best pick and roll point guard the league has seen since perhaps John Stockton.  His exceptional court vision, along with his adept shooting touch puts the defense at a disadvantage regardless of how they may chose to defend the pick and roll.  This ability ultimately transformed the Phoenix Suns into a championship contender after several years of failing to make the playoffs.  Obviously this dream was short lived, as that team was dispersed after a few failed experiments, however I believe that Steve Nash could re-live this dream if he decided to become a member of the Orlando Magic.
     The Orlando Magic is a perfect fit for Steve Nash for many reasons.  First off, the presence of Dwight Howard immediately makes the team a piece or two away from contending.  Howard, who is a much more dominant force than Amar'e Stoudamire was in Phoenix, will provide Steve Nash with a perfect pick and roll partner.  His mobility and ability to finish around the rim ferociously will be a gift to Steve Nash, as he will have met a Blake Griffin to compliment his Chris Paul.  As we all know, Dwight still has a long way to go in terms of becoming a prolific scorer in this league; I believe that Steve Nash could make this transition much easier for Howard by giving him many easy shots to boost his scoring average and ultimately his confidence.  As I mentioned earlier, Steve will not be in Orlando to become "the guy" but rather just a guy with enough abilities to make the Magic a contender.
     Another big reason why the Magic will be a good fit for Steve Nash is the fact that he will be surrounded by a variety of shooters.  It's no secret that the Magic are highly dependent on the three point shot; the addition of Steve Nash will make it much easier to get high percentage shots from three, due to his pick and roll abilities.  Ryan Anderson, JJ Reddick, Q-Richardson and Jason Richardson (both ex teammates of Steve back in Phoenix) are bound to make a living from the three point line if this move is to be made.  Despite the success that these players currently enjoy from long range, it's nothing close to what they will experience if Steve Nash was to become the commander-in-chief of the Magic attack.
     Finally, Steve Nash should become a member of the Orlando Magic due to the possibility of being reunited with the man who orchestrated the offense that made Steve a back-to-back MVP: Mike D'Antoni. It is a well known fact that Stan Van Gundy will not return to the Orlando Magic next season, which opens up a coaching vacancy that could very well be filled by Mike D'Antoni.  If Steve Nash was to become a member of the Magic organization, that would increase the chance of D'Antoni following in the same path.  This would benefit D'Antoni himself, Steve Nash, Dwight Howard, and the entire Magic franchise.  Overall, the addition of Steve Nash could be the change that may bring a championship to the city of Orlando.  It is bound to be the perfect fit, out of all other possible options, given the circumstances listed.

Photo Credit:
http://www.nba.com/

NBA MVP: And the Winner Is _________?

     

     This NBA season has been unique in many ways.  Besides being one of only four shortened seasons due to a lockout, this season has experienced lots of unusual stories, occurrences, records, etc.  From Linsanity, to Kobe becoming the all-time leading scorer in All-Star history, to Kevin Love's historic performances; this NBA season is one that will forever be remembered by loyal NBA fans.  With the regular season coming to a close, the question of who is this season's MVP is one that has become a hot topic.  Many players are deserving of this honor, however no one player has emerged as the clear-cut winner of this award.  For this reason, I wouldn't be surprised if NBA history was made in regards to this award as well.
     According to most people, Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder should be this year's MVP.  Although very deserving, I don't think Durant is the obvious pick for this award.  My main argument against Durant winning this award is that his teammate, Russell Westbrook, is arguably the most valuable player on that Thunder team due to his all around play.  Durant, to me, is solely a scorer who happens to pull down many rebounds due to his 6'10 frame.  Despite his effort to be more of a team player this year, he still averages more turnovers than assists.  His impact on the defensive end is also mediocre at best.  Nevertheless, Durant is putting up about 28 points per game with over 50 percent shooting on the best team in the Western Conference.  That alone is good enough to make him very deserving of the MVP award.  His incredible performance against LeBron James in the first match-up between Miami and OKC this season also made a case for that MVP trophy, however as I mentioned before, I don't believe that all these achievements have made him the clear-cut pick for the honor.
     The other player who many consider a deserving candidate is LeBron James of the Miami Heat.  Statistically, LeBron has had the better season, as he averages as many points and rebounds as Durant (28 and 8 respectively) but with twice as many assists (close to 7).  LeBron's versatility on the defense end definitely adds to his campaign, as he is also a candidate to win the Defensive Player of the Year Award.  Like Durant however, LeBron has another superstar in Dwayne Wade who many could argue is also deserving of the honor (though not as deserving as Westbrook).  Although Miami is 9-1 without Wade, his fourth quarter heroics in many games this season slightly devalues LeBron's impact.  That unfortunately hurts LeBron's chances of winning the award.  LeBron's tendency to disappear in some big games or even big moments has also hurt his chances of being named MVP.  His performance against OKC in the second meeting of their regular season battle made up for his sub-par performance in the first, along with other mediocre performances in big games; this however isn't enough to make him the clear-cut favorite for the award either.
      In most cases, the best way to break a tie is by flipping a coin; in this scenario however, I propose that this tie should be left knotted up.  I propose that for the first time in NBA History, Kevin Durant and LeBron James should be named co-MVPs for the 2011-2012 season.  I believe that it is the most fair decision to make in this case, because neither player has clearly separated himself from the rest this season.  One could argue that if anything Kevin Love is that one player who has had a remarkable season that separated himself from the other NBA Elites (based on statistics), though the record of his team eliminates him from contention in my opinion.  With that being said, why not make this NBA season even weirder than it already has been?  Instead of giving the MVP award to a player who isn't an obvious pick like Derrick Rose was last year, this award should go to the two players who deserve it the most: Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder and LeBron James of the Miami Heat.

Photo Credit:
marcmellon.com
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NBA Trade Deadline: The Winners, The Losers

Ellis for Bogut

Initially, I thought this move was not smart on both parts; after further consideration however, I like this move for both teams. Although Monta Ellis was a vital part of the Warriors' offense, I believe he was expendable due to the talent in the back court at Golden State. With a healthy Steph Curry, and the emergence of Klay Thompson, along with the offensive fire power of Nate Robinson, the Warriors' back court will be fine. The lack of help up front for David Lee, however, was a problem that needed to be addressed, and will be fixed with the acquisition of Andrew Bogut. For the Milwaukee Bucks, this gives Brandon Jennings a side kick who can take some pressure off of him. Although both are known to take a lot of shots, I believe they compliment each other well because both can play either off the ball or on the ball. The development of Larry Sanders is bound to help fill the void of losing Andrew Bogut, therefore I don't think that this trade was much of a loss. For these reasons, this trade was a win for both teams.

Nene to DC, McGee to Denver, Young to LAC

I like this trade for all the parties involved. I believe that the young Wizards needed a veteran with somewhat of a winning experience and a moderately good low post game, and Nene provides all the above. I don't expect him to completely change the franchise around, but it's a step in the right direction. In terms of McGee to the Nuggets, it could turn out really good for them, or it'll end up having no effect. Either way, it won't hurt. The emergence of Kenneth Faried made Nene somewhat expendable, therefore the potential failure of McGee to live up to expectation won't hurt. McGee, however, might be able to turn his extremely sloppy career around with the help of George Karl's leadership. Nick Young to the Clippers addresses their need for a two-guard, to help make up for the absence of Chauncey Billups. Young's ability to score will definitely come in handy for the Clippers who sometimes go through difficulties putting up points. The Clippers lost almost nothing to make this acquisition, therefor a good move for them. Overall, this trade was a win for all teams involved.

Sessions to LA

 

The Lakers are officially back to contender status with this move; that's how much I love it. The major problem they've had all year (for some years now really) has finally been addressed. Ramon Sessions will be a great fit for the Lakers because he is a solid facilitator of the offense who can score the rock if needed. Derek Fisher might have been perfect for the triangle offense, however the move into the Mike Brown system made it inevitable to have a pure point guard like Sessions. Considering all the Lakers gave up was a 1st round draft pick (which definitely won't be a lottery pick), Jason Kapono, and the human victory cigar, Luke Walton, this trade was definitely worth it. Keep in mind that Christian Eyenga, who was also acquired, is an athletic defensive minded player who can definitely produce if need be. For all these reasons, this trade was a big win for the Lakers, however not much of a loss for the Cavs, due to status of their season, and their up and coming franchise point guard Kyrie Irving.

Fisher for Jordan Hill

This trade is one that I believe was made simply to avoid Derek Fisher having to become a bench player. With the acquisition of Ramon Sessions, and the production of Steve Blake, Derek Fisher was bound to receive sporadic playing time, and this trade avoided that situation all together. Don't get me wrong, Jordan Hill is a good player, but the Lakers don't necessarily need him. Besides Bynum and Gasol, they have Josh McRoberts and even Troy Murphy, who are productive bigs. This move, to me, was kind of pointless and unnecessary. Due to the acquisition of Marcus Camby, the Rockets may not miss Hill; if anything he will be missed slightly. The Lakers, however, even though improved at the point guard position, will definitely miss Fisher's leadership. The Rockets can certainly benefit from Fisher's leadership, but I see no major impact on the court. For this reason, this trade was neither a loss or a win for Houston. The Lakers, on the other hand, took a slight loss, due to the fact that a man of Fisher's character cannot be replaced.

Marcus Camby to Houston

 

Being the experienced veteran that he is, Marcus Camby is definitely a plus for what ever team he goes to. He could certainly contribute to the Rocket's push for a playoff spot with his leadership and his defensive abilities. The loss of Hasheem Thabeet and Jonny Flynn, who rarely received any playing time, is definitely not a big factor, therefore this move was a win for the Rockets. The Blazers on the other hand seem to be in rebuild mode, which gives these young players a chance to make a name for themselves. Considering the team has basically eliminated itself from playoff contention with its moves this trade deadline, the Blazers have taken a loss for this move, along with the other moves they made.

Gerald Wallace to the Nets

 

This move, was one that made no sense to me, from either perspective. From the Blazer's perspective, I didn't understand the sudden urge to split up the team. Despite their struggles, the Blazers could've made it to the playoffs, even if as a very low seed. From the Nets perspective, I didn't understand why they would give up a first round pick which is most likely going to be a lottery pick in a draft that is sure to be filled with many up-and-coming stars. As of right now, it was a good move to acquire Gerald Wallace, as it might give Deron Williams some much needed help. Temporary success can lead to the draft pick being less valuable, which will make this trade a smart move by the Nets. Until then however, I see this trade being a loss for The Nets, as Wallace isn't likely to turn this franchise around, and may not be worth the draft pick. I see this trade as a loss for the Blazers too, as the loss of Wallace ultimately eliminates the Blazers from playoff contention.

Stephen Jackson for Richard Jefferson

A move like this is worthy of a nod and a shrug; meaning that it's a good move, however not too big of a deal. I believe both players will enjoy their new roles, as it may be a better fit for them. Jefferson will get the chance to put up many points for the Warriors, like he did back in New Jersey, and Stephen Jackson will get the chance to utilize his versatility in San Antonio. I mentioned that I don't think this move is a big deal because I doubt that it'll make the Spurs any more of a championship contender than they were, nor will it make the Warriors a sure fit for the playoffs. Considering Stephen Jackson was yet to play a game for the Warriors this season, he won't be missed. On the other hand, all the services that Richard Jefferson provided for the Spurs are capable of being handled by Stephen Jackson. For its fairness, this trade is a win for both teams.

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Pointing Fingers: Knick Scapegoats

The Knicks have been a below .500 team since the arrival of Carmelo Anthony back in last year's trade-deadline move. Despite making it to the playoffs, it was fair to say that the Knicks had a disappointing season, as they failed to win a single post season game. At the time however, many could point to the injury of Chauncey Billups as the main reason behind the post season struggles. Since the need for a point guard has been filled with the emergence of Jeremy Lin, and the roster has been vastly improved, what lingering factor is to blame for the consistent struggles of the Knicks?

Melo?

As the superstar of a team, credit is often given in successful times. Unfortunately, criticism is also a part of stardom, especially when the team fails to succeed. In this situation, Carmelo Anthony is guilty of being unable to spark a successful run with this team. As a leader, his play hasn't been able to elevate the play of others, nor has it been enough to individually take this team to another level, with the likes of a Derrick Rose. For a talent who was acquired in exchange for three good players who contributed to a winning effort, Melo hasn't been able to surpass that level of success, or at least maintain that level. He also hasn't been able to adjust his game to fit the system and the talent around him, like LeBron was able to do last year with the Heat. His recent return from injury has taken away the pick-and-roll offense that successfully sparked a run during the Linsanity era; this has led to a stagnant offense full of confusion. For these reasons, he is blameworthy of the Knicks' failure to succeed.

Management?

Management took a big risk by shipping away multiple valuable pieces that had contributed to the success that the Knicks were experiencing in the first half of last season. Although Melo is a superstar with the ability to make many game winning plays, I felt that the Knicks gave up too many assets for a player who had the power to change the game in only one dimension: offensively. The risk of starting fresh when the Knicks were already on the right track was one I didn't believe was worth taking, and judging from the results to date, I seem to be right. Although the Knicks went out and acquired Tyson Chandler in the off-season and claimed Jeremy Lin off waivers, I believe that they have put together a roster who's pieces aren't compatible. Amare's game has been on a decline ever since the arrival of Melo; that is a clear sign of incompatibility. Acquiring another big man to clog the paint certainly doesn't help either, especially since Stoudamire is at his best when he starts at center. Picking up JR Smith was a good pick up in terms of the need to acquire some extra offensive fire power, however JR Smith's off-court distractions haven't helped out the Knicks' losing problems. The failure of management to acquire compatible pieces with winning attitudes can be blamed for the struggles of this team.

D'Antoni?

If this was a multiple choice test, I'd have to circle this choice because it seems to be the best answer to this question. Mike D'Antoni might be known as an offensive genius, but even he hasn't been able to find a way to incorporate Melo, Stoudamire and Lin into a productive system. His inability to make defense a major priority also contributes to the struggles of the Knicks. Superior defense would make it much easier for the Knicks to get out in transition, as they would like to. D'Antoni has also not done a good job of putting his key guys into positions where they are comfortable. Much like the Heat when the big three first got together, the key players on the Knicks seem to have to settle for taking turns isolating to try to make something out of nothing. It is the job of the coach to run plays which involve all players working with one another to create havoc for defenses. His inability to utilize his pieces and implement a system that fits all three of his key players makes him blameworthy of the struggles of the New York Knicks.

Others?

Every player on the Knicks can be held accountable for their struggles. From the stars to the bench warmers, everyone can be blamed for not helping to create a winning attitude. Amar'e Stoudamire for example can be blamed for settling for mediocrity this whole season. Nothing about his play has been worth the $100 million contract he signed two summers ago. Tyson Chandler can also be blamed for not changing the defensive culture of the Knicks, as he was expected to. Injuries could certainly be considered a factor, however every other NBA team endures some sort of injuries, therefore it isn't a liable excuse. Regardless of what the reason might be, the Knicks have a limited time to figure out their problems, because the Milwaukee's acquisition of Monta Ellis ultimately makes the Bucks a threat for that number eight playoff spot in the East.

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Dwight Howard Chronicles: Why Staying Home is the Right Move

        I've tried to come up with a logical reason as to why Dwight Howard is so pressed to leave Orlando, and so far I haven't been able to do so.  I understand that he believes a trade will give him a better opportunity to win a championship, however,  I doubt that even a move to LA would make that happen. That certainly wouldn't happen in New Jersey, nor Golden State, and what Chicago really needs isn't a center. Quite frankly, Dwight choosing to stay in Orlando would the best decision for him to make for many reasons.
        Money is most likely not a factor in Dwight's desire to be traded because if it was, he would be losing a lot of money by going elsewhere.  Staying in Orlando, where income taxes do not painfully deduct revenue from your hard-earned money, along with a contract extension with the Magic is bound to make Dwight thirty million dollars richer than any other team/city would.  If that isn't a big enough incentive, then I don't know what is.  Also, the city of Orlando, its fans, the management, etc. have remained loyal to Dwight throughout this whole process.  Dwight is fortunate to not be greeted with boos at each Magic home game due to his publicly expressed desire to part ways.  I believe that whenever an organization shows loyalty, the best way for an individual to show appreciation is to be loyal in return.  Dwight owes it to the city to remain a Magic.
      Another big reason why Dwight should stay put in Orlando is that the team is perfectly structured to fit his style of play.  As we all know, any post player's dream is to play on a team full of prolific three point shooters who space out the floor and allow the inside force to operate.  The Magic have arguably the best three point shooting roster in the NBA, where almost everyone, excluding Dwight himself, Daniel Orton, and "Big Baby" Davis, are known to be capable three point shooters.  The starting power forward for goodness' sake leads the NBA in 3 pointers made, how rare is that? Moving to any other team would eliminate the kind of spacing that Dwight enjoys in Orlando.  He may take it for granted now, but if he was on a roster where outside threats were unavailable and defenses could really key in on him, his limited offensive skills would be exposed, which brings up my next point.
      If Dwight believes that his team isn't good enough to win a championship, he should take that upon himself to elevate his game to another level and propel his team to championship caliber status.   We are all aware of the fact that Dwight, despite his occasional flashes of brilliance, isn't all that skilled offensively as a big man.  In this generation where the league lacks prolific low post scorers, one could make the case that Dwight isn't even the most prolific of them all.  With that being said, he needs to focus on getting better and becoming dominant like the Shaqs and Olajuwons and Ewings of their days.  Seeking a trade will not make up for what he's lacking, therefore his focus should really be on getting better.
      After Shaq challenged Dwight on TNT to average 28 points per game in order to be considered great, Howard has responded, averaging 28.5 points per game so far in the month of March.  If Dwight is able to maintain this kind of performance consistently, the Magic, in my opinion, will automatically become a contender, eliminating any need for a trade.  To sum it up, Dwight should stay in Orlando because it's perfect for him, financially and tactically.  The answer to his championship quest lies within his performance and improvement.  If he's able to elevate his game to a level where teams can no longer handle him one-on-one, the various shooters in Orlando will certainly be given a chance to earn their paycheck, and perhaps spark a playoff run like the shooters of the Maverick's did last year.

Photo Credit:
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Kobe vs D-Wade: The Aftermath

     Yesterday's Heat vs Lakers game was one of the rare occasions where LeBron James wasn't the center of attention against Kobe Bryant. In lieu of the hard foul that transformed Kobe into the Masked Mamba, and the fact that Kobe, who had been rolling for two straight games, had the opportunity to extend his team's winning streak against the 28-8 Miami Heat, this was a statement game. Many were curious to see what kind of revenge Bryant would seek against Wade, or even better yet if that foul committed during the All star game could spark up some toughness in the Lakers against the dominant Miami team. All these factors played a role in making this a statement game, but more than anything, this presented the opportunity for D-Wade to prove that perhaps he belonged in the same breathe as the likes of a Kobe Bryant. Unfortunately for Wade, he was unable to make that statement.
     This game was Wade's opportunity to make a case that he could be considered the best shooting guard in the league at this point of his career, and there was no better way to do so than to shine against the reigning best shooting guard, and arguably the best player period. The way the game started proved that Wade, despite his elite status, has a long way to go. Kobe started the game hot, Wade didn't; Kobe made things tough on the defensive end, Wade didn't. Kobe was calm and consistent throughout the whole game, Wade was sporadic and eventually lost his composure. It was a perfect case of student getting schooled, early and often by the tutor; the tutor in this case being Kobe. Kobe proved that even though he is in his 16th season, he was gonna hold his own against the 9th year veteran whom many claim to be the only competition Bryant has at the shooting guard position. Yesterday however, kobe made his own statement; that Wade was no competition.
     Wade's inability to at least keep up with Bryant, in what was suppose to be a matchup of "Wade vs Kobe; the revenge of the All-star game foul" proved that Kobe was leaps and bounds ahead of Wade. I was disappointed that Wade allowed Kobe to get off to a hot start, I was disappointed that he let this hot start proceed to become a great game, I was disappointed that he let this frustration lead to him committing silly fouls, but more importantly, I was disappointed that he didn't go up to Coach Spolstera and demand to guard Kobe in the fourth quarter before fouling out. That to me showed that Wade was accepting that he couldn't in fact guard Kobe, and that he was willing to give up and let somebody else try. That to me was the ultimate victory for Kobe.
     As Wade sat on the bench with a towel wrapped around his head and six fouls in the book, I bet he thought of all these things. The loss was more than just loss number 9 for the Miami Heat, it was an individual failure on Wade's part. The final score indicated that the heat lost by 10, but in terms of an individual matchup, it was much more than that. Kobe had gotten a revenge on Wade for that hard foul, and he didn't even need physical retaliation for that. He let his game do the talking, and it sure did say a lot. It proved that Wade was not quite on Kobe's level yet, it proved that the Wade's mental toughness was lacking a bit in comparison to that of Kobe's, it proved that despite Wade's great abilities as a help defender, he had a lot of improvement to do one-on-one, and finally it proved that the title as the best shooting guard in the league was quite possibly only gonna be passed down to Wade upon Kobe's retirement. Wade's reaction to this occurrence is what I'm interested to see. I hope he uses this as motivation to take his game to that Kobe Bryant level, because it evidently isn't quite there yet.

Photo Credit:

theincrediblejeremiah.tumblr.com

LeBron James: Pass or Shoot, the Diagnosis

     LeBron James is by far the most scrutinized and criticized player the game of basketball has ever seen.  Every move he makes, on and off the court, is analyzed by millions of basketball fans and analysts, trying to detect a flaw.  To some extent, LeBron deserves all this negative attention, for actions such as the infamous decision of June 2010; however as a human, no one deserves this much criticism.   I find myself asking the question "why" a lot of times because it seems to be the only reaction to many of LeBron's decisions when the spotlight is shinning the brightest. When he decided to "take his talents to South Beach," I asked why.  When he went completely MIA in the NBA Finals, I asked why.  When he made that costly turnover in the last seconds of this year's All-Star game, I asked why.  When he took the ball out of bounds, eliminating himself from possibly taking the last shot of the game, I asked why.  When he passed the ball to Udonis Haslem in the closing seconds of last nigh'ts game against the Jazz, I asked why.  The answer to all these questions, only LeBron knows, but after studying LeBron's life a little more and digging back to his High School days, I may have the answer to that question.
     The game of basketball is a game of habits.  Be it a rugged defensive mentality, or the tendency to take practices lightly, such habits develop at an early age, much like most other aspects of life.  LeBron James has always been a great basketball player.  Dating back to his AAU days as middle school student, LeBron has always stood out in comparison with others of similar age.  From his size, athleticism, and basketball IQ to his unbelievably versatile skills, James showed flashes of brilliance from a very early age.  Unfortunately, around the same time, he started to show signs of that one flaw that is, in many regards, his biggest flaw today; deferring to others when it matters the most.
     With less than 30 seconds to go in the finals of the Division Two State Championship of his junior year, LeBron dribbled up the court in what seemed to be an isolation play.  Down three, most people would assume that young LeBron James would dribble out the clock and hoist up a three pointer at the end to either tie the game and send it to overtime, or miss it and lose in heartbreak fashion.  LeBron, on the other hand, had other ideas.  He passed up the ball to a team mate curling off the baseline for a three.  Now, if the teammate had made the shot, many would've congratulated LeBron for making a great pass; however since he missed it, the situation which didn't seem to be that much of a deal back then, seems to be a reoccurring theme in LeBron's career.
    Looking back at that play years later, I can't help but to wonder why.  Was it because that was the play that the coach had drawn? Was it simply due to the fact that LeBron, who's vision surpasses that of many point guards at any level of play, spotted what he considered a higher percentage shot?  Or was it a case of LeBron simply shying away from the pressure?  The answer to that, is another one of those that we as an audience will never know; however, that play, to me, explains why LeBron at the age of 27 still defers to teammates in crunch time: it is a basketball habit that he has developed.
    As I mentioned earlier, habits are developed at an early age, and usually stick with an individual for the rest of their life.  Habits, whether acquired naturally or taught, are very difficult to break out of.  Some of you are probably wondering, "well what does that have to do with anything?"  Here's my point, LeBron's habit to pass the ball in such situations is one that he developed way back in his high school days; unfortunately, I blame his High School coach Dru Joyce for not instilling into his mind that crunch time is where stars rise to the stage.  That play against Cincinnati's Roger Bacon High School, is in my opinion, the root of LeBron's crunch time fears.  Had he made, or at least taken the shot, he would've learned at that age that he had to perfect his craft for those moments.  Since he passed it up, in what looked to be a designed play, it appears that LeBron was building a habit of counting on others when it matters the most; a psychological trait that to this day still exists.
     I'm not here to list Dru Joyce as the reason behind LeBron's lack of a clutch gene, I'm merely here to point out the impact of a play, that he most likely drew up, on LeBron's current situation.  I understand that LeBron didn't have many opportunities to take/make a lot of crunch time shots, considering most of his wins were blowouts; however, if LeBron had been accustomed to taking those type of shots in the few instances that such shots were needed, it would've developed the confidence that he needed in order to step up to the plate and shine, as oppose to shy away from the spotlight.  Such is a habit that he clearly hasn't developed yet.  It is apparent that he lacks that killer instinct to WANT to take that last shot, and deal with the aftermaths of a possible miss.  Will he ever develop this? We are yet to find out.  We will most likely find out the answer to this question in June, on the biggest stage in basketball.  All I'm saying is, if LeBron had been accustomed to taking those big shots early in his life, that habit would've been developed and wouldn't be a problem today.

Photo Credits:
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Mid-Season NBA Awards

Rookie of the Year - Kyrie Irving

With his stellar play so far this season, I think Irving is a safe bet to win the Rookie of the Year Award.  Despite pretty good rookie seasons from others such as Ricky Rubio and Brandon Knight, Irving has proven that in the league where the value is of a point guard is rising, due to the emergence of stars such as Derrick Rose and Chris Paul, he might very well be the next big star at that position.  Averaging 18 points and 5 assists in about 30 minutes of play each game, Irving has shown flashes of brilliance with his ability to get to the rim effortlessly.  Any doubts about his shooting ability were silenced in the Rookie-Sophomore game where he went 8 for 8 from 3-point range.  At 19 years of age, Kyrie Irving is proving to be the reason why Cleveland fans will soon forget about a certain LeBron James.

Most Improved Player of the Year - Jeremy Lin

This one, in my opinion is no-brainer.  The emergence of Linsanity has created a buzz that the league hasn't seen, probably since the infamous decision that was made two summers ago.  Lin's struggles to make an NBA team, let alone stick to one, is a mind-blowing story that warrants such an award.  His hard work, dedication, and most importantly, perseverance has given him a well deserved spot light which he apparently plans on keeping for a long time.  His current seasonal averages of 14 points and 6 assists fail to tell how much of a jump this young man has made in his game.  The many garbage-time minutes that he collected earlier in the season have brought down his averages, however, his stats at the end of the season will be sure to illustrate how much of an improved player he has become.

Sixth Man of the Year - James Harden

This category is one that I was a bit unsure of, due to the performances of usual bench assassins like Jason Terry, Jamal Crawford, Al Harrington, etc.  James Harden, however, is very deserving of this award due to his immense contributions to a winning effort in OKC.   I use the word immense because OKC, despite their great success, have only three consistent scorers, with Harden being the third.  Besides Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, the Thunder have no prolific scorers who can create shots, not only for themselves, but others as well.  Harden has hit some big shots for the Thunder so far this season, and with averages of 17 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists, his well rounded efforts are well deserving of this honor.

Defensive Player of the Year - Serge Ibaka

A big reason behind the dominant play of the OKC Thunder is Serge "Iblockya" Ibaka.  His shot blocking, and shot altering presence in the paint has an impact that goes far beyond the statistics that he's been putting up this season.  Although Ibaka averages over 3 blocks, and has had several double digit block games thus far in the season, the most important attribute that he brings to the team is his deterrence factor.  Ibaka strikes fear in the minds of the opposition because they know that any moment, a lay-up opportunity may turn into a Sports Center Top 10 play that will leave them embarrassed.  Even when he doesn't get credited with a block, Ibaka certainly alters a number of shots in the paint for OKC, and for these reasons, he deserves to be named the Defensive Player of the Year.

Coach of the Year - Frank Vogel

The Pacers may not have the best record in the League, or even the Eastern Conference, but if you were to tell me at the beginning of the season that they would be third in the Conference, I would label such a statement as absurd.  Despite the acquisition of David West, the Pacers on paper were not what I would consider the third best team in the East.  With that being said, I think Frank Vogel deserves a lot of credit for being able to make the most out of the resources that he has.  The Pacers have exceeded expectations, and for that, their coach deserves this recognition.  Other coaches such as Rick Adelman and Scott Brooks are also very deserving of this honor, however, what Vogel has been able to do in Indiana surpasses the accomplishments of these coaches in my opinion.

 Most Valuable Player of the Year - LeBron James

When LeBron decided to take his talents to South Beach in the infamous decision of June 2010, I thought he had officially said good-bye to all individual achievements/awards that he would have otherwise received in Cleveland.  The occurrences of this year, however, have led me to believe that he may be able to add another individual achievement  trophy to his collection.  As usual, the two time MVP has posted stellar numbers across the board all season long with averages of 27 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists.  Though he posted similar numbers last year, LeBron is deserving of the award this year because those stats have lifted the play of the Heat to a level that was unseen last year.  Though one might argue that Wade and Bosh contribute to the success as well, therefore James is undeserving of the award, I think LeBron's performance when Wade was out with injury justifies the fact that this team will only go as far as the King takes them.  His elevated play caused many to question if the Heat even needed Wade.  The return of Wade hasn't slowed James down a bit, as he continues to play at a high level.  One might also argue that Durant is more deserving of this award than James is.  Despite Durant's success this season, the play of Westbrook makes him second on the list in my book because Westbrook is having an MVP type season in his own right.  His contributions across the board might cause one to believe that he may even be more valuable than Durant, who is merely just a scorer for OKC.  Others might argue that perhaps Kobe, or even Chris Paul deserve this award, however, with the inconsistencies of their teams, they're great individual play isn't worthy of an MVP award, at least in my opinion.  With that being said, this should be the third MVP award that King James adds to his collection.


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