Envelopes Please...

It's everybody's (or at least my) favorite time of year again; the days are getting longer and warmer, school's drawing to a close and the NBA Playoffs are upon us, mere days away. There's sure to be plenty of incredible ball in the weeks ahead, but it's important not to lose sight of the amazing individual displays that players have put on this year. With that in mind, here's the Basketball Banter 2008-09 Awards; a chance for those who truly achieved greatness this year to be honored properly: in a lightly-read, highly irrelevant blog. Today we'll recognize the winners of the league's official awards with some fictional, but entirely deserved, trophies being handed out later this week.

Without further ado...

Rookie of the Year -- Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls

Rose's selection above Michael Beasley in last year's draft raised a few eyebrows and set the bar very high for a guy who'd be expected to quickly restore order to one of the league's schizophrenic offenses while learning the ropes of the big leagues. Any doubters were hastily silenced as Rose jumped out early as the best among a talented crop of rookies and never hit the proverbial wall. Although his jumper's been suspect, his quickness allows him to get to the hoop at will, where here's proven equally lethal at finishing among bigger bodies and setting up open shooters. His toughness and speed on defense are admirable and allow him to hold down even the league's biggest 1's. Even beyond pure talent, which he has in bundles, is his court presence; his poise and clutch playmaking have been the main reason the Bulls are back in the playoffs. Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf called this season a "disaster" back in February, and if not for Rose, it likely would've been. Instead, the Bulls are headed back to the playoffs, and finally in the right direction.

Regards to: OJ Mayo, Grizzlies; Russell Westbrook, Thunder; Brook Lopez, Nets

Defensive Player of the Year - Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic

This might've been the easiest award to decide, Howard's leading the league in blocks and rebounds, imposing his will in the paint on D like no one since the Admiral. He's the defensive backbone of a team that isn't great at it, preventing more would-be attackers from entering the paint than any other just by suiting up. His combination of size and freakish athleticism are unmatched, and he's showing a better understanding of court positioning with each season. While his offensive game continues to (slowly) develop, Howard's already mastered the game's more disciplined practice and there's no reason to suspect he won't be raking in a lot more of these in seasons ahead.

Regards to: Dwyane Wade, Heat; Ron Artest, Rockets; Tim Duncan, Spurs

Most Improved Player - Andrea Bargnani, Toronto Raptors

Tough call here. There were a lot of guys who had breakout seasons; a couple swingmen took over and became straight-up dominant scorers, a point guard used a much-needed change of scenery to crack the starting lineup and double-up on his stats. Two more young 1's evolved into All-Star caliber players for top-tier teams, even an old warrior who once ruled the league shook off the rust and became a factor again. Despite all this it was Bargnani whose late-season stride showed the most growth in his game. Last season "Il Mago" (The Magician) was unimpressive, being bitched around on D by bigger pivots, and playing like the awkward shy kid at a junior high dance with the rock in his hands; never quite sure what to do with himself. This year, forced back into starting out-of-position by the O'Neal debacle, Bargs found some confidence, began taking better shots, attacking the rim more and at least standing up for himself in the post against stronger foes. Over the season's second half, he was perhaps the Raps' most potent offensive weapon, regularly droppin' 20's on an impressive variety of aggressive drives and long-range bombs. His numbers may not have jumped as much as some other contenders', but Bargnani defied expectations in a difficult situation and was the only bright spot in a disgraceful season for Toronto.

Regards to: Kevin Durant, Thunder; Chris Duhon, Knicks; Devin Harris, Nets

Sixth Man of the Year - Jason Terry, Dallas Mavericks

This became a serious race when perennial favorite Manu Ginobili missed considerable time this year, and the newly-benched Terry's embracing of his new role made him the immediate favorite; he had his best season as a Mav, doing almost 20/game as their only b ackcourt scoring threat. Instead of causing a fuss about losing his starting spot to a less talented player, Terry accepted the demotion and breathed life into a languid Mavs second line, becoming more of a pure scorer, true to his skill set. His brief injury absence brought on Dallas' worst ball of the season, so believe he'll be a key to any noise (however hushed) Dallas makes in the playoffs.

Regards to: Nate Robinson, Knicks; Lamar Odom, Lakers; Michael Beasley, Heat

Coach of the Year - Stan Van Gundy, Orlando Magic

Winning this award is increasingly impressive in today's age where coaches are canned like tuna and the bench boss' efforts often lie in the shadows of his players' exploits. 2008-09 was no exception; changes on the sideline were made early and often, poor Terry Porter didn't even make it through his first All-Star break with Phoenix. But it wasn't all bad. This year, Van Gundy was the unsung star for a Magic team that exceeded all realistic expectations through the usual early-season hype and loss of their All-Star point guard. He seamlessly incorporated Rafer Alston, he of the turbulent offense, as a replacement and Orlando hardly skipped a beat. In the process they managed to avoid the mid-season meltdown that's plagued them in recent years, and performed well against Boston and Cleveland, recently breaking the Cavs' spirits with a 30-point ass-whupping. This Orlando squad, despite going through numerous roster adjustments and having some very glaring weaknesses, is their best bet to return to the Finals since Diesel rocked Magic threads, and Van Gundy should be commended for it.

Regards to: Mike Brown, Cavaliers; Rick Adelman, Rockets; Nate McMillan, Blazers

Most Valuable Player - LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

It was a season of great importance for the Cavs; they were drawing ever closer to the summer of 2010, the day of reckoning when a hometown kid who just happened to be (arguably) the best basketball player alive would surely desert them if they didn't put a winner around him. There was a lot of talk about Lebron's supposedly imminent departure, and recent roster moves left plenty of uncertainty about what the Cavs were going to do this season. For the first time, King James' surroundings were as consistent as he was, but His Excellence's excellence managed to surpass even his own lofty standards this year. He improved his free-throw percentage and shot selection, became a more committed defender while continuing to score at will and create open shots for teammates where no others could. The Cavs consequently own the league's best record and its best player will almost certainly get to wear the MVP crown.

Regards to: Dwyane Wade, Heat; Kobe Bryant, Lakers; Chris Paul, Hornets

Congrats to all the winners. Part II drops in a few days...