In what's seemed like a blink of an eye, the first half of the NBA regular season's sped by and we're already dawning on All-Star Weekend and the Trade Deadline. Things are gonna get pretty hectic over the next couple months, between the mad scrambling for financial flexibility in the offseason and the implications it'll have on the battle royale for the Larry O, we're in for some interesting days ahead. Not to say the season hasn't already been pretty entertaining so far. Here's a salute to the dudes who set themselves apart over the season's first half, the Basketball Banter Midseason Awards
Rookie of the Half: Tyreke Evans, Sacramento Kings
The Kings were destined for the Western Conference cellar this year, and although they're not making playoff moves, they've already won as many games as most heads predicted at the half. That they did this without their leading scorer can be attributed to the exploits of one Tyreke Evans, the explosive combo guard the Kings shrewdly scooped with the 4th pick last June. Reke's been an indomitable floor leader; a steady ball handler and distributor who can score at will against most defenses while being a hard-nosed stopper himself. The 20/5/5 he's averaging has him on pace to join some very elite company: Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan and Lebron James are the only others to drop those numbers as rookies.
Regards to: Brandon Jennings, Omri Casspi, Ty Lawson
Defensive Player of the Half: Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
Although he's had some ups and downs, and although the Magic have looked far from the juggernaut many took them for, Dwight's gotta be the favorite to snag his second DPOY. It's very difficult to deny a guy who leads the league in rebounds and blocks, and his role anchoring a skeptical Magic defense is vital. His lurking presence in the post keeps many would-be penetrators at bay, easing the defensive burdens of, say, Vince Carter or Jason Williams. If Orlando gets healthy and wakes up, a strong record would lend even more credence to his cause.
Regards to: Josh Smith, Gerald Wallace, Rajon Rondo
6th Man of the Half: Carl Landry, Houston Rockets
A perfect fit for Houston's balanced attack, Landry's game is rounded and solid, short on dominance but with even fewer weaknesses. Far from flashy, he was always ultra-efficient in limited minutes, but this season truly came into his own as a two-way sparkplug as Houston's first man off the bench and go-to guy in the clutch. Still one of the most effective scorers in the L (55% from the field, 85% from the stripe), Carl's biggest threat in this category might be his own play; with Houston lagging a bit, he's got 'starter' written all over him.
Regards to: Jamal Crawford, Lamar Odom, Anderson Varejao
Most Improved Player: Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics
Yeah, I know, it seems a little late suggesting that Rondo's "improved" upon a postseason that saw him average a shade under a triple-double over two very tough series. Still, it would be foolish to ignore the huge strides Rondo's made to become one of the A's elite point guards and every bit as key to Boston's success as the Hall of Famers that surround him. He's one of the League's peskiest defenders (hawking 2.5 balls/games) and has come into his own as a prolific playmaker and able scorer in the key. His numbers have improved (marginally) but only tell part of the story; Rondo's a much more poised floor general who deserves an All-Star nod.
Regards to: Carl Landry, Marc Gasol, Michael Beasley
Coach of the Half: Nate McMillan, Portland Trailblazers
Injuries. The bane of a coach's existence. Not only do they strip talent from the lineup, but put the onus on the bench boss to make adjustments on fly, balancing minutes, running new plays, compensating for new mismatches. In the case of this season's Portland Trailblazers, who have been decimated by injury like few in recent memory, their maintenance of a playoff spot through extended injuries to four rotation players (including both their centers), is a slight miracle that can be attributed to Nate's steady hand at the helm.
Regards to: Rick Adelman, Paul Westphal, Mike Brown
MVP: Lebron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Now that the Cavs are comfortably back atop the East and have swept the season series with the Lakers, Lebron's usual eye-popping numbers have vaulted him to a comfortable lead in the MVP race, regardless of how you want to call it. Is the best player on a consensus top-3 (many would argue top-2 or just even top) team? Yes. Does he have the most impressive individual numbers? Absolutely. Has he ratcheted his game up another notch this year? Career-highs in all 3 shooting categories would sugest so. Has he been unstoppable in the fourth, single-handedly winning several games for the Cavs? You see where this is going...
Regards to: Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant
No comments:
Post a Comment