With the mighty San Antonio Spurs clinching the west currently with 48-16, and the Bulls having the clinching the east with the same record. It only seems fair to deem (for the big teams) that the regular season is over and it will only be the benches playing till the play off's start.
Individual players award
M V P
For me this is pretty much a no-brainer, Le Bron James deserves the main award as the guy has literally been a machine this season. James has had what I believe to be the best season of his nine-year career. He's had better statistical numbers, but he's never had as much impact on his team, and its game, and he deserves his third league MVP. I also think he has improved his athleticism and never been quick.
Second place goes to the unbelievable Kevin Durant, everytime I see this guy I think he has put up poor numbers yet plays the game with such easy I am always shocked to see him on another 30+ game. Most seasons he would almost certainly have been given the award, but I dont think there has ever been a more worthy winner than LBJ this season.
(Kony Bryant shouldnt get a look in)
Coach of the year (I'll copy and paste this from another website because I agree with it 100%)
THE WINNER: Gregg Popovich, San Antonio
RUNNER-UP: Tom Thibodeau, Chicago
THE OTHERS: Scott Brooks, Oklahoma City; Alvin Gentry, Phoenix
As irascible as ever, Popovich has never done a better job of putting a team together. He slapped a rotation together on the fly, giving Danny Green, T.J. Ford (before he retired mid-season) and rookie Kawhi Leonard minutes early in the season, then leaving them on the floor to win or lose games while Manu Ginobili missed his usual bunch of games with injuries. Popovich worked in Stephen Jackson without a hitch when the former Spur was re-acquired at the trade deadline, and he's demanded and gotten more from Tiago Splitter in the middle.
Most importantly, Popovich has not wavered in his determination to bring San Antonio to the playoffs as healthy as possible, no matter the consequence. He has Tim Duncan playing a career-low 28 minutes per game, bringing "DNP-Old" into the NBA lexicon.
The Spurs are not winning with defense anymore; it's been years since they were the shutdown unit that choked the life out of opponents' halfcourt offense. San Antonio wins now by outscoring people. The Spurs are second in the league in points per game and lead in points per possession, and Popovich presided over that transformation. Instead of complaining about his team's deteriorating D, he quickly embraced what they could do to win games.
(honourable mention to the Bulls Coach who has taken them so far with there main man injured for half the season)
Defensive player of the year
Its a toss-up between Ibaka and Howard, yet since the Thunder have been more impressive I have to give it to the former. Orlando's internal implosion and Howard's back injury worked against his getting a fourth straight DPOY nod. Howard's individual numbers were rock solid, but Orlando has dropped from third in the league in defensive efficiency last season to 12th this season. That is hardly all Howard's fault, but Orlando's defensive success the past few seasons wasn't all his doing, either.
At any rate, Ibaka has already surpassed his block total from all of last season despite playing nearly 200 fewer minutes. He leads the league in swats (3.6), but it's not just the rejections that make him the league's standard bearer. His intimidation factor is close to Howard's, and the Thunder have become tougher to score on in the paint. (OKC has improved from 13th to eighth in defensive efficiency, even more impressive considering the Thunder are sixth overall in pace, meaning they have more possessions per game than most teams.)
ALL NBA TEAMS
ALL-NBA FIRST TEAM
Dwayne Wade, Heat; Tony Parker, Spurs
Forwards: LeBron James, Heat; Kevin Durant, Thunder
Center: Dwight Howard, Magic
ALL-NBA SECOND TEAM
Guards: Chris Paul, Clippers; Rusell Westbrook, Thunder
Forwards: Kevin Love, Timberwolves; Carmelo Anthony, Knicks
Center: Andrew Bynum, Lakers
ALL NBA THIRD TEAM
Guards: Derrek Rose, Bulls; Rajon Rondo, Celtics
Forwards: LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland; Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks
Center: Marc Gasol, Memphis
End of Season- Admin dont multiboard
posted on 24/4/12
Good article. Get it out on twitter, see if you can get a few Basketball fans.
posted on 24/4/12
Comment Deleted by Article Creator
posted on 24/4/12
nba.com
posted on 24/4/12
?
posted on 24/4/12
How is Derrick rose in your 3rd team when he has played about 30 games this season and has been mainly poor when he is playing
posted on 24/4/12
Honestly? I just didnt want Kony in there. In heinsight I probably should have put J.Johnson or Montay in there but I got lazy by that point of the article.
Also I did state in the article that I completely agree with the NBA's coach part (Despite the fact that they should have given the Bulls coach a mention).
posted on 26/4/12
Melo should be nowhere near the second team.
Apart from these last few games, he's been down right shocking.
posted on 26/4/12
I got a bit lazy when I named the all NBA second team tbh. I would have maybe put Dirk, Ellis, J-Smooth and Johnson in there tbh.
posted on 26/4/12
Dirk, ellis and johnson have been poor this season. Josh Smith has been great, id give him and aldridge the forward spots in the third team. Melo is a tough call, he has been injured a bit, like rose, but unlike rose, when he has played he has been great, and he is getting alot better with passing and defence. IMO, he is the best offensive player in the game.