NBA Regular Season Awards From Slam Dunk Central Reporter Stephen Rhodes

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under Main

This NBA season was interesting, to say the least.? There was the soap opera aka As The Knicks Burn, the sitcom down in Miami aka The Riley Files, then theminiseries based out of Chicago – Boylan Over.? Those things aside, there are awards to hand out; now keep in mind that these are subjective.? So without further adieu, here we go:

NBA MVP:?Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets

I love King James, don’t get me wrong.? Maybe it’s the fact once you layer away the Cavs, there’s not much else after James.? His numbers stand out, but my definition of MVP involves more than just mere stats – although that helps.? Kobe?? He only got some?love from me only after the Lakers robbed the Grizzlies in getting Pau Gasol late in the season.? Which leaves Paul, aka CP-3.? Here’s what Paul brings to the table: 21.1 PPG, 11.6 APG and 2.7 SPG.? That’s tough to do, you have to admit – and this is coming from a 6-foot point guard.? He also makes his team look much better, and because of that, the Hornets are reaping the benefits.

NBA Coach of the Year: Byron Scott, New Orleans Hornets

This is pretty much a slam dunk.? Scott, who got ran out of New Jersey, landed nicely in the Big Easy.? And boy did he get a cast to work with: Chris Paul, Peja Stojakovic, David West, and others.? He and the Hornets will be players in the league for a long time.? Others who got some consideration: Golden State coach Don Nelson (won 48 and didn’t get to the playoffs – has to suck), Portland coach Nate McMillan (good core of players; if Greg Oden is as good as advertised, they should be factors in 2009) and Atlanta coach Mike Woodson (the Hawks admittedly got into the NBA playoffs with a sucky W-L record; but despite that, Woodson knows his basketball – he’s an IU grad, after all).

NBA Executive of the Year: Danny Ainge, Boston Celtics

The easiest selection, by far.? Although I will preface that with the fact that it wasn’t long ago when Ainge’s head was called for.? But this is 2008; Ainge got Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett – not too shabby.? Add the Celtics’ surrounding cast (Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo, James Posey and many others), and you see why Ainge gets the nod.? Mitch Kupchak of the Lakers gets some love too – he robbed the Grizzlies of Pau Gasol, which is no small feat.

Rookie of the Year: Kevin Durant, Seattle SuperSonics

A case could be made for Atlanta’s Tito Horford (who will terrorize Eastern Conference foes for years – mark my words), but Durant gets my pick here.? He had a crappy supporting cast to work with which gave him no choice but to carry the team on his shoulders.? Also factor in his stats: 43% FG% (that will improve over time), FT % (87.3%), 20.3 PPG, 4.4 RPG (that too will get better) and 2.4 APG.? And the Sonics, along with Durant, will improve.? Bank on that.

Sixth Man of the Year: Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs

There’s Manu, then there’s the posers.? Ginobili is the Tanqueray in the Spurs’ martini as he makes the team better with his offensive spark from off the bench.? Maybe they should rename the Sixth Man award the Manu Ginobili Award or something.? 19+ points from off the bench isn’t chicken scratch by any stretch of the imagination – not to mention that he started a few games and didn’t miss a beat.

Comeback Player of the Year: Chris Kaman, center, Los Angeles Clippers

Kaman took his game to another level this season as besides Elton Brand, Kaman kept the Clippers relevant in the league.? The numbers bear this argument out: 2007: 10.1 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 1.6 BPG; 2008: 15.7 PPG, 12.7 PPG, 2.8 BPG.? Quantum leap from last season, if I say so myself – and I will.

Defensive Player of the Year: Marcus Camby, Denver Nuggets

This category was really difficult as defense holds different definitions to different people.? I suppose mine is where a player can alter shots, rebound effectively and preferably change the outcome of the game at hand.? That being said, my vote goes to Camby; his numbers lend ammunition to that selection: 13.1 RPG and 3.61 BPG (almost 5 blocks per game over 48 minutes).? His defense gets the Nuggets’ track meet going; I cannot think of any other player who approaches Camby in defensive effectiveness.

All-NBA First Team

PG: Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets

SG: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

SF: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

PF: Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks

C: Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic

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One Response to “NBA Regular Season Awards From Slam Dunk Central Reporter Stephen Rhodes”

Russ Loede on April 19th, 2008 1:37 pm

KOBE Slight Edge Over PAUL For MVP. Kobe better CLUTCH player @ end of games and never disappeared down key, late stretches of games – like Paul did in a few towards end of season. Plus LA Lakers got the #1 Seed.

Al Horford For ROY – Durant can’t shoot straight – Jeff Green will end up as a better pro than him – Horford was a double-double guy nite in, nite out.

COY: Rick Adelman – can’t believe they won 55 w/ the team they have.

1st Team: No Way does Dirk get the nod @ PF. You have to give it to AMARE Stoudemire or Tim Duncan. They had better years and carried their teams over a consistent time period.

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