Post-March NBA Awards Watch
My top picks for the various NBA Awards with the season almost over. Expect to see this updated each month with my picks for ROY, DPOY, MIP, 6MOY, COY, and All-NBA teams.
MVP: See Monday’s post. This gets updated weekly.
Rookie of the Year
2. John Wall
3. Greg Monroe
A great run by Fields, but with Monroe’s improvement he takes the 3rd spot. By the way, while Cousin’s minutes will probably warrant an All-Rookie selection I really wouldn’t be impressed by a jump-shooting big man who can’t shoot even if he were sane.
Defensive Player of the Year 
3. Andrew Bogut
Still no changes here. Howard still has this, although it bothers me when people say he has this award locked down for the foreseeable future. The other candidates are not terribly far behind him.
Most Improved Player
1. Derrick Rose
3. Kevin Love
No changes here either. Amazing year for MIP…if voters would actually start look at this award without eliminating the players with amazing improvement. For an excellent statistical analysis, here’s a post on the subject over on the best side on the web.
6th Man of the Year
1. Lamar Odom
2. Jason Terry
3. James Harden
Odom’s finally eligible and it’s really not much of a contest. My take on his candidacy: “If Lamar Odom doesn’t win 6th man of the year…“
Harden moves into the 3rd spot. It’s interesting, being a 6th man might seem a disappointment for a #3 pick, but given the two stars the Thunder already has, it’s not easy to think of a better pick.
Coach of the Year
3. George Karl
At this point, I’d say Thibs is a stronger COY candidate than we’ve seen in a decade. Literally, Derrick Rose may win the MVP and still not be considered the most valuable person associated with his team because of Thibs. In what could end up being known as the Year of the Coach, he’s the poster boy. Just an astonishing rookie season for the coach.
I’ll give a shout out to Doug Collins whose 76ers have undergonethe 2nd biggest improvement year-by-year improvement, but I’m not yet ready to move him over Pop or Karl.
Guard: Derrick Rose
Guard: Dwyane Wade
Forward: Dirk Nowitzki
Forward: LeBron James
Center: Dwight Howard
No changes from last month, but Kobe’s entering the discussion. I’ll be considering him vs Wade from here on out.
Guard: Manu Ginobili
Guard: Kobe Bryant
Forward: Kevin Durant
Forward: Pau Gasol
Center: Al Horford
The Lakers stars move up as the Lakers emerge as favorites once again – this time as bigger favorites than they’ve been since the Shaq era. Ginobili incidentally is only just holding on to his spot. I’m hesitant to overreact to the Spurs’ late season slide considering the team clearly doesn’t have its foot on the gas, but wow, it is quite a slide.
All-NBA 3rd Team
Guard: Steve Nash
Guard: Chris Paul
Forward: Paul Pierce
Forward: LaMarcus Aldridge
Center: Nene
Aldridge moves into All-NBA territory for the first time. Good for him. Also, while Nene’s position remains the same my attitude is very different than it was a while ago. I now feel like its really a good thing for Nene to be honored so as we see how good the Nuggets have played without Carmelo Anthony. 10-year Nugget Nene personifies this most successful team.
Related Articles
- Post-February NBA Awards Watch (asubstituteforwar.com)
- Post-January NBA Awards Watch (asubstituteforwar.wordpress.com)
What is your methodology here?
EvanZ
April 4, 2011 at 8:04 pm
Welcome Evan. I think you’re going to have to drill down in your questions to get a meaningful answer there. But to take a stab:
I use my eyes, my brain, basic stats, advanced stats, team performance, and three Magic 8-balls (y’know in case the first two disagree). I tend to be accused of being to stat oriented by normal fans and not stat oriented enough by stat people.
Matt Johnson
April 4, 2011 at 9:17 pm
[...] Post-March NBA Awards Watch (asubstituteforwar.com) [...]
My Awards Ballot « A Substitute for War
April 21, 2011 at 11:59 am