Obligatory 2012 NBA Awards Thread

[Lamrock]

It's about that time of year again. I'm bored, and NBA award season is right around the corner, so it's time for our predictions/picks. With the media having turned on Dwight, Linsanity being cut short, and the Thunder falling to 2nd in the West, we may be in for some surprises here. Anyway...

Most Valuable Player
My Pick: LeBron James (MIA); 2. Paul; 3. Durant
Prediction: LeBron James (MIA); 2. Durant; 3. Kobe

Kevin Durant looked like the shoe-in, but now that neither the Thunder nor the Heat are top seeds, I think the media goes with the guy with far better stats, as it isn't "Durant's year" yet. It's the correct one, as LeBron is having another one of the best seasons ever, and the team hasn't missed a beat in the 15 games Wade has missed.

Rookie of the Year
My Pick: Kawhi Leonard (SA); 2. Faried; 3. I. Thomas
Prediction: Kyrie Irving (CLE); 2. I. Thomas; 3. Faried

Irving was my pick for most of the year, but he's been hurt and the Cavs are who we thought they were. I picked Leonard not just because he leads all rookies in win shares (heh) but because he's made huge contributions to a title contender. Very tempting to pick Faried, but Kawhi has been huge for the Spurs. Rubio deserves some mention too as the Wolves imploded without him.

Defensive Player of the Year
My Pick: Tyson Chandler (NY); 2. D. Howard; 3. L. James
Prediction: Serge Ibaka (OKC); 2. D. Howard; 3. Deng

With Dwight having one of his worst seasons followed by some terrible PR to end the season, it's time for the Dwight Howard Memorial Trophy to go elsewhere. It should go to Tyson Chandler, who transformed the Knicks into a good defensive team, but I think it goes to Ibaka, who leads the league in blocks. I could see Deng winning it too just because.

Coach of the Year:
My Pick: Tom Thibodeau (CHI); 2. Popovich; 3. Karl
Prediction: Gregg Popovich (SA); 2. Vogel; 3. Thibodeau

Thibs should win it. Headed to the best record in the league once again despite the reigning MVP missing half the season. Utilized bench extremely well in a lockout shortened season. Looks like Popovich this year though, and that would be a great pick. Vogel is very likely too, but the Spurs are cool now.

Sixth Man of the Year:
My Pick: James Harden (OKC); 2. L. Williams; 3. M. Williams
Prediction: James Harden (OKC); 2. L. Williams; 3. M. Williams

Harden has played like an all-star this season off the bench. No brainer.

Most Improved Player:
My Pick: Paul George (IND); 2. T. Splitter; 3. Lin
Prediction: Ryan Anderson (ORL); 2. Lin; 3. Ilyasova

Looked like this award was Linevitable until he went out for the season. Now, I think the media reverts to it's pick of Ryan Anderson. Most improved role!

Exec of the Year:
My Pick: Neil Olshey (LAC)
Prediction: Neil Olshey (LAC)

Duh.

Interested to see what you guys think.

[Martti.]

MVP - LeBron (Runner-up - Durant)
ROY - Irving (Faried)
DPOY - Ibaka (Chandler)
6th - Harden (Lou Williams)
Coach - Vogel (Popovich)
MIP - Ilyasova (Monroe)

[Andrew]

Most Valuable Player
My Pick: LeBron James
Prediction: LeBron James

Durant has had a fine year, LeBron's has been better. I think it'll be a close vote, I think a fair few writers will want to give Durant some recognition which he certainly deserves, but LeBron has earned it with his play and I believe he will get the nod.

Rookie of the Year
My Pick: Kyrie Irving
Prediction: Kyrie Irving

Rubio might have been a candidate had he not gone down with injury but I don't think he would've ultimately taken the award from Irving, who I'd say will deservedly win. He has missed a fair few games but with his numbers and importance to his team, I believe you can't go passed him.

Defensive Player of the Year
My Pick: Tyson Chandler
Prediction: Serge Ibaka

I have to agree with Lamrock on this one. Chandler certainly deserves the award and I'd give him the nod, but it seems likely Ibaka will get it. I think he's got a fairly strong claim to it though, he is shaping up to be a fine defender and his 3.7 blocks in under 30 minutes a game isn't something to take for granted. Chandler should hopefully make the All-Defensive First Team though.

Coach of the Year:
My Pick: Tom Thibodeau
Prediction: Frank Vogel

Coach of the Year tends to go one of two ways; it either recognises the coach of one of the top teams that's been at or on top for all or most of the season, or the coach of a team that appears to have overachieved and exceeded expectations. I'm all for Thibs getting it, he's got a strong claim to defy history and win the award back to back, but I think history will prevail here. As it stands I think Vogel is still worthy in his own right. Lionel Hollins is another name I'd throw out there, someone who's done a good job despite being without one of his best players most of the year.

Sixth Man of the Year:
My Pick: James Harden
Prediction: James Harden

Has to be Harden. He's been great off the bench for the Thunder, the prototypical sixth man.

Most Improved Player:
My Pick: Ryan Anderson
Prediction: Ryan Anderson

Once again I must agree with Lamrock, this would've been Jeremy Lin's award had he not gone down with injury and I think he would've earned it. There's probably still an outside chance that he wins and he's sure to get a few votes at least, but 35 games isn't quite enough to cut it. Anderson is right up there too though, he deserves it and I believe he'll get it.

Exec of the Year:
My Pick: Neil Olshey
Prediction: Neil Olshey

With a huge assist from David Stern.

[NovU]

MVP
My pick: Lebron James
Prediction: Lebron James
This should be close though. I initially predicted Durant to win this but their recent slipping from top spot in the west likely cost him the MVP.

ROY
My pick: Kyrie Irving
Prediction: Kyrie Irving
This kid as a 19 years old rookie already played better than most of PGs out there. To put it simple, he arguably had a better rookie season than Derrick Rose when he was 20, and definitely better than Westbrook's rookie season when he was 20.

Defensive Player of the Year
My pick: Lebron James
Prediction: Serge Ibaka
Perhaps homerism, but I think Lebron sets the tone on defensive end more than Ibaka. Ibaka certainly has done well as an interior force though this season. Would go either way.

Coach of the Year:
My pick: Tom Thibodeau
Prediction: Tom Thibodeau
He again has a strong case this season, actually stronger as Rose, Hamilton, and even Deng missed bunch of games. Still the result was there, #1 in the league.

Most Improved Player
My pick: Jeremy Lin
Prediction: Ryan Anderson
His boxscore stats increased with just about same usage from last year. Good enough reasons I guess.

Sixth Man of the Year:
My pick: James Harden
Prediction: James Harden
It'd be nuts to give this award to somebody else. Like Lamrock said, this guy's been an all-star. To add on it, this guy's efficiency has been out of the world for a bench player. The Thunder will really need this guy healthy for the playoffs. That's a given.

[Andrew]

I'll be quite happy to be proven wrong, but as it stands I doubt Thibs will get back-to-back Coach of the Year awards. He has a strong case but there's such a strong and long standing precedent against it. I think it would take something historically significant to sway the vote against convention; maybe back to back 70 win seasons or the like.

[Nick]

MVP - LeBron James (Runner-up - Kevin Durant)
ROY - Kyrie Irving (Klay Thompson)
DPOY - Serge Ibaka (Dwight Howard)
6th - James Harden (Lou Williams)
Coach - Greg Popovich (Frank Vogel)...will take Andrew's word for it on this one
MIP - Nikola Pekovic (Jeremy Lin)

[Andrew]

Pekovic's another good choice for MIP, forgot about him.

[JBoom_LALALAND]

MVP - LeBron James/Durant
ROY - It has to be Irving. Another choice is Thompson. If only Rubio was healthy.
DPOY - Ibaka owns this one. But Chandler and LeBron also pleads their strong case.
6th man - Should be Harden
Coach of the Year - Thibodeau
Most Improved Player - Ersan Ilyasova. Is Bynum not a candidate???