Most Valuable Player: Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns. It was a tough choice between Nash and Shaquille O’Neal so I decided to look at team standings from the previous year. The Nash-less Suns lost 50 games last year and this year are on pace to win over 60. The Shaq-less Heat made the playoffs and adding the Big Diesel pushed them from playoffs-bound to finals-bound. Both are undeniably impressive jumps but I just have to give this one to Nash. It’s much harder to change the game when you’re white, old, over 30 and yet that’s what he does. He has transformed the Suns into a scoring juggernaut that runs for 48 minutes. He has won 62 games without a real center, an undersized frontline and almost no bench help. No offense to Shaq, but Nash is my MVP.
Honorable Mention: Shaquille O’Neal, Miami Heat
Dark Horse: Dirk Nowiztki, Dallas Mavericks
Rookie of the Year: Ben Gordon, Chicago Bulls. I based this one on impact. And although it’s true that Emeka Okafor of the Charlotte Bobcats has been a double-double machine, I find it more impressive to be an impact player on a good team than an impact player on a cellar-dweller. Ben Gordon leads all rookies in scoring while averaging significantly less minutes than Okafor. He leads the league, the league, in double-digit fourth quarters. He has single-handedly been that clutch factor that has won Chicago a number of games. And he does it off the bench. Now that’s impact.
Honorable Mention: Emeka Okafor, Charlotte Bobcats
Dark Horse: Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
Coach of the Year: Nate McMillan, Seattle Supersonics. How else do you explain a turnaround like the Sonics have shown? They didn’t sign or trade for any stars (unless you consider Danny Fortson a star). They didn’t draft anybody who tears up the stats sheet. They have a roster full of free-agents-to-be. They have no real post presence. Their game largely depends on outside shooting. And yet, they are on top of the Northwest Division and are the top three seed heading into the playoffs. They’ve shown they can beat good teams (they’ve beaten the Spurs twice). I’ve got to give this one to McMillan. This has been such a great year for the Sonics when everyone predicted they’d be at the bottom of the Western Conference.
Honorable Mention: Scott Skiles, Chicago Bulls
Dark Horse: Rick Carlisle, Indiana Pacers
Most Improved Player: Bobby Simmons, Los Angeles Clippers. Simmons has been so good and so consistent for the Clippers that everyone has forgotten about Kerry Kittles. Before the season began, Kittles was supposed to be the starter and Simmons would come off the pine. Injuries, however, derailed Kittles’ season and pushed Simmons to the starting lineup — where he thrived. Yeah the Clippers are bad, but not as bad as they were expected to be. Hey, they finished better than the Lakers.
Honorable Mention: Tayshaun Prince, Detroit Pistons
Dark Horse: Grant Hill, Orlando Magic
Sixth Man of the Year: Ben Gordon, Chicago Bulls. I know it’s probably not very likely that a rookie will win two awards but that’s how much Ben Gordon has impressed me. He can win games on his own — somehow reminiscent of another Bull a decade ago. He isn’t afraid of the big shots and thrives in pressure situations. Gordon is clearly one of the biggest reason Chicago has locked-up the fourth seed.
Honorable Mention: Ricky Davis, Boston Celtics
Dark Horse: Earl Boykins, Denver Nuggets
Defensive Player of the Year: Bruce Bowen, San Antonio Spurs. This is by far the toughest pick. If you were to ask me who the best defensive player in the NBA is, I would say Andrei Kirelenko. AK47, however, missed half the season to injuries and his team has had its first losing season in over a decade. I’m not picking Ben Wallace or Tim Duncan because they have missed significant time as well and Wallace’s Pistons haven’t been all that impressive through the course of the year, especially in the beginning (although they are currently on a winning streak). I’m picking Bowen because he has been Ron Artest without the mental knocks. He locks down the opposing team’s best perimeter player night in and night out — so much so that a number of players have complained about his peskiness. Bowen is also part of a notoriously great defensive team in the Spurs, and clearly much of the credit for that reputation is Bowen’s defense.
Honorable Mention: Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons
Dark Horse: Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs