The Envelope Please: 2010-2011 NBA Awards

Most Valuable Player

1. Dwight Howard (Magic): To me this really was a tossup between Howard and Derrick Rose.  In the end, the word “valuable” is what made me pick Howard.  If you took him off the Magic, they’d win 20-25 games; with him they’re a 50-win team.  I think the Bulls without Rose would still be a fringe playoff contender.  Howard’s season averages of 23 points, 14 rebounds, 2.4 blocks, and 60% field goal shooting are just too good to ignore.  Watching Rose play might be more riveting, but aesthetic enjoyment is not the basis for this award.  Howard’s impact on the defensive end also helps close the case in my opinion.  No other player has as much of an impact on the boards or in the paint as Superman.
2. Derrick Rose (Bulls)
3. Kobe Bryant (Lakers)
4. LeBron James (Heat)
5. Kevin Durant (Thunder)

Rookie of the Year

1. Blake Griffin (Clippers): An absolute no brainer, it’s a near certainty that Griffin will win this award unanimously.  Griffin is having one of the best rookie campaigns we’ve seen in years, maybe since Tim Duncan hit the scene in 1997.  Griffin averages 23 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists while shooting 50% from the field.  Those numbers aren’t just great for a rookie; they're damn near MVP-worthy.
2. John Wall (Wizards)
3. DeMarcus Cousins (Kings)
4. Landry Fields (Knicks)
5. Jordan Crawford (Wizards)

6th Man of the Year

1. Lamar Odom (Lakers): His versatility and value to the Lakers cannot be overstated.  Odom starts when Andrew Bynum gets hurt; other times he moves seamlessly to his role on the bench.  Whatever is asked of Odom, he does it.  He rebounds, scores inside and out, plays point guard, runs the fast break, defends multiple positions, and is an excellent passer.  On the season he averaged 14 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists while shooting 53% from the field and 39% from three.
2. Jason Terry (Mavericks)
3. Wesley Matthews (Trail Blazers)
4. Jamal Crawford (Hawks)
5. Thaddeus Young (76ers)

Most Improved Player

1. Kevin Love (Timberwolves): His meteoric improvement didn’t lead to more success for the downtrodden Timberwolves, but still, Love’s development was remarkable.  Last year he averaged 14 points and 11 rebounds, and shot 33% from three.  This year Love averaged 20 points, 15 rebounds, shot 42% from long range, and had a 53-game double-double streak.  He went from an above average player to a superstar in one year.
2. Russell Westbrook (Thunder)
3. Raymond Felton (Nuggets)
4. Eric Gordon (Clippers)
5. Wesley Matthews (Trail Blazers)

Defensive Player of the Year

1. Dwight Howard (Magic): Not much more needs to be said that hasn’t already.  Howard simply impacts the game on defense more than any other player.  He makes the lane off-limits.
2. Andrew Bogut (Bucks)
3. Rajon Rondo (Celtics)
4. LeBron James (Heat)
5. Chris Paul (Hornets)

Coach of the Year

1. Tom Thibodeau (Bulls): Sure, he’s lucky to have Derrick Rose and an overall nice roster, but this is not the most talented team in the Eastern Conference, and yet they’ve locked up the one seed with room to spare.  The Bulls won 41 games last year, and now will win at least 60 and could win as many as 62.  That’s not just the addition of Carlos Boozer.  The quantum leap in this team’s play is a direct result of Thibodeau’s defensive game plan.  The Bulls were a solid defensive group last year; this year they’re the best in the NBA.  More than just stats, if you simply watch Chicago play, you’ll see Thibodeau’s fingerprints everywhere.  They play harder than any other team in the league, they rebound, they get loose balls, and they share the ball.  Really, they play like a college team.  It’s refreshing to watch, and Thibodeau might just be cooking up a championship recipe in the Windy City.
2. Gregg Popovich (Spurs)
3. Nate McMillan (Trail Blazers)
4. Phil Jackson (Lakers)
5. Doug Collins (76ers)

All-NBA First Team: Derrick Rose, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Dwight Howard

All-NBA Second Team: Russell Westbrook, Deron Williams, Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol

All-NBA Third Team: Chris Paul, Rajon Rondo, Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire, Blake Griffin

All-NBA Fourth Team: Steve Nash, Monta Ellis, Luol Deng, LaMarcus Aldridge, Kevin Love

(Note: These All-NBA Teams are mostly regardless of position.  I wanted to pick the twenty best players.  I didn’t want to be in the position of throwing Andrew Bogut on my All-NBA Third Team just because he’s a center.  Center and shooting guard are relatively weak positions in the league, while point guard and the forward positions are stacked, so that’s why my list might have two point guards or power forwards on the same team.)

There you have it, the definitive list of awards for the 2011 NBA season.  If any of you fine readers have a beef with my picks, feel free to let me know just how wrong I was in our spacious and comfortable comment section.

--from Adam