NBA Awards

Most Valuable Player:
Derrick Rose
Most "valuable" player differs greatly from most "outstanding" player.  Interestingly, it may add to Derrick Rose's MVP case that he would not be the MOP.  When you acknowledge that James had by far the best season, then you begin to dissect what Rose brought to the table to make Chicago the best team in the NBA.  The debate, for me, came down to Rose versus Howard.  The arguments were that without Howard, Orlando would arguably be the worst defensive team in the NBA, yet with him they were one of the best, and for Chicago, nobody would shoot on that team if not for Rose.  Coupling Rose's improved defense with his dynamic offense and Howard's improved offense with his dominant defense, it is difficult to differentiate which player has a greater impact on his team.  Essentially, Howard loses the award more than Rose wins it as Dwight is often too complacent and the does more to hurt his team than Derrick does (technical fouls>suspension).

2. Dwight Howard

3. Dirk Nowitzki

4. Dwyane Wade

5. LeBron James

Rookie of the Year:
Blake Griffin

Do I need to explain anything?

2. DeMarcus Cousins

3. Landry Fields

Defensive Player of the Year:
Dwight Howard
(See above)

2. Tyson Chandler

3. Tony Allen

Coach of the Year:
George Karl
The most impressive part of George Karl's coaching performance this season was that he essentially coached two completely different teams, in two completely different situations, in two completely different systems, and equally as impressive.  Prior to the Carmelo trade, Karl kept a team that 9 out of 10 times would have mailed it in competitive.  Following the trade, Denver became a top defensive team, developed great offensive balance, and played with more energy than anyone else.  More than anything else, it has to say something about the coach when a team trades its two best players for 75 cents on the dollar and becomes more feared.

2. Doug Collins

3. Lionel Hollins

Most Improved Player:
LaMarcus Aldridge
For the first few years of his career, there were numerous criticisms of LaMarcus Aldridge's game: he was an outside big, he wasn't a great defender, and he wasn't a leader.  Following Brandon Roy's surgery most people wrote Portland off, and rightfully so.  The only reason that the Blazers did not fall off the map was because of Aldridge's improvements.  He became a dominant post player, he improved his defense, he became a fantastic leader.  Aldridge put Portland on his back and carried them to places people thought they could not go.

2. Derrick Rose

3. Tyler Hansbrough

Sixth Man of the Year:
Lamar Odom
Odom separates himself from Terry and Crawford mostly because of his versatility and his value to his team.  Lamar brings an aspect to the Lakers that they do not get anywhere else and is essential to the team's success.  Terry and Crawford both pack scoring punch off of the bench but neither contributes much else.
2. Jason Terry
3. Jamal Crawford
All-NBA:
First Team:
Derrick Rose
Dwyane Wade
LeBron James
Dirk Nowitzki
Dwight Howard
Second Team:
Russell Westbrook
Kobe Bryant
Kevin Durant
LaMarcus Aldridge
Amaré Stoudemire
Third Team:
Chris Paul
Manu Ginobili
Kevin Love
Zach Randolph
Pau Gasol
All-NBA Defense:
First-Team:
Rajon Rondo
Tony Allen
Andre Iguodala
Kevin Garnett
Dwight Howard
Second-Team:
Chris Paul
Derrick Rose
Grant Hill
LeBron James
Tyson Chandler
All-NBA Rookie:
First-Team:
John Wall
Landry Fields
Greg Monroe
Blake Griffin
DeMarcus Cousins
Second-Team:
Eric Bledsoe
Wes Johnson
Paul George
Gary Neal
Derrick Favors