Handing Out The Hardware

The NBA regular season wraps up this Wednesday and with it I want to give version of the regular season awards. I love this time of year because no matter who you select as your winner you have debate. Sports are the great equalizer we have in life. I can’t go up to Ben Bernake and discuss the stock market or talk with Bill Gates about computer science. But we all three could sit around and talk about Eastern Conference play offs and whether or not Orlando can challenge Cleveland or Boston. Debate goes hand in hand with sports and I hope after you read this you will comment with your own personal choices.

MVP- Dwyane Wade: D-Wade has the numbers, 30.2 ppg, 5.0 reb, 7.5 ast, 2.2stls, 1.3 blk. Wade becomes the FIRST player in NBA history to reach triple digits in steals (173) and blocks (106). Wade also hasn’t had the luxury that Kobe Bryant or LeBron James has had. Wade’s supporting cast isn’t close to what the other two are playing with. Wade has his team in the 5^th sport for the Eastern conference play offs and they could win their first round series. LeBron’s numbers are great also (28.3,7.6,7.3,1.7,1.2), but it seems to me that this award was given to LeBron before the season even started.

Defensive POY- Dwight Howard: the first and last line of defense. This is the easiest award to give out. The Magic do not play much defense, they like to run down the floor and jack trey’s or throw alley oops to the big man. But Dwight plays some D, excuse me, A LOT of D. He swatted 228 shots this year, and altered countless others. At the beginning of the year I thought my man Ron Artest would challenge but Dwight had the chokehold on this hardware from the get go.

Sixth Man- Jason Terry: Terry has been a beast this season, he has averaged 2.3 three’s, 19.5 ppg, and 3.4 ast while coming off the bench for Dallas. I wanted to give this Paul Millsap, but he started way too many games and could be Carlos Boozer’s replacement this coming season. Terry has played an important role for Dallas giving them another scoring option aside from Dirk. I refuse to give this award to Manu Ginobili. Do not get me wrong, I love Manu’s game. He in my opinion is the most underrated player in the game. He is unstoppable with both hands, and can hit any shot. But he could start for any team. The 6^th man award in my opinion is the sixth best player on a team that plays the best for the season, and is Jason Terry.

Coach of the Year- Mike Woodson: the Atlanta Hawks came out of no where last season to sneak into the post season and took the Boston Celtics to a seventh game before succumbing to them. Mike Woodson has built on that success and this season with the East a lot stronger he has the Hawks in the fourth play off spot. Give him the credit for developing Josh Smith from just a dunker to an all around player who takes pride in defense.

Rookie of the Year-Derrick Rose: this kid has been out of his mind. Playing the hardest position to play as a rookie he has excelled. Rose is averaging 16.7 ppg, 6.2 ast, to only 2.5 turn overs as a rookie! He has been one of the few bright spots for the perpetually disappointing Bulls. He is a super star in waiting. O.J. Mayo and Brook Lopez got serious consideration. Mayo is going to be a star and Lopez is already the third best center in the East.

Executive of the Year-Mark Warkentien: What a great trade in dealing Allen Iverson to the Nuggets and getting Chauncey Billups in return. The Nuggets last year played no defense and to win they tried to outscore you. This year with a true floor general they play solid defense, and Billups bring championship experience with him to the point guard slot.

Most disappointing team- Los Angeles Clippers: I kind of feel foolish because the Clippers aren’t ever supposed to be good. But they went out and got Baron Davis and Marcus Camby in the offseason and could have challenged for the final spot. So what did they do? They won 19 games and are battling for the top spot in the draft lottery.

Most disappointing player- Josh Howard: the offseason was rough on Mr. Howard. First he admitted he smoked marijuana in the offseason, not a bright move, sponsors love a stoner. Then at a flag football game this summer he was caught on camera saying he hated America. Plain stupid. But all he had to do was have a great season and all would be forgotten. Well this is his average, 18.1 ppg, 5.1 reb, 1.6 ast. Not a great way to cement yourself as a peer of the draft class of LeBron, Wade, Melo and Co. ,much less when you had such a rocky offseason.

Jared House