Post Season Awards

Here are my choices for the NBA Postseason Awards.
Enjoy.

MVP: Kobe Bryant, SG, Los Angeles Lakers

To me this is an easy choice. It's Kobe Bryant. (26.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 4.9 apg) The (much deserved) clamour seems to be about Lebron James and Dwyane Wade. Both have put forth excellent seasons and neither would be a bad choice. Both are top tier talents and the trio comprises the cream of the NBA crop. My argument would be that as James and Wade stake their claim to be king of the mountain, they should follow the tracks that Kobe walked to get there.

Dwyane Wade (30.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 7.5 apg) did an awesome job taking his team from oblivion to 5th seed in the Eastern Conference. His on court improvements (increased 3 pt accuracy, more assists, fewer turnovers, team leading block total) mirror his overall return to prominence. The road from injury riddled former Finals MVP to league MVP candidate (by way of an Olympic Gold Medal) is an amazing one. Some called Wade a has been, a quick flame out, a product of Shaq’s last hurrah in Miami. He’s proven that the Heat are his team and that with him they are a contender. That’s an admirable performance. Trouble is we’ve watched that film before.

Kobe was the star of that film.

Lebron James (28.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 7.2 apg) did yeoman’s work in supplanting the Boston Celtics as the #1 seed in the East. His Cavaliers are a vicious bunch at home and took the battle for the top overall seed in the league into the final moments of the regular season. Thier rise into the league's elite is a testament to the will and drive of Lebron James, as well as, how he transfers that energy to his teammates. This is nothing short of incredible; but again this script is familiar.
Kobe did that too.

What we're seeing are various renditions of the brilliance that is Kobe Bryant. Lebron James and Dwyane Wade both bring unique qualities to the court in the way that they play the game. They are both stars in their own right. They will probably win MVP awards in the future. This year though, I say Kobe.

ROY: Derrick Rose, PG, Chicago Bulls

One of the most difficult things in sports is to play in your hometown. Very few can handle the burden of being as great as people think you are. Derrick Rose (16.8 ppg, 6.3 apg, 3.9 rpg) has handled it and shown flashes of brilliance. He also led his team to the playoffs. Give the young man this award already.

COY: Rick Adelman, Head Coach, Houston Rockets

A combination of injuries (Carl Landry, Yao, Tracy McGrady, Ron Artest) could have eliminated this team from contention in the West. Instead they've played unbelievably consistent basketball and finished as the #5 seed in their Conference. He keeps that team steady and he's the reason they are a playoff team.

Sixth Man: Flip Murray, SG, Atlanta Hawks

Flip Murray (12.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.0 apg) is instant offense and a stabilizing force off the bench for the Atlanta Hawks. He's the solitary reason that the Hawks have any scoring punch off the bench. The biggest difference between last year's team and this years version is the ability of the second unit to keep them in games. Flip is a major par of that. He may not be a glamour pick like some other favorites for the award but he's a major contributor for a playoff team. I think that makes him more than worthy.

DPOY: Dwight Howard, C, Orlando Magic

I think the most impressive thing about Dwight Howard's (13.8 rpg, 2.9 bpg) game is his commitment to rebounding and blocking shots. There are plenty of players in the league that have comparable physical tools (quickness, jumping ability, etc) and they do much less with them. Rebounding is the forgotten element of defense. Howard ends countless possession by blocking shots but he ends so many more by rebounding missed shots. He's a game changer in this regard.

Most Improved: Danny Granger, SF, Indiana Pacers

Danny Granger (25.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.7apg) took the leap from good player to All-Star this season. He's become the type of player you have to game-plan for. He also guards his position which, often times, matches up with some of the league's elite perimeter players. Granger was pretty much the lone bright spot for the Pacers this season and gives them a rock to build on in the future.