After having a little fun with last year's rankings yesterday, it's time to come back to the present and rank my current picks for each of this year's awards. Last week's ranking is in parentheses.
Most Valuable Player
1. Pau Gasol - LAL (1) 19.8 pts, 11.2 reb, 2.2 blk
By Pau's standards, this was a pretty average week, and the only performance that really stood out at all was his 28 points against Indiana. He's still leading the defending champions in rebounds and blocks, but with Andrew Bynum returning, he may see a dip in his production. Don't be surprised to see a new face in this spot next week.
2. Dirk Nowitzki - DAL (3) 25.0 pts, 7.7 reb, .562 FG%
Dirk's 56% field goal percentage is the best of his career by far. He has only shot 50% for a season once (50.2% in 2007), and that was the season he walked away with the MVP award. If Dallas hadn't lost their winning streak against Milwaukee, he probably would have taken over the top spot this week.
3. LeBron James - MIA (4) 23.9 pts, 6.2 reb, 7.1 ast
LeBron scored over 20 points in all 4 games this week, and the Heat won them all to extend their season-best winning streak to 10 games. The competition was relatively weak this week, but that changes this week, with visits to New York and Phoenix along with a visit from the Mavericks.
4. Kobe Bryant - LAL (2) 26.7 pts, 5.2 reb, 4.7 ast
Once again, Kobe knows how to score points, reaching 20 points now in 19 consecutive games, but the Lakers' loss to Chicago in their lone challenge of the week showed that these Lakers are still not quite as good as last year's champs.
5. Russell Westbrook - OKC (5) 23.3 pts, 8.6 ast, 5.2 reb
We saw both sides of Westbrook this week, from his masterful 29-point, 10-assist performance at New Orleans to his ho-hum 17 -point, 5-assist game against the Rockets. As long as the Thunder continue to win and Westbrook puts up the numbers he has been, he will be in this race.
6. Dwyane Wade - MIA (10) 23.6 pts, 6.5 reb, 4.2 ast
D-Wade was simply great this week, averaging 32.5 points on 60.8% shooting as the Heat extended their winning streak to ten games. The winning streak has coincided with Wade's return to form, which makes me wonder whether he might actually be the team's most valuable player.
7. Kevin Durant - OKC (6) 27.5 pts, 6.9 reb, .917 FT%
Durant's numbers are still down across the board this year, but he is the current scoring leader, and he has seen an increase in nearly every category in December compared to November. If he can get back to the form he showed last season, he could jump teammate Russell Westbrook before long.
8. Amare Stoudemire - NYK (8) 26.7 pts, 9.1 reb, 2.0 blk
Stoudemire has now posted 9 consecutive 30-point games, including a 39-point performance against the Boston Celtics that would have been 42 points and a win if his buzzer-beating 3-pointer had counted. The Knicks are definitely one of the hottest teams in the league, and by the looks of their performance against Boston, very underrated.
9. Derrick Rose - CHI (7) 23.9 pts, 8.4 ast, 4.3 reb
Rose is currently being slowed by wrist and elbow injuries, but he is playing through them and still getting the ball to the right people to help Chicago win. The Bulls have won 7 straight, and if the injury doesn't slow him down for too long, he should be able to maintain his standing on this list.
10. Deron Williams - UTA (NR) 23.0 pts, 9.8 ast, 4.0 reb
It may seem that Williams regained this spot because of Manu Ginobili's recent statistical dip, but Williams turned in one of the strongest weeks of any player in the league, averaging 32 points while shooting 53% from the floor and from 3-point range while also hitting 90% of his free throws. The Jazz's only loss came to the equally hot Mavericks.
Falling out: Manu Ginobili
Waiting for next week: Kevin Garnett, Carmelo Anthony
Rookie of the Year
1. Blake Griffin - LAC 20.3 pts, 12.1 reb, 3.1 ast
It would take a monumental collapse for Griffin to not win the Rookie of the Year award. If the Clippers were only a better team, Griffin would find himself in the running for the MVP award, but as it is, he should still be a strong contender for a spot in the All-Star game.
2. John Wall - WAS 16.7 pts, 8.9 ast, 2.3 stl
The other #1 pick has been slowed by a knee injury for the past week, and he only scored a very disappointing 8 points when he attempted to play against New York. He needs to take the time to get healthy so that he can play at full strength. He's most likely going to be the ROY runner-up anyway.
3. Landry Fields - NYK 10.5 pts, 7.5 reb, 1.7 ast
The reigning Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month has a little different story than the two ranked above him. He was not a #1 pick. In fact, he wasn't drafted until the 2nd round, but New York found a gem and are definitely reaping the benefits, as they are looking much more likely to make the playoffs than the Clippers or Wizards.
4. Eric Bledsoe - LAC 7.9 pts, 3.5 reb, 4.7 ast
Bledsoe joins his college teammate, John Wall, and his current teammate, Blake Griffin, on the short list for Rookie of the Year, although more realistically he is just a candidate to make the All-Rookie First Team. He has been returned to the bench after averaging less than 3 points per game this week.
5. DeMarcus Cousins - SAC 11.3 pts, 6.8 reb, 1.3 ast
Cousins has played relatively well lately, other than a dud against Miami, but he is showing some definite promise. With Cousins and reigning Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans to build around, the Kings could become a respectable team in years to come.
Sixth Man of the Year
1. Wilson Chandler - NYK 17.3 pts, 6.2 reb, 1.7 blk
The Knicks have yet another representative in my rankings thanks to the strong play of Wilson Chandler off the bench. In addition to scoring 27 points against Denver this week, he put up 18 points and 12 rebounds in the Knicks' close loss to Boston.
2. Jason Terry - DAL 15.8 pts, 4.4 ast, 1.6 stl
This is Terry's 4th season coming off the bench for the Mavericks, and it's obvious he has become comfortable in his role. There has been no dropoff in his production, and he already has one Sixth Man trophy sitting at home, from his incredible 2009 season in which he averaged nearly 21 points per game off the bench.
3. Daniel Gibson - CLE 13.7 pts, 3.3 reb, 3.0 ast
The Cavaliers have been starting Gibson for the past week, and if the position becomes full-time, it will impact his eligibility for this award. As of today, with only 4 starts on the season and the best numbers of his career, he has to be included.
4. Jamal Crawford - ATL 14.8 pts, 3.5 ast, 1.8 reb
Last year's Sixth Man winner has obviously been a little down from last season, and a recent back injury has done nothing to help. He scored onlt 2 points against Detroit before sitting out against Boston with the injury.
5. Antawn Jamison - CLE 13.2 pts, 5.6 reb, 1.5 ast
Jamison has also been receiving treatment for a back injury, but his dip in production hasn't been as pronounced as Crawford's. Depending on the severity of the injuries, we could be seeing one or two new names on this list next week.
Most Improved Player
(Last year's stats in parentheses)
1. Dorell Wright - GSW 14.9 pts, 6.1 reb, 3.1 ast (7.1 pts, 3.1 reb, 1.3 ast)
The move to Oakland and the opportunity to start have allowed Wright to show what he can do after 6 years on the bench in Miami. The only problem is that his shooting percentages have all dropped, so his numbers are up as a result of an increase in opportunity. We'll see how long he can maintain it.
2. D.J. Augustin - CHA 12.6 pts, 6.4 ast, 3.4 reb (6.4 pts, 2.4 ast, 1.2 reb)
Augustin became a full-time starter this season, and his numbers have seen a nice jump, although not unexpected. He had similar production as a rookie, then dropped off last season. He still struggles at times, like his 0 for 8 shooting night against Boston, but the good has outweighed the bad so far.
3. Kevin Love - MIN 20.3 pts, 15.6 reb, 2.2 ast (14.0 pts, 11.0 reb, 2.3 ast)
Love has gone from being a solid player to a likely All-Star and the league leader in rebounding in his third season. He now has 12 consecutive double-doubles and would be a leading MVP candidate if the Timberwolves could turn around their season.
4. Paul Millsap - UTA 17.9 pts, 8.1 reb, 2.4 ast (11.6 pts, 6.8 reb, 1.6 ast)
Millsap's assumption of the starting power forward position came one season later than expected for the Jazz, but the results have been exactly what they had expected. Millsap's steady production all season long has been one big reason that the Jazz are leading their division.
5. Eric Gordon - LAC 24.1 pts, 3.3 reb, 4.6 ast (16.9 pts, 2.6 reb, 3.0 ast)
Gordon gives the 2008 Draft Class its third member on this list, as he has gone from being a solid starter to potential All-Star (if voters ignore the name on the front of his jersey). Before scoring only 16 points against the 76ers, he had reached 20 points in 12 consecutive games.
NBA Player of the Day
Tim Duncan - SAS 28 pts, 16 reb, 4 blk
Duncan set a season-high in points and was very close to his highs in rebounds and blocks, and looked just like himself from years past as he dominated the Nuggets' big men in a very close win that kept the Spurs in first place.
Predictions - 17 Dec
Upset picks are in italics.
NBA
Cavaliers at Pacers - Pacers by 11
Heat at Knicks - Heat by 5
Lakers at 76ers - Lakers by 4
Nets at Raptors - Raptors by 4
Bobcats at Hawks - Hawks by 8
Clippers at Pistons - Pistons by 4
Jazz at Hornets - Hornets by 1
Kings at Thunder - Thunder by 13
Grizzlies at Rockets - Rockets by 2
Suns at Mavericks - Mavericks by 9
Timberwolves at Blazers - Blazers by 10
College Basketball
(7) Tennessee at Charlotte - Tennessee by 12
Prediction Results - 16 Dec
NFL: 1/1 (1.000) 39/65 overall (.600)
NBA: 3/3 (1.000) 149/197 overall (.756)
College Basketball: 3/3 (1.000) 92/109 overall (.844)
I had a perfect day on predictions yesterday, but I was nearly done in by Memphis, who I have always felt was overrated. Maybe this will wake up the voters to the fact that they are not the top team in their own conference - that would be UCF, who I have had ranked all season long.
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