07-08 NBA Midseason Predictions

MVP: Chris Paul-PG-New Orleans Hornets: As a die hard Laker fan, who bleeds purple and gold, I would want nothing more than to see Kobe holding his first ever Maurice Podoloff trophy. However, with the recent, and devastating injuries to big man, Andrew Bynum, and key bench player, Trevor Ariza, I do not see my Lakers finishing among the top 4 in the West. So, my MVP prediction is, the 23 year old point guard for the New Orleans Hornets, Chris Paul, to win the award. Leading his team to a Western Conference best, 29-12(as of January 23), CP3 also has impressive averages of 21.1ppg(leading his team), 10.4apg(3rd in the league), and 2.7spg(leading the league). All career highs. He is also shooting career bests from the field(48.9%), the charity stripe(88.4), and from behind the arc(36.0%). After the Hornets first 41 games of play, Chris Paul has shown, better than every other player in this league, why he deserves the Most Valuable Player Award, for the 2007-2008 season.
Runner Up-Kobe Bryant-G-Los Angeles Lakers

Defensive Player of the Year: Kevin Garnett-PF-Boston Celtics: Yes, yes, yes. I know Camby has been having outstanding defensive games statistically this month. However, overall, Garnett's importance to the Celtics defense(holding opponents to a league best 41.57 fg%, and only allowing 87.4 points per contest. ) Camby on the other hand has yet to single handedly turn a poor defensive team in to a great one. Camby may be averaging career highs in 2 out of 3 major defensive statistics(defensive rebounds per game(11.2) and blocks per game(3.9)). However, KG's overall defensive presence is much louder than Camby's. Garnett has averages of 7.7 defensive rebounds per game, 1.4 steals per game, and 1.4 blocks per game. Garnett has also held offensive threats, Carlos Boozer, Chris Bosh, and Pau Gasol, all well under their season averages.
Runner Up-Marcus Camby-C-Denver Nuggets

Rookie of the Year: Kevin Durant-F-Seattle Supersonics: Being drafted is a pivotal day in a NBA players career. Going #2 in the the draft is one of the greatest memories an NBA player will ever have. Being asked to be your club's number one scorer, leader, and franchise guy, before you even play a game, might be a "little" nerve racking for most 19 year olds. That clearly has not been the case for 19 year old Kevin Durant. KD35 has been most impressive in his first 41 games as an NBA rook. His shooting percentage(40.4%) may not be great, but in time it will get much better. Kevin, in 32.9 minutes per game, is averaging 19.4 points(first among qualified rookies), 4.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.10 blocks(5th among qualified rookies) per contest. He is also shooting a very respectable 86.2% from the foul line, which is third among qualified rookies. Judging Durant on his poor FG% is completely unfair. He is taking 17.2 field goal attempts per game. The most since superstar LeBron James took 18.9 per game, for a 41.7 FG% in his 03-04 rookie season. He is also, only committing 1.4 fouls per game. Which out of 13 qualified rookies, is 11th. This shows a lot of potential on the defensive end for Durant, because it shows he knows where to play on defense and how to not pick up silly fouls, like most rookies do. Expect amazing things from this kid, he is bound for super stardom.
Runner Up-Al Horford-C-Atlanta Hawks

Sixth Man of the Year: Wally Szczerbiak-G/F-Seattle Supersonics: *NOTE*The past two years, both players who won this award played over 30 minutes per game(Mike Miller and Leandro Barbosa). I know, they hardly started any games, but if you play 30 minutes per game, ideally, you shouldn't be considered a bench player. So for my pick, I am dropping the top 2 leading candidates, Ginobili, and Barbosa, because I do not consider them "bench players" Instead, to be picked by me for this award, you cannot average more than 27 minutes per game, because it is not fair to the bench players who get almost as much done, in much less PT.
Now, onto why, I picked Wally's World, as my 07-08 NBA Sixth Man of the Year. While starting only 1 out of his teams first 42 games, he is averaging 13.3 points per game, in only 23.2 minutes per game. Wally is also shooting 46.4% from the field, 41.4% from behind the arc, and 84.5% from the foul line. Out of his 42 games played he has scored in double figures 27 times. After battling injuries for 3 out of the past 5 seasons, Wally has finally gotten healthy, and has managed to maintain great, consistent play off the bench for the Sonics.
Runner Up-Travis Outlaw-SF-Portland Trail Blazers

Most Improved Player of the Year Award: Chris Kaman-C-L.A. Clippers: If Lakers center, Andrew Bynum, had not been sideline with a knee injury for the next 8 weeks, he would be on here. Unfortunately, he will be out of action for a while, so I have to put someone else here. Who better than should-be-All Star, Chris Kaman. While averaging career highs in, points(17.4), rebounds(13.9), blocks(3.1), minutes(39.2), and assists(1.9), Kaman has shown why he is a top 5 center in the league today. If Kaman keeps up his play, there is no way he shouldn't win this award.
Runner Up-Richard Jefferson-SF-New Jersey Nets

Coach of the Year: Nate McMillan-Portland Trail Blazers: This is the obvious choice here. With 25 wins, a 13 game winning streak, and 16-8 conference record(REMEMBER THEY ARE IN THE WEST), already under his belt, McMillan has shown, that even when the chips are down, there is no reason to give up. When most people didn't think this team had a chance of winning 25 games this entire season, the Blazers did it in half a season. Nate McMillan has coached this surprising, young team(the youngest in the NBA), to a terrific record, even without their future star center, Greg Oden, and they have done it convincingly. No more words here, this matter is closed.
Runner Up-Byron Scott-New Orleans Hornets

All-NBA First Team
G-Kobe Bryant
G-Chris Paul
F-LeBron James
F-Kevin Garnett
C-Dwight Howard

All-NBA Second Team
G-Steve Nash
G-Allen Iverson
F-Carmelo Anthony
F-Tim Duncan
C-Marcus Camby

All-NBA Third Team
G-Baron Davis
G-Dwyane Wade
F-Carlos Boozer
F-Dirk Nowitzki
C-Yao Ming

All-Defensive First Team
G-Chauncey Billups
G-Kobe Bryant
F-Kevin Garnett
F-Shawn Marion
C-Marcus Camby

All-Defensive Second Team
G-Chris Paul
G-Allen Iverson
F-Bruce Bowen
F-Caron Butler
C-Dwight Howard

All-Rookie First Team
G-Mike Conley
G-Juan Carlos Navarro
F-Kevin Durant
F-Sean Williams
C-Al Horford

All-Rookie Second Team
G-Daequan Cook
G-Jeff Green
F-Jamario Moon
F-Yi Jianlian
C-Glen Davis

West Champs: Phoenix Suns
East Champs: Boston Celtics

NBA Champs: Boston Celtics