2007 NBA Awards Predictions
Brandon Roy Wins Rookie of Year; Tim Duncan Wins Top Defender Award
Several players will compete for the NBA Most Improved Player award, while other awards seem to have more obvious winners.
The NBA season is winding down, which makes it about time for the league to hand out its awards. The NBA’s Most Valuable Player award typically draws the most notoriety, as the winner of the award receives the Maurice Podoloff Trophy, named after the first president of the NBA.
Every player to win the NBA's MVP award has been inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, except for players who won the award after 1993-94 and are not yet eligible for induction, according to Wikipedia.com, so the stakes are rather high.
The two front runners for the MVP award are Dirk Nowitzki, who’s never won the award, and Steve Nash, who’s looking to be named league MVP for the third consecutive season.
MVP Prediction: Dirk Nowitzki wins, but Nash is more deserving
Dirk Nowitzki will likely win the award, having led the Dallas Mavericks to the best record in the NBA. Yet, many would argue that Steve Nash is more deserving as his team relies on him more in order to win. Read more about the NBA MVP race.
Rookie of the Year Prediction: Brandon Roy takes it hands down
With a state line of 16.7 ppg, 4.4 rbpg, 4.1 apg and 1.2 spg, no other rookie comes close. Brandon Roy has been one of the leaders on the Portland Trail Blazers behind Zach Randolph, playing numerous positions and often guarding opposing teams’ best perimeter players.
Defensive Player of the Year Prediction: Tim Duncan, an underrated defender
A Spurs fan recently made a pretty good case for Tim Duncan winning defensive player of the year. With Ron Artest and Ben Wallace having so-so seasons, Duncan does seem to be a front runner. Yet, perimeter players, such as Shawn Marion and Josh Howard, could make their cases heard. Still, Duncan is the cornerstone of a disciplined San Antonio Spurs team, leading them in blocks (2.4 per game) and defensive rebounds (7.9 per game). In addition, the Spurs give up the fewest points in the league (89.8 ppg) and outscore their opponents by a bigger margin than any team in the league (+9.1 ppg). They also give up the fewest foul shots per game (21.4). Without Duncan on the floor, it could be argued that none of that would be possible.
Most Improved Player Prediction: Deron Williams the most deserving winner
There are numerous candidates who qualify for this award this season. Al Jefferson is the most probable to get it, improving from 7.9 ppg and 5.1 rbpg in 2005-2006 to 15.8 ppg, 10.9 rbpg in 2006-2007. However, consider that the point guard position is the most difficult position to learn in the NBA and consider that the Utah Jazz went from a disappointment to a division winner in just one year and suddenly Williams stands out. Obviously, the return of an injured Carlos Boozer played a big part in the Jazz’s success, but what they really lacked in 2005-2006 was consistent production on the perimeter. Williams upped his performance from 10.8 ppg, 2.4 rbpg and 4.5 apg in 2005-2006 to 16.6 ppg, 3.4 rbpg and 9.5 apg (second in the NBA) in 2006-2007.
Other candidates include Sacramento’s Kevin Martin, who jumped from a 10.8 ppg scoring average to 20.5 ppg in just one season; Monta Ellis, who went from 6.8 ppg and 1.6 apg to 16.8 ppg and 4.2 apg; and Andris Biedrins, who went from 3.8 ppg, 4.2 rbpg and 0.7 bspg to 9.9 ppg, 9.5 rbpg and 1.7 bspg.
6th Man of the Year: Barbosa wins first 6th Man Award
Unless Manu Ginobili of the San Antonio can retain his 6th man status (which he might), Leandro Barbosa should win this hands down. He’s also a long shot to win the Most Improve Player award. With a state line of 18.1 ppg and 4.1 apg, Barbosa has been a great relief for Steve Nash.
Coach of the Year Award Prediction: Down to three finalists
Coach of the Year is between Utah’s Jerry Sloan, Dallas’ Avery Johnson and Toronto’s Sam Mitchell. Sloan has molded the talented, but often injured Jazz team into a winner. The development of younger players, such as Deron Williams and Ronnie Brewer, has been nothing short of impressive. Avery Johnson has led his Mavericks to the best record in the NBA, winning about 83% of their games. Sam Mitchell has taken a team that won 27 games last season and turned them into a division winner.
It’s hard to give the award to Sloan, even though I’ve always thought of him as hands down the best coach in the NBA. The Jazz might’ve done this well last season had they not been so injured.
It’s tough to give the award to Sam Mitchell, since the Raptors’ lineup looks a lot different this season than it did last season, with newcomers like T.J. Ford, Andrea Bargnani and Jorge Garbajosa.
Avery Johnson has a lot of talent to work with, but before he went to Dallas they weren’t title contenders. Johnson continues to preach defense and has turned the Mavericks into one of the elite teams in the league. For this reason, he may sneak away with his second straight Coach of the Year award.
Executive of the Year Award Prediction: Colangelo wins for the second time
After winning the award in 2004-2005 with the Phoenix Suns, Bryan Colangelo has made great improvements to the Toronto Raptors’ lineup. His efforts have resulted in 45 wins (with three games remaining) and a division title. Making bold moves, such as trading prospect Charlie Villanueva for point guard T.J. Ford, and drafting Andrea Bargnani, has put him in the front-running for this award.
