2008 NBA Awards (Hooray Clarity)

After handing out the inaugural SS NBA MVP to Kobe yesterday, it's time to look at the other awards and appropriate hardware.

On TV, all over the Internet, and in print, folks have been split about the MVP between the Big 4, but been pretty consistent for the others:

ROY: Kevin Durant, G-F, Seattle (er Oklahoma City) Super Sonics

Defensive Player: Kevin Garnett, F, Boston Celtics

Most Improved: Hedo Turkoglu, F, Orlando Magic

6th Man: Manu Ginobili, G-Lefty, San Antonio Spurs

Coach: Phil Jackson, LA Lakers/Byron Scott, New Orleans Hornets

I entirely agree with all of these selections, especially the Durant-Garnett-Turkoglu-Ginobili selections. Personally I think that Coach of the Year is silly because at the end of the day, the NBA is a players league.

Michael Jordan ran the Bulls. Kobe Bryant runs the Lakers right now, Garnett the same in Boston, Rasheed in Detroit, Steve Nash for the Suns, and Tim Duncan in SA. Yes that is simplistic, but I think it's true. The Coach is then almost like a facilitator, making sure everyone is talking, getting minutes, and healthy. Sort of like a COO. If you want the CEO, look to the best players. They're the one's executing.

With that said, the arguments for the above Award Winners are pretty tired. Unlike with the MVP, there is a lot of clarity for the other big awards. Sure some, like EBSports picking Camby (a Block and D-Rebounding machine) for Defensive Player, or Tim Legler choosing Al Horford for ROY, disagree, but the analysis and thinking is pretty similar.

Anybody who watches Durant sees that he is the best Rookie in 2008. Even though he does not block a ton of shots, Kevin Garnett anchors the best D in the league. He's like a linebacker, making sure everyone is in place. One-on-one, he might not jump out, but for his effect on the entire product, he's the guy. Hedo Turkoglu went from washed-up journeyman to the second best player on a 50-win team. Suddenly he's clutch. Manu has been his Lefty self all-year. Some could argue that he deserves MVP votes.

So like we did yesterday, let's look at some players who will not win these awards but have nonetheless given quality efforts:

ROY: Al Thornton, F, LA Clippers

It's hard to classify this guy as a Rookie because he is 24. Older than LeBron, Carmello, Dwight Howard. Still this is his first year in the League and he has been sensational. In an otherwise Lost Season in Clipperland, the Florida State product provided some spark. When he dropped 39 on the Grizzlies, he created some serious buzz. Yes the Grizzlies are bad, but 39 is a lot, especially for a guy who only took 23 shots. Remember those Kobe lines of 9-23 for 26 points? Well Thornton went 13-23 and 10-12 from the stripe to score the most by a Rook this season. Go Seminoles!

Defensive: Rafer "Skip to My Lou" Alston, PG, Houston Rockets

Once a one-trick pony, Alston has evolved into a very good NBA point guard. His And-1 Mix-Tape days are long gone, and he has been a steady force for the surprisingly consistent Rockets.

Always an excellent ball handler, he is now a good rebounder for his position, a reliable .351 3-point shooter, and a very pesky ball hawk. He's aggressive, persistent, and smart. Watch him against the better point guards in the league. They get frustrated. Alston talks and talks, plays hard, and looks a lot like a late-90s Gary Payton. Chris Paul lit him up twice, but Chris Paul also lit everybody up.

Most Improved: LaMarcus Aldridge, F, Portland Trailblazers

He and the Blazers have slowed down since their 13-game winning streak and dramatic ascension to relevance in the NBA. Still they're a .500 team in the amazing 2008 Western Conference.

Nobody on this team characterized the improvement more than Aldridge. In his second year, he basically doubled all of his important statistics, from 9 to 18ppg, 5 to 8rpg, 22 to 34mpg. Who remembers the first game of the year when he went right at Tim Duncan and dropped 27? From start to finish, he has showed significant improvement and has given the Blazers a solid low-post presence, no matter how Greg Oden develops. What's more, if Oden picks up where we expect, Aldridge might really slide under the radar. Hey Chicago, how's Tyrus Thomas working out?...

Roger Mason Jr., G, Washington Wizards deserves some credit here too. He has gone from a garbage time player to a 31-point scorer. Who would have thought that he would become a relevant player on a good Wizards playoff team?

6th Man: Glen "Big Baby" Davis, F-C, Boston Celtics

Big Baby does not get too much love as ROY here because he fits more as a 6th man type. He is a niche player, he comes in for short bursts, plays with a lot of energy, and executes very well.

He has also been a factor in the Celtics success. Along with Leon Powe and Kendrick Perkins, he has played well enough to allow KG to rest for big stretches and prepare for the Playoff Wars, all the while remaining competitive against the Hawks or Bucks on a Wednesday night. It's a big deal when a 60-win can rest their best player because they have guys like Davis filling in so well. His outstanding 20-point performance in a 92-85 win over the Pistons on January 5 might be the C's highlight of the regular season. I think he has more to show us in the Playoffs.