Heat forward LeBron James, left, and Thunder forward Kevin Durant are having MVP-caliber seasons. (Photo: Sue Ogrocki, AP) The regular season isn't over just yet, and there's always the chance that NBA awards can be won or lost depending on these last two weeks of games. But let's be honest: by the time awards are finally decided and then announced, almost all of the focus is — with good reason — on the postseason that should be as compelling as ever this time around. All of which means there's no better time than now to break down the likely winners and losers as I see them. Away we go… MVP: LeBron Durant Wait, what's that? That's not an actual person? My subconscious, that part of me that wishes there was a way to honor the MVP-worthy seasons of the Miami Heat's LeBron James and the Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant, kicked in there. Alas, the predictable and no-brainer pick is… MVP: LeBron James, Miami Heat He's been incredible almost every time out all season long, but the fact that the Heat weren't their dominant selves early on this season chipped away at his candidacy. Specifically, the Heat's defense that was their calling card last season had fallen off considerably. Meanwhile, Durant — who deserves so much credit for his leadership as the Thunder transitioned so seamlessly from the James Harden era to the Kevin Martin chapter — was having the best season of his record-breaking career yet again while the Thunder were leading the entire pack. But whether it wasJames' six-game streak of 30-plus point, 60-plus shooting percentage outings, his nightly heroics during the 27-game winning streak, or the fact that his already-absurd production from last season has increased significantly when it comes to assists (7.3 per game), rebounds (8.1), and shooting efficiency (56% shooting overall, 40.4% from three-point range while scoring 26.9 points per), James is the clear pick here now. The choice is made even easier because of the Heat's dominance, and their renowned defense — which was third in the league in terms of defensive rating last season — has returned along the way (from 11th earlier this season up to eighth currently). Coach of the Year: George Karl, Denver Nuggets George Karl has coached the Nuggets into a high seed in the West. (Photo: Russ Isabella, USA TODAY Sports) I'm not making friends with the Thunder folks on here, as their guy is suffering the narrow loss in this category too. Yet if anyone is going to be gracious in defeat because of who won out here, it's the Thunder's Scott Brooks. Before becoming the guy who helped shepherd this Oklahoma City era, he was an assistant coach under Karl who, both then and now, considers him a wise and cherished mentor. Besides, Brooks surely still has his trophy from the 2009-10 campaign and Karl — career record 1,125-755, sixth on the wins list all-time — has never been honored. And here's the rationale: while coaches like Brooks, the Chicago Bulls' Tom Thibodeau, the Heat's Erik Spoelstra, the Memphis Grizzlies' Lionel Hollins, the San Antonio Spurs' Gregg Popovich, the Indiana Pacers' Frank Vogel, the Golden State Warriors' Mark Jackson and the Los Angeles Clippers' Vinny Del Negro are all worthy of consideration, the way Karl has massaged all these moving parts while making the Nuggets a legit threat for the Western Conference crown has been too masterful to ignore. Denver grew and matured in the early goings, struggling through a road-heavy schedule in which the Nuggets' marquee offseason addition, Andre Iguodala, learned how to fit in while his new teammates figured out how to thrive without the players who had been lost (Arron Afflalo, Al Harrington, Rudy Fernandez). KARL: Coach opens up on Carmelo trade, more Along the way, Karl's deft handling of youngsters Kenneth Faried and JaVale McGee has paid off in a big way while his ability to convince Ty Lawson (who's out with a foot injury) and veteran Andre Miller to platoon at the point guard spot yet again has been a major part of Denver's attack. Denver, which is hoping to get Lawson back in time for the playoffs, has won 17 out of their last 19 games and is in third place in the West. Sixth Man of the Year: Jarrett Jack, Golden State Warriors Warriors guard Jarrett Jack has been a spark late in games. (Photo: Kyle Terada, USA TODAY Sports) As dynamic and dominant as the Knicks' J.R. Smith and the Clippers' Jamal Crawford have been for long stretches, and while the Thunder's Kevin Martin has fit in beautifully in replacement of James Harden, there's something to be said for versatility. And as the Warriors' cheesy-but-accurate campaign pitch says, their top reserve — the league's top reserve — is indeed a Jack of all trades. But beyond the efficient scoring (13.2 points per on 45.4% shooting overall, 41% from three-point range and 84.5% at the line), the playmaking (5.5 assists per) and the crunch-time impact (second on the team in fourth-quarter scoring at 4.3 per, first in minutes at 10.2), there's the Stephen Curry factor that may be the most meaningful of all. The fourth-year guard has been better than ever this season now that his days in the backcourt with Monta Ellis are over, and Jack's presence — from the way he allows Curry to play off the ball and relieves so much defensive pressure — has had everything to do with it. It's that kind of rising-tide-that-raises-all-ships quality, combined with the overall impact, which gives Jack the edge in the Sixth Man race. The Warriors, who have gotten their groove back again of late by winning eight of their last 11 games, are playoff-bound for the second time since 1994 and Jack is a huge reason why. What's more, being able to say that you had five games with at least 20 points and 10 assists –just four fewer than fringe MVP candidate Chris Paul of the Clippers — isn't bad either. Before we move on, a quick disclaimer on this race: I resisted the urge to be swept up in the Knicks' 10-game winning streak and Smith's part in it largely because his season-long numbers are so inefficient (41.5% from the field, 35.2%), but I reserve the right to change this vote at season's end if he keeps this latest stretch up until the end. During the streak, Smith has been unreal: 23.3 points per game on 50.3% shooting overall and 36.1% from the three-point range to go with 5.7 rebounds per. What's more, he's an assassin late — his 5.5 points per game in the fourth quarter average is 11th in the league. Rookie of the Year: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers Blazers point guard Damian Lillard has been the NBA's top rookie all season. (Photo: Craig Mitchelldyer, USA TODAY Sports) I understand the familiar refrain that Lillard won this award months ago and that the second-half surge of the New Orleans Hornets' Anthony Davis is largely ignored as a result, but the faulty premise there is this idea that Lillard hasn't been rookie-of-the-year-worthy in the more recent months. As his March numbers would seem to prove, that's simply not true. He averaged 21.3 points (47.6% shooting overall, 46.7% from three-point range) and 6.8 assists while tying his best month yet in terms of turnovers (2.6 per game). The body of work, from the relative steadiness of his play to the countless clutch moments, is impressive no matter how you look at it. He kept a young team in playoff contention almost until the end while being a top 15 scorer in the league (13th at 19 points per game, first among rookies), averaging 6.5 assists (first among rookies) and setting a new rookie record for three-pointers made (he broke Curry's mark of 166 set in the 2009-10 season). Most Improved Player: Paul George, Indiana Pacers Pacers forward Paul George has taken advantage of his first major opportunities (Photo: Gary A. Vasquez, USA TODAY Sports) Talk about a silver lining. If not for the knee problems that limited Pacers forward Danny Granger to just five games this season, George never would have had the opportunity to grow his game like this. The first time All-Star and third-year small forward is a leader on both ends for Indiana at the ripe age of 22, averaging 17.9 points per game while proving to be a top-notch defender. All you need to know about his defensive mentality is this: he said recently that he looks forward to guarding Durant. Philadelphia's Jrue Holiday was on his way to winning out here, but he has fallen off in the second half. The list of worthy candidates is long from there, including Houston's James Harden and Omer Asik, Orlando's Nikola Vucevic, New Orleans' Greivis Vasquez, the Thunder's Serge Ibaka, the Lakers' Earl Clark and more. Defensive Player of the Year: Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies Grizzlies center Marc Gasol, left, dominates on defense. (Photo: Don Ryan, AP) A major factor in the Grizzlies' decision to trade Rudy Gay to Toronto in late January was their immense trust in Gasol, who has anchored the second-best defense in the league. He's not the imposing or athletic presence of past winners like Dwight Howard or Tyson Chandler, but his impact on Memphis' gritty defense is unmistakable. When he's on the floor, according to NBA.com, the Grizzlies allow 95.9 points per 100 possessions. When he's on the bench, they allow an average of 102.7. Read the NBA A-Z insider column from USA TODAY Sports' Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt at nba.usatoday.com. Send the guys feedback and ideas to @Sam_Amick and @JeffZillgitt. PHOTOS: USA TODAY Sports' NBA panel player rankings Story Highlights
Like this topic? You may also like these photo galleries:
Source : http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2013/04/04/lebron-james-kevin-durant-george-karl-jarrett-jack-jrue-holiday-jr-smith-nba/2053855/