As we hit the halfway point of the 2012-2013 NBA season, I
dish out my midseason awards.
MVP: Thunder F Kevin Durant- In his sixth season in the NBA,
Durant is having his best season as a pro. His field goal percentage, assists
per game, and free throw percentage this season are all career highs as the
Thunder currently have the best record in the NBA at 32-9. He is 2nd
in the NBA in scoring behind Lakers G Kobe Bryant at 29.5 per game and his 52
points against the Mavericks on Friday was a career high. After losing to the
Heat in the finals last year, Durant is playing like he is determined to win a
title this year and is not only playing better but has made his team better.
Coach of the Year: Knicks
Mike Woodson- This was a very tough decision for me between Woodson and the
Clippers Vinny Del Negro but I give Woodson the edge. Since taking over as head
coach on March 14th, the Knicks are 42-19 under Woodson. Currently
the 2nd seed in the Eastern Conference, Woodson has the Knicks
believing that this can be the first time since 1998, that they make the NBA
Finals. In their last four playoff appearances, the Knicks have been beaten in
the first round but I believe Woodson will carry this team past the first
round.
Defensive Player of the Year: Bulls C Joakim Noah- Having
never even made an All-NBA Defense First Team, Noah has been the league’s best
defender so far this season. Noah has seen an increased role so far this season
becoming the leader of the Bulls due to PG Derrick Rose being sidelined as he
recovers from his torn ACL surgery. Rose is expected back by the all-star
break. The Bulls allow the 3rd fewest points in the league with 91.7
and Noah is a huge reason to his presence in the paint. The sixth year man out
of Florida is 8th in the league in rebounds with 10.6 per game and
blocks with 2 per game.
Most Improved Team: Golden State Warriors: The Warriors
already have more wins through the halfway point 24, than they had last year.
Second year head coach Mark Jackson has inspired his team who look to make
their first playoff appearance since 2006. After trading away SG Monte Ellis
last year, it looked like the Warriors were rebuilding and they were going to
struggle for a couple years. But with a finally healthy PG Stephen Curry and a
double double machine PF David Lee, the Warriors are sending a message to the
league that they are ready to play with the big boys. And just to add to their
improvement, the Warriors just beat the LA Clippers who have the 2nd
best record in the league, for the third time this season.
Biggest Disappointment (Player or Team): LA Lakers- No surprise
here. The Lakers made huge moves in the offseason as they acquired PG Steve
Nash and C Dwight Howard and thought to be Championship contenders before the
season started but now just hope to make the playoffs. Just five games into the
season, the Lakers parted ways with head coach Mike Brown and have since hired
Mike D’Antoni. One of the biggest reasons for the Lakers struggles has been
their defense as they rank 26th in the league with points allowed
with over 101.6 per game. The Lakers have become the 2nd best team
in LA, which has never happened as “ Lob City” aka the LA Clippers have become
the best team in LA. Stars Bryant, Howard, and Nash will have to turn this team
around quickly or else it could get ugly or at least uglier than it already is.
images were used from bleacherreport.com and gamedayr.com
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