NBA Mid Season Awards 2008-2009

Coach Of The Year:
1. Mike Brown
2. Stan Van Gundy
3. George Karl

Honorable Mention:
Mike Woodson, Mike D'antoni, Nate McMillan (no particular order)

MVP:
1. LeBron James (no change)
2. Kobe Bryant
3. Dwight Howard (no change)

Honorable Mention:
Tim Duncan, Chauncey Billups?, Dwayne Wade

Rookie Of The Year:
1. OJ Mayo
2. Derrick Rose
3. Brook Lopez

Honorable Mention:
Michael Beasley, Marc Gasol, Kevin Love, DJ Augustin

Most Improved Player Of The Year:
1. Nene
2. John Salmons
3. Paul Milsap

Honorable Mention:
David Lee, Randy Foye, Chris Duhon

-Side Note: In my opinion, this award is almost impossible to predict because any player is capable of coming out of no where, but lets just see how these choices go. & Devin Harris/Danny Granger were my first top choices, but they've been consistent and been good pretty good and developing every year of their career.

Sixth Man Of The Year:
1. Jason Terry (I thought he was going to be the starting 2, didn't know he was the 6th man, he has this locked up)
2. Nate Robinson
3. Ben Gordon

Honorable Mention:
Leonardo Barbosa, Manu Ginobili, JR Smith

Defensive Player Of The Year:
1. Dwight Howard (no change)
2. Kobe Bryant (no change)
3. LeBron James

Honorable Mention:
Josh Smith, Marcus Camby, Kevin Garnett (no change)

NBA All-Star voting is a JOKE!!!

Seriously, lets get this clear. The so called "experts" that vote in the players to make the All-Star reserves roster are IDIOTS! I don't care, I said it! Yes, they're IDIOTS! You know why? Because the way players get into the All-Star reserved roster nowadays is stupid, the fact that you have to be on a winning team, is stupid. The All-Star game is for All-Star caliber players, not good role players on a winning team like Nelson, and Mo Williams (no disrespect), the All-Star game is a game that puts the leagues BEST TALENT together for 1 game, and compete. Players like Deron Williams, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Al Jefferson, and Vince Carter (and there's a couple others I think) all got snubbed, the All-Star game nowadays is not an All-Star game, it is just a game built with players who have good chemistry and can get along with the 'All-Star' players and to compete. All-Star game nowadays is a dissapointment, I won't be watching this years All-Star game, what I'll be looking forward towards the most (as I have been for the last 9 years) is the Rookie/Sophomore game. Dunk Contest doesn't interest me much, I'll watch it only because Nate Robinson is in it, and is representing my Knickerbockers :D

2009 NBA All-Star Ballots Announced

2009 NBA ALL-STAR EASTERN CONFERENCE BALLOT

EAST GUARDS

Ray Allen, Boston
Gilbert Arenas, Washington
Mike Bibby, Atlanta
**Chauncey Billups, Detroit
Jose Calderon, Toronto
Vince Carter, New Jersey
Jamal Crawford, New York
Raymond Felton, Charlotte
TJ Ford, Indiana
Ben Gordon, Chicago
Richard Hamilton, Detroit
Devin Harris, New Jersey
Joe Johnson, Atlanta
Stephon Marbury, New York
Andre Miller, Philadelphia
Jameer Nelson, Orlando
Anthony Parker, Toronto
Michael Redd, Milwaukee
Jason Richardson, Charlotte
Luke Ridnour, Milwaukee
Rajon Rondo, Boston
Derrick Rose, Chicago
Dwyane Wade, Miami
Mo Williams, Cleveland


EAST FORWARDS

Michael Beasley, Miami
Chris Bosh, Toronto
Elton Brand, Philadelphia
Caron Butler, Washington
Luol Deng, Chicago
Mike Dunleavy, Indiana
Kevin Garnett, Boston
Danny Granger, Indiana
Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia
LeBron James, Cleveland
Antawn Jamison, Washington
Richard Jefferson, Milwaukee
Rashard Lewis, Orlando
Shawn Marion, Miami
**Antonio McDyess, Detroit
Andres Nocioni, Chicago
Paul Pierce, Boston
Tayshaun Prince, Detroit
Zach Randolph, New York
Josh Smith, Atlanta
Hedo Turkoglu, Orlando
Gerald Wallace, Charlotte
Marvin Williams, Atlanta
Yi Jianlian, New Jersey


EAST CENTERS

Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee
Eddy Curry, New York
Samuel Dalembert, Philadelphia
Brendan Haywood, Washington
Al Horford, Atlanta
Dwight Howard, Orlando
Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Cleveland
Emeka Okafor, Charlotte
Jermaine O'Neal, Toronto
Kendrick Perkins, Boston
Ben Wallace, Cleveland
Rasheed Wallace, Detroit

2009 NBA ALL-STAR WESTERN CONFERENCE BALLOT

WEST GUARDS

Rafer Alston, Houston
Leandro Barbosa, Phoenix
Raja Bell, Phoenix
Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers
Michael Conley, Memphis
Baron Davis, LA Clippers
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City
Monta Ellis, Golden State
Derek Fisher, LA Lakers
Manu Ginobili, San Antonio
**Allen Iverson, Denver
Stephen Jackson, Golden State
Jason Kidd, Dallas
Kevin Martin, Sacramento
O.J. Mayo, Memphis
Tracy McGrady, Houston
Steve Nash, Phoenix
Tony Parker, San Antonio
Chris Paul, New Orleans
Brandon Roy, Portland
J.R. Smith, Denver
Jason Terry, Dallas
Beno Udrih, Sacramento
Deron Williams, Utah

WEST FORWARDS

LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland
Carmelo Anthony, Denver
Ron Artest, Houston
Shane Battier, Houston
Carlos Boozer, Utah
Bruce Bowen, San Antonio
Tim Duncan, San Antonio
Pau Gasol, LA Lakers
Rudy Gay, Memphis
Grant Hill, Phoenix
Josh Howard, Dallas
Andrei Kirilenko, Utah
Kevin Love, Minnesota
Corey Maggette, Golden State
Kenyon Martin, Denver
Mike Miller, Minnesota
Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas
Lamar Odom, LA Lakers
Luis Scola, Houston
Peja Stojakovic, New Orleans
Amar'e Stoudemire, Phoenix
Al Thornton, LA Clippers
David West, New Orleans
Chris Wilcox, Oklahoma City

WEST CENTERS

Andris Biedrins, Golden State
Andrew Bynum, LA Lakers
Marcus Camby, LA Clippers
Tyson Chandler, New Orleans
Nick Collison, Oklahoma City
Al Jefferson, Minnesota
Chris Kaman, LA Clippers
Brad Miller, Sacramento
Greg Oden, Portland
Mehmet Okur, Utah
Shaquille O'Neal, Phoenix
Yao Ming, Houston

Side note: Paper ballots were printed before the trade, so votes for Iverson, Billups or McDyess will be counted toward their new team and conference. The voting will continue through Jan. 11th for paper balloting. NBA.com and wireless voting will begin Thursday and continue through Jan. 19th. In my opinion, its way to early to vote, I like to wait till the final week or two, and then vote who I think is most deserving for an all star spot. But feel free to share your opinions, or write down on who you're going to vote for.

Oh, Greg Oden...

What a NBA debut huh?, 13 minutes into the game, and he gets injured. I feel sorry for the kid, I really like his potential. He showed a couple flashes that he can be a dominent center especially with that nice block on Bynum, and a real sweet post move that he caught him with (did miss the lay up, but he got fouled) and think that he can be an elite center and maybe one of the few faces of the league in the future. He's expected to miss 2-4 weeks, and hopefully he can come back and be fine from then on through out the rest of the season. But has anyone noticed that the 'first time' he's made a debut or anything he always turns out to be hurt? Like for example, his first training camp he hurts his ankle and misses a few days, and then his first preseason game he tweaks his ankle but then turns out fine for the rest of the preseason, first NBA game, gets hurt again and is due to miss 2-4 weeks...are we getting somewhere with this? Maybe he just has to get the 'first' thing out of the way, and then will turn out to be fine...well, hopefully that's how it will turn out to be and not by how the 'Blazers are/or might be cursed at the center position (Bill Walton, Sam Bowie, Arvydas Sabonis, and now maybe Greg Oden?) But lets not forget, he's still a young guy though, and to anybody that labels Greg Oden a bust, well...that's just pure foolishness, big men nowadays take a while to develope, and their bodies have to get used to moving at NBA speed, and level, I also noticed how tired he got quickly, but it's not that big of a deal, Yao Ming use to get tired early in games also when he was a rookie, endurance and stamina comes with time.

Players To Watch

Danny Granger, F, Indiana Pacers
I've been following this kid and watching him since college, he slipped in the draft because of his knee, but that's not holding him back now, he's a great athlete, can shoot it from anywhere from the floor, shooting 40% from the arc last year (I believe), he can drive it on you, can fill out the stat sheet, he should become an all-star, and with TJ Ford running the point and O'Brien wanting them to run-n-gun, he should have a break out year.


Amare Stoudemire, F/C, Phoenix Suns
Here's a fun guy to watch, one of my favorite players (other being Joe Johnson), IMO the best offensive big man in the game, and since the acquisition of Shaq, his overall average went up, should have a great year, and become a starting all star this year.





Devin Harris, G, New Jersey Nets
Lets get to know Devin Harris. I don't know much, but from what I do know, and remember, was that him being a really good on-ball defender. And then when he got traded to NJ and I got the chance to watch him, I remember him being very inconsistent but fast, really fast. Having a really quick first step, blowing by you to get to the rack, or when he gets the ball and brings it up the court to stop and shoot the tray. Him playing under a system like Franks, where he lets the PG loose, will really help him this year to learn to become a leader on a team and a better player. He is fun to watch to watch though, young, quick guard, who will drive it in between 2 players and get to the rack or just bring the ball up quickly and just stop and shoot the long 3. I don't know where I'll put him as a top player , but I do know him playing on a team like NJ, they're going to need him to score because they really don't have anybody else outside of Vince Carter, I'm expecting 19 and 6 numbers, and an All-Star appearance for him next year
.
Andre Igoudala, G/F, Philadelphia 76ers
So when is this guy going to emerge into a superstar? He reminds me of a vintage Vince Carter, or a 'Baby LeBron James', he has all the tools, he's a triple threat player, but the lack of his consistent jump shot is really holding him back from becoming 'Next', maybe with Elton Brand being there, it'll help him(?) Maybe. Either way he's a fun guy to watch, from his flashy passes, to his flashy dunks, I'm just waiting on to see when he's going to break out to a 25/7/7 player, and then the bandwagonning of "Igoudala is my favorite player" comes.


Deron Williams, G, Utah Jazz
Here's a guy that's over shadowed I'll say, with the great of a year that Chris Paul had, it seems to me everyone forgot about Deron, this guy was in the WCF (Western Conference Finals) just 2 years ago. I think coming into this season he'll feel like he has something to prove to the world and will break out to a greater year.






Dwight Howard, F/C, Orlando Magic
Dwight improved his post game and freethrow from last season, and can even make 10 foot jumper (judging from preseason), and the Olympic Experience did wonders for Howard's swagger, expecting him to have a big year.











Other players to watch: Rudy Gay, Marvin Williams, Randy Foye, Al Horford, Greg Oden, Jose Calderon.

Serious/Competitive Teams To Watch

Serious/Competitive Teams To Watch:
Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic, Portland Trailblazers, New Orleans Hornets, Utah Jazz, Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers, San Antonio Spurs

Fun Teams To Watch

Fun Teams To Watch:
Portland Trailblazers, Atlanta Hawks, New York Knicks (surprised?), Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies, Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic, New Orleans Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers

-Side note: I'm a huge fan of young teams, I wish the Knicks will just get some young pieces, and rebuild around them, but that won't be happening. I told my close friends who watch basketball last year to watch the Hawks, Hornets, & 'Blazers, and look how they turned out...I even remember telling people that Chris Paul will be MVP before the season even started, and look how that turned out...