NGU Skyliner

Cory Guinn
Sports Editor

Now that the NBA All-Star game has come and gone, it is now time for the second half of the season to begin. After the All-Star break team try to improve their chances of making to the playoffs with blockbuster trades and free agent signings. Along with the playoff race, the discussion always arises about which player should receive which award, most notably the NBA MVP award. Other awards include Sixth Man of the Year, Coach of the Year, and many others. I have decided to share my thoughts on who the top performers of the first half were and the awards that they deserve.

Most Valuable Player: Lebron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

-King James is the most complete player in the NBA. On any given night he is able to fill up the stat sheet in every category. The debate for this award always comes down to Kobe Bryant and James. The Lakers have proven they can win without Bryant, going 3-1 in his absence with multiple injuries. The best player on the team with the best record deserves the first half MVP nod.

Sixth Man of the First Half: Jamal Crawford, Atlanta Hawks

-Few bench players have been as important to their teams as Crawford has been to the Hawks. An instant spark off of the bench, Crawford scores 17.8 points per game (tops among players who do not start, 30^th overall) and shoots 39 percent from behind the three-point line. He has hit game-winning shots in multiple games this season and is always on the floor when the game is on the line.

Rookie of the First Half: Tyreke Evans, Sacramento Kings

-At the beginning of the season, voters were leaning toward Bucks’ guard Brandon Jennings. But after Jennings’ production went down, Evans has become the favorite for ROY because of his consistent play night in and night out. He lead all rookies in scoring with 20.3 points per game and despite the Kings losing record, Evans has shown a knack for hitting clutch shots and filling up the box score.

Coach of the First Half: Scott Brooks, Oklahoma City Thunder

-The Thunder won a total 23 games last season. So far through 51 games Oklahoma City is 30-21 and sits in seventh place in the loaded Western Conference. If all-star Kevin Durant continues his stellar play, the Thunder may be in the playoffs one year after being one of the worst teams in the league.

Most Improved Player of the First Half: Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls

-Noah, who many thought would be pushed around in the NBA and stay nothing more than a bench player, has quietly yet quickly become a nightly double-double threat. After averaging seven points and seven rebounds just a year ago, Noah has shown that hard work in the offseason can translate into regular season success. He is one of the few players averaging a double-double so far in the league scoring 12 points per game and pulling down 12 rebounds per game to go along with two blocks per game.

Tags: Spring 2010, Vol. 110 - Issue 4

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 17th, 2010 and is filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.