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By Don MacLean
FOX Sports West and PRIME TICKET
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We are at the midpoint of the NBA season and there have been some surprises, both good and bad, from a team standpoint throughout the league.
There has been some unbelievable performances individually and some surprising performances with some players really stepping up and having breakout seasons.
As we usually do on Clippers Live at the midway point of the season, it is time for my "Midseason awards." For reference, check out my quarter season awards here.
The NBA Award Winners Halfway Through the Season:
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MOST VALUABLE PLAYER - DERRICK ROSE This award hasn't been this wide open in a while. With Lebron James going to Miami and joining forces with Dwyane Wade, he kind of took himself out of the running because his numbers aren't nearly as overwhelming as before. Derrick Rose has been spectacular this year and he has his team in third place in the East despite playing without starters Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah for long stretches this year. He's averaging just under 25 a game to go with eight assists and shooting percentages of 45% from the field , 38% from beyond the arc and 81% from the line are certainly numbers that are MVP-like. With no clear-cut favorite and the Bulls having the success they are having, Rose is your MVP of the first half of the season. MacLean's previous pick: Dirk Nowitzki |
| ALSO UNDER CONSIDERATION: Russell Westbrook (OKC), James (MIA), Amar'e Stoudemire (NY) | |
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COACH OF THE YEAR - GREG POPOVICH Just the simple fact that you have the best record in the league puts you in the running for Coach of the Year. The Spurs are always elite and win their 50+ games every year, but this year they are different and Pop deserves a lot of credit for that. Not just going through Tim Duncan and playing in the half court anymore, the Spurs are getting up and down using some of the youth on their roster. Gotta give a coach credit for changing this late in the game especially if it leads to another title. MacLean's previous pick: Monty Williams |
| ALSO UNDER CONSIDERATION: Tom Thibodeau (CHI), Williams (NO), Eric Spoelstra (MIA) | |
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ROOKIE OF THE YEAR - BLAKE GRIFFIN Just give him the award right now, Blake Griffin has been nothing short of sensational every night. John Wall has been pretty good this year after getting through a few injuries but hasn't had nearly the impact Griffin has had league-wide. Not only have his numbers been off the charts, but now he is starting to see some team success as the Clippers have been winning a lot more games lately. Easiest award to call. MacLean's previous pick: Griffin |
| ALSO UNDER CONSIDERATION: Wall (WSH) | |
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MOST IMPROVED PLAYER - KEVIN LOVE Are you most improved this year or did you just get more of an opportunity? That's the big debate for this award. Kevin Love played a lot last year, so it isn't more of an opportunity, he just got better. Averaging 21 a game and leading the NBA in rebounding by a mile at over 15 a game, he came back better this year and has the numbers to prove it. He is going to get a lot of competition in the voting from Eric Gordon, who is having a breakout year, but I had to go with Love because of the rebounding numbers. MacLean's previous pick: Roy Hibbert |
| ALSO UNDER CONSIDERATION: Gordon (LAC), Raymond Felton (NYK), Jrue Holiday (PHI) | |
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DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR - DWIGHT HOWARD Who effects the game the most at the defensive end? That's the question I ask myself when thinking about a Defensive Player of the Year award. Not who has the most steals or blocked shots, but who is the most disruptive to an opposing team's offense. That guy right now in the NBA is Dwight Howard . Blocks for Howard are down a little this year as he is only fifth in the league in that category, but he is second in the league in rebounding at just over 13 a game, but again, for me, those numbers don't tell the story. How do teams game plan around him? How many shots does he change during a game? Things that don't show up in the STAT sheet put him over the top and make him the most effective defender in the league. MacLean's previous pick: Howard |
| ALSO UNDER CONSIDERATION: Andrew Bogut (MIL), Tyson Chandler (DAL), Chris Paul (NO) | |
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SIXTH MAN - JAMAL CRAWFORD Jamal Crawford is the purest sixth man in the league as he hasn't started one game all year and comes off the bench really looking to get it going on the defensive end. That's the spirit of the award. A guy that could start, but never does, and just comes looking to light it up. Crawford is really the only guy in the league that is a true sixth man and he will continue to win this award until someone emerges that can score like him and never start a game. MacLean's previous pick: Too Early |
| ALSO UNDER CONSIDERATION: Glen Davis (BOS), Jason Terry (DAL) |
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