The NBA Awards show was last night, and it played out basically as we all expected it would. Let's break down who won what in last nights ceremony.
Most Valuable Player: James Harden
My Pick: James Harden
This shouldn't come as a surprise, while I have my issues with what and how the MVP is defined, I can't deny that Harden deserves this one. His presence brought Houston to the first seed in the West, and to the Western Conference Finals. He averaged 30.4 points, 8.8 assists and 5.4 rebounds per game in Houston's 65-win campaign. If it weren't for Chris Paul's injury, who knows how far this Rockets team could have gone.
This award probably hurts Oklahoma City the most though, as they can now identify themselves as the only team to ever have three MVP caliber players on the same team...only to let two of them walk. Oh what could have been.
Rookie of the Year: Ben Simmons
My Pick: Ben Simmons
Again, not to much of a shock here. While Donovan Mitchell had an amazing rookie campaign, Simmons was just better. Mitchell might be more complete - aka he can shoot the ball - but Simmons' ability to get to the basket, dictate offenses and lock down on defense is a mark in his favor. Is he technically not a rookie? No. He didn't play a single league game last season so I don't want to hear that argument. Mitchell fans are salty for sure, but just ask Malcolm Brogdon just how important this trophy really is. The answer won't shock you.
Coach of the Year: Dwane Casey
My Pick: Dwane Casey or Brett Brown
Well this is awkward. Casey was voted as the Coach of the Year by the coaches last month, and was voted such last night as well. Doesn't make it less weird that for all the accolades, he was still fired from Toronto. I feel bad for him, he led the Raptors to 59-wins, the East's top seed only to be foiled by LeBron Jams - again - in embarrassing fashion - again. I said this when he was fired; it's not his fault that his players fold like lawn chairs against LeBron. He found a new home in Detroit though and should be able to do well with a roster that includes Blake Griffin, Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson.
Most Improved Player: Victor Oladipo
My Pick: Victor Oladipo
First season with the Pacers, and he gets them to the 5th seed - from the seventh seed last year - , makes his first All-Star game, makes the All-NBA third team, the NBA All-Defensive First Team, and led the league in steals. He improved his scoring from 15.9 in OKC last season to 23.1 this season in Indiana. He carried the Pacers to seven games against LeBron and improved the teams wins by six. Well deserved.
Defensive Player of the Year: Rudy Gobert
My Pick: Rudy Gobert or Joel Embiid
He was the anchor for the Jazz, a team that ranked second in defensive rating. He led the league in votes for the NBA's All-Defensive First Team, and averaged 2.3 blocks per game (behind only Anthony Davis who averaged 2.57 per game). This category was jam-packed with viable players; Embiid, Anthony Davis and Draymond Green (last years winner), but Gobert took it home. He led the league in blocks last season, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team last season as well.
Sixth Man of the Year: Lou Williams
My Pick: Lou Williams
This is his second time winning the award (the first coming in 2015, also with the Clippers). The only players to win two or more is a short list: Kevin McHale (2), Detlef Schrempf (2, back-to-back years), and Jamal Crawford (3). Williams averaged 22.6 points and 5.3 assists per game as the first man off the bech, and led the elague in fourth-qaurter points. He described the sixth-man as "special team," and he's right. The Sixth man is the leader of the bench unit, a strong sixth man can carry the team with the lead, or provide a spark when they need it most.
Executive of the Year: Daryl Morey
My Pick: Daryl Morey
I don't know much about this award, but I know that Morey brought in Chris Paul, PJ Tucker, and Luc Mbah a Moute to add to the roster of MVP Harden, Clint Capela and Eric Gordon. Gordon won sixth man of the year last year. Morey joins a list of winners that includes Pat Riley, Larry Bird, Gar Forman, R. C. Buford and Masai Ujiri. He is the second Houston executive to win the award, behind Ray Patterson in 1977.
So I shot a perfect seven-for-seven in predictions, in all fairness though, it wasn't too difficult to guess these correctly. I think the biggest controversy might surround Coach of the Year. Casey did a good job with the Raptors, but Brad Stevens and Brett Brown, also Quinn Snyder all deserved the nomination just as much as Casey did. The difference is they didn't get fired!
Anyways, what did you think of the awards show last night? Let me know!