The NBA season is a little less than three weeks away. With all of the off-season moves this summer, this is looking like one of the most compelling and interesting seasons in quite some time. Personally I can’t wait for it to start. We saw LeBron James return home, and other big time players made big time changes. And now, we take a look at who the front-runners for the NBA awards are.
Favorites for NBA Awards heading into the 2014-2015 Season
Coach of the Year: David Blatt, Cleveland Cavaliers – Yes, the Cleveland Cavaliers have a load of talent, but it takes a good coach to take that talent and make it into a working team. This may be David Blatt’s first season in the NBA, but he has experience as a coach. One of the most respected coaches in Europe, he led Maccabi to a European title last season. As the coach of the newest super-team in the NBA, it’ll be interesting to see how Blatt will be able to keep all the players egos in check and keep them all focused on the main goal: an NBA Championship. If Blatt is able to get this working and have the Cavaliers secure the No. 1 seed in the East over the Chicago Bulls, he should certainly contend for this award.
Defensive Player of the Year: Dwight Howard, Houston Rockets – Going into his second season with the Houston Rockets, Dwight Howard really seems to be enjoying Houston. He has a great sidekick in James Harden, and the role players around the two stars are providing great support. Due to the back surgery Dwight underwent in 2012, we haven’t been able to see him at 100%, the player who is a three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year. This year, that is going to change. According to Dwight Howard and others, Dwight is finally back at his peak. And if what they are saying is true, Howard could be running away with this award.
Most Improved Player: Jeff Teague, Atlanta Hawks – Jeff Teague is already on the rise in the league, but I expect him to become a household name this season. After a great performance in the playoffs, Teague is ready to evolve into one of the better young point guards in the NBA. He’s ready to take a full leadership role with Al Horford, and I’m excited to see what’s in store for Teague and the Hawks this season.
Rookie of the Year: Jabari Parker, Milwaukee Bucks – Are you surprised you didn’t see Andrew Wiggins here? You shouldn’t be. Yes, Wiggins has talent, but Jabari seems to be more NBA-Ready than Wiggins. Parker is a better scorer and all-around player than Wiggins, at this point in their careers, which is why I give Parker the nod. When you’re a rookie and your offensive game is compared to one of the best scorers in the league in Carmelo Anthony, you’ve got to be pretty good. Another player who will give a push for this award is Nerlens Noel, but Jabari Parker will win it in the end.
Sixth Man of the Year: Taj Gibson, Chicago Bulls – After being snubbed from winning this award last season, Taj Gibson will finally take home the trophy he deserves. He has been able to embrace the role of a sixth man on a very talented Chicago Bulls team. The unselfishness we’ve seen from Gibson has been outstanding, especially with the signing of Pau Gasol. Gibson was told he would start after Chicago got rid of Carlos Boozer, but he understood that Gasol was the better option for the team to win. Gibson will once again thrive in the sixth man role, which will give him the nod. He has worked on his jump shot and it’s starting to show up on a consistent basis. We all know the toughness Gibson brings to the defensive side as well. Please Chicago, don’t trade Taj Gibson, you’d be making a big mistake.
Most Valuable Player: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers – Let me get this out of the way first; Kevin Durant would be my pick for this award if not for the significant time he will be missing due to his recent foot injury. With that in mind, I have to give this one to King James. LBJ is back in Cleveland, and he looks more motivated than ever to bring a championship to his home. Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving are playing alongside James, but LeBron is still the cornerstone player of his team. Don’t be surprised to see a points per game drop from James, but expect to see his field goal percentage and assists per game rise. James will have one of his most efficient years ever, which will lead to him winning another NBA MVP Award.
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