With no camp their has been some poor play now and then, but overall its been another great season so far. I have been entertained even through the short schedule and the maddening amount of games teams are playing.
With a quickened pace of season, its put even more importance of great play quickly, not a lot of time to grow into a team or time to “buy in” it’s now or never. Lets take a look at how the midseason has been, with VTDs 2012 Midseason awards.
Most Improved Player of the year Jeremy Lin, PG, New York Knicks; 15 ppg, 3 rpg, 6 apg, the premier story of the NBA this season has been absolutely magnificent. This guy has brought his game up 400%. He was a 3 ppg guy getting less than 10 minutes/game last year for Golden State. He stepped into a great position in a great system. Without a doubt the best story thus far in the NBA.
Defensive Player of the year Dwight Howard, C, Orland Magic; 2.1 blocks/ game, 1.4 steals/game, 11.7 defensive reb/game. Big boy Dwight is truly a monster in the middle, with quick feet, big ups and great court vision, outrageously hard-hitting with 11 games with 3+ blocks in a game.
Sixth Man of the year James Harden, G, Oklahoma City Thunder; 17 ppg, 4 rpg, 4 apg, Harden hitting 47% of his shots from the field and also a pleasing 37% from threes. He is tied for 1st on the team in 3 pt shots made and is right there with Durant as the teams leading 3-point bomber.
Rookie of the year Kyrie Irving, PG, Cleveland Cavaliers; 18 ppg, 4 rpg, 5 apg, he has played a massive role on the team this season making an immediate impact. An extraordinary very brilliant future on the horizon for the youthful 19 year old star with Cleveland on his shoulders.
Team of the year Miami Heat, 27-7; 104 ppg, 95 opponents ppg, The Heat have come back with a savage hunger to get even from last seasons loss in the NBA finals. Many people who may have thought last year was a let down, not so much. It was their 1st year, this 2nd year collectively and everyone finding their niche on the offensive side of the ball has been magic. The Heat have been on fire, winning 45% of their games by 12+. They have been absolutely dominating.
Coach of the year Gregg Popovich, 24-10, San Antonio Spurs; why you may ask? I will tell you why, he has a weird team built with old matured worn out veterans, that many people feel are on the other half of their careers, and on the other half young kids, and he’s making it work. Pop knows how to get guys to play, bottom line, and they are still a bona fide contender in the West.
MVP of the year LeBron James, SF, Miami Heat; 28 ppg, 8 rpg, 7 apg, shooting 55% from the field, 41% from behind the arc, 4th on the team with 26 on the season, so he’s dropping them consistently. Also awesome defense, LeBron is the best player in the league hands down, his game has it all.
VegasTopDogs.com All-NBA 1st team PG- Chris Paul 19 ppg, 4 rpg, 9 apg SG- Kobe Bryant 29 ppg, 6 rpg, 5 apg C- Dwight Howard 20 ppg, 15 rpg, 2 bpg PF- Kevin Love 25 ppg, 14 rpg, 2 apg SF- LeBron James 28 ppg, 8 rpg, 7 apg
Come to www.aasiwins.com for all of Tony Karpinski’s FREE NBA WINNERS and articles.