NBA midseason report: midseason awards and power rankings
Ray Hupfer
Issue date: 1/27/10 Section: Sports
By Ray Hupfer
Heading into the 2009-2010 NBA season, the biggest storyline (outside of the upcoming free agency period that has the potential to include Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, and of course, LeBron James) was which team in the East would define themselves as the team to beat: the defending Eastern Conference champion Orlando Magic, the experienced Boston Celtics, or the LeBron-led Cleveland Cavaliers. And at the midpoint of the year, LeBron has carried the Cavs to the top of the Eastern Conference. But is LeBron the midseason MVP? Which player has broken out and taken his play to the next level? Which team has been the biggest surprise?
MVP
1. LeBron James (CLE)
2. Kobe Bryant (LAL)
3. Kevin Durant (OKC)
Kobe has helped carry the Lakers through a rash of injuries to the top of the NBA once again, and Kevin Durant has become a legitimate superstar in his third season and has turned the Oklahoma City Thunder into playoff contenders; however, LeBron not only is averaging nearly 30 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds a night, he's led the Cavs to the best record in the East as well as a 2-0 record against Kobe and the Lakers.
Rookie of the Year
1. Tyreke Evans (SAC)
2. Stephen Curry (GS)
3. Brandon Jennings (MIL)
A guard-heavy top of the rookie class, Curry's stepped up his play of late in the absence of Monta Ellis, and Jennings leads all rookies in assists per game and scored 55 points in a single-game earlier this year. But Evans has been the best of the best when it comes to the rookies. He's averaging 20 points a game as well as nearly five rebounds and five assists, putting him in elite company as only LeBron, Kobe Dwayne Wade, and Joe Johnson are putting up similar stats.
Breakout Player
1. Joakim Noah (CHI)
2. Marc Gasol (MEM)
3. Carl Landry/Aaron Brooks (HOU)
Landry and Brooks have been critical to the success of the Yao-less Rockets, as Brooks leads the team in scoring and assists, while Landry is second in scoring despite coming off the bench. Gasol has developed into a major threat down low for the surprising Grizzlies, and his development has eased fans' pain of losing Pau to the Lakers. And Noah has turned his high-energy play into nightly double-doubles in his third season, and is second in the league in rebounding, a far cry from his lackluster first two seasons.
Heading into the 2009-2010 NBA season, the biggest storyline (outside of the upcoming free agency period that has the potential to include Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, and of course, LeBron James) was which team in the East would define themselves as the team to beat: the defending Eastern Conference champion Orlando Magic, the experienced Boston Celtics, or the LeBron-led Cleveland Cavaliers. And at the midpoint of the year, LeBron has carried the Cavs to the top of the Eastern Conference. But is LeBron the midseason MVP? Which player has broken out and taken his play to the next level? Which team has been the biggest surprise?
MVP
1. LeBron James (CLE)
2. Kobe Bryant (LAL)
3. Kevin Durant (OKC)
Kobe has helped carry the Lakers through a rash of injuries to the top of the NBA once again, and Kevin Durant has become a legitimate superstar in his third season and has turned the Oklahoma City Thunder into playoff contenders; however, LeBron not only is averaging nearly 30 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds a night, he's led the Cavs to the best record in the East as well as a 2-0 record against Kobe and the Lakers.
Rookie of the Year
1. Tyreke Evans (SAC)
2. Stephen Curry (GS)
3. Brandon Jennings (MIL)
A guard-heavy top of the rookie class, Curry's stepped up his play of late in the absence of Monta Ellis, and Jennings leads all rookies in assists per game and scored 55 points in a single-game earlier this year. But Evans has been the best of the best when it comes to the rookies. He's averaging 20 points a game as well as nearly five rebounds and five assists, putting him in elite company as only LeBron, Kobe Dwayne Wade, and Joe Johnson are putting up similar stats.
Breakout Player
1. Joakim Noah (CHI)
2. Marc Gasol (MEM)
3. Carl Landry/Aaron Brooks (HOU)
Landry and Brooks have been critical to the success of the Yao-less Rockets, as Brooks leads the team in scoring and assists, while Landry is second in scoring despite coming off the bench. Gasol has developed into a major threat down low for the surprising Grizzlies, and his development has eased fans' pain of losing Pau to the Lakers. And Noah has turned his high-energy play into nightly double-doubles in his third season, and is second in the league in rebounding, a far cry from his lackluster first two seasons.