Mid-Season Awards

We are almost at the halfway mark of the 2009 season and much has changed since opening night. Some teams have lived up to the hype while others have flamed out, and then there are a few surprise teams in the mix. Also, there are players who have bounced back from injury, MVP candidates and budding superstars. Here is a look at the biggest milestones thus far..

MVP

Kobe Bryant has picked up where he left off last season and is still in MVP form. The Lakers are off to the 2nd best record in the league at 35-9 and have a stronghold on the tough Western Conference. KB24 is practicing less is more by succumbing to only 20 shots a game, and his teammates seem to be reaping the rewards. The early favorite for the award was LeBron James but after the duo squared off in LA; its Kobe's race to lose.

NEXT BIG THING

Danny Granger has been taking great strides since coming into the crowded draft of 2005(CP3, C-Bosh ect.) Once Jermaine O'Neal was traded the team needed a new leader and Granger has lived up to the bill. He is currently 4th in scoring at slightly under 26pts a game. Not only is he turning into a proven scorer but he also has shown a nac for hitting the big shots. He has 2 buzzer beaters under his belt this season, and a would be 3 only to be 1 upped by CP3 in New Orleans with a walk off 3 pointer. Granger should be an All-Star reserve, and he currently has Indy eying the 8th seed in the East.

SURPRISE TEAM

The Orlando Magic have taken the league by surprise and are proving to be contenders not only in the East, bur for a Championship. Led by; Superman 2 Dwight Howard(20pts-13rpg), the Magic are off to a 34-10 record and just completed an impressive 4-0 West coast trip only to return home and get beaten handedly by the Boston Celtics. This team lives and dies by the 3pt shot, when they are effective they are truly unbeatable, but some nights the shot doesn't fall and they are exposed. Time will tell whether this team is a true Contender.

6TH MAN OF THE YEAR

Jason Terry has been a proven scorer in this league for a quite a few years, bur only a few players can match their production coming off of the bench. Not only has he matched it, but he is playing some of the best ball of his career. At 20ppg he is proving to be a great compliment to Dirk Norwitzki as they are slowly becoming a dangerous team in the crowded Western Conference.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
This was a tough choice, even halfway through the season its hard to pick a clear cut favorite for the ROY. Derrick Rose is slightly ahead of O.J Mayo at this point just
because of the pressure that comes with running the point in the NBA. Also, the Bulls have a much better record than the Grizzlies and should vie for a playoff spot. Rose is second in scoring at 16ppg and is learning to trust his teammates more with a above modest 6.3 assists a game.






Peace,
Agent34