Tap Dancing & Year End Awards

The sheer length of this year’s ‘Tap Dancing’ piece (the biggest it’s been in years) shows what I get for not doing my normal research back in October. Even though the East had a winning record against the West for the first time this millennium, it bears mentioning that the fourth seed in the East still doesn’t even make the playoffs in the West. On to business…

EAST

I had in…

3. Toronto Raptors (33-49) – Injuries to Chris Bosh, Jose Calderon and Jermaine O’Neal (before he was traded) played a part in Toronto’s awfulness, as did the firing of Coach Sam Mitchell after only 17 games. However none of that adds up to a sufficient excuse for why the Raps were this bad. T-Dot was once again in the bottom third of the league in both defensive field goal percentage and rebound differential. What that tells me since they switched coaches is it’s time for some new defensive minded personnel. GM Bryan Colangelo has his work doubly cut out for him with Bosh entering free agency after next season. Either they turn it around in ’09-10 or they blow it up and rebuild, it’s really that simple.

7. Indiana Pacers (36-46) – Once again injuries tell some of the story here as Danny Granger, Marquis Daniels, and Mike Dunleavy Jr. all missed significant time. But really it was the Pacers’ ineptitude in close games that killed them. I can’t tell you how many times I watched this team blow leads and/or fall apart in the 4th quarter. But really, it’s on Coach Jim O’Brien to get them to play better defense next season. If Indy is healthy next year and Obie can get them forcing turnovers and steals, they should be fine. Conversely if they struggle stopping the opposition again O’Brien probably won’t last all 82 games.

8. Washington Wizards (19-63) – I based this pick on Gilbert Arenas being back in late January, not early April. I chalk this one up to a lesson learned; which is never pick a team based on someone coming back from a serious knee injury. From what I’ve seen recently though, when GA and Brendan Haywood are healthy and in the starting lineup the Wiz aren’t half bad. I look for them to bounce back to middling playoff contenders next season.

I had out…

9. Atlanta Hawks (47-35) – I don’t feel that bad when I have a team ninth and they end up making the playoffs. I probably put too much stock in what John Hollinger (Atlanta resident) said about them in the pre-season. While the Hawks did have a good year, let’s not get crazy here. They still don’t qualify for the post season in the West.

11. Chicago Bulls (41-41) – The funny thing about the Bulls is I liked their roster on paper back in October, but wasn’t at all sold on Coach Vinny Del Negro. Well the main reason they made the playoffs is because of all the roster changes VP John Paxson made in season. Adding John Salmons and Brad Miller while subtracting guys like Larry Hughes, Drew Gooden and Andres Nocioni changed the chemistry in Chicago big time and allowed them to survive Luol Deng’s right leg injury. I’m still not a believer in Del Negro, but this club is a few moves away from being very good next year.

14. Miami Heat (43-39) – I’ve already covered my miscalculations on the Heat a few times, but for the sake of closure I’ll do it one last time. First I vastly underestimated Coach Erik Spoelstra’s abilities on the sideline. Next I didn’t give a healthy Dwyane Wade the credit he rightly deserves as an elite player. That said this team was teetering on the brink until President Pat Riley made the trade for Jermaine O’Neal and Jamario Moon. Until that deal was consummated I’m not convinced the Heat were a lock for the playoffs.

WEST

I had in…

5. Phoenix Suns (46-36) – This one is simple to me. GM Steve Kerr made a terrible decision trying to change the Suns into a more “traditional” team by hiring Coach Terry Porter. Then once Kerr realized his mistake and fired Porter, Amar’e Stoudemire was lost for the season with a detached retina in his right eye. Case closed.

I had out…

9. Denver Nuggets (54-28) – Even more simple is why Denver made the playoffs. VP Mark Warkentien traded Allen Iverson for Chauncey Billups. I can say without a doubt that if the Nugs made that trade in the summer I have them in the post season.

Defensive Player of the Year

1. Dwight Howard (Orlando)
2. Ron Artest (Houston)
3. Shane Battier (Houston)

All-Defense Team

PG – Rajon Rondo (Boston)
SG – Ron Artest (Houston)
SF – Shane Battier (Houston)
PF – Kevin Garnett (Boston)
C – Dwight Howard (Orlando)

Sixth Man of the Year

1. Jason Terry (Dallas)
2. J.R. Smith (Denver)
3. Lamar Odom (Lakers)

Executive of the Year

1. Mark Warkentien (Denver)
2. John Paxson (Chicago)
3. Otis Smith (Orlando)

Coach of the Year

1. Mike Brown (Cleveland)
2. Stan Van Gundy (Orlando)
3. George Karl (Denver)

Rookie of the Year

1. Derrick Rose (Chicago)
2. Brook Lopez (New Jersey)
3. Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City)

All-Rookie Team

PG – Derrick Rose (Chicago)
SG – Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City)
SF – O.J. Mayo (Memphis)
PF –Marc Gasol (Memphis)
C – Brook Lopez (New Jersey)

Most Valuable Player

1. LeBron James (Cleveland)
2. Kobe Bryant (Lakers)
3. Dwight Howard (Orlando)
4. Dwyane Wade (Miami)
5. Chris Paul (New Orleans)

All-NBA

PG – Chris Paul (New Orleans)
SG – Dwyane Wade (Miami)
SF – Kobe Bryant (Lakers)
PF – LeBron James (Cleveland)
C – Dwight Howard (Orlando)

Second Team

PG – Tony Parker (San Antonio)
SG – Brandon Roy (Portland)
SF – Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas)
PF – Pau Gasol (Lakers)
C – Yao Ming (Houston)

Third Team

PG – Chauncey Billups (Denver)
SG – Deron Williams (Utah)
SF – Paul Pierce (Boston)
PF – Tim Duncan (San Antonio)
C – Shaquille O’Neal (Phoenix)