Maurice Podoloff Trophy for the Most Valuable Player

(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

LeBron James-Cleveland Cavaliers

This is a no-brainer! LeBron has played this season at a level few have ever matched. 6th in assists, 10th in steals, and 2nd in points. A player efficiency rating at 31.2%, 3 points higher then any other player according to Basketball-  Reference.com.. 29.7 points per game on .503% shooting. He also averaged a career high 8.6 assists on top of all that. The Cavaliers have the best record in the league for the second straight season and look to dominate in this years playoffs. LeBron will be the 10th player in NBA history to win MVP in back-to-back seasons

Eddie Gottlieb Trophy for the Rookie of the Year

(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Tyreke Evans-Sacramento Kings

The race for the Rookie of the Year was tightening up as the season wound down to the end but Tyreke’s 20,5,5, accomplishment make him a shoo-in. Tyreke is the 4th(Michael Jordan, Oscar Robertson, LeBron James) rookie in NBA history to average 20 points, 5 assists, and 5 rebounds in a season. That alone should win you the Rookie of the Year, and his 20,5,5, was only averaged this season by Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James. That ridiculous company should guarantee him the award!

Kevin McHale Trophy for 6th Man of the Year

Jamal Crawford-Atlanta Hawks

Crawford’s points per game were higher in previous seasons, but his impact off the bench for the Hawks was instrumental in their 50 win season. His three-point percentage of .382 is the highest of his career. Crawford leads the league in scoring among players who haven’t started a game and has been endorsed for the award by star players such as Kobe Bryant and Paul Pierce.

Alvin Robertson Trophy for Most Improved Player

Aaron Brooks-Houston Rockets

In his first full season as the starting point guard for the Houston Rockets,  Aaron averaged 19.8 points per game, up from 11.2 last season. Aaron is the 6th player in league history to finish the season with 200+ three- pointers, and 400+ assists. He leads the league in made three-pointers, with a .397% shooting from deep.

Sidney Moncrief Trophy for Defensive Player of the Year

Dwight Howard-Orlando Magic

When it comes to defense, the guy with the muscles standing in the  paint is usually the best weapon. He leads the league in blocks (2.79 per  game) rebounds  (13.2) and defensive rebounds (9.7)

Opponents are shooting a league-low .438 from the field against  Orlando.  The Magic has the league’s third-best defensive rating– an estimate of  points allowed per 100 possessions — at 103.1, according to Basketball-  Reference.com.

The Phoenix Suns have almost set. Phoenix is 10-13 after beginning the season 14-3. They started hot early against Atlanta, but Atlanta in their roller-coaster fashion fought back to within 2, 101-99. Jamal Crawford take it away:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PIYe0agdKg

Jamal Crawford has been coming up BIG for the Hawks off the bench, and looks to make it to the playoffs for the first time in his 10-year career. The Hawks snapped a three-game losing streak against the Suns. *Note that is Jared Dudley getting J’d on!

The Oklahoma City Thunder had 8 wins by the 18th of January last season.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

This year they have already won 21 games. Much of the success of the Thunder falls heavily on Kevin Durant, who is an early  candidate for MVP. Against the Mavs he did his 30 point thing again which is his 18th time this season and 10th time in the last 12 games. But the final score Mavs 99- Thunder 98, was another one point loss to a Texas team. The Thunder lost on Wednesday to the Spurs 109-108. Cutting down on turnovers is the BIGGEST key to the Thunder growth. Kevin Durant is 3rd in the NBA in points per game(behind Lebron and Carmelo) and turnovers. Jason Kidd hit two 3-pointers and moved into a tie for fifth with Glen Rice on the all-time list with 1,559. Thats right Jason Kidd actually has made 1,559 three-pointers!

The New Jersey Nets lost to the Indiana pacers Friday night puts their losing streak at 7. They can add the 18, and 10 game losing streaks to that number. Their record sits at 3-36. Kiki Vandeweghe who took over as coach after the 0-18 streak, is 3-18. Great Job Kiki!! The Nets are now edging closer to the 1972 Philadelphia 76ers who won 9 games all season.The  76ers began the season with 15 straight losses(sound familiar), and also recorded losing streaks of 20, 14, and finally 13 to end the season. But Philly also proved it could win, taking a remarkable two in row and four of six in February. The Sixers finished 59 games behind the Celtics in the Eastern Division. The Nets are already 26 games behind the Celtics right now.