One of the most exciting NBA seasons is in the books, and after coming down to the final game of the season, the playoffs are set and we’re in for a good one. Lets wrap up the season with my award choices.

MVP: Lebron James, Miami Heat. Even though Kevin Durant had an MVP season and Carmelo made one hell of a late season push at the award, this one isn’t even close. Lebron had one of the best seasons in NBA history. His per game stats: 28.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 1.7 steals, .9 blocks, and an outstanding 31.67 PER (player efficiency rating) which, according to basketball reference, is the 7th best of all time, only behind Jordan twice, Chamberlain three times, and Lebron in 08-09. Not to mention that his team went on the second longest win streak in NBA history, and won an outstanding 66 games. Lebron is set to win his fourth MVP in five years. [Note: It should be his fifth straight, in my opinion. Derrick Rose basically won it because everyone felt like it was ‘his time.’ Maybe the whole decision fiasco had something to do with this whole thing?]

Rookie of the Year: Damian Lillard, Portland Trailblazers. Lillard for sure exceeded my expectations, and maybe possibly his own.Anthony Davis was the favorite, and had a great rookie year, but nothing like Lillard’s historic season. Anyone who didn’t know about Lillard got to see him grab a victory in his first All-Star Skills Challenge at All-Star weekend this year. And thats just the first of many accomplishments Damian had this year. Not only did he get recognition from Kobe and Lebron after they went up against him, he averaged 19.1 points, 13th in the NBA, and the most by a rookie PG since Allen Iverson’s rookie year. Lillard led the league in minutes played, and was fifth in the league in three’s made. Not to mention that Lillard was almost an all-star, and could have been one if it wasn’t for the outrageously impressive field of guards that resulted in Stephen Curry being snubbed. Lillard’s season was one for the ages.

Sixth Man of the Year: JR Smith, New York Knicks. First of all, let me apologize to all Knicks fans now. I doubted them, and I was wrong. What a year. And JR is a big part of that. A man that was always talented and promising finally found the perfect role this season and flourished. And although he may have gotten a little bit too much hype, (him being considered an all-star was just preposterous) he was exactly what any team needed off the bench: Offense and Energy. And if anybody else robs him of this award, even Jamal Crawford or Kevin Martin, it will be a shame, because this is his year to win it.

Most Improved Player: This one gave me the most trouble. A lot of players got a lot better this year, so I had a tough time narrowing it. First, I cut out all the players that I expected to have All-Star breakout seasons at some point. So scratch Paul George, Steph Curry, Jrue Holiday, all guys who improved their game, but did what they were drafted to do. Now looking at a narrowed down field, I’m going with the guy that surprised me and possibly everyone else the most with his performance, and thats Greivis Vasquez, New Orleans Hornets. When Austin Rivers was drafted, many expected him to be converted to PG to run the show in New Orleans. Well, that was answered when Greivis had a career year and Rivers was a massive flop. 13.9 ppg and 9.0 apg, and at points in the year looked like a double double machine. Other guys deserving of this award this year were Larry Sanders of the Bucks and Nikola Vucevic of the Magic, but I just felt like Vasquez was the most deserving.

I’m not going to name a Defensive Player of the Year because I honestly don’t know enough about what goes into that choice. Don’t want to rant when I don’t know what I’m talking about. Here’s my All-NBA teams:

First Team All-NBA: Guards: Chris Paul, Clippers; Kobe Bryant, Lakers.  Forwards: Lebron James, Heat; Kevin Durant, Thunder. Center: Marc Gasol, Grizzlies. 

Second Team All-NBA: Guards: Russel Westbrook, Thunder; James Harden, Rockets. Forwards: Carmelo Anthony, Knicks; Blake Griffin, Clippers. Center: Tim Duncan, Spurs

Third Team All- NBA: Guards: Tony Parker, Spurs; Stephen Curry, Warriors. Forwards: Paul George, Pacers; Zach Randolph, Grizzlies. Center: Dwight Howard, Lakers.

Notes: Didn’t expect my teams to be all Western players outside of three, but thats how it played out this year. Wouldn’t be opposed to swapping Duncan/Gasol or swapping Howard out for Brook Lopez or Joakim Noah, but I just felt Howard got a bad rep just because of how high his expectations were. Statistically, he had a really impressive year.

First Team All-Rookie: Damian Lillard, Trailblazers; Anthony Davis, Hornets; Andre Drummond, Pistons; Dion Waiters, Cavs; Bradley Beal, Wizards. 

Second Team All-Rookie: Jonas Valančiūnas, Raptors; Harrison Barnes, Warriors; Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Bobcats, Alexey Shved, Timberwolves, Moe Harkless, Magic.

Notes: Really impressed by Andre Drummond this season, and the first team was real easy to choose. If they pick anything else I’ll be stunned. If you want to clal me out and try to pick a second team, I advise against it. Its tough, frustrating, and headscratching. Anybody after MKG is just a toss up, honestly.

Now lets get to my playoff predictions:

First Round

Lets start with the Western Conference. In the first series, I’m taking the Thunder over Rockets in 5. I’ll give the Rockets one game just because I think they will be young and hungry. But ultimately, the Thunder will be way too much for the young Rockets. Next, I’ll take the Spurs over Lakers in 6. This one really interests me. I know people are counting out the Lakers without Kobe, but it gives Pau and Dwight more touches, and that can be very scary for the Spurs. I don’t see the Spurs losing at home, but honestly, I find it hard to see the Lakers losing in Staples, either. I’ll say 6 games, but it wouldn’t shock me if it went 5 or 7. In the most interesting series in the first round, I’m taking the Nuggets over Warriors in 7. This series should be awesome, but I don’t get why its everyones upset pick. The Nuggets are the NBA’s version of the Seahawks: they NEVER lose at home. EVER. And if the Warriors are the team to knock them off at home, I’ll be very surprised. However, I think it will go 7 in a very competitive series. Lastly, give me the Clippers over Grizzlies in 5. As good as I believe Memphis is, I think the Clippers are scary. And I think they will be a lot hungrier in this series then the Grizzlies in this round.

In the Eastern Conference, I’ll start by taking the Heat over Bucks in 4, and I won’t elaborate. In a really interesting series, give me the Knicks over Celtics in 7. I think the Knicks are a far superior team then the Celtics, but there is something about that team in the playoffs. I wouldn’t even be that surprised if they knocked off the Knicks, but I think talent takes over near the end of the series and the Knicks grab their first playoff series victory since 2000. In a far less interesting series give me the Pacers over Hawks in 4. *yawn* This one just bores me. Don’t see a lot in the Hawks and I have hopes for the Pacers to sweep quickly. And in yet another boring defensive battle, give me the Nets over Bulls in 7, in what should be the most dragged out series in NBA history. Look, if you want to watch interesting basketball, watch the Western Conference Playoffs.

 Conference Semifinals

First in the Western Conference, I’ll take the Thunder over Clippers in 6. This series should be a really fun one, but I think the Thunder are just overall the better team here. Chris Paul and Kevin Durant are going to carry their teams, but I think Westbrook will pull more weight then Blake, and that why I believe the Thunder will take this one. And in my first non chalk pick, give me the Nuggets over Spurs in 7. Had Manu not gotten injured earlier, this would be a different pick. But I think the high flying, high energy Nuggets will be too much for the Spurs. Maybe age will finally catch up to Duncan and the bunch. At least I hope so my pick looks more legit. In the Eastern Conference, I like the Heat over Nets in 5. Another easy series for the Heat. The Nets looked great on paper at the start of the year, but the road ends here. The Heat will be way too much. I’ll take the Knicks over Pacers in 6. Much like my Spurs-Lakers pick, I’m not too sure about the games here. 5-7 games is my actual pick, but just like my last Knicks pick, their talent will overcome Indiana in what should be one hell of a series.

Conference Finals

I’m going to be the guy that picks chalk and goes for the rematch. Thunder over Nuggets in 7. I think the Thunder are much better, but the Nuggets will be like a little fly that the Thunder can’t seem to swat away. They play hard all game, every single minute, and will be quite annoying to the reigning conference champs. But I think they will run out of gas by the end of the series and the final game may be a blowout in favor of OKC. And in a series that may be more exciting then a lof of people anticipate, give me the Heat over Knicks in 6. The Knicks are the one team that seem to give Miami a lot of trouble. And just like talent will take over for the Knicks in the other two series’s, it will in this one, as Lebron will be far to overwhelming for Carmelo and the gang. Give Miami their third straight conference crown in what should be a fun series to watch.

NBA Finals: Miami Heat over Oklahoma City Thunder, 4-2. Before the season, I said Miami was untouchable, and that nobody would be able to stop them. When I did my midseason recap, I said they might slip up against a team out West. (why, why, why did I say that?!?!) Then the streak happened. Then Lebron started getting people to think that he may in fact make a push for Jordan’s crown. And if you don’t think Miami will be hungry, the big three still have to win 7 more titles to get to their first prediction of Not 5, Not 6, Not 7. And although the Thunder look amazing this season, can anyone honestly sit here and pick against Miami right now? Because I just don’t see how anyone can predict them to lose a 7 game series to anybody but the 1996 Bulls and Team USA. I love what Kevin Durant and the Thunder have done this season. But what Lebron did is history. It can’t end with a finals loss, it just can’t.