Someone has to win the NBA?s 2007-2008 hardware, which means that someone much less talented must forecast them. Making predictions is about as easy as pulling a name out of a blog these days, but I?ve put some serious thought into each of my selections. Rarely does the expected occur in professional sports (i.e. the Rockies, Packers and Warriors), so check back at the end of the season to see just wrong (or prophetic) my predictions turn out to be.
MVP: Yao Ming, Rockets
I may be going out on a limb here, but what Yao did while healthy last season substantiates selecting him. In forty-eight games he averaged 25 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game in 2006-2007. If he hadn?t landed on the injury list last season and had maintained his torrid pace, his name would have been mentioned in MVP talks four months ago.
Runner-up: LeBron James, Cavaliers
Rookie of the Year: Jeff Green, Supersonics
Kevin Durant may be getting all of the attention in Seattle, but Green is the superior athlete at this point in time. He?s the most NBA-ready player in this year?s rookie class, aside from maybe Atlanta?s Al Horford, and the dearth of talent in the Emerald City will give Green the opportunity to shine during a transitional year. He can do a little bit of everything, which will earn him enough votes to overtake the likes of Durant, Horford and Houston?s Luis Scola.
Runner-up: Al Horford, Hawks
Coach of the Year: Scott Skiles, Bulls
The Baby Bulls are infants no more. They may not reach the NBA Finals, but Skiles will earn recognition for taking them one step closer to the Promised Land this season. There are only two teams in the East that you can claim are better than Chicago: Boston and Detroit, and neither of them have a coach as good as Skiles. The further developments of Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon and Luol Deng, along with the maturation of Tyrus Thomas will make Skiles look like a genius. And rightfully so.
Runner-up: Rick Adelman, Rockets
Defensive Player of the Year: Ron Artest, Sacramento
Okay, I know what you?re going to say: he?s nuts. I?m aware, but what better to motivate a guy like Artest than a contract year? Ron has the ability to opt out of his deal with the Kings at the end of the season and if he wants someone to pay him market value, despite all of his quarks, he?ll need to have the season of his life. A full year in Sacramento and new coach Reggie Theus, should give Ron-Ron the ability to flex his defensive muscle: Western Conference beware.
Runner-up: Bruce Bowen, Spurs
Most Improved Player: LaMarcus Aldridge, Trail Blazers
One rookie?s lost season could spur another man?s sophomore success. Portland may have lost Greg Oden, the top pick from this June?s draft, but they still have Aldridge to watch bloom in their frontcourt. With another season under his belt LaMarcus will improve on his averages of 9 points, 5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. Of course, this is all assuming his pinky toe doesn?t place him alongside Oden in street clothes.
Runner-up: Darko Milicic, Grizzles
Executive of the Year: Danny Ainge, Celtics
This one is so simple, even a caveman could pick it. Boston would have to absolutely collapse in order to keep the hardware away from Ainge. After pulling the trigger on all the wrong deals at the beginning of his tenure, Danny made up for it all in a six-week period. The Celtics went from the worst team in the Eastern Conference to one of the best after Ainge pulled off trades for Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. Beantown is hoping Banner No. 17 is on the way.
Who do you think will take home the Gold? Andrew.Perna@RealGM.com