The 2007-08 NBA regular season is coming to a close, which means it is our duty at RealGM to take a step back and analyze one of the most exciting seasons in recent history.  There have been many surprises thus far, including the remarkable turnarounds of teams like the New Orleans Hornets and Boston Celtics, surprising trades that saw Shaq end up in Phoenix and Jason Kidd in Dallas, along with the continued growth of today?s young superstars like Brandon Roy and Chris Paul.  

We sifted through the numbers and have determined the rightful owners of the NBA?s regular season hardware.  

Most Valuable Player

Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

This is shaping up to be one of the closest MVP races that comes to mind.  There are two clear-cut favorites in Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul.  The numbers for both are astounding, and both men have carried their teams to the very top of the most competitive conference in league history.  However, when it comes down to it, there is one aspect that sticks out to me most that separates these two superstars:  Kobe led his team to the number-one seed in the West despite playing 47 games without his starting center Andrew Bynum and 55 games without his eventual starting power forward Pau Gasol.  Imagine if CP3 didn?t have David West and Tyson Chandler for a combined 102 games and tell me with a straight face that they?d have the same record.  No way.  While Kobe Bryant?s numbers were down from the past couple of years, his leadership and determination to succeed began in the off-season when he gave management the ultimatum to flank him with more talent or deal him off to another team.  He came up huge for them all season long, helped the younger players mature, and has put the Lake Show back on top out West.  He is completely deserving of finally?repeat, finally, being awarded his first MVP, despite being arguably the best player in the league for the better half of the past decade.

Midseason Pick:
Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets

Also considered:
Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets
Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics
Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns

Rookie of the Year

Kevin Durant, Seattle Supersonics

As the season progressed, so did Kevin Durant.  He started the season hoisting up too many shots and wasn?t always comfortable being ?the man.?  However, Durant got over the hump and was hitting game-winners like it was his job...oh wait, it is.  He finished the season strong, averaging 21.8 points and nearly 5 rebounds per game over the final two months.  He led all rookies with 20.0 points per game, including six games scoring more than 30 points and a career-high of 37.  He was the youngest player in the league but had the maturity of a veteran by the end of the season.  More importantly, his spectacular play and ability to put on a show helped the fans of Seattle enjoy their potential final season in the Emerald City.  

Midseason Pick:
Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks

Also considered:
Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks
Luis Scola, Houston Rockets
Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls

Defensive Player of the Year

Marcus Camby, Denver Nuggets

After taking home his first career Defensive Player of the Year award last season, Marcus Camby is back at it again.  He is averaging a career-high 13.2 rebounds per game and is leading the league in blocks with 3.6 per game ? Josh Smith of Atlanta is in second with 2.85.  His dominance in the paint has deterred penetrating guards from attacking the basket and has the injury-ravaged Denver Nuggets on the verge of clinching a playoff spot in the ultra-competitive West.  His absurdly long arms have altered many games with his uncanny ability to block shots.  He has blocked five or more shots in a ridiculous 27 games this season, of which Denver is 22-5 in those games, and has also dazzled the fans with two games of 10 or more (2-0).

Midseason Pick:
Marcus Camby, Denver Nuggets

Also considered:
Josh Smith, Atlanta Hawks
Samuel Dalembert, Philadelphia 76ers
Tayshaun Prince, Detroit Pistons

Coach of the Year

Byron Scott, New Orleans Hornets

Byron Scott came to New Orleans back in 2004-05 and led the team to a hideous 18-64 record.  However, without that awful season, they wouldn?t have landed the fourth pick in the 2005 NBA Draft.  Without the miracle of Milwaukee and Atlanta management, they wouldn?t have a shot at Chris Paul.  Luckily for them, CP3 fell into his lap and the former scoring guard Byron Scott made it his personal mission to take this young talent under his wing.  Don?t forget, Scott himself was the fourth overall pick of the first round back in 1983.  Now look at Paul ? he is averaging 21.1 points (Scott?s career season-high was 21.7 in 1987-88) and a ridiculous 11.6 assists per game (okay, Scott never came close to that alongside Magic Johnson).  Much of this stunning success can be attributed to Coach Scott, who remade Jason Kidd?s career in New Jersey by taking him to two NBA Finals appearances, and now he is looking to do the same for Paul and the Hornets.  

Midseason Pick:
Eddie Jordan, Washington Wizards

Also considered:
Maurice Cheeks, Philadelphia 76ers
Stan Van Gundy, Orlando Magic
Phil Jackson, Los Angeles Lakers

Sixth Man

Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs

Earlier in the season, I went with Ben Gordon as the pick for this award, but after the season has run its course, it is more than obvious that Ginobili is the only option.  Not only has he potentially passed Tim Duncan and Tony Parker as the most indispensable player on the roster, but he?s left his ego in the locker room and helped solidify chemistry by coming off the bench in order to spark the team to victory.  This was perhaps his finest season, averaging a team-best 19.6 points and 1.5 steals per game to go along with his 4.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists.  His presence was magnified last weekend when he sat out in Los Angeles and was forced to watch the stagnant Spurs' offense get annihilated by the mediocre Laker defense.

Midseason Pick:
Ben Gordon, Chicago Bulls

Also considered:
Josh Childress, Atlanta Hawks
Ben Gordon, Chicago Bulls
Leandro Barbosa, Phoenix Suns

Most Improved Player

Hedo Turkoglu, Orlando Magic

As much as I would have loved to select Jose Calderon for this award, there is no way he was more improved than Hedo Turkoglu or even Rudy Gay.  I mean, where did this season come from?  He shattered his previous career-highs into particles ? 19.7 points (previous career-high of 14.9), 5.8 rebounds (4.6), and 5.0 assists (3.2).  He is the primary reason the Orlando Magic have reached the 50-win plateau for the first time since 1995-96, and only the fourth time in franchise history.  Not only was he solid throughout the season, but he was also the guy with the ball at the end of the game, registering multiple game-winning shots that left fans wondering ? ?Hey wait, is that Peja?  Or is he that Turkish guy who used to come off the bench for the Euro-Kings of the late 90s??

Midseason Pick:
Beno Udrih, Sacramento Kings

Also considered:
Rudy Gay, Memphis Grizzlies
Jose Calderon, Toronto Raptors
Amir Johnson, Detroit Pistons

Biggest Disappointment

Miami Heat

I will say it again - a team that is almost two years removed from a championship stocked with superstars Shaqui?I mean, Shawn Marion and Dwyane Wade, a surefire Hall of Fame coach in Pat Riley, and a very talented supporting cast is definitely not supposed to be the bottom feeder of the league ? well, until 2007-08 NBDL MVP Blake Ahearn was brought up to spell starting point guard Chris Quinn, forming the most formidable point guard rotation in the (D-)League.  They are now 14-67 and must win their final game against Atlanta to avoid breaking their all-time worst record of 15-67 set by the inaugural team back in 1988-89.  Without a doubt, the Miami Heat are the biggest disappointment of the 2007-08 NBA Season.  

Midseason Pick:
Miami Heat

Also considered:
New York Knicks
Chicago Bulls
New Jersey Nets

Feel free to contact Jason M. Williams with your thoughts.  He can be reached at Jason.Williams@RealGM.com for comments or questions.