Camila Alves WILL NOT Be Handing Out NBA Mid-Season Awards To Tyreke, Shaq & LeBron

41 games down and 41 to go.  Most NBA teams are half way through the regular season and it’s time for Camila Alves Sofia Vergara (we actually have no one now) to hand out a few awards…

*1/22/10 – Earlier today we were advised by a legal representative of Ms. Alves that her picture needed to be removed from this post immediately.  Fortunately, Sofia Vergara was available to replace Ms. Alves on very short notice and we are eternally grateful.

*1/22/10 – Later today we were advised by a legal representative of Ms. Vergara that her picture needed to be removed from this post immediately.

MVP

Although my pre-season pick, Chris Paul, is playing very well there is really only one choice: LeBron James.  The King has elevated his game this season and his numbers on most nights are simply spectacular.  It’s only a matter of time before James averages a triple-double.

As far as a runner-up is concerned, Steve Nash, Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki and Kobe Bryant (a.k.a. The Usual Suspects) are in the conversation but I’m going with Kevin Durant.  KD has led the surprising Oklahoma City Thunder to a winning record while effortlessly filling the stat sheet game after game (29.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 48% from the floor and 87% from the line).  The only one who could possibly disagree is the guy in my fantasy hoops league that traded Durant for Eric Gordon & Jason Terry 8 days into the year.

Biggest Bust

Hedo Turkoglu and Vince Carter have been big disappointments so far, but Shaquille O”Neal wins this award by a whisker.  Although he is one of the best big men of all time, Shaq has been reduced to picking up LeBron’s table scraps in Cleveland while playing a paltry 23 minutes a game.

Rookie of the Year

As predicted back in late October, this is an obvious choice:  Tyreke Evans.   Brandon Jennings, Omri Casspi, Ty Lawson, Jonny Flynn and DeJuan Blair are also ballin’ but Reke has the ROY award in his back pocket.

Coach of the Year

This award came down to a photo finish and Scott Brooks defeated Lionel Hollins by a nose.  I knew the Grizzlies would be a playoff contender this season, but thought the Thunder were at least a year away.  However, Scottie’s kids in Oklahoma City are ready for prime time right now as the only thing that will keep the Thunder from the playoffs this year is a serious injury to KD.

Decrepit Carcass Award

Shaq almost won this award too, but will have to settle for the bronze.   The silver goes to old man Juwan Howard of the injury-ravaged Portland Trailblazers.  Howard was seemingly washed up five years ago but has miraculously discovered the fountain of youth in the Pacific Northwest after the season ending knee injuries to Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla.

Although he’s only 32-years old, the inaugural winner of the Decrepit Carcass Award goes to Devean George of the Golden State Warriors.  Even though he always seems to be injured, George has somehow forged a decade long career in the NBA while earning nearly $30 million.  Meanwhile, much better players like Matt Barnes haven’t cleared anything close to $10 million.

We’ll see what happens in the second half of the year as Camila Sofia will be returning to Pacman Jonesin’ to hand out the end of the year awards in May…