NBA Mid-Season Awards - Statistics through January 31st

1 - STEVE NASH A couple of years ago it would have been hard to imagine even one MVP Award for Steve Nash, but if he and the Suns keep winning games he may have to clear room in his trophy case for a second. The Suns, coming off a 60-22 season, lost two of last season's starters to trade and another to injury - those three players averaged a combined 58 points per game. With three new starters in tow Nash has the Suns on top of the Pacific. For the second year is a row he is leading the NBA in assists and six key members of the Suns, including Nash, are averaging career highs in scoring. Year GP FG% FT% PPG RPG APG STL MPG 2005-06 45 48.2 92.6 19.2 4.4 11.3 0.9 37.2

2 - ELTON BRAND The Clippers are well on their way to their first playoff appearance since the 1992-93 season, so somebody from that team has to be on this list. Elton Brand, who has long been a fantastic player on terrible teams, is the most worthy. Brand is averaging career highs in scoring and blocks and is shooting a fantastic percentage from the field. Though longtime teammate Corey Maggette has missed much of the season to injury, new additions Sam Cassell and Cuttino Mobley are providing Brand with plenty of offensive help. Year GP FG% FT% PPG RPG APG BLK MPG 2005-06 40 52.2 77.2 24.6 10.4 2.7 2.6 39.4

3 - CHAUNCEY BILLUPS Despite a change in leadership the Detroit Pistons keep motoring along. The key players are basically the same as they have been for a couple of years, but new head coach Flip Saunders has the team playing a more up-tempo style. That suits nobody better than point guard Chauncey Billups. Billups is putting up career highs in scoring, assists, field goal percentage, free throw percentage and free throws made as the Pistons chase 70 wins and the best record in the NBA. Year GP FG% FT% PPG RPG APG STL MPG 2005-06 43 43.4 92.6 19.5 3.2 8.5 0.7 36.4

4 - KOBE BRYANT After a slow start to the season, the Los Angeles Lakers are in playoff position. That alone makes Kobe Bryant an MVP candidate. The Lakers, outside of Bryant, are pretty thin offensively. Bryant is putting up the most points since Michael Jordan averaged 37.1 per game in 1986-87 and the Lakers' second leading scorer is averaging more than 21 points per game less than him. Bryant has no shortage of detractors who think he shoots too much and doesn't pass enough, but that may well be the only way the Lakers can reach the playoffs. Year GP FG% FT% PPG RPG APG STL MPG 2005-06 42 44.8 84.2 36.0 5.5 4.3 1.4 40.6

5 - LEBRON JAMES Now that they've given him some help LeBron James looks to be leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to the playoffs for the first time since the 1997-98 season. James is the third-leading scorer and has the highest field goal percentage of anybody in the top 10. He is also among the NBA leaders is assists and steals. All this for a player who has only recently has his 21st birthday. Year GP FG% FT% PPG RPG APG STL MPG 2005-06 43 49.3 73.1 31.2 6.9 6.3 1.7 41.6

Rookie of the Year

1 - CHRIS PAUL This is an absolute no-brainer. Chris Paul has pretty much turned the Hornets around by himself. Paul leads all rookies in scoring, assists, steals, minutes and is even third in rebounding. The fact that he wasn't the first point guard taken in the draft is a mystery. Year GP FG% FT% PPG RPG APG STL MPG 2005-06 43 42.8 82.7 16.3 5.7 7.4 2.3 35.9

2 - ANDREW BOGUT The Milwaukee Bucks have brought top pick Andrew Bogut along slowly, but he has gotten better and more productive each month. He averaged close to a double-double in January and his scoring, assists, blocks and field goal percentage have improved in each of his first three months. Year GP FG% FT% PPG RPG APG BLK MPG 2005-06 44 53.9 61.3 9.4 7.8 2.2 1.1 29.2

3 - CHANNING FRYE Channing Frye has been a bright spot in a dismal year for the New York Knicks. He's only playing about half the game, but Frye is fourth on the Knicks in scoring and second among rookies. His production is impressive considering how much Larry Brown is juggling the Knicks' rotation night in and night out. Year GP FG% FT% PPG RPG APG BLK MPG 2005-06 43 49.7 82.5 13.8 5.9 1.0 0.7 25.9

Sixth Man of the Year

1 - MAURRICE WILLIAMS Combo guard Mo Williams has come up huge for the Bucks this season and has won two games with three pointers at the buzzer. He provides instant offence off the bench can spell both T.J. Ford and Michael Redd. Williams is second on the team in scoring and just fifth in minutes played. Year GP FG% FT% PPG RPG APG 3PT% MPG 2005-06 38 44.0 85.0 14.7 2.7 4.3 40.7 29.7

2 - MIKE MILLER The Grizzlies love using their bench and Mike Miller is the first option for the second unit. Miller is having one the best years of his career and has been very productive whenever he sees the floor. The biggest problem with Miller has always been his health and he has only missed a handful of games this year. Year GP FG% FT% PPG RPG APG 3PT% MPG 2005-06 40 47.8 78.5 13.9 5.8 2.5 40.3 31.2

3 - EARL BOYKINS Earl Boykins is in his third season as a sparkplug off the bench for the Denver Nuggets. Despite his diminutive size (5'5 and 133 pounds), Boykins finds a way to put up points in a hurry and has no trouble getting his teammates involved. Year GP FG% FT% PPG RPG APG STL MPG 2005-06 41 42.0 86.7 13.2 1.4 3.8 0.8 26.6

Most Improved Player

1 - BORIS DIAW There is a reason bad teams are bad. The Atlanta Hawks basically gave up on Boris Diaw and threw him in their trade to get Joe Johnson. Since joining the Suns, Diaw has more than doubled his career highs in scoring, assists and blocks and set new career highs in just about every other statistical category. Diaw is one of only four NBA players this season to average at least six rebounds and six assists per game - the others being LeBron James, Jason Kidd and Dwyane Wade. That's pretty good company. Year GP FG% FT% PPG RPG APG BLK MPG 2004-05 66 42.2 74.0 4.8 2.6 2.3 0.3 18.2 2005-06 45 50.3 69.6 11.9 6.5 6.0 1.1 33.2

2 - MEHMET OKUR With Carlos Boozer out with a hamstring injury, Mehmet Okur has stepped up as the team's leading rebounder and scorer. Okur is putting up career highs in points, rebounds, assists and three pointers. Year GP FG% FT% PPG RPG APG BLK MPG 2004-05 82 46.8 85.0 12.9 7.5 2.0 0.8 28.1 2005-06 45 45.1 80.4 17.6 9.5 2.6 1.0 35.6

3 - CHRIS BOSH Chris Bosh is an interesting case because he was already very good player last year, but this year he has joined the NBA elite. In basically the same minutes, Bosh is putting up better numbers across the board and is shooting much better from the field and the free throw line. Bosh deserves to be an All-Star this year and appears well on his way to an outstanding career. Year GP FG% FT% PPG RPG APG BLK MPG 2004-05 81 47.1 76.0 16.8 8.9 1.9 1.4 37.2 2005-06 45 50.0 81.3 22.4 9.0 2.4 1.1 38.5

Defensive Player of the Year

1 - BRUCE BOWEN It's time for the NBA to recognize Bruce Bowen's defensive prowess. Bowen is perhaps the premiere perimeter defender in the NBA and has gotten under the skin of many opposing players with his aggressive style. Year GP FG% FT% PPG RPG APG 3PT% MPG 2005-06 45 43.0 63.0 7.4 3.8 1.6 45.2 34.0

2 - MARCUS CAMBY Before missing 15 games with a pinky injury, Marcus Camby was having the best year of his career. Camby is back now and looks to continue where he left off. He is putting up career highs in points, rebounds and steals and is among the league leaders in blocks. If he can hang on and avoid any more injuries this season he could land top defensive honours. Year GP FG% FT% PPG RPG STL BLK MPG 2005-06 28 48.4 72.9 15.4 12.6 1.5 2.9 33.0

3 - BEN WALLACE This might as well be called the Ben Wallace Award. Wallace has won top defensive honours three times now and he could make it four. He is among the league leaders in rebounds, blocks and steals and is the catalyst behind Pistons' top-notch defence. Year GP FG% FT% PPG RPG STL BLK MPG 2005-06 43 50.6 47.8 8.3 7.3 1.5 2.3 36.5