We are more than halfway through the 2009-’10 NBA season, and the All-Star game is now less than two weeks away in Dallas on February 14th.  There has been a lot of action so far this year and some major players have been stepping up their play all season long.  You’ve got LeBron James leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to the best record in the NBA, Kobe Bryant dominating despite playing most of the season with a severely broken index finger on his shooting hand, Carmelo Anthony lighting it up in Denver, and Dwayne Wade doing his thing in Miami.  Then there is a host of young talent that has been very impressive this year, and the future of the NBA is looking very bright.  Guys like Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose, Andrew Bynum, Rajon Rondo, and many more are all coming into their own.  Then there are some rookies who are already playing like seasoned vets.  There are plenty of talented guards in this year’s rookie class, most notably Tyreke Evans of the Kings, Brandon Jennings of the Bucks, Stephen Curry of the Warriors, and Ty Lawson of the Nuggets.  Well, here are my award winners in the NBA so far this season:

MVP:  Kobe Bryant  (Los Angeles Lakers)

Runner-Up:  LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers)  

Kobe’s stats:  48 games, 28.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.7 steals, 38.6 minutes, 46% FG, 32% 3PT, 83% FT

There really aren’t any flaws in Kobe Bryant’s game, and the 31-year-old shooting guard is not showing any signs of slowing down.  Kobe has been doing it all this season for the Lakers, leading them to the best record in the Western Conference (37-11), which is only .5 games back of LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers for the best record in the NBA.  Many people are going with LeBron as the MVP, but I think Kobe has the slight edge over King James.  Kobe has played without Pau Gasol in 17 games this year but he has still kept the Lakers at an elite level.  I also think the West is a little bit tougher of a conference.  Oh, and did I mention he has been doing all of this with a broken index finger on his right hand?

Rookie of the Year:  Tyreke Evans (Sacramento Kings)

Runner-Up:  Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)

Evans’ stats:  42 games, 20.5 points, 5.0 assists, 4.6 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 36.9 minutes, 46% FG,  80% FT

This was an easy choice, as Evans has been the best rookie this season since day one.  Stephen Curry has surpassed Brandon Jennings as the second best rookie, as Curry has been on-fire lately and Jennings shooting percentage keeps dropping.  Both are not playing close to the level Evans has been playing, and although the Kings are only 16-30 so far this season, they can be a dangerous team and Evans gives them a chance to win every single night.  He definitely does not play like a rookie, and he has a strength and maturity on the court that helps him outplay some older, elite NBA players.  This 20-year-old point guard is going to be a star in this league for many years to come.

Defensive Player of the Year:  Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic)

Runner-up:  Gerald Wallace (Charlotte Bobcats)

Dwight Howard is an absolute force on both ends of the court, but I think his defense and rebounding have more of an impact than his offensive game.  That is saying a lot since Howard averages 17.7 points and is shooting 60% from the field.  He gets 9.7 defensive rebounds per game, along with 2.7 blocks, and 1.2 steals.  His presence is always felt on the defensive end and even if he doesn’t block a shot or get a rebound, odds are that he affected how the other team attacked the Magic’s defense.  He forces guys to adjust their shots when driving to the hole, and teams are much more likely to shoot from the outside rather than challenging Howard down low.

Sixth Man Award:  Jamal Crawford (Atlanta Hawks)

Runner-Up:  Tie between Jason Terry (Dallas Mavericks) and Carl Landry (Houston Rockets)

Crawford’s stats:  46 games, 17.7 points, 2.8 assists, 2.4 rebounds, 30.7 minutes, 46% FG, 36% 3PT, 86% FT

The Atlanta Hawks are 30-16 this season, and Jamal Crawford is a big reason why.  Crawford provides a big scoring option off the bench for the Hawks, and he also has a knack for hitting the big shot.  Crawford may not take the best shots at times, but somehow he makes most of them.  He can be deadly from three, and is second all-time in 4-point plays (22) trailing only Reggie Miller.  Crawford can really light it up and will be a huge asset for the Hawks come playoff time.

Most Improved Player:  Carl Landry (Houston Rockets)

Runner-Up:  Marc Gasol (Memphis Grizzlies)

Landry’s stats:  16.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 0.9 blocks, 27.4 minutes, 55% FG

Carl Landry has really stepped it up this season, and the Houston Rockets really needed him to.  With Yao Ming out for the season, Landry has been a consistent low post threat for the Rockets.  He is also a very efficient player, averaging over 16 points despite only playing 27 minutes per game.  His scoring average is about 7 points more a game this season compared to last, and his rebounding numbers are up as well.  Houston will be fighting for a spot in the playoffs, and if they make it Landry will be a big reason why.