LeBron James has once again put up amazing numbers for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the regular season, averaging 29.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 8.6 assists, 1.6 steals, 1.0 blocks, and shot 50% from the field, 33% from three, and 77% from the free-throw line.  There isn’t too much doubt that LeBron deserves this year’s MVP award, but people need to recognize the amazing season that Kevin Durant had for the Oklahoma City Thunder.  The 21-year-old Durant beat out LeBron for the scoring title, averaging 30.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.0 blocks.  He shot 48% from the field, 37% from three, and an extremely impressive 90% from the free-throw line.  LeBron led the Cavs to a 61-win season and the number one seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs, but the argument could be made that Durant and the Thunder’s season is just as impressive.  Durant led a young and inexperienced Thunder team to 50 wins in the completely stacked Western Conference.  The 50 wins only got the Thunder the 8th seed in the Western Conference Playoffs, showing just how deep the West is compared to the East.  The West had eight teams with at least 50 wins, where as the East only had four.  I’m not trying to take anything away from LeBron, who is arguably the best regular season player ever, but Durant’s season was just as impressive to me as LeBron’s.  Either way, LeBron still deserves the MVP over Durant this season, but don’t be surprised if Durant beats out LeBron in an MVP race in the near future.  Here are my top 5 MVP candidates:

1)  LeBron James - SF, 6′8″, 250 lbs, Cleveland Cavaliers - 29.7 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 8.6 APG, 1.6 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 50% FG, 33% 3pFG, 77% FT.

King James will be getting his second consecutive MVP award this season and he is a pretty easy choice.  This is the second of many to come for LeBron, but will he be able to get it done in this year’s playoffs?  He has proven he is as dominant as they come, but now being in his 7th season will he be able to get his first NBA Championship this year?  That is the question everyone is waiting to see answered.

2)  Kevin Durant - SF, 6′9″, 230 lbs, Oklahoma City Thunder -  30.1 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 48% FG, 37% 3pFG, 90% FT.

Durant took a major step forward in his career this season, going from “up-and-coming” star to superstar.  Unfortunately for him he has to compete with LeBron James and his near triple-double averages.  Durant has shown he can be a better scorer than LeBron though, as he has a better outside stroke and was this year’s NBA scoring champion.  Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder are battling the defending NBA Champions right now in the opening round of the playoffs, and they have given the Los Angeles Lakers two tough games thanks to Durant.  They are still down 2-0 though, so it looks like a first round exit is coming for Durant and the Thunder.  Look for Durant to compete with LeBron annually for the MVP award for years to come.

3)  Dwight Howard - C, 6′11″, 265 lbs, Orlando Magic - 18.3 PPG, 13.2 RPG, 1.8 APG, 2.8 BPG, 0.9 SPG, 61% FG, 59% FT.

Dwight Howard put together another MVP-caliber season for the Orlando Magic this year, and got it done for the Magic on both ends of the court.  With his sheer size and athleticism, Howard defends the paint better than anyone in the game right now.  That is the reason why he won this year’s NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award.  Howard is beast on the boards and is nearly impossible to stop down low in the paint, which shows in his ridiculous field goal percentage.  Free throw shooting is probably the only negative aspect of his game, but it’s not like he is the first dominant center to struggle with his free throws.  Look for Howard to try and get the Magic back to the NBA Finals this year.

4)  Kobe Bryant - SG, 6′6″, 205 lbs, Los Angeles Lakers - 27.0 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.6 SPG, 46% FG, 33% 3pFG, 81% FT.

The 31-year-old Bryant added another phenomenal season to his impressive resume this year, and even though his numbers this year were not as amazing as year’s past I wouldn’t say Kobe is slowing down just yet.  Kobe no longer needs to put up 35 points a night for the Lakers to win, since he has a great supporting cast which helped him win his 4th NBA Championship last season.  He also played almost the whole season with a broken index finger on his shooting hand, while leading the Lakers to the number one seed in the West.  Kobe is on the hunt for his 5th NBA Championship right now, and I still have Kobe and the Lakers as the favorites to win it all again.  Kobe is solidifying his spot as one of the best ever as he continues to put up great numbers season after season.

5)  Dwyane Wade - SG, 6′4″, 220 lbs, Miami Heat - 26.6 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 6.5 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 48% FG, 30% 3pFG, 76% FT.

With his superior athleticism and knack for making difficult shots, Dwyane Wade is one of the most difficult matchups in the NBA.  The Heat had an up-and-down season for most of the year, but Wade put the team on his back down the stretch and helped them go 18-4 over the final 22 games to get the 5th seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.  Wade is always in the discussion for MVP and this year is no different.

The matchups in the NBA Playoffs look much better than they did last season.  This is the way I see the Playoffs playing out in the next two months:

FIRST ROUND:  Cleveland Cavaliers in four games over the Chicago Bulls.  The Bulls just don’t have the depth, especially on the front line, to deal with the Cavaliers who will have a very easy time getting rid of the Bulls.

Boston Celtics in six games over the Miami Heat.  It’s no doubt that D-Wade will be the best player on the court in this series.  But, the Celtics have players 2 thru 5 and they have a much deeper bench than the Heat.  With that in mind the Celtics will advance.

Atlanta Hawks in five games over the Milwaukee Bucks.  If the Bucks had Andrew Bogut and Michael Redd they might have been able to beat the Hawks.  Without them they have no chance and I’m only giving the Bucks one win at home in this series.

Orlando Magic in six games over the Charlotte Bobcats.  Wily old veteran coach Larry Brown will have his Bobcats up for this series.  The Bobcats are a great home team and a sub par road team so I will give the Cats a couple of home wins in this series.  In the end talent will win out with the Magic advancing.

Los Angeles Lakers over the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games.  The Thunder will be feisty in this series but I think they will come up short except for one game at home.  Look for the Lakers to flip the post season switch on starting tomorrow.

Denver Nuggets over the Utah Jazz in seven games.  I almost picked the Jazz to upset the Nuggets in this series.  But, I think a call to the locker room before game #7 will be all the motivation the Nuggets need to win the game.

Phoenix Suns over the Portland Trailblazers in six games.  The Trailblazers always seem to raise their level of play despite losing players to injury.  The latest is Brandon Roy who will miss this series and it will be too much for the Blazers to overcome against the Suns who are hot right now.

San Antonio Spurs over the Dallas Mavericks in seven games.  The Spurs know all of the tricks and I think the Big Three of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker will be at the top of their games against the state rival Dallas Mavericks.  This series could go either way as the Mavericks are a very talented basketball team but a gut feeling has me taking the Spurs.

SECOND ROUND:  Cleveland Cavaliers in six games over the Boston Celtics.  I think the Celtics will be tired after being put to the test by the Heat in the first round.  The depth of the Cavaliers’ front line will wear down the Celtics and LeBron James will score a lot of points in this series.

Orlando Magic over the Atlanta Hawks in seven games.  The Hawks are laying in the weeds as they are a solid all around team and they will take the Magic  to the brink before losing game #7 at Amway Arena in Orlando.  I wouldn’t be surprised if the Hawks win this series however.

Los Angeles Lakers over the Denver Nuggets in 7 games.  The Nuggets pushed the Lakers last season in the Western Conference Finals and they will be at it again in this series.  I think Phil Jackson will outcoach Adrian Dantley in game #7 and that will be the big difference in this series.

San Antonio Spurs over the Phoenix Suns in 7 games.  The Spurs physical style will hurt the Suns in this series.  I just think they will have the Eye of the Tiger against the Suns.

CONFERENCE FINALS:

Cleveland Cavaliers over the Orlando Magic in five games.  The Cavaliers owe the Magic for last season.  Shaquille O’Neal will frustrate Dwight Howard keeping him in foul trouble this whole series.

Los Angeles Lakers over the San Antonio Spurs in seven games.  The Lakers just have too much offensive firepower than the Spurs but it won’t really show until game #7.

NBA FINALS: 

Cleveland Cavaliers over the Los Angeles Lakers in six games.  Look for a rejuvenated Shaquille O’Neal to look like his old self in this series as he helps win a “Ring for the King”.  LeBron James will prove in this series that he is without a doubt the best player on the planet. 

The 2009 NBA Draft class proved to be a very talented one, with more than a few players making immediate impacts on their respective teams.  This year’s top rookie class was dominated by guards, but there were a few big men who put together some very nice rookie campaigns.  Many players were able to adapt to the NBA game quickly, showing why they belonged in the league, but there were some who it took a few months for their game to flourish.  Some guys got off to hot starts, but slowed down as the season progressed. See how the final rookie rankings compare to the rookie rankings I did early in the season here.

1) Tyreke Evans, 6′6″ 220 lbs G, Sacramento Kings - 20.1 PPG, 5.8 APG, 5.3 RPG, 1.5 SPG, 46% FG, 26% 3pFG, 75% FT, 37.2 MPG

Tyreke Evans has been the top rookie since the first day of the season and is the easy choice for this year’s Rookie of the Year Award.  Evans was the best player on his team all season long, but unfortunately he didn’t have much help and the Kings finished the season at 25-57.  They would have been much worse without Evans though, who became only the fourth rookie in NBA history to average at least 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists.  The other three guys to do that were Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan, and LeBron James, so he is with some pretty impressive company.  Evans has a unique package of size, strength, quickness, and athleticism while also having a good feel for the game.  He does turn it over a little too much and his outside shot needs a lot of work, but at only 20-years-old he is off to an amazing start for his NBA career.

2)  Stephen Curry , 6′3″ 185 lbs G, Golden State Warriors - 17.5 PPG, 5.9 APG, 4.5 RPG, 1.9 SPG, 46% FG, 44% 3pFG, 89% FT, 36.2 MPG

Stephen Curry was definitely the most exciting rookie to watch this season and he could end up being the best player out of his rookie class when it is all said and done.  Whether it his quick crossover,his deadly silky-smooth jumper, or his undeniable great court vision, Curry has a full arsenal of weapons to attack you with on the court. Obviously he needs to bulk up, but his size was supposed to keep him from being a great rookie and it didn’t.  Curry is stronger than he looks though, and with a “wiry” frame he is still able to get to the basket and finish.  His three point shooting was probably the most impressive part of his game this season, and even though everyone knew he was a great shooter because of his days at Davidson College, not too many people expected him to adapt to the much deeper NBA three-point line so effortlessly.  He ended up 6th in the NBA in total three-pointers made and 7th in percentage. Curry also proved he wouldn’t be a big liability on defense, which many though he would be due to his size and lack of elite level quickness.  Although he wasn’t a lock-down defender, he has a knack for the ball and reads the passing lanes as good as anyone in the league, finishing with nearly 2 steals per game.  Overall, I love this guy’s game and his basketball IQ is off the charts, so he will be bringing Warriors’ fans to their feet for quite a while.

3)  Brandon Jennings, 6′1″ 170 lbs G, Milwaukee Bucks - 15.5 PPG, 5.7 APG, 3.4 RPG, 1.3 SPG, 37% FG, 37% 3pFG, 82% FT, 32.6 MPG

Brandon Jennings was passed over in the draft a few times for other point guards, as it seemed some GM’s were weary of Jennings and his less than successful numbers in Europe.  However, I think Jennings’ decision to skip college and go to Europe helped him prepare for the NBA and its lifestyle.  He took his licks in Europe and didn’t enjoy it,but it help he and his game mature in order to be ready for the NBA.  He got off to a hot start, exploding for a 55-point game in only the seventh game of the season.  He has great quickness and court vision, and has a little bit of Allen Iverson in his game.  He can dish the ball very well to his teammates and is a good three-point shooter, but he can become a little trigger happy and have too much Iverson in his game (chucking them up in bunches).  His lack of size proved to be one of his biggest hurdles, as he was not a good finisher in the lane and shot a very poor percentage unless left open from three.  Not too many guys shoot worse from inside the arc than out, and Jennings managed to do that.  Still, the 20-year-old Jennings was a solid starting point guard on a playoff-bound team and proved that he could make an impact in this league.  Also, at such a young age his body could still be developing and he will definitely put on some muscle over the next few years.  The future is bright for Jennings and the Bucks.

4)  Darren Collison, 6′0″ 160 lbs G, New Orleans Hornets - 12.4 PPG, 5.7 APG, 2.5 RPG, 1.0 SPG, 48% FG, 40% 3pFG, 85% FT, 27.8 MPG

Darren Collison only played 5 minutes total in his first six NBA games and his playing time did not increase much until Chris Paul went down with an injury and missed 8 games in November.  Collison showed flashes of the player he could be, but as soon as Paul returned Collison went back to riding the pine.  Then about two months later, Paul was out due to injury once again, this time for almost 2 months.  That is when Collison really started to shine and the Hornets realized they have a star point guard to go along with the superstar point guard they already had.  Collison has superior quickness and can still make plays in the lane despite his small stature.  He shot the ball very well from outside and he showed off his has great court vision, proving he can play the point guard position at an extremely high level in this league.  Paul had an injury riddled season, but Collison did his best impression of Paul by averaging 18.8 points and 9.6 assists in the 37 games that Paul missed.  If Collison weren’t on the same team as arguably the best point guard in the NBA, he would have played a lot more and would likely be higher up on this list.  Either way, Collison has a very bright future and is on his way to becoming one of the elite point guards in this league.

5)  Ty Lawson, 5′11″ 185 lbs G, Denver Nuggets - 8.3 PPG, 3.1 APG, 1.9 RPG, 0.74 SPG, 52% FG, 41% 3pFG, 76% FT, 20.2 MPG

Ty Lawson’s number may be a little less than his fellow top rookie guards, but the numbers that Lawson put up in just 20 minutes per night are pretty damn impressive.  Has Lawson not had to miss some games and deal with a shoulder injury, his numbers would probably be even more impressive.  Lawson wasn’t expected to get much playing time at all coming into this season as a rookie on what of the most talented Western Conference teams, but his stellar play forced George Karl to keep playing him.  He was a huge weapon off the bench for the Nuggets, due to his amazing speed and quickness.  He also is as strong as a bull, which makes up for his size.  Lawson’s great shooting was a surprise as well, especially from behind the arc. I don’t think anyone expected Lawson to hit 40% of his threes. Lawson quieted all of his doubters (especially the ones who said he was too short) this season and he has shown that the hype that he did get coming out of college, was more than deserved.

6)  Marcus Thornton, 6′4″ 205 lbs G, New Orleans Hornets - 14.5 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 1.6 APG, 0.8 SPG, 45% FG, 37% 3pFG, 81% FT, 25.6 MPG

Marcus Thornton got off to a very slow start this year, but he really came on strong the final three months of the season.  Thornton doesn’t have overwhelming athleticism or quickness, but he is strong and has a motor like few in the NBA do.  He works harder than his opponent night in and night out, doing what it takes to get the ball in the whole.  His outside shot is effective, but it can be very streaky at times, so there is room for improvement there.  He has a good basketball mind and can read the defense well, and with his work ethic Thornton will continue to improve and be a great player for the Hornets for years to come.

7)  Taj Gibson, 6′9″ 225 lbs F, Chicago Bulls - 9.0 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 1.0 APG, 1.3 BPG, 0.6 SPG, 49% FG, 65% FT, 26.9 MPG

Taj Gibson is the best defensive player in this rookie class, showing why he was the PAC-10 Defensive Player of the Year last year in his final collegiate season.  The athleticism of the NBA didn’t stop his defensive prowess this year, and he is already shown he is one of the better shot blockers in the league despite less than impressive athleticism.  He has long arms and a great knowledge of where to position himself on defense. He was no slouch on offense either, where he shot a good percentage and routinely hit 15-foot jumpers. Gibson was a key reason why the Bulls made the playoffs this season and he was the biggest steal of the 2009 Draft, with the Bulls getting him with the 26th pick.

8)  James Harden, 6′5″ 220 lbs G, Oklahoma City Thunder - 9.9 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.1 SPG, 40% FG, 38% 3pFG, 80% FT, 22.9 MPG

James Harden isn’t outstanding in any particular skill set, but he does just about everything well. He plays like he has been in the league for years, yet he is only 20 years old.  He is not the most athletic guy, but he is strong and positions himself well on defense. He has good hesitation moves on offense and showed this year that he can hit the outside shot, especially from the NBA three-point distance. Harden has proven to be a very valuable asset for the Thunder, and they will need him to fill up the stat sheet like he did all season long if they want a chance against the Lakers in the first round of this year’s playoffs.

9)  Jonny Flynn, 6′0″ 185 lbs G, Minnesota Timberwolves -  13.5 PPG, 4.4 APG, 2.4 RPG, 1.0 SPG, 42% FG, 36% 3pFG, 28.9 MPG

Jonny Flynn brought the passion and excitement he had in college at Syracuse to the lowly Minnesota Timberwolves this year.  Flynn showed he is an ultimate competitor, and although he didn’t shoot the ball great from the field he could still go off for a big scoring game on any given night.  His size wasn’t too much of a problem for him, as he had that great quickness to make up for it and decent strength.  He does get a little trigger happy at times, but he still averaged a good amount of assists.  Flynn will be a key part of the Timberwolves rebuilding process.

10)  DeJuan Blair, 6′7″, 265  lbs F, San Antonio Spurs - 7.8 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 0.8 APG, 0.5 BPG, 0.6 SPG, 56% FG, 55% FT, 18.2 MPG

DeJuan Blair was not expected to play much at all on the veteran led San Antonio Spurs, but his strong work ethic earned him some minutes.  His lack of height did not deter him from attacking the boards and giving the Spurs a strong inside presence off the bench. Blair has shown he belongs in this league and he will be a great asset off the bench for the Spurs in this year’s playoffs.

The NFC West appears to be a wide open division right now due to the Cardinals losing Karlos Dansby, Antrel Rolle, Kurt Warner and Anquan Boldin, but, none of the other teams in the division are being aggressive right now.  Here is a look at the new players coming into the NFC West for 2010:

Arizona Cardinals:  The Cardinals might have lost the most talent in the NFC West but they have also added the most so far for 2010.  Offensively the Cardinals have added guard Rex Hadnot and QB Derek Anderson in free agency.  Hadnot will likely start in 2010 for the Cardinals while Anderson will start the year as the #2 QB behind Matt Leinart.  Anderson does have the skills to push Leinart for the starting job if he proves that he is not ready for the job.  The Cardinals made a trade with the Jets to bring in Kerry Rhodes to start at Antrel Rolle’s old spot.  Linebacker Paris Lenon (inside) and Joey Porter (outside) will likely both be starting for the Cardinals in 2010.  Kicker Jay Feely was signed to replace Neil Rackers because he works cheaper.  Hopefully he’ll do a good job for the Cardinals in 2010.

Seattle Seahawks:  The Seahawks have been making a lot of moves this off season but they don’t appear to be any better for it.  OLB/DE Chris Clemons, QB David Whitehurst and DE Robert Henderson have been brought in through trades.  Unless Whitehurst wins the starting QB job none of those three guys will make a huge impact in 2010 for the Seahawks.  TE Chris Baker, WR Ruvell Martin, RB Quinton Ganther and WR Sean Morey have all been signed as free agents and they are all backup types who will likely help the Seahawks most on special teams in 2010.  OLB Matt McCoy has also been brought in as a free agent but he is also a backup/special teams type of player.

St. Louis Rams:  The Rams have brought in six free agents and as many as four of them could be starting in 2010.  DT Fred Robbins, LB Na’il Diggs and G/C Hank Fraley will all likely be starting for the Rams in 2010 providing them with small upgrades at all three positions.  QB A.J. Feeley could be the 4th starter of this free agent class if the Rams don’t want to start a rookie QB in 2010.  TE Darcy Johnson and CB Kevin Dockery are backups who will have to earn their cash on special teams for the Rams in 2010.

San Francisco 49ers:  The Niners have been on the sidelines this off-season so far.  The 49ers have signed David Carr who could challenge Alex Smith for the starting QB job in 2010.  The Niners traded last year’s backup QB (Shaun Hill) to the Lions for a 7th round pick.  TE Tony Curtis is nothing more than a backup.

The NFC South is has been probably the least active division in football since the Saints were crowned NFL Champions.  Here is a lot at who is new to the division for 2010:

Atlanta Falcons:  The Falcons had one huge problem last season and it was covering WRs.  With that in mind the Falcons went out and signed the top free agent corner available in Dunta Robinson.  He is the only player they have brought in this off-season but he is a good one.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers:  The Buccaneers have brought in three players that should help them this off season.  First off is WR Reggie Brown who they acquired in a trade with the Eagles.  He has the talent to step right in and win a starting job for the Bucs in 2010.  Safety Sean Jones was signed as a free agent and he will likely step right into the starting lineup also.  Linebacker Jon Alston is backup material but he should help out on special teams.

New Orleans Saints:  Hamstrung by the uncapped rules for 2010 the Saints have not been able to do much in free agency.  They did recently sign DE Alex Brown who will step right into the starting lineup opposite of Will Smith.  Fullback Zak Keasey has also been signed as a free agent and his biggest role will likely be on special teams in 2010.

Carolina Panthers:  The Panthers have lost a ton of talent and they’ve done next to nothing to replace them.  DT Ed Johnson probably has the best chance of the three free agents the Panthers have signed to contribute.  He could win a starting job with a good summer and training camp.  WR Wallace Wright is known more for his work on special teams.  LB Marcus Hudson is backup material and his biggest role will also likely be on special teams in 2010.