The NBA season is drawing to a close.  This is the most exciting part of the season because the awards are being handed out and the playoffs are just ahead.  While some of the awards will be obvious, some will not be.  I have watched many NBA games this season and followed the NBA very closely.  I have my own ideas for who should win each award, but since many of them will not happen I will write my predictions and who I think should win it.

Here are my predictions and choices for the 2008-2009 NBA Awards.

Most Improved Player

Choice and Prediction: Devin Harris, Nets

Harris is making the Mavericks look dumber and dumber every game he scores over 20 points and dishes out over 6 assists, which is almost every game.  Harris was the leading point guard scorer in the NBA before his injury, but is still way up there since his return.  Although he has missed time with an injury, there is no other choice.

2nd Place Choice: Danny Granger, Pacers

Granger has become the go-to guy for the amost playoff-bound Indiana Pacers since the departure of Jermaine O'Neal.  He is near the top of the league in scoring and continues to get better.  A huge steal for the Pacers at #17 int he draft.

2nd Place Prediction: Rajon Rondo, Celtics

Rondo had a lot of pressure put on him last season since he was the point guard for a team with 3 superstars, but he exceeded expectations and was a major factor in their championship season.  This season he is the 2nd best rebounding point guard in the NBA, while also averaging over 11 ppg and over 8 apg.

Coach of the Year

Choice and Prediction: Nate McMilan, Blazers

Nate has quietly let the 2nd youngest team in the NBA to homecourt advantage in the 1st round.  He has played 3 rookies significant minutes this season, Rudy Fernandez, Greg Oden, and Nicolas Batum.

2nd Place Choice and Prediction: Rick Adelman, Rockets

He had done a good job in Houston.  He has kept the Rockets near the top in the league in defense and has them on their way to get past the 1st round for the first time with Yao Ming.

6th Man of the Year

Choice and Prediction: Jason Terry, Mavericks

Terry is the obvious choice for 6th man of the year even though he missed many games with a hand injury.  He is averaging over 20 ppg off the bench, and no one else is doing that.

2nd Place Choice and Prediction: Nate Robinson, Knicks

Krypto-Nate and J.R. Smith are the only other options here.  And Nate averages more ppg, apg, and even rpg than the much taller J.R. Smith.  Robinson has adjusted to coming off the bench well and even scored 41 points off the bench this season.

Defensive Player of the Year

Choice and Prediction: Dwight Howard, Magic

Dwight Howard is the obvious choice here for everyone that isn't a Cleveland Cavaliers fan.  Dwight Howard is leading the league in rebounding and blocks and is one of the only decent defenders on one of the top defensive teams in the league, which proves how important his defense is.

2nd Place Choice: Shane Battier, Rockets

Although most other people don't have Shane Battier in their top 5, he is easily one of the top 3 perimeter defenders in the NBA.  He doesn't get as much attention as LeBron or Howard because he never has SportsCenter Top 10 blocks, but he is always solid on defense and never takes a possession off.

2nd Place Prediction: LeBron James, Cavaliers

LeBron is many people's choice for 2nd place and some peoples choice for 1st place.  Although LeBron has improved dramatically on defense, he still isn't one of the top 5 perimeter defenders in the league.  If their was a "Most Improved Defender" award then he would definitely be deserving of that, but most people see his Top 10 highligh blocks and assume he is a great defender.  Most of his great defensive plays come from weak side blocks on a fastbreak.  He is more of a freakish athlete then a great defender.

To see my Rookie of the Year and MVP choices and predictions, then please go to my website blog at http://thebasketballoracle.webs.com/apps/blog/