Inaugural NAH Awards
Mar 12, 2014 17:30:55 GMT
Post by Jestor on Mar 12, 2014 17:30:55 GMT
Hardware Handed Out At Media Gala Event
In which many trophies were given
A series of firsts continued to roll out for the NAH today with the announcement of the first annual league awards, following the Boston Celtics' win over the New Orleans Pelicans in the Finals.
MVP
SF Kevin Durant - Brooklyn Nets
In something of a considerable upset, Kevin Durant won the MVP award over Lebron James, who had one of the most incredible playoff performances in living memory. Instead, it was Durant's 31 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks that swayed the voters in the battle of the Atlantic titans. James will take the ring and playoff MVP award instead, however.
Defensive Player of the Year
PG Mike Conley - New Orleans Pelicans
He may have had a frustrating Finals, but Mike Conley dominated defensively in the Pelicans' high pressure system, racking up a staggering 4.1 steals a game and stopping more drives than a fleet of sheriff's departments. He also contributed 16.8 points, 5.9 assists, and 3.2 rebounds as New Orleans' starting point guard.
6th Man of the Year
C Tiago Splitter - Philadelphia 76ers
Life in an Atlantic with Durant and James is always tough, but the City of Brotherly Love can take heart that Tiago Splitter captured the 6th Man of the Year award, averaging 12.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks a game off the bench, although it should be noted here that the media vote may have different rules from the GM voting rules, should that in fact be implemented for next season.
Rookie of the Year
PG Damian Lillard - Indiana Pacers
Forced to pick up the slack in Indiana's perimeter game after Stephen Curry was lost for the year, rookie Damian Lillard stepped up and delivered 14.1 points, 7.6 assists, and 3.3 rebounds to easily win the Rookie of the Year. Although it was a disappointing season for the Pacers in the Euro Division they hold a top pick in the draft and bring back Curry next season.
Coach of the Year
Flip Saunders - Milwaukee Bucks
While much has rightfully been made of the Dwight Howard trade that many rate the best deal of the admittedly quiet season, full credit is due to Flip Saunders, the Milwaukee Bucks' head coach. In a Central division classified as the most parity-laden in the entire league, the Bucks captured the first Euro title with a staggering 58 wins to blow past all challengers, and that's down to Saunders employing brilliant strategy, even before Howard came to the Brew City.
All NAH 1st Team
PG Chris Paul - Toronto Raptors
SG Dwayne Wade - Philadelphia 76ers
SF Kevin Durant - Brooklyn Nets
PF Kevin Love - Washington Wizards
CE Dwight Howard - Milwaukee Bucks
The East has much to brag about after sweeping the 1st Team, leaving the West to no doubt be embarrassed at their showing. Even before Howard pulled on a Bucks jersey, he was still in the East, having been selected by the New York Knicks in the dispersal draft.
All NAH 2nd Team
PG Steve Nash - Phoenix Suns
SG James Harden - Cleveland Cavaliers
SF Lebron James - Boston Celtics
PF Ersan Illyasova - Cleveland Cavaliers
CE Andrew Bynum - Los Angeles Lakers
One wonders just how the Cavaliers failed to be one of the East's most powerful teams after landing two players on the All-NAH 2nd Team. Then again, perhaps that's a commentary on how weak the PF situation is in the league right now. The West finally gets two players on the board in Nash and Bynum
All NAH 3rd Team
PG Deron Williams - Detroit Pistons
SG Kobe Bryant - Charlotte Hornets
SF Carmelo Anthony - Atlanta Hawks
PF Kenneth Faried - Utah Jazz
CE Joakim Noah - Chicago Bulls
The West is going to have a huge chip on its shoulder after not only losing the Finals, but winning just 3 places on the 15 All-League spots. But that might well be a testament to the East's star power, as opposed to the West's emphasis on system fit for their various teams, as well as numerous GMs who prefer to run lower than average minutes for their starters.
All-Defense 1st Team
PG Mike Conley - New Orleans Pelicans
SG Andre Iguodala - Golden State Warriors
SF Gerald Wallace - New Orleans Pelicans
PF Josh Smith - Sacramento Kings
CE Dwight Howard - Milwaukee Bucks
It's a testament to the Pelicans' defensive dominance that they place two players on the All-Defense 1st Team. Iguodala broke out this season on a Warriors roster that overachieved in the eyes of most observers and gets some hardware to demonstrate his worth.
All-Defense 2nd Team
PG Ricky Rubio - Milwaukee Bucks
SG Dwayne Wade - Philadelphia 76ers
SF Kevin Durant - Brooklyn Nets
PF Ekpe Udoh - Indiana Pacers
CE Marcus Camby - Charlotte Hornets
For all the talk of Wade's demise as a star player, he ended up on the All-NAH 1st Team and the All-Defense 2nd Team. Goes to show that age has not yet caught up to him.
All-Rookie 1st Team
PG Damian Lillard - Indiana Pacers
SG Jeremy Lamb - Memphis Grizzlies
SF Michael Kidd-Gilchrist - Dallas Mavericks
PF Anthony Davis - San Antonio Spurs
CE Tyler Zeller - Orlando Magic
All-Rookie 2nd Team
PG Kendall Marshall - Portland Trailblazers
SG Austin Rivers - Los Angeles Clippers
SF Harrison Barnes - Memphis Grizzlies
PF John Henson - San Antonio Spurs
CE Jonas Valinciunas - Denver Nuggets
In which many trophies were given
A series of firsts continued to roll out for the NAH today with the announcement of the first annual league awards, following the Boston Celtics' win over the New Orleans Pelicans in the Finals.
MVP
SF Kevin Durant - Brooklyn Nets
In something of a considerable upset, Kevin Durant won the MVP award over Lebron James, who had one of the most incredible playoff performances in living memory. Instead, it was Durant's 31 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks that swayed the voters in the battle of the Atlantic titans. James will take the ring and playoff MVP award instead, however.
Defensive Player of the Year
PG Mike Conley - New Orleans Pelicans
He may have had a frustrating Finals, but Mike Conley dominated defensively in the Pelicans' high pressure system, racking up a staggering 4.1 steals a game and stopping more drives than a fleet of sheriff's departments. He also contributed 16.8 points, 5.9 assists, and 3.2 rebounds as New Orleans' starting point guard.
6th Man of the Year
C Tiago Splitter - Philadelphia 76ers
Life in an Atlantic with Durant and James is always tough, but the City of Brotherly Love can take heart that Tiago Splitter captured the 6th Man of the Year award, averaging 12.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks a game off the bench, although it should be noted here that the media vote may have different rules from the GM voting rules, should that in fact be implemented for next season.
Rookie of the Year
PG Damian Lillard - Indiana Pacers
Forced to pick up the slack in Indiana's perimeter game after Stephen Curry was lost for the year, rookie Damian Lillard stepped up and delivered 14.1 points, 7.6 assists, and 3.3 rebounds to easily win the Rookie of the Year. Although it was a disappointing season for the Pacers in the Euro Division they hold a top pick in the draft and bring back Curry next season.
Coach of the Year
Flip Saunders - Milwaukee Bucks
While much has rightfully been made of the Dwight Howard trade that many rate the best deal of the admittedly quiet season, full credit is due to Flip Saunders, the Milwaukee Bucks' head coach. In a Central division classified as the most parity-laden in the entire league, the Bucks captured the first Euro title with a staggering 58 wins to blow past all challengers, and that's down to Saunders employing brilliant strategy, even before Howard came to the Brew City.
All NAH 1st Team
PG Chris Paul - Toronto Raptors
SG Dwayne Wade - Philadelphia 76ers
SF Kevin Durant - Brooklyn Nets
PF Kevin Love - Washington Wizards
CE Dwight Howard - Milwaukee Bucks
The East has much to brag about after sweeping the 1st Team, leaving the West to no doubt be embarrassed at their showing. Even before Howard pulled on a Bucks jersey, he was still in the East, having been selected by the New York Knicks in the dispersal draft.
All NAH 2nd Team
PG Steve Nash - Phoenix Suns
SG James Harden - Cleveland Cavaliers
SF Lebron James - Boston Celtics
PF Ersan Illyasova - Cleveland Cavaliers
CE Andrew Bynum - Los Angeles Lakers
One wonders just how the Cavaliers failed to be one of the East's most powerful teams after landing two players on the All-NAH 2nd Team. Then again, perhaps that's a commentary on how weak the PF situation is in the league right now. The West finally gets two players on the board in Nash and Bynum
All NAH 3rd Team
PG Deron Williams - Detroit Pistons
SG Kobe Bryant - Charlotte Hornets
SF Carmelo Anthony - Atlanta Hawks
PF Kenneth Faried - Utah Jazz
CE Joakim Noah - Chicago Bulls
The West is going to have a huge chip on its shoulder after not only losing the Finals, but winning just 3 places on the 15 All-League spots. But that might well be a testament to the East's star power, as opposed to the West's emphasis on system fit for their various teams, as well as numerous GMs who prefer to run lower than average minutes for their starters.
All-Defense 1st Team
PG Mike Conley - New Orleans Pelicans
SG Andre Iguodala - Golden State Warriors
SF Gerald Wallace - New Orleans Pelicans
PF Josh Smith - Sacramento Kings
CE Dwight Howard - Milwaukee Bucks
It's a testament to the Pelicans' defensive dominance that they place two players on the All-Defense 1st Team. Iguodala broke out this season on a Warriors roster that overachieved in the eyes of most observers and gets some hardware to demonstrate his worth.
All-Defense 2nd Team
PG Ricky Rubio - Milwaukee Bucks
SG Dwayne Wade - Philadelphia 76ers
SF Kevin Durant - Brooklyn Nets
PF Ekpe Udoh - Indiana Pacers
CE Marcus Camby - Charlotte Hornets
For all the talk of Wade's demise as a star player, he ended up on the All-NAH 1st Team and the All-Defense 2nd Team. Goes to show that age has not yet caught up to him.
All-Rookie 1st Team
PG Damian Lillard - Indiana Pacers
SG Jeremy Lamb - Memphis Grizzlies
SF Michael Kidd-Gilchrist - Dallas Mavericks
PF Anthony Davis - San Antonio Spurs
CE Tyler Zeller - Orlando Magic
All-Rookie 2nd Team
PG Kendall Marshall - Portland Trailblazers
SG Austin Rivers - Los Angeles Clippers
SF Harrison Barnes - Memphis Grizzlies
PF John Henson - San Antonio Spurs
CE Jonas Valinciunas - Denver Nuggets