SBNation: Ziller: NBA MVP Power Rankings

It says something for this blog that a link of MVP power rankings less than half-way through the season represents a move toward power ranking seriousness. That it's the estimable Tom Ziller doing the rankings and writing the commentary* certainly helps. But what's most serious is Al Horford's play this season. Hence, his appearance in the fifth slot of these NBA MVP Power Rankings:

Atlanta held on tough during Joe Johnson's brief absence, and you can credit Horford's smooth acceptance of extra offensive duty as a key reason. Bret LaGree at Hoopinion did a lovely little comparison of Horford and the man who follows him on this list; it's well worth a read. Though a decrease in minutes masks it, Horford is a real candidate for not only the All NBA team, but Most Improved Player.

He takes more shots this year ... and shoots more efficiently in the process. Before this season, he was one of the most reliable post defenders in the NBA. Now? He's one of the top offensive post options to go along with it. Just a beautiful evolution to watch.

*That I get a mention may detract from the overall seriousness.

Jamal Crawford Wins Sixth Man of the Year Award

Alternately, Jamal Crawford wins Sixth Man of the Year by a huge margin:

Crawford received 580 of a possible 610 points, including 110 of a possible 122 first-place votes.

Ten ballots had Crawford in second. Two voters left Crawford off their ballots.

One voter gave Kevin Love a third-place vote. I assume that voter was making fun of Kurt Rambis.

The Hawks are considering giving a max contract to a 29-year-old guard* who scored points at a slightly lower rate and less efficiently this season than did Crawford.

*Said guard is a better passer, rebounder, and a less bad defender than Crawford

The TrueHoop Network 2009-10 NBA Awards

Results are here along with commentary by various network members regarding their votes.

My ballot was as follows...

MVP
1. LeBron James
2. Dwyane Wade
3. Kevin Durant
4. Dwight Howard
5. Tim Duncan

Rookie of the Year
1. Tyreke Evans
2. Brandon Jennings
3. Stephen Curry

Defensive Player of the Year
1. Dwight Howard
2. Anderson Varejao
3. Josh Smith

My focus on the Hawks and their opponents may have unfairly biased me against Western Conference players in this category.

Sixth Man of the Year
1. Manu Ginobili
2. Anderson Varejao
3. Jamal Crawford

Most Improved Player
1. Kevin Durant
2. Al Horford
3. Corey Brewer

Josh Smith will draw more support for Most Improved Player than Al Horford, but Smith's improvement this season over last had most to do with not suffering a high-ankle sprain in the fourth game of the season. Smith's celebrated renunciation of the three-point shot coincided with an increase in long two-point attempts which he makes no more often and without the rare reward of that third point.

His frontcourt mate Al Horford, on the other hand, raised his scoring rate and his TS% for the second straight season, reduced his turnover rate for the second straight season, led the team in rebounding, and, with his excellent lateral movement ability to refrain from fouling whether defending the post or on the perimeter, became a defensive force almost equal to Smith in Atlanta's switching defense.

Coach of the Year
1. Larry Brown
2. Scott Brooks
3. Jerry Sloan

Executive of the Year
1. Sam Presti
2. Kevin Pritchard
3. John Hammond

It may be unfair, but I can't rate John Hammond higher without knowing whether or not he has Scott Skiles' successor in mind already.

All-NBA Team
First Team
G-Dwyane Wade
G-Kobe Bryant
F-Kevin Durant
F-LeBron James
C-Dwight Howard

Second Team
G-Steve Nash
G-Manu Ginobili
F-Chris Bosh
F-Dirk Nowitzki
C-Tim Duncan

Third Team
G-Chauncey Billups
G-Brandon Roy
F-Pau Gasol
F-Amare Stoudemire
C-Andrew Bogut

All-Rookie Team
First Team
Tyreke Evans
Brandon Jennings
Stephen Curry
Darren Collison
Marcus Thornton

Second Team
DeJuan Blair
Jonas Jerebko
Ty Lawson
Taj Gibson
Jrue Holiday

All-Defensive Team
First Team
Dwight Howard
Anderson Varejao
Josh Smith
Andrew Bogut
Ron Artest

Second Team
Rajon Rondo
Thabo Sefolosha
Dwyane Wade
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute
Nick Collison

Voting Open For The Internet Basketball Awards

You have until April 20th to cast your ballot.

Introducing Strip/Stuff Number

At Basketball Prospectus, Kevin Pelton votes Josh Smith onto the second All-NBA Team on his (theoretical) awards ballot:

It still amazes me that Smith did not make the All-Star team. He is currently sixth in the league in WARP, and his total will probably end up the second best in the WARP era for players who did not make the All-Star team (Andre Miller, with 16.8 WARP in 2001-02, is the leader in that dubious category). Smith's net plus-minus is 16th in the league, and he's playing for a 50-plus-win team. I'm not sure I understand the argument against him.

With his six blocks and two steals last night, Josh Smith surpassed 300* combined blocks and steals (173 blocks, 130 steals) this season. Only Dwight Howard (227 blocks, 75 steals) can match that total and Howard, great though he is, lacks the balance unique to Smith.

Adapting Bill James's self-proclaimed "freakshow" stat, Power/Speed Number*, to steals and blocks, Smith's "Strip/Stuff Number" would be 148.4. Howard's would be 112.7. Dwayne Wade appears to be third in the league at 103.9.

*Defined as (2*(HR*SB))/(HR+SB)

That's right, the league leader of the category I just made up is in Atlanta. Add it to his case for Defensive Player of the Year.

Less popular locally, Pelton taps Anderson Varejao over Jamal Crawford for Sixth Man of the Year. Fear not, 18 of 20 voters at ESPN.com picked Crawford as Sixth Man of the Year.

Durant Wins Rookie of the Year; Horford 2nd

90 first place votes for Durant, 30 first place votes for Horford. I was initially shocked that 3 people left Horford off their ballot but upon further review there appear to be 86 votes (125 votes x 3 places on ballot = 375 votes but only 289 votes are recorded) unaccounted for. I guess the vast majority of voters don't fill all possible lines on their ballot. Still, what's the argument for Al 1) Not being one of the three best rookies in the league, or 2) Being one of the three best rookies in the league but not being worthy of you, the sportswriter or broadcaster, writing his name on your ballot?

The NBA press release. Scroll down for the results.