One fourth of the NBA season is over so I think it is time to give out the 1/4 of the NBA Season Awards. Not to mention, all the other web-sites are doing it. So let’s get right into it.

Most Improved Player – Josh Smith: Very rarely do you see an NBA player change his game for betterment of his team but that is exactly what Josh Smith has done. Last year, Josh Smith couldn’t help but take at least one bad three a game while shooting .299% from behind the arc. Twenty-four games into this season and he has only attempted three. Josh is playing the most efficient basketball of his career and is averaging career highs in field goal percentage at 51.7% and assists at 3.6.

Sixth Man of the Year – Carl Landry: Although he comes off the bench, Carl often finds himself being the go to guy for the Rockets in the clutch. In just 26 minutes a game, he is averaging 16.6 ppg and 6.0 rpg.

Rookie of the Year – Brandon Jennings: Many would disagree with this choice mainly because of the excellent play of Tyreke Evans but I have to go with the player whose team will most likely make the playoffs and that would be the Jennings and the Milwaukee Bucks. Jennings also has the slight statistical advantage.

Brandon Jennings: 20.7 ppg 6.0 apg 3.8 rpg
Tyreke Evans: 20.3 ppg 5.0 apg 5.1 rpg

Coach of the Year – Rick Adelman: Adelman persistently gets the best out of whatever group he is coaching. If Don Nelson or Lawrence Frank were coaching this team they would have two or three wins. However Adelman has them at 14-11 and currently the eighth seed in the Western Conference. The Rockets are very disciplined; they play both ends of the floor, are very unselfish and play with a ton of passion. Adelman has them ready to go every night.

Most Valuable Player – Kobe Bryant: This is kind of self explanatory. Kobe is the best player on the best team. With Kobe on the floor, no lead is safe and that was evident against the Miami Heat earlier this season when he made an off balance three pointer off the backboard at the buzzer to win the game. On Wednesday night in Milwaukee, Kobe scored the last seven points including the game winning fade away for a 107 – 106 victory. I could go on all day about just how great Kobe Bryant is.

Defensive Player of the Year – Dwight Howard: Dwight is now the premier center in the NBA; he leads the league in rebounds which includes nine games of 15 rebounds or more. He also is in third place in blocks.

All-NBA – Rajon Rondo, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Dwight Howard: With quarter of the season in the books, these are currently the 5 best players. Many of you will disagree with the selection of Rondo, but he currently leads in the league in steals and is fourth in assists. He also makes the Celtics go. Chris Paul was a tough omission, but he has missed a number of games this season. Steve Nash could have made the list if he played defense.

Miscellaneous Awards

Worst Team – Washington Wizards: The Wizards got there big three back and healthy. They have a coach who is a proven winner in Flip Saunders. They have a ton of young talent in Andray Blatche, Nick Young, and Javale McGee. They acquired to sharpshooters in the off season to boast their offense in Mike Miller and Randy Foye, yet they suck and they are showing no signs of resurrecting their season.

Best Team – Boston Celtics: If you want see a team play the closest thing to perfect basketball, then tune into the Celtics next game. They never waver from the game plan and play defense as if there individual lives are at stake. They are the most unselfish team and on any giving night 1 of 5 players can lead the team in scoring. No matter how tight the game is, the Celtics never ever panic, they always make the right pass, grab the key rebound or make the tough shot, whatever it takes to win the game.

Most Improved Team – Milwaukee Bucks: Jennings gets the majority of the praise, but he is not alone in bringing the Milwaukee Bucks back to respectability. Ersan Ilyasova has been a huge surprise, Andrew Bogut may have finally figured it out and role players Carlos Delfino, Hakim Warrick, and Luke Ridnour are all playing unbelievable basketball. If they can continue, the Bucks will be in the playoffs. They will lose in the first round, but they will be in the playoffs.

Least Improved Player – Derrick Rose: When the Chicago Bulls decided to let Ben Gordon sign with the Detroit Pistons, they did it with the idea that Rose could be the cornerstone of the franchise. Unfortunately, they were sadly mistaken. It is clear that his one season at Memphis and his stellar rookie campaign went to Rose’s head. He clearly did not work on his game over the summer as his stats are down across the board. Rose is shooting a mere 12.5% from beyond the arc, and his turnovers are up to almost three a game while his assists are down to five a game. Rose has to be the biggest disappointment of the early season. He is no longer a budding rose; he is now a thorn in Chicago fan’s asses.

Worst Coach – Don Nelson: It is amazing the Golden State Warriors organization has allowed Don Nelson to just absolutely destroy everything. The Warriors play the worst brand of basketball. I don’t believe they even go through defensive drills in practice. Stephon Curry and Anthony Randolph’s growth is being stunted by playing street ball on a nightly basis. Nelson has clashed with Stephen Jackson, Monta Ellis, Anthony Randolph and many other players he has coached throughout the years.

All NBA Bad Team – Allen Iverson, Monta Ellis, Richard Jefferson, Chris Bosh, Shaquille O’Neal: These five players are just terrible. Iverson believes the NBA should revolve around him. Monta Ellis is a running turnover. Richard Jefferson, who was dubbed the best off season acquisition, is currently killing the Spurs with his awful play. Other then scoring points, Chris Bosh does absolutely nothing else to will his team to a victory. Shaquille O’Neal at this point in his career should come off the bench, the Cavs actually play better when he is not in the game or injured.