This series, the Celtics will be playing against the two-time NBA MVP.

Lebron James will be named the NBA’s MVP on Sunday for the second straight season, according to Brian Windhorst. He will accept the award before Monday night’s Game Two against the Boston Celtics. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

LeBron James will become the 10th player in NBA history to will back-to-back Most Valuable Player Awards when results of the nationwide voting are announced on Sunday, sources have told The Plain Dealer.

James is expected to have a press conference at The University of Akron and accept the Maurice Podoloff Trophy and the Kia car that comes with the honor. Last season when James won for the first time, he accepted at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in his hometown.

NBA Commissioner David Stern is expected for formally give him the trophy before Monday’s Game 2 against the Boston Celtics at The Q.

Of course, though the award won’t be official until Sunday, he actually won it before the season even started. If you listen to Stan Van Gundy, he’s already won it every year until he retires.

If this award comes as a surprise to you, you have been living under Michael Sweetney’s rump for at least two years.

With the season halfway over, I thought it’d be a good time to hand out some mid-season awards. If the season ended yesterday, this is how I would distribute the awards…

MVP

• LeBron James- While this may seem like a completely obvious choice, until the Cavs recent tear that vaulted them to 35-11, the best record in the NBA, I would have given the award to either Kevin Durant or Dirk Nowitzki. But James has averaged 29.9 ppg, 7.8 apg, and 7.2 rpg while shooting 50% from the field WHILE leading a Cavs team that would be in the lottery without him to the best record in the NBA. Good enough for MVP in my book.

Rookie of the Year

• Tyreke Evans- It’s been a two-man race so far between Evans and Bucks guard Brandon Jennings, but after Jennings’ hot start he has fallen back to earth, shooting only 38% from the field for the season. Meanwhile, Evans has been the Sacramento Kings best player, averaging 20.8 ppg, 4.9 apg, and 4.8 rpg, and shooting nearly 46%.

Most Improved Player

• Rajon Rondo- Maybe I’m a homer, but Rondo has taken his game to the next level this season; he’s been Boston’s MVP so far and has established himself as the best PG in the Eastern Conference, and maybe the whole NBA (this season only). Rondo  is having a career-year in points, assists, steals, mpg,  and FG%. Rondo leads the NBA in steals and ranks third in assists, behind only Steve Nash and Chris Paul. Just compare Rondo’s production from last season to this season: Last Season: 11.9 ppg, 8.2 apg, 5.2 rpg, 1.9 spg, 50% FG.  This Season: 14.2 ppg, 9.7 apg, 4.2 rpg, 2.5 spg, 53.4% FG.

Most Underrated Player

• Danny Granger- As it usually goes, Joe Johnson WAS the most underrated until everybody started calling him underrated. But how often do you hear about Danny Granger? Granger averaged 25.8 ppg and 5 rpg last season and this season, despite being hobbled by injuries, is still averaging 23.6 ppg and 5.7 rpg. It’s time this kid got a little love.

Most Underappreciated Player

• Carmelo Anthony- Yes, there is a difference between underrated and underappreciated. Everyone judging Anthony’s talents knows how talented he is, but for some reason he doesn’t get the superstar treatment some other players get. Anthony is second in the NBA in scoring at 29.7 ppg, while also adding 6.5 rpg and 3.3 apg AND his team is 30-14, second in the Western Conference. Yet somehow, Anthony never gets mentioned in the same breath as D-Wade, LeBron, or Kobe and a lot of media credit Chauncey Billups and not Anthony, for the Nuggets’ success! Anthony is one of most versatile scorers the NBA has ever seen, and it’s about time everybody starts appreciating his talent before it’s too late.

Biggest Surprise

Who knew former JailBlazer Zach Randolph, would one day lead a playoff push in Memphis? Not Z-BO.

• Zach Randolph- Renowned coach-killer, GM-killer, and selfish thug, Randolph has shocked the league with his fantastic play. Randolph is putting up a nightly 20-10, while leading the surprise Grizzlies to a potential playoff birth. I’m as baffled as the next guy as to WHY Randolph has emerged as the Grizzlies leader, but he’s kept it up long enough to earn an all-star bid.

Coach of the Year

• Lionell Hollins- Who?? Hollins is the coach of the aforementioned Memphis Grizzlies. Any coach that can get gunners Randolph, OJ Mayo, and Rudy Gay on the same page and contending for the playoffs has earned COY.

1st Team All-NBA

1. Steve Nash
2. LeBron James
3. Kevin Durant
4. Dirk Nowitzki
5. Dwight Howard

1st Team All-NBA Defense

1. Rajon Rondo
2. Gerald Wallace
3. Shane Battier
   
4. Josh Smith
5. Dwight Howard

If you disagree with my choices, or think I’m a complete moron who doesn’t know anything about the NBA, or if even if you like my choices, please comment on who YOU would hand out the midseason awards to. Looking forward to your responses!

If you had to choose one NBA player to build your franchise around today, who would it be? Read more »