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Experts' 2007-08 MVP selections

Ian Thomsen's 2007-08 MVP Ballot

1. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers	No. 1: Kobe Bryant John Biever/SI
2. Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics
3. Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets
4. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
5. Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic

Marty Burns' 2007-08 MVP Ballot

1. Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics	No. 1: Kevin Garnett Elsa/Getty Images
2. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
3. Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets
4. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
5. Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs

Jack McCallum's 2007-08 MVP Ballot

1. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers	No. 2: Chris Paul John W. McDonough/SI
2. Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets
3. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
4. Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics
5. Amaré Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns

Experts' 2007-08 official awards ballot

All-NBA Teams

Ian Thomsen	Marty Burns	Jack McCallum
First Team
G Chris Paul, Hornets G Kobe Bryant, Lakers F LeBron James, Cavaliers F Kevin Garnett, Celtics C Dwight Howard, Magic	G Chris Paul, Hornets G Kobe Bryant, Lakers F LeBron James, Cavaliers F Kevin Garnett, Celtics C Tim Duncan, Spurs	G Chris Paul, Hornets G Kobe Bryant, Lakers F LeBron James, Cavaliers F Kevin Garnett, Celtics C Amaré Stoudemire, Suns
Second Team
G Steve Nash, Suns G Manu Ginobili, Spurs F Paul Pierce, Celtics F Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks C Tim Duncan, Spurs	G Steve Nash, Suns G Tracy McGrady, Rockets F Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks F Amaré Stoudemire, Suns C Dwight Howard, Magic	G Steve Nash, Suns G Deron Williams, Jazz F Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks F Tim Duncan, Spurs C Dwight Howard, Magic
Third Team
G Deron Williams, Jazz G Tracy McGrady, Rockets F Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets F Carlos Boozer, Jazz C Amaré Stoudemire, Suns	G Chauncey Billups, Pistons G Allen Iverson, Nuggets F Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets F Carlos Boozer, Jazz C Yao Ming, Rockets	G Tracy McGrady, Rockets G Manu Ginobili, Spurs F Paul Pierce, Celtics F Antawn Jamison, Wizards C Marcus Camby, Nuggets
Comment: Duncan and Stoudemire played a heavy amount of center, and shifting them to the pivot made room for Boozer and Anthony at forward. McGrady noses ahead of Allen Iverson and Baron Davis because of the meaningful work he's done to lead the Rockets into the playoffs since the season-ending foot injury to Yao Ming.	Comment: I was tempted to put Duncan at second-team forward since he asked to be listed at that position on the All-Star ballot, but we'll give the veteran a break. Yao gets the nod for putting up MVP-type numbers before getting injured. The toughest omissions were Deron Williams, Baron Davis and Marcus Camby.	Comment: Stoudemire has played enough center to be considered at that position. The toughest choices were Jamison over fellow All-Star forward Carlos Boozer (two of the five players averaging at least 20 points and 10 rebounds) and McGrady over Allen Iverson and Baron Davis.

Rookie of the Year

Ian Thomsen	Marty Burns	Jack McCallum
1. Kevin Durant, SuperSonics	1. Al Horford, Hawks	1. Kevin Durant, SuperSonics
2. Al Horford, Hawks	2. Kevin Durant, SuperSonics	2. Al Horford, Hawks
3. Luis Scola, Rockets	3. Luis Scola, Rockets	3. Luis Scola, Rockets
Comment: I thought about the argument that Horford deserves this award for his contributions to a playoff team, but let's be real: The Hawks are sub-.500, and in Durant's conference they wouldn't be near the postseason. Which is no criticism of Horford, who provided frontcourt leadership while playing out of position at center. Durant is averaging at least 7.5 ppg more than any classmate.	Comment: If we're going to use defense and team success as criteria for MVP, why not for ROY too? Horford is averaging 10.2 ppg/9.6 rpg for the playoff-bound Hawks. The kid actually plays some defense. Durant is a great prospect and gifted scorer who will go on to become the better player, but he has a ways to go on defense. Horford made a bigger impact this season.	Comment: Don't overthink this by pointing to the Sonics' terrible record or Durant's overall shooting percentage (which, by the way, is better than 46 percent since the All-Star break) or anything else. The kid had the team on his back from Day One and performed admirably.

Coach of the Year

Ian Thomsen	Marty Burns	Jack McCallum
1. Doc Rivers, Celtics	1. Phil Jackson, Lakers	1. Byron Scott, Hornets
2. Byron Scott, Hornets	2. Byron Scott, Hornets	2. Rick Adelman, Rockets
3. Rick Adelman, Rockets	3. Stan Van Gundy, Magic	3. Doc Rivers, Celtics
Comment: This is always a tough choice. Others may say that Rivers was bound to win big with three All-Stars, but in the preseason a lot of people were predicting that the three stars wouldn't get along, that the Celtics wouldn't defend, that they couldn't win with second-year point guard Rajon Rondo or with their skimpy bench. Rivers made it all work. Scott is deserving as well, because who among us imagined the Hornets would remain at or near the top of the West all season? Adelman turned out to be a terrific hire in Houston.	Comment: Why aren't more people talking about the Zen Master for this award? All he did was keep the Lakers from imploding during the whole Kobe trade soap opera. Jackson handled the situation superbly, calming his superstar in training camp while making sure Kobe's supporting cast was ready to go when the bell rang. The Lakers' quick start ended the drama and set the tone for a highly successful season. The emergence of Andrew Bynum and the staggering production from a bench full of unproven types have to make this the finest coaching job in the NBA this season.	Comment: Scott got the Hornets playing defense. He got them to believe in themselves. He got them to play consistently. He got them to the elite level in the brutal West (though they've lost control of the No. 1 seed, the Hornets still have set a franchise record for victories). What else do you want? Adelman also deserves special mention for guiding the Rockets to the second-longest winning streak in NBA history, with nearly half of the 22 victories coming after Yao went down with his foot injury. I've acknowledged before that I was wrong in underestimating the Rockets, who struggled early in the season before getting it together.

Sixth Man Award

Ian Thomsen	Marty Burns	Jack McCallum
1. Manu Ginobili, Spurs	1. Manu Ginobili, Spurs	1. Manu Ginobili, Spurs
2. Josh Childress, Hawks	2. Leandro Barbosa, Suns	2. Jordan Farmar, Lakers
3. Leandro Barbosa, Suns	3. Jason Maxiell, Pistons	3. Leandro Barbosa, Suns
Comment: Ginobili moves in and out of the starting lineup, but he has played more than half of his games off the bench. Can we ask again: What were the coaches thinking when they didn't vote Ginobili to the All-Star Game as a reserve? He's been the Spurs' MVP.	Comment: Ginobili is basically an All-Star-caliber player masquerading as a bench player. His willingness to come off the bench shows how much he cares about winning.	Comment: This one is a no-brainer. Ginobili is instant offense off the bench; he's the only player in the league averaging at least 19 points in less than 32 minutes.

Most Improved Player

Ian Thomsen	Marty Burns	Jack McCallum
1. Chris Paul, Hornets	1. Al Jefferson, Timberwolves	1. Chris Paul, Hornets
2. Dwight Howard, Magic	2. Rudy Gay, Grizzlies	2. Hedo Turkoglu, Magic
3. Brandon Roy, Trail Blazers	3. LaMarcus Aldridge, Trail Blazers	3. Al Jefferson, Timberwolves
Comment: My view is that this award should go to a player who rises from good to great, because that's by far the hardest improvement to make in the NBA. Paul improved in all areas -- especially in shooting and leadership -- to transform the Hornets into the West's most surprising team. Howard turned the corner and joined Paul as a surprise MVP candidate. Roy emerged as an All-Star leader of the league's youngest team, which was a surprise midseason contender for the playoffs.	Comment: I wanted to give this to Orlando's Hedo Turkoglu, who made the jump from respectable player to All-Star candidate in his eighth season, but the official league ballot says it's for an "up-and-coming player." Next would be Andrew Bynum, but he's been hurt most of the year. That leaves it to Jefferson. Big Al has averaged 21 and 11 in his fourth season, upping his scoring nearly five points despite playing just two more minutes per game.	Comment: No, this is not a consolation prize for Paul, my second-place finisher in the MVP voting. Have you ever seen anyone get better by this much in one season? Paul's 11 games of at least 20 points and 15 assists are three more than the rest of the league combined. "On this team there is no doubt that Chris is the guy," Hornets forward Peja Stojakovic said. "We look to him on every play."

Defensive Player of the Year

Ian Thomsen	Marty Burns	Jack McCallum
1. Kevin Garnett, Celtics	1. Kevin Garnett, Celtics	1. Kevin Garnett, Celtics
2. Shane Battier, Rockets	2. Bruce Bowen, Spurs	2. Shane Battier, Rockets
3. Bruce Bowen, Spurs	3. Shane Battier, Rockets	3. Tyson Chandler, Hornets
Comment: Much as the MVP should play for a winner, so should this award go to a leader of a top defensive team. Garnett transformed the Celtics from a score-first franchise to a team that wins with defense. They've been No. 1 in scoring defense and field-goal defense nearly all season because he sets a tireless example for his teammates. Battier and Bowen are the league's most versatile perimeter defenders, but Battier's influence on his team has been greater during the regular season; that may change when the Spurs raise their game in the playoffs.	Comment: Normally I prefer a perimeter guy (over just a tall body) here since those players have to work harder, but KG is versatile enough to qualify. Plus, I can't get out of my head the image of Garnett, eyes flaming and bald head covered with sweat, getting down in a defensive crouch to pick up his man full court in a meaningless late-season game in Chicago. Quite simply, Garnett was a beast on D this year and the anchor for a stingy Celtics unit.	Comment: KG is the quarterback, anchor and cheerleader on what might be the toughest defensive team in the league. Garnett has been on the All-Defensive first team six times in his previous 12 seasons, so it's hardly a stretch for him to win this award. Battier gets my second-place vote for being the perimeter stopper on a Rockets team that ranks in the top five in points allowed and field-goal defense.

[[LAL]Zoom-KB]

mip에 cp3 ㅡㅡ?

[나나모]

누가뭐래도 감독상은 22연승 감독이 타야한다고 봅니다.. 히스토리인데요

[[LAL]크리스밈]

크리스 폴 최초로 MVP와 MIP를 동시에 타는 선수가 될 수 있는건가요?-_-;; 이런 일이 과거에 있었는지도 궁금하네요...

[천사야보고파.]

가넷에 올해의 수비수가 보이는 구나...밑에 투표도 거의 만장일치로 가넷한테 표 받았는 데...^^ 올해는 수비상. 퍼스트팀. 그리고 우승하자...ㅋㅋ

[The_Feeling]

캠비가 DPOY 강력한 후보로 생각됐는데 현지에서 의외로 평이 그닥 좋진 않은것 같네요.이변이 없는한 가넷이 탈 것 같습니다.(그만큼 보스턴의 수비 임펙트가 상당하단 뜻이네요)

[RocK&JERICHO]

전 캠비가 후보에도 못오르는게 당연하다고 생각하는데..;; 이상하게 우리 카페에서 분위기를 몰아가서리..

[No.3 Ariza]

파머가눈에뛰네요 ㅎㅎ 후보에들어간거만이라도 ㅎ

[HaBeFuN]

오잉??????? 차라리 식스맨 어워드는 사샤가 ㅋㅋ

[완소Paul]

오!! 타이슨 챈들러 비록 한 사람에게 3위 표를 얻었지만 수비에 이름을 올리다니 오오!! 폴은 MVP대신 MIP....

[반쪽키위★CP3]

mip에 폴??.ㅋㅋmvp대신 줄려남

[동훈이]

씩스맨상에 조던 파머의 이름이 한자리에 -0-;;;;;;;;; 정말 많이 컸구나 ㅠ0ㅠ;;

[[LAL]The KB]

올퍼스트팀이 센터부문 빼곤 셋의 의견이 일치하네요 ㅋ

[slider]

지노빌리가 아이버슨 보다 위라는건 좀 아닌 것 같네요...

[kb24-cho]

코비-폴-르브론-가넷은 부동의 퍼스트팀이구나!!