By Eric “Big E” Jacinto
The first half of the NBA’s 2012-13 season is over and what a first half it was!
The Los Angeles Lakers, a lot of people’s favorite to come out of the West, are currently out of the playoff and are tenth in the Western Conference with a 25-29 record. The defending NBA Champions, the Miami Heat, are playing like champions, coming of three big wins in the last week against the two Los Angeles teams, both at home, and Thunder on the road. LeBron James has been playing out of his mind lately. He had six straight games shooting 60% or better from the floor and 30 points or more. That great streak ended against the Thunder but he still managed to score 39 points on 14-24 (58.3%) shooting from the floor. He still has seven straight games shooting 55% or better from the floor while scoring 30 points or more, which is still amazing.
James is without question the leading candidate for another MVP title, which would be his fourth in is legendary career and second straight. What can I say, I’m a huge King James fan. One can make the argument for Kevin Durant because he leads the league in scoring and the Thunder have third best record in NBA, but he’s the only one that really even comes close to James right now.
Now its time for Big E’s Midseason Rankings and Season Awards.
Big E’s Midseason Rankings:
1. San Antonio Spurs, 42-12 (Best record in NBA)
The Spurs have won three games in row and are 9-1 in the last ten games,
2. Miami Heat, 36-14 (Best record in Eastern conference)
The defending champions are coming off three huge wins vs. the Clippers, Lakers (both at home) and Thunder on the road. They have won seven in row.
3. Los Angeles Clippers, 39-17 (3rd seed in West)
The Clippers have won four in row including a blowout win against their rival the Lakers this past Thursday night.
4. Oklahoma City Thunder, 39-14 (2nd seed in West)
The Thunder are playing well but have lost two in row to end the first half including a lost to the Heat at home this past Thursday night.
5. New York Knicks, 32-18 (2nd seed in East)
The Knicks started the season hot, but cooled off little bit but still have the second best record in the Eastern Conference.
6. Brooklyn Nets, 31-22 (4th seed in East)
The Nets are 16-8 since they fired Avery Johnson in late December and named P.J, Carlesimo has intern head coach.
7. Indiana Pacers, 32-21 (3rd seed in East)
The Pacers have the third best record in the East despite not having their best player, Danny Grangers, all season, due to an injury.
8. Memphis Grizzlies, 33-18 (4th seed in West)
The Grizzlies traded their best player, Rudy Gay, to the Toronto Raptors late January, 2013. They are 4-3 since the trade.
9. Chicago Bulls, 30-22 (5th seed in East)
The Bulls are playing well despite not having their best player Derrick Rose who is recovering from a torn ACL suffered last April in the first round of the playoffs.
10. Denver Nuggets, 33-21 (5th seed in West)
The Nuggets are playing solid and fighting for that fourth seed with the Grizzlies.
11. Golden State Warriors, 30-22 (6th seed in West)
The Warriors are a young team that’s playing very good and coach Mark Jackson is a candidate for coach of the year.
12. Atlanta Hawks, 29-22 (6th seed in East)
The rumors are out their that they might trade their best player Josh Smith by the trade deadline this Thursday by 3pm ET.
13. Boston Celtics, 28-24 (7th seed in East)
The Celtics are trying to hold on the seventh spot in the east despite losing Rajon Rondo for the season with a torn ACL.
14. Utah Jazz, 30-24 (7th seed in West)
The Jazz have a one and half game lead on the Rockets for the seventh spot in the west.
15. Houston Rockets, 29-26 (8th seed in West)
The duo of Jeremy Lin and James Harden has been good enough to keep the Rockets in the playoff race but not great.
16. Milwaukee Bucks, 26-25 (8th seed in West)
The Bucks are playing well enough to hold on to the eighth and final spot in the east.
17. Los Angeles Lakers, 25-29 (10th in West)
Most disappointing team in the NBA enough said and are out of the playoff race right now.
18. Toronto Raptors, 21-32 (10th in East)
The Raptors are 5-2 since trading for Rudy Gay.
19. Portland Trail Blazers, 25-28 (9th in West)
The Trail Blazers are three games under .500 and fighting with the Lakers and Rockets for the eighth and final playoff spot in the west.
20. Philadelphia 76ers, 22-29 (9th in East)
Jrue Holiday is carrying the 76ers and is having career year and made his first all star game; only all star from the 76ers.
21. Dallas Mavericks, 23-29 (11th in West)
The Mavericks are having a blow-average season and are six games behind the eighth seed, Houston Rockets.
22. Detroit Pistons, 21-33 (11th in East)
The Pistons are a young and upcoming team that’s playing decently but are probably a few years away from making it back to the playoffs.
23. Minnesota Timberwolves, 19-31 (12th in West)
The T-Wolves are not having a good season and are not having the season some thought they would have. I thought they would be in the playoff race.
24. New Orleans Hornets, 19-34 (13th in West)
The Hornets are a young team that’s still long ways from being in the playoffs.
25. Sacramento Kings, 19-35 (14th in West)
The Kings are not a very good team, and are a long way away from any playoff appearance.
26. Washington Wizards, 15-36 (13th in East)
The Wizards are young team that’s only gonna get better with time.
27. Cleveland Cavaliers, 16-37 (12th in East)
The Cavaliers are also a young team which is only going to get better with time.
28. Phoenix Suns, 17-36 (15th/worst team in West)
The Suns are starting to rebuild and have the worst record in the West; former head coach Alvin Gentry and the Suns decided to part ways.
29. Charlotte Bobcats, 12-40 (15th in East/worst record in NBA)
Not much needed to say here. The Bobcats have the worst record in the NBA. SHOCKER!
30. Orlando Magic, 15-37 (14th in East)
The Magic might not have the worst record in the NBA, but they are 6-27 in the Eastern conference and 1-9 in the last ten games. Uggh.
Most Improved Player: James Harden, SG, Houston Rockets. Harden is fifth in the NBA in scoring, averaging nine more points from last season in which he came off the bench for the Thunder.
Sixth Man of the Year: J.R. Smith, SG, New York Knicks; Smith is averaging 16.2 points off the bench.
Coach Of the Year: Mike Woodson, New York Knicks; the Knicks have the second-best record in Eastern Conference.
Defensive Player Of the Year: Joakim Noah, C, Chicago Bulls; Noah is fourth in the NBA in rebounds.
Rookie Of the Year: Damian Lillard, PG, Portland Trail Blazers; Lillard leads all rookies in scoring and assists.
Most Valuable Player: LeBron James, PF, Miami Heat; James is third in the NBA in scoring.
Edited by: Todd LaPlante
