Staff NBA Award Predictions: MVP, Rookie of the Year, and More

Other Award Predictions

Most Improved Player: Josh McRoberts, Miami Heat; Ricky Rubio, Minnesota Timberwolves

The Most Improved Player award is a big toss up. We had a wide variety of options come up in our crew's votes. But only two players got multiple votes - Josh McRoberts and Ricky Rubio. At this moment in time, McRoberts seems like the safer bet on a Heat team that still hopes to contend in the East.

Rubio is a very intriguing candidate for most improved. He hasn't been able to develop a jumper, but even some improvement could make him that much better at the Minnesota point. And in an offense that's going to be down in the majority of games, Rubio could see a considerable spike in assists and rebounds.

The two are very worthy candidates.

Coach of the Year: Tom Thibodeau, Chicago Bulls

Our crew looks for the Bulls to improve upon last year's Derrick Rose-less season. With D-Rose back in action, and the addition of Pau Gasol, we like the Bulls to at least meet our projections of 47 wins and third place in the East. Thibs' great defensive influence should help Chicago to contend for an Eastern Conference title and an NBA title this year. With that in mind, Thibodeau will have to beat out other likely candidates such as the Pistons' Stan Van Gundy and Mavericks' Rick Carlisle. It may be a tight race but we have Thibodeau leading the Bulls to a highly successful season in Chi-Town.