M.V.P. (Getty Images)

The time has come. Here are the awards for the 2012 NBA Regular Season Awards in our conclusion of the Baseline Awards for the regular season. 

Most Valuable Player

1. LeBron James

I'm going to do this without stats. Among the reasons LeBron James is considered the best player in the NBA by many, his metrics are absurd. His PER is going to miss the best-ever mark thanks to a March slump. But it's still out of this world. I can talk about numbers and advanced metrics and per-minute and per-possession. But I'm going to try and do this without numbers.

LeBron James is the NBA's Most Valuable Player this season because of his ability to consistently control the game in all aspects. There are better offensive players that cannot impact the game defensively as James can. There are better defensive players that cannot score and produce offense the way he can. There are players who work off-ball better than James but cannot run point as James does for long stretches. There are players who can run the offense better than James but cannot finish on put-backs, alley-oops and off the cut as James can.

He is supreme in his ability to impact every asset of the game in consecutive sequences.

Let me show you what I mean.



Notice the clock there. It's five seconds. He hedges and recovers off the pick and roll perfectly, disrupts the pass, and in five second from getting his hand on the ball to force the seal, he's throwing the ball down at full force. Mercy.

There are players that can make that play. But none of them can do it with the dominant force he does, nor can they do it while playing all the other roles that James takes on. James is the Heat's primary offensive initiator, finisher, defensive lockdown closer, primary assist creator, primary chasedown block artist, turnover-forcer and best all over player. You can talk about having great teammates. But you cannot deny that no one else does everything that LeBron James does.

There are reasons to deny him the award anyway. You can focus on the clutch aspects. You can compare him mentally to the greats. You can put him on a different scale because of his teammates. The argument about regular season wins is problematic, but you can throw it out there that Chicago won the East.

What you cannot deny is that he takes over the game like no other player in his era from baseline to baseline. It may make you feel good to revel in his failures and there are certainly reasons to dislike his personality. But his abilities proven on the court this season are singular in their combination. Off the dribble, in the post, on the wing, in transition, man-up, on the trap, in the passing lane, off the cut, from the corner, from the wing, in the paint, at the rim, there is no player who puts his stamp on the game like LeBron James.

And the numbers are great, too.

2. Kevin Durant: Durant ran into a rough stretch for his team at the wrong time. The Thunder's Conference-winning approach was maybe his best discussion point over LeBron, and that's been surrendered to the Spurs. But the biggest reason for Durant's status as "just-slightly-behind-the-best" has to do with the way the Thunder's offense works. There's cohesiveness to it, but that cohesiveness is more dependent on the quality of his surrounding players than James'.

Wait, what?

That's right. Russell Westbrook has been a bigger part of the Thunder's success than Dwyane Wade has been a part of Miami's. Which sounds nuts, but it's true. James Harden is the glue that brings the team together (when he hasn't been knocked unconscious). Durant is the biggest part of the Thunder having one of the best offensive rating in basketball for the entire season, but he's not such a dominant force that it outweighs LeBron. Kevin Durant will likely win the scoring title this season. That should tell you something about what James has done, not about what Durant has not.

But if you choose to go with Durant, there is no fault to give. His defense has hit the level it needs to for him to be an elite player. He's become an adept passer who can see the entire floor and deliver it. He's become better in most areas and at the purest level, Durant is able to hit the tough shot at a better rate than any other player in the league. He's a worthy candidate, just not quite good enough to bring it home.

3. Kevin Love: We demand that players put their teams on their back and carry them. So in consideration thereof, there's no way to overlook Love. No one has had to shoulder a bigger burden than Love. Ricky Rubio was sensational, but not excellent in enough areas. Meanwhile, Love dragged a team with Rubio, J.J. Barea, Luke Ridnour, Michael Beasley, and Nikola Pekovic to a brief run at the playoffs. That's not the worst roster in the league but it's not anything close to a playoff-caliber team. Meanwhile, Love has continued to put up absurd stat lines. His defense improved. He hits big shots. Love is the kind of player we want an MVP to be, he just happens to play for a below-average team. You can expect to see him on this list for a long time.

4. Chris Paul: Paul could honestly probably win this award if he really wanted to. He's capable of playing at a high enough level and doing enough with a just-good-enough Clippers team to win the award. But Paul holds himself back in the regular season after learning about the toll on his body and the need for him to have an extra gear for the playoffs. You see the player he can be at the end of games, when hits an array of impossible shots routinely. The rest of the time? He's still good enough to be fourth on this list. That's how good he is.

Paul is the undisputed leader of the Clippers, and the reason why they're not just a bunch of dunks and flops despite their detractors. He manages an offense better than anyone alive, and his instinctive knowledge of the game is at an entirely different level. He's the best point guard in the league. (As always, a note: Derrick Rose is not a point guard. He's Derrick Rose. There's a difference. He's his own classification, when healthy.)

5. Kobe Bryant: Bryant honestly tries to do what he thinks is best for his team. And a lot of the time, that means scoring. By shooting. A lot. Bryant handled a serious injury this season and still pumped in 40-point performances. If you don't care about efficiency, if you only care about results, then Bryant can be a lot of higher on your list. He's slipped defensively and his decision making seems to get more circumspect as he gets older. But Bryant remains the most feared player on the planet for a reason. He has daggers on daggers on daggers.

Honorable mention: Tony Parker, Dwyane Wade, Steve Nash
Kyrie Irving proved he can be a franchise player. (Getty Images)

Rookie of the Year

1. Kyrie Irving: We have to do something about this point guard thing. We don't have any more room for elite point guards in this league. Irving came in and immediately joined the ranks. What's scary is that Irving doesn't rely on just brutal athleticism, though his speed certainly surprised a lot of people. Irving has an instinctive understanding for offense that takes several years for many point guards to learn. His assist numbers were impacted by not having a capable offensive roster around him. But there is also not a more fearsome player under 23 in the clutch. He was a monster this year, tearing through defenses, and lifting his team to victories they should have no place in getting it with big shot after big shot.

The Cavaliers have their new franchise player.

2: Ricky Rubio: There may not be a more exciting player than Ricky Rubio. Pete Maravich was often a comparison used for Rubio before he entered the league. There are two huge issues with that. First, Maravich was a supremely better shooter and Rubio was not only not great, he was predictably pretty mediocre on his release. And two, Rubio managed to do something with the insane passes that Maravich also dished. He made them functional. Rubio made behind-the-back, through-two-defenders bounce passes into a legitimate play, not just mustard on the hot dog. He made the mustard the meal.

His play was exciting, exceptional, brilliant. It's a shame we didn't get to see this race play out to the end.

3. Isaiah Thomas: You're missing the Isaiah Thomas show in Sacramento, and that's a shame. Thomas has been the point guard the Kings have wanted, the one they hoped Jimmer Fredette would be. He's fearless in the lane, can hit from range, runs the offense and consistently makes the plays you need your point guard to. Not bad for Mr. Irrelevant.

4. Kawhi Leonard: I've been saying for months that Leonard would wind up the most impactful rookie due to his place on a playoff team. That's played out, as Leonard has started for the best team in the West for much of the year. With a surprisingly quality corner three and having taken on the Spurs' defensive principles, Leonard isn't lighting up the scoreboard but he's an actual contributor for a team that matters.

5. Kenneth Faried: Had Farid gotten more playing time, "Manimal" would have worked his way above Rubio. Faried has brought all the effort and athleticism he was supposed to but surprise,s urprise, he has some actual legitimate skills to go with it. Another coup for the Nuggets franchise.

Honorable Mention: Iman Shumpert

Sixth Man of the Year

1. James Harden: Harden should be starting, it's ridiculous that he's not starting, I'm not even entirely sure the Thunder are better with him coming off the bench considering their distribution of scoring and how their minutes work for rotations. But he doesn't, and he's far and away the best player who doesn't start. So he wins. Harden is an All-Star celiber player, when he's not concussed.

2. Thaddeus Young: Young has been the best part of the best bench unit in basketball this season and has posted a career high in PER. But his defensive work has been the particularly valuable aspect. If we want to define the Sixth Man award as not just coming off the bench, but providing that spark with extra plays, Young is as worthy as any candidate behind Harden.

3. Al Harrington: Harrington gets lost in the shuffle, but he's been a huge part of the Nuggets this season. He's averaging 19 points and 8 rebounds per 36 minutes this season with decent if not great shooting numbers. Beyond that, though, Harrington has been active in the passing lanes especially defending the post, creating turnovers to allow the Nuggets get out and run. Harrington has flaws in his game, but his impact this season for Denver shouldn't be overlooked.

4. Taj Gibson: Gibson doesn't get as many minutes and isn't a focal point on offense. But no one can change the momentum in a game off the bench like Gibson this season. His relentless assault on the offensive glass frustrates and exhausts teams, and his ability to flow in the offense gives the Bulls a weapon in limited pick and pop action.

5. O.J. Mayo: Microwaving, lighting up defenses on the perimeter and hitting big shots. Lost in his shooting has been considerable improvement defensively this season.

Honorable Mention: Jason Terry, Lou Williams

Most Improved Player

1. Jeremy Lin: Because sometimes, there are worse things than letting the narrative win. Lin wins out by defining himself through what this award is about. He made the biggest commitment to improving his game, got the opportunity, and made the most of it. It doesn't matter if Linsanity never returns, or if he turns out to only be a quality reserve. Lin brought the sports world to a stand still waiting on his every play and genuinely helped the Knicks become a better team.

2. Paul George: It's difficult to quantify George's improvements. The numbers are there but they're not stunning. But watching George, you see him slide into the offensive set so much easier. He has such a better understanding of what he needs to do. Defensively, he's progressed and is an elite perimeter shutdown wing. The Pacers posted a stellar 98.2 defensive effiiciency when George was on the floor, and his work on the catch-and-shoot gives their offense a whole new look.

3. Gregg Monroe: Monroe accelerated to an All-Star level of production this season. His defense still needs some work, but he's one of the few centers in the league with a legitimate post game his game was the biggest bright spot for the Pistons this season.

4. Ersan Ilyasova: Ilyasova showed flashes last season of versatility at the power forward position but took it to an entirely new level this year. Ilyasova is the model for the emerging power forward in the NBA, the hyper-athlete who can rebound and shoot from range. His aggression on the glass put the Bucks in a position to contend for a playoff spot even when injuries threatened to take them out. He'll be a free agent this summer.

5. Ryan Anderson: The only reason the stellar Anderson didn't win this award in my eyes is that I already knew he was this good. He just got his chance this season to show it.

Honorable mention: Nikola Pekovic

Defensive Player of the Year

1. Tyson Chandler: How good do you have to be to change an entire team's culture? Some will say it was Mike Woodson's impact as a defensive assistant and later head coach that lead to the Knicks' surprising jump defensively. But since day one, Chandler has set the tone for the Knicks as he did with the Mavericks, attacking invaders at the rim and and closing out. Via Synergy Sports, Chandler held opponents to 40 percent shooting in the post and just 27 percent in isolation.

The Knicks' defensive system isn't stout, it's fairly basic. There's no complex system of help, so Chandler is most often left on his own. It's his singular talents that have put the Knicks at such a high level defensively. Without him, the rather porous perimeter containment would gouge the Knicks with scoring.

Chandler changed a culture in New York and is ready to lead another team defensively into the playoffs. He's the elite defender for this season.

2. Kevin Garnett: The only reason Garnett doesn't win this award is the strength of the system he plays in. The Celtics simply don't allow you to take advantage of mismatches. If Garnett is facing a physically superior opponent, either in size or speed, the help comes almost immediately to trap. If the pick and roll threatens to blow up Garnett's contain, a third defender flashes to force the ball-handler back or challenge the roll man at the rim. But none of this takes away from what Garnett has done individually. He's been nothing short of incredible. Garnett ranks in the 75th percentile or above in four separate playsets according to Synergy Sports, and demolishes defensive sets. A vote for Garnett is not in any way a vote gone awry.

3. Tony Allen: There's little rhyme or reason to Allen's approach. The beauty of the Grizzlies' defensive system is that it unleashes its players on the opponent through sheer chaos. Disrupt, attack, repeat. Allen's ability to body and opponent on the drive while disrupting the dribble and to constantly cajole a player into the shot he doesn't want is in a category all its own.

4. Andre Iguodala: Became the best perimeter defender in the East this season and his versatility in position means he asserts himself against tougher opponents each night.

5. LeBron James: Leads the league in Isolation field goal percentage allowed, via Synergy Sports. The system helps James, but he's still the most lockdown of the lockdown. What's amazing is this is a down year for him.

Honorable Mention: Dwight Howard, Luol Deng, Shawn Marion

Coach of the Year

Split Award: Gregg Popovich and Tom Thibodeau

That's right, I'm mailing in the tie. Look, I don't pull it out except when I feel it's really warranted, and it's warranted here. Can you overlook what Thibodeau has done without his MVP for most of the year and with an 80 percent Luol Deng? Can you ignore that the Bulls get better when their star-less bench comes in and demolishes everything? Most importantly can you ignore that last year's coach of the year got better on offense, putting a team without its primary scorer, creator, and star into a position to find the open man and create easy baskets through its system continuously?

No. Just like you can't ignore what Popovich has done for most of the year without Manu Ginobili, with an aging Tim Duncan, and with a roster reliant on players with extensive D-League experience. Maybe most crucially, Popovich engineered a team that starts with its offense, then uses that to create its defense, and managed to win with it.

These two have been equal in their genius, and should share the honor.

Honorable Mention: Lionel Hollins

Executive of the Year

Masai Ujiri: The Nuggets are on the verge of a top-six seed in the tough-as-nails Western Conference, even with considerable injuries and without a true star. They have long-term flexibility, a host of talented young players, and ditched their biggest contract albatross to give them more flexibility while getting a talented young center with upside if he gets his head right.

Ujiri hasn't just recovered from the Melo trade, he's flourished after it. Kenneth Faried turned out to be a steal of a draft pick, Corey Brewer and Rudy Fernandez both made huge contributions (before Fernandez' injury), Andre Miller has worked well despite Ty Lawson being the team's best player. The Nuggets are good, deep, versatile, and set for the future. That's all you can ask from your GM.

Honorable Mention: Kevin O'Connor