Halfway hardware: SI.com's NBA midseason awards

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Jan 23, 2014

Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player and Most Improved Player feature compelling races this year. — Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player and Most Improved Player feature compelling races this year.
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MAHONEY: My 2014 NBA All-Star starters: Hibbert over Carmelo and more

Paul George and Lance Stephenson both received votes for Most Improved Player from our writers. — Paul George and Lance Stephenson both received votes for Most Improved Player from our writers.
Mike Ehrmann/NBAE/Getty Images

GOLLIVER: Stephenson, Carter-Williams star on The All-Gridiron Team

The Sixth Man race is wide open, while top defender and coach appear a bit clearer. — The Sixth Man race is wide open, while top defender and coach appear a bit clearer.
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MAHONEY: Durant among veterans taking on bigger roles this season

Manu Ginobili has only won the Sixth Man of the Year award once, earning the hardware in 2008. — Manu Ginobili has only won the Sixth Man of the Year award once, earning the hardware in 2008.
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THOMSEN: Do Thunder or Blazers have better shot at winning the title?

First-year head coach Jeff Hornacek has led the Suns to a 24-17 record, good for seventh in the West. — First-year head coach Jeff Hornacek has led the Suns to a 24-17 record, good for seventh in the West.
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If a coach's primary responsibility is to put his players in a position to succeed, then none has done better work this season than Hornacek. It's from his design that the Suns have been utterly tank-defiant, and it's a testament to his rotation choices that Phoenix has few (if any) problematic lineups.