The Nba

MVP, the Sequel

After his sudden star turn for a new team last season, SI's choice was even more impressive as a leading man in 2005-06

The Pistons were hot, Tim Duncan was hurt, Kobe Bryant was back and so too was Ron Artest, who made more waves on the court than off it. It's time to review the highs and lows of the regular season that was, with the understanding that the best--the playoffs--is yet to come. But you didn't rent your black ties and evening gowns to hear the emcee prattle on. The envelopes, please....

MVP
Steve Nash, Suns
Despite the loss of seven players from last year's 62-win team, including frontline colossus Amar� Stoudemire, Phoenix will most likely finish with the fourth-best record, thanks to the heavy load shouldered by its point guard. Nash increased his scoring average by nearly 25% (from 15.5 to 19.2 points at week's end) and is the only player in the league to shoot better than 50% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc. His playmaking has not suffered either. With 10.4 assists per game through Sunday, Nash led the league, and six of his teammates were averaging career bests in scoring, with five of them likely to set personal highs in shooting percentage.

Runner-up
Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Tim Duncan, Spurs
Though his offensive output is significantly down because of a yearlong bout with plantar fasciitis, the gutsy power forward still ranked in the top 12 in blocks (2.00) and defensive rebounds (8.2) at week's end. San Antonio was the league's top defensive team and the Western Conference's top seed only because he didn't take a month off to heal.
Runner-up
Ben Wallace, Pistons.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Chris Paul, Hornets
The 20-year-old point guard ranked second in steals (2.29 per game), seventh in assists (8.0) and fifth in assists-to-turnover ratio (3.38) through Sunday while throwing in a rookie-best 16.3 points per game to keep overachieving New Orleans in the playoff chase. The wonder is that he slipped to fourth in the draft; how the Hawks and the Blazers in particular must regret their misjudgment.

Runner-up
Charlie Villanueva, Raptors.

COACH OF THE YEAR
Flip Saunders, Pistons
After being fired by the Timberwolves, he appeared to be stepping into a furnace when he replaced Larry Brown. Instead Saunders improved last year's Eastern Conference champs dramatically. How often does a Finals entry make a double-digit jump in victories? At week's end Detroit was on pace for a 12-win improvement, an increase trumped by only the Hornets (21) and the Hawks and Jazz (13 each).

Runner-up
Avery Johnson, Mavericks.

SIXTH MAN AWARD
Mike Miller, Grizzlies
The league's third-leading scorer off the bench, with 13.4 points per game through Sunday, the 6'8" guard has been indispensable to a surprisingly successful team that relies on its reserves as few others do.

Runner-up
Speedy Claxton, Hornets.

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER
Boris Diaw, Suns
Poorly cast as a guard in Atlanta last season, the 24-year-old was moved to forward in Phoenix, where he has overmatched his opponents with his quickness and skill. Diaw is one of three players--along with LeBron James and Jason Kidd--to average more than 10 points, six rebounds and six assists. Some of the 6'8" Frenchman's contributions have been less obvious, most notably his lockdown of Yao Ming (six points) on Nov. 23.

Runner-up:
Elton Brand, Clippers.

EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR
Donnie Nelson, Mavericks
Over the last two years he has presided over the emotional departures of floor leader Nash, locker room leader Michael Finley and coach Don Nelson (his dad). The result? The most balanced team in franchise history and, if last Friday's inspired 92-86 win at San Antonio is any indication, an excellent shot at the first Finals berth in franchise history.

Runner-up
Elgin Baylor, Clippers.