Stark's Playas of the year awards:
First round
1. Lebron (#2 for the year, #1 last month) - Lebron is the man. No ifs, ands, or butts (not even Vida's). If he didn't have an idiot owner, he'd be in the playoffs right now. He put up great numbers through the last day of the season. Guaranteed #1 or #2 pick next year. King James is the #1 argument against age limits for the NBA.
2. KG (#3 for the year, #16 last month) - played with a bad leg on a team full with selfish, "feed my family" players and still put up huge numbers. He will be on a mission to get back to the post season next year.
3. Dirk (#4 for the year, #14 last month) - Cuban put the team in the hands of the mighty German and it paid off. If he can ever win a ring, the comparisons to Larry Legend may finally be given legitimacy.
4. Amare (#8 for the year, #18 last month) - as long as Nash stays healthy, Stoudamire is a force of nature. His FC eligibility puts him above some other first rounders.
5. Duncan (#19 for the year, #277 last month) - TD is a great player, but he absolutely killed anyone who drafted him in this years playoffs. Still a guaranteed first rounder.
6. TMac (#5 for the year, #12 last month) - TMac is hands down the best SG in the league (since Lebron is a PG,SF). Unfortunately, it's not always the best strategy to base your team around any SG not named Michael Jordan.
7. AI (#9 for the year, #11 last month) - The best guard in the league. Probably deserves consideration for MVP, as he did as much for the Sixers as Shaq/Nash did for their teams.
8. Marion (#1 for the year, #2 last month) - The Matrix was awesome this year, but another guy that's hard to build a team around. Trust me on this.
9. (tie) Nash (#27 for the year, #20 last month) / Kidd (#26 for the year, #10 last month), Next year, when real assist numbers replace the travesty known as A/T, these two guys will be huge.
10. Vince (#7 for the year, #3 last month) Considering Vincanity didn't even try until he wound up in NJ, he had a remarkable season. He was huge in the playoffs. Of course, there's a 66% chance he'll have a devestating injury next year, killing the hopes of whoever drafts him.
Second Round
12. Kobe (#25 for the year, #22 last month) He's the #1 argument FOR age limits in the NBA. Million dollar talent but nothing in his head or heart. This guy nearly ruined the NBA for me this year. Do I sound bitter? He was only #22 last month for the playoffs and the olny other good player on his team (Odom) was hurt much of that time... so much for the "heir to Jordan" talk.
13. Arenas (#6 for the year, #7 last month) Gilbert blew up this year. Barring any major changes in DC next year, odds are he'll do the same in the future.
14. Bibby (#12 for the year, #62 last month) He struggled down the stretch but only missed two games all year. In the absense of Webber, he is the new man in Sac-town.
15. Brand (#13 for the year, #31 last month) Elton's been on league champion teams two years running now. That counts for something.
16. Pierce (#10 overall, #23 last month) He was the greatest benefactor from the 'Toine trade... not the one that sent Walker away, but the one that brought him back. Pierce seems happiest when he doesn't have to carry a team on his shoulders. He's not the scorer he was a few years back and only qualifies as SG, but he still has a few good years left.
17. Shaq (#23 overall, #169 last month) One of the eternal truths of fantasy: Managers who take Shaq in the first round of fantasy bball don't win. He instantly makes the Heat a contender for the title, but because he focuses his health and effort on the playoffs, he's a liability in fantasy leagues. I'd still draft him in the second round.
18. Wade (#37 overall, #112 last month) Dwayne is a baller. Worthless for 3's and not a great FT%, but he gets to the line all night and fills up other categories. I'm hoping he blows up in the playoffs this year and shows the world how sweet his game is.
19. Starbury (#14 overall, #5 last month) He may be the best PG in his own mind, but not in the league. He had a great year, but considering he didn't have to worry about things like winning or the playoffs and has a GM who thinks the PG is the most important position on a team, he should have!
20. Baron Davis (#85 overall, #8 last month) Another victim of Carter disease... dogged it on a bad team, played his brains out after being traded. Also a huge injury risk for anyone who drafts him.
Third Round
21. Peja (#29 overall, #27 last month) Stojakopimp got his wish this season when "timeout" Webber got the boot, but he still hasn't proved he can carry a team. He may have a better season next year, but my gut tells me he'll always need to play second banana to someone who thrives under pressure like Bibby.
22. Ray Allen (#11 overall, #6 last month) Ray Allen was playing for a new contract this season. Ray Allen was playing for a new contract this season. Ray Allen was playing for a new contract this season. Just remember this little fact next year.
23. Larry Hughes (#30 overall, #4 last month) Part 2 of the best backcourt in the league. He had a great year despite a long stretch on the IL. As long as Hughes plays in DC, the backcourt will have the green light to run the show (when they tried to play a power game, he complained to management and they want back to a run and gun, guard centered offense).
24. Big Ben (#22 overall, #15 last month) The Pistons are one of the few teams I watched in person this year. Simply put, they are awesome. Wallace is the most consistent player on that team. If not for his horrible free-throws, he could be a top 10er.
25. AK47 (#68 overall, #412 last month) He could have had a similar year to Marion... could have. If his body holds up, he's a freak of nature. I'm really hoping he can survive a full season next year as the Jazz will be my new home team. Hopefuly the "don't screw a nice blind man" curse that hit Boozer this season doesn't carry over.
26. Year of the Yao (#40 overall, #47 last month) As far a centers go, Yao is one of the best. He plays hurt and can hit free throws. Unfortunately he is perfectly happy watching TMac shoot all night.
27. Billups (#24 overall, #41 last month) I love Chauncey's game. The only downside is that for the forseeable future he'll be resting for the playoffs in the final few weeks of the regular season.
28. Brad Miller (#51 overall, #432 last month) Straight up, he's probably a better pick than Yao at center. The only difference is that Yao knows kung fu and can take a hit where Miller gets kicked and is out for the season.
29. Rashard Lewis (#17 overall, #105 last month) Lewis shares the "second half dog" award with Jeff McInnis... and Lewis didn't get slighted when it came to all-star voting! I have absolutely no idea how he will do next season. A few years ago he was a first round lock. These days, I just don't know.
30. Franchise (#59 overall, #59 last month) I wouldn't take him in the first round, probably not the second round, but I wouldn't pass on him in the third.