2013-14 NBA Awards: Handing out hardware to the NBA’s best of regular season

With the NBA playoffs under way, it’s time to look back at the regular season and hand out some hardware.

Apr 20, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) celebrates scoring during the second quarter of game one of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs against the Washington Wizards at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

With that being said, here’s my 2013-14 NBA Awards Predictions.

Defensive Player of the Year- Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls

With Roy Hibbert‘s slide the past couple of months, this is Noah’s award to win.

He anchored a top three unit in terms of defensive efficiency and his intensity and creativity make him a unique defender, one that is more valuable to the Bulls than any other defender in the NBA.

Hibbert and Andre Iguodala get consideration here from me, but this is Noah’s award and it is well deserved.

Sixth Man Award- Jamal Crawford, Los Angeles Clippers

This is a toss-up for me between Crawford and Chicago’s Taj Gibson, but I’m giving the nod to the veteran Crawford.

He is averaging an absurd 18.6 points per game for a bench player on one of the best teams in the NBA.

Gibson and San Antonio’s Manu Ginobili also get consideration.

Coach of the Year- Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs

There are plenty of candidates including Chicago’s Tom Thibodeau, Toronto’s Dwane Casey, Phoenix’s Jeff Hornacek and Charlotte’s Steve Clifford, but how can the award not go to Popovich?

You can make a realistic case for either guy, but giving an award for the best coach should go to the NBA’s best coach and that is Popovich.