With the final 10 games of the regular season upon us, I think it is time to take a closer look at the season’s awards. Each day I will provide a winner and the two runner ups for each award, culminating with the MVP award.

To kick things off will be the All NBA Third Team:

G- Russell Westbrook

22.2pts, 8.3ast, 1.8stl

Westbrook’s scoring and assists continue to rise, as well as his field goal and free throw shooting percentage. Westbrook has become one of the premiere attacking point guards in this league. He and Kevin Durant have the Thunder locked into the fourth seed out west and are looking at home-court advantage in round one of the playoffs.

G- Manu Ginobili

17.8pts, 5ast, 3.7reb, 1.6stl

Manu is the lone Spur to make any of the All NBA teams and rightfully so. He is the leading scorer and the heart of the NBA’s best team. Ginobili continues to be one of the league’s deadliest and most clutch players. What has also been impressive is Ginobili’s 5 assists per game average. Ginobili could be playing the best all around basketball of his career.

F- LaMarcus Aldridge

22.1pts, 8.6reb, 2.1ast, 1.1stl, 1.2blk

Although Aldridge was an All-Star snub, he is not a snub for my NBA Awards. Aldridge boasts a career high in scoring and rebounding, as well as field goal percentage(50%). He is the leading scorer on a Blazer team that has been decimated by injuries all season long. With Brandon Roy, Greg Oden. And Marcus Camby all missing significant time this year, Aldridge took his game to another level, and will lead the Blazers into the playoffs.

F- Kevin Love

20.3pts, 15.4reb, 2.5ast

What more is there to say about Love? The kid has been a monster all season, especially on the boards. Love has a 30 point, 30 rebound game this season and well as numerous 30 and 20 games. Love also made his first All-Star team this season. Although he is on a terrible team, his numbers cannot be ignored. What will be remembered most about Love’s career season is the 53 game double-double streak.

F- Kevin Garnett

14.9pts, 9reb, 2.5ast, 1.4stl

The numbers do not speak to the season that Garnett is having. Garnett’s resurgence is due to his health. For the majority of the season Garnett has been healthy and it is evident in his play. He is shooting and amazing 52% from the field and has brought defensively intensity back to the Celtics. Garnett is also a candidate for Defensive Player of the Year.

Just missed the cut: Rajon Rondo, Carmelo Anthony. Rondo would have been firmly on the third team if it weren’t for his horrid play since the All-Star break. As for Melo, look no further than Denver and New York’s records since the trade. Denver is a better team without Carmelo, while the Knicks have downgraded. Anthony is a great offensive player but I’m not sure he makes his team any better.