Submitted ballot for 2011-12 NBA awards

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It's an honor to receive a vote for the NBA's annual awards. Ballots are due Friday. Awards will be announced during the playoffs. My submission's below.Feel free to weigh in via the comments section. I'll respond if possible. Thanks for reading.2011-12 NBA rookie of the year:1.) Kyrie Irving, Cleveland2.) Ricky Rubio, Minnesota3.) Isaiah Thomas, SacramentoCoach of the year1.) Gregg Popovich, San Antonio2.) Frank Vogel, Indiana3.) Lionel Hollins, MemphisDefensive player of the year1.) Tyson Chandler, New York2.) Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City3.) Tony Allen, MemphisFirst teamPG Chris PaulSG Kobe BryantSF LeBron JamesPF Kevin LoveC Dwight HowardSecond teamPG Russell WestbrookSG Joe JohnsonSF Kevin DurantPF Dirk NowitzkiC Andrew BynumThird teamPG Tony ParkerSG Manu GinobiliSF Rudy GayPF Blake GriffinC Al JeffersonSixth man1.) James Harden, Oklahoma City 2.) Jason Terry, Dallas 3.) O.J. Mayo, MemphisMost valuable player1.) LeBron James, Miami2.) Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City3.) Tony Parker, San Antonio4.) Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers5.) Steve Nash, Phoenix SunsMost improved player1.) Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City2.) Nikola Pekovic, Minnesota3.) Ersan Ilyasova, MilwaukeeNote: My MVP vote's based off a variety of factors, including everything from a player's statistics to their importance to their team's success. I also separate the All-NBA team by position. The awards ballot provides generic listings for guard and forward, with no divide between power/small and point/shooting. In my opinion, this is too vague and allows some players to be submitted out of position, while ignoring the importance that a point guard or small forward has in the league. It's also the only reason Durant didn't make my first team.Brian T. SmithTwitter: @tribjazz