It's about that time. The 2005-06 season is over and we're thinking about regular season awards. Our panel of hoop-heads has put together a list of the top candidates for each regular season award. We're presenting them to you, along with season stats, notes and analysis. It's not just our own analysis, it's yours and that of an outside expert or someone close to the player.

Here are the six major awards that are voted on at the conclusion of the regular season.

2005-06 Weekly and Monthly Awards

Most Valuable Player:

Chauncey Billups - Detroit Pistons
Elton Brand - Los Angeles Clippers
Kobe Bryant - Los Angeles Lakers
LeBron James - Cleveland Cavaliers
Steve Nash - Phoenix Suns
Dirk Nowitzki - Dallas Mavericks
Dwyane Wade - Miami Heat

Others worth consideration: Carmelo Anthony, Tim Duncan, Pau Gasol, Shawn Marion

Coach of the Year:

Mike D'Antoni - Phoenix Suns
Mike Dunleavy Sr. - Los Angeles Clippers
Avery Johnson - Dallas Mavericks
Gregg Popovich - San Antonio Spurs
Flip Saunders - Detroit Pistons

Others worth consideration: Mike Brown, Rick Carlisle, Lawrence Frank, Mike Fratello, Pat Riley, Byron Scott

Sixth Man Award:

Speedy Claxton - New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets
Derek Fisher - Golden State Warriors
Mike Miller - Memphis Grizzlies
Jerry Stackhouse - Dallas Mavericks
Antoine Walker - Miami Heat

Others worth consideration: Earl Boykins, Channing Frye, Devin Harris, Eddie House, Bobby Jackson, Fred Jones, Alonzo Mourning, Ronald Murray, Charlie Villanueva, Maurice Williams

Defensive Player of the Year:

Bruce Bowen - San Antonio Spurs
Marcus Camby - Denver Nuggets
Andrei Kirilenko - Utah Jazz
Shawn Marion - Phoenix Suns
Ben Wallace - Detroit Pistons
Gerald Wallace - Charlotte Bobcats

Others worth consideration: Ron Artest, Elton Brand, Tim Duncan, Allen Iverson, Jason Kidd, Brevin Knight

Rookie of the Year:

Andrew Bogut - Milwaukee Bucks
Raymond Felton - Charlotte Bobcats
Chris Paul - New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets
Charlie Villanueva - Toronto Raptors

Others worth consideration: Channing Frye, Ryan Gomes, Danny Granger, Deron Williams

Most Improved Player:

Boris Diaw - Phoenix Suns
Mike James - Toronto Raptors
Mehmet Okur - Utah Jazz
Gerald Wallace - Charlotte Bobcats
David West - New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets

Others worth consideration: Carmelo Anthony, Raja Bell, Chris Bosh, Dwight Howard, Joe Johnson, Chris Kaman, Nenad Krstic, Kevin Martin, Zaza Pachulia, Smush Parker, Tony Parker, Delonte West

Awards History:

Most Valuable Player
Coach of the Year
Rookie of the Year
Defensive Player of the Year
Sixth Man Award
Most Improved Player
Steve Nash: 2004-05 MVP
Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images


Mike D'Antoni: 2004-05 Coach of the Year

Barry Gossage/NBAE/Getty Images


Ben Gordon: 2004-05 Sixth Man Award winner

Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE/Getty Images


Ben Wallace: 2004-05 Defensive Player of the Year

Allen Einstein/NBAE/Getty Images