While there aren’t any guarantees until the award winners are officially announced, it looks like Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns will be named the NBA MVP for the second consecutive year. The Suns have overachieved again, since many people thought losing Amare Stoudemire to injury, Joe Johnson to the Atlanta Hawks, and trading Quentin Richardson would hurt them more than it has. Instead, Raja Bell and Boris Diaw (who will be named Most Improved), along with Kurt Thomas have picked up the slack. Certainly, Steve Nash had a part in the success.

Another MVP candidate that people will feel was snubbed is Kobe Bryant. Whether or not his 81-point outburst and helping lead the Los Angeles Lakers to the playoffs is enough for him to get the MVP award, there will be one difference about him next year. The Lakers informed the NBA that Bryant will wear #24 next season. Twenty-four is one of two numbers that he wore in high school, though eight was neither of them.

Lebron James nearly had another triple-double after piling up ten turnovers in the Cavaliers‘ loss to the Wizards. Drew Gooden and Larry Hughes also had decent games, but the team practically got nothing from their bench. Meanwhile, the big three from the Wizards (Arenas, Jamison, Butler) combined for seventy-points — out of the teams eighty-nine points for the night.

Kenyon Martin has been suspended by the Denver Nuggets for detrimental conduct. The team says the suspension will end after the first round of the playoffs. It’s hard to say they’ll make it past the first round against the Clippers, especially without Martin.