The NBA All-Star starters have been chosen by fans. Reserves have been picked by coaches.

And now as the season rolls on past one-third gone, with only a fraction of precincts reporting, we offer an early look at how this truncated 66-game season might play out come postseason awards time.

MVP: LeBron James, Miami. Yes, he's got Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade (sometimes) by his side, but Kevin Durant's got Russell Westbrook and James Harden and Derrick Rose has, well ... James is averaging 28.1 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, shooting .542 from the field. Ask any Timberwolves player to choose the one player they'd pick to start their franchise and the overwhelming answer is simply "LeBron." Contenders: Oklahoma City's Durant, Los Angeles Clippers' Chris Paul, Chicago's Derrick Rose, Wolves' Kevin Love.

Coach of the Year: Gregg Popovich, San Antonio. Philadelphia's Doug Collins gets strong consideration, but you can't overlook this guy yet again. He's taken an aging Spurs team missing injured Manu Ginobili, incorporated youngsters such as rookie Kawhi Leonard and Tiago Splitter and has his team jousting for second-best record in the West. And he's won and won and won and only has been named Coach of the Year one lousy time, in 2003. Contenders: Collins, Denver's George Karl, Houston's Kevin McHale, Chicago's Tom Thibodeau, Atlanta's Larry Drew.

Rookie of the Year: Kyrie Irving, Cleveland. Sorry, Wolves fans. Ricky's really, really good, but Irving's play already is inviting comparisons to Chris Paul and Derrick Rose. A bit of hyperbole this early in his career? Perhaps, but it says something, too, about how quickly he has adapted to the NBA game. Only concern: This concussion thing, which, as Twins and Wild fans well know, is a mysterious, serious matter. Contender: Wolves' Ricky Rubio.

Sixth Man: James Harden, Thunder. Clippers guard Mo Williams has been very, very good, but Harden is the pick by just a smidge. He's playing like an All-Star (16.6 ppg, shooting the three) and doing so on a team where he often is an afterthought to Durant and Russell Westbrook. And he's got the best beard in a league where facial hair is making a major comeback. Contenders: Williams.

Most Improved Player: Kyle Lowry, Rockets. A guy who probably should have been an All-Star but doesn't have Steve Nash's name or star power. Who would have thought once upon a time that Lowry was going to be the best pro out of a Villanova backcourt that also featured Randy Foye, but he is. Contenders: Clippers' DeAndre Jordan, Toronto's Ed Davis, Indiana's Paul George, Detroit's Greg Monroe.

Defensive Player of the Year: Dwight Howard, Orlando. Such a boring pick, but who impacts a game more with his rebounding and shot-blocking intimidation? Rubio won't get consideration to win it, but the NBA leader in steals as a rookie should be in the discussion for all-defensive team recognition. Contenders: Oklahoma City's Serge Ibaka, Jordan, Memphis' Tony Allen, Philadelphia's Andre Iguodala.

Executive of the Year: Neil Olshey, L.A. Clippers. He signed Caron Butler as a free agent, picked up Chauncey Billups for a mere $2 million on the amnesty waiver wire and convinced him it would be a good move for him, and swung that seismic trade that brought Chris Paul from New Orleans for Eric Gordon, that No. 1 pick the Clippers pilfered from the Wolves long ago, and other assorted pieces. From irrelevant to the best team in L.A., that's quite a leap and very much deserving. Contenders: Indiana's Larry Bird, Denver's Masai Ujiri, Utah's Kevin O'Connor, Wolves' David Kahn.