Each Wednesday until the beginning of the NBA's abbreviated season, WhatIfSports.com's NBA simulation engine will simulate the previous week's unplayed games, using the NBA's actual 2011-2012 pre-lockout schedule. The NBA simulation includes cumulative standings updated each week, a game of the week, a player of the week and statistical leaders.

The statistical inputs to the NBA simulations are based upon analysis of each team's roster, depth charts and statistically-based player rankings. Rosters reflect all transactions prior to the lockout and rookies are based on players of statistical equivalence.

Christmas Day marks both the beginning of the long-awaited 2011-12 NBA season and the conclusion of WhatIfSports.com's NBA lockout simulation. We'll complete the simulation by "playing" the remainder of the NBA's season, providing final standings and awards. But that's not all...

We've added a wrinkle.

In light of recent blockbuster acquisitions in the NBA's abbreviated offseason, we've decided to tinker with our rosters by incorporating some of the bigger player movements. Curious how much better the Los Angeles Clippers will be with the addition of Chris Paul? Consider this a litmus test. Our final simulation is highlighted by the following transactions:

• Paul, Chauncey Billups and Caron Butler join the Clippers
• Eric Gordon, Al-Farouq Aminu and Chris Kamen are the new faces of the New Orleans Hornets
• Tyson Chandler and Baron Davis now suit up for the New York Knicks
• Lamar Odom is a member of the Dallas Mavericks
• David West takes his game to the Indiana Pacers
• The Boston Celtics' Jeff Green suffers a season-ending injury
• Brandon Roy of the Portland Trail Blazers retires, with newly acquired Jamal Crawford filling in

Transactions

Los Angeles Clippers
Before: 10-16 (0.385)
After: 37-19 (0.661)

Paul proved to be every bit the boon the Clippers franchise had hoped for in trading Gordon, Aminu, Kamen and a draft pick for his services. The additional signings of Billups and Butler launched the Clippers into the NBA's upper echelon.

New Orleans Hornets
Before: 11-11 (0.500)
After: 25-35 (0.417)

Although the Hornets received some solid pieces in the Paul trade, including a future star in Gordon, it was not enough to prevent a slide in wins. Lost in Paul's exit was the departure of West, whom the Hornets received no compensation for.

New York Knicks
Before: 13-12 (0.520)
After: 38-19 (0.667)

In acquiring Chandler, the Knicks improved upon two of their biggest weaknesses, defense and rebounding. Although the loss of Billups left some ambiguity at the point, Davis proved a capable substitute.

Dallas Mavericks
Before: 16-9 (0.640)
After: 35-22 (0.614)

The Mavericks lucked out in finding a replacement for departed center Chandler when Odom suddenly became available. However, the team's defense took a hit, allowing the seventh-most points in the league.

Indiana Pacers
Before: 13-13 (0.500)
After: 31-25 (0.554)

The already tough-minded Pacers found a player that fit their mold perfectly in West. The power forward's scoring took a bit of a dip, dropping from 20.8 points per game with the Hornets to 17.4 points per game with the Pacers, but his rebounding improved from 8.0 boards per game to 9.4 with his new playoff-bound squad.

Boston Celtics
Before: 13-9 (0.591)
After: 30-30 (0.500)

Although Green has appeared somewhat out of place since arriving in Boston last season, he is an important part of the Celtics' rotation, if for no other reason than the lack of a suitable replacement. Boston saw its win percentage dip after losing Green, who will miss the 2011-12 season with a heart condition.

Portland Trail Blazers
Before: 17-7 (0.708)
After: 39-19 (0.672)

The Trail Blazers, already off to a hot start, were not slowed down with the retirement of Roy and acquisition of scoring guard Crawford. His addition to the starting lineup relegated Wesley Matthews to the role of super-sub.

Awards

MVP: Dwight Howard
Average Points	Average Rebounds	Average Assists	Average Blocks	Average Steals
24.9	15.8	1.6	2.4	0.9

Howard joins Michael Jordan (1987-88) and Hakeem Olajuwon (1993-94) as the only players to win the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year award in the same season. Kevin Garnett and David Robinson have also been recipients of both awards but won each in different seasons.

Defensive Player of the Year: Dwight Howard
Average Points	Average Rebounds	Average Assists	Average Blocks	Average Steals
24.9	15.8	1.6	2.4	0.9

Sixth Man of the Year: Lamar Odom
Average Points	Average Rebounds	Average Assists	Average Blocks	Average Steals
13.7	8.8	2.8	0.8	0.5

Odom is the first player since Detlef Schrempf in the 1990-91 and 1991-92 seasons to win consecutive Sixth Man of the Year awards. Kevin McHale also accomplished the feat in the 1983-84 and 1984-85 seasons.

Most Improved Player: Joakim Noah
Average Points	Average Rebounds	Average Assists	Average Blocks	Average Steals
12.2	12.3	2.3	1.6	1.3

Noah saw improvements in points, rebounds, blocks, steals and assists as he anchored the NBA's best defense. He is the first Chicago Bulls player in franchise history to be a recipient of the Most Improved Player award.

Coach of the Year: Nate McMillan
Team Record	Points For	Points Against	Avg. Margin of Victory	Win Increase
56-26	110.7	103.4	7.3	+8

McMillan received his first Coach of the Year award. He guided the Portland Trailblazers to a Western Conference-best 56 wins, an eight-win improvement over the team's 48-34 mark in the 2010-11 season.

Rookie of the Year: Derrick Williams
Average Points	Average Rebounds	Average Assists	Average Blocks	Average Steals
11.9	5.2	0.8	0.3	0.4

The Minnesota Timberwolves' Williams was challenged for the Rookie of the Year award by first overall pick Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers, who averaged 11.1 points, 4.8 assists and 3.3 rebounds.

All-NBA Teams
First Team	Second Team	Third Team
F: LeBron James	F: Dirk Nowitzki	F: Amar'e Stoudemire
F: Blake Griffin	F: Pau Gasol	F: Kevin Durant
C: Dwight Howard	C: Al Jefferson	C: Al Horford
G: Dwyane Wade	G: Russell Westbrook	G: Chris Paul
G: Derrick Rose	G: Kobe Bryant	G: Monta Ellis

All-Defensive Teams
First Team	Second Team
F: LeBron James	F: Serge Ibaka
F: Gerald Wallace	F: Josh Smith
C: Dwight Howard	C: Joakim Noah
G: Dwyane Wade	G: Tony Allen
G: Rajon Rondo	G Chris Paul

NBA Simulated Standings - 2011-12 Season
Eastern Conference
Atlantic	W	L	Win%
New York	51	31	0.622
Philadelphia	47	35	0.573
Boston	43	39	0.524
Toronto	25	57	0.305
New Jersey	13	69	0.159
Central	W	L	Win%
Chicago	59	23	0.720
Indiana	44	38	0.537
Detroit	36	46	0.439
Cleveland	26	56	0.317
Milwaukee	25	57	0.305
Southeast	W	L	Win%
Orlando	60	22	0.732
Miami	56	26	0.683
Atlanta	35	47	0.427
Washington	30	52	0.366
Charlotte	28	54	0.341

View the statistical leaders or the lockout simulation.

Western Conference
Northwest	W	L	Win%
Portland	56	26	0.683
Utah	51	31	0.622
Denver	44	38	0.537
Oklahoma City	43	39	0.524
Minnesota	37	45	0.451
Pacific	W	L	Win%
L.A. Lakers	50	32	0.610
L.A. Clippers	47	35	0.573
Phoenix	40	42	0.488
Sacramento	33	49	0.402
Golden State	33	49	0.402
Southwest	W	L	Win%
Dallas	51	31	0.622
San Antonio	50	32	0.610
Memphis	43	39	0.524
Houston	38	44	0.463
New Orleans	36	46	0.439

Jake Westrich is the Digital Content Coordinator for WhatIfSports.com. He can be reached at jwestrich@whatifsports.com.