Okay, this blog will be a catch-all. Not because I am disorganized (though I am), lazy (absolutely), or disinterested (ADD), but because there’s a Crapload of Stuff to Talk About.
Plus, I haven’t written here in a while…and I’m getting rusty.
FIRST, there’s the matter of First Quarter Awards to hand out. Mine would look like this (with runner-ups):
- MVP: LeBron James (Dwight Howard)
- Defensive Player: Dwight Howard (Josh Smith)
- Sixth Man: Jason Terry (Manu Ginobili)
- Coach: Stan Van Gundy (Jerry Sloan)
- Rookie: Kevin Durant (Jamario Moon)
- Most Improved: Ronnie Brewer (Hedo Turkoglu, Andrew Bynum, Danny Granger, Damien Wilkins)
- Comeback Player: Richard Jefferson (Grant Hill, Chris Kaman)
- The TSUP (Top Step-Up Performer): Caron Butler (Chris Paul, Stephen Jackson, Mike Dunleavy, Zydrunas Ilgauskas)
- All NBA First Team: Kevin Garnett, Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul
- Defensive Team: Marcus Camby, Dwight Howard, Andrei Kirilenko, Josh Smith, Chris Paul (notable exceptions: Gerald Wallace, Shawn Marion)
- The AST (All-Suck Team): Pau Gasol, Jermaine O’Neal, Mehmet Okur, Kirk Hinrich, Andre Miller
* * *
Now, some explanations…
You’ll notice a big representation from Orlando. This is primarily because of their dominance early on, their efficiency index (Hollinger, ESPN), and the fact that no one saw this coming. Quietly, they have amassed the perfect recipe of pure position players that never fit in with other teams:
Defensive Big/Second Scoring Option? Check. Dwight Howard has been averaging nearly 3 blocks a game (that’s almost Mutumbo/’Zo numbers) and sucking up rebounds Hoover-style.
Pure Handles? Check. Jameer Nelson is having a career year, averaging almost 2 assists more than last year, while keeping his turnovers down (a modest 2.6 a game, compared to Deron Williams at nearly 4.0)
Shooter, you say? Turkoglu! Knocking down over two 3’s a game. And taking the Adam Morrison-held crown for Worst Facial Hair. So he’s got that going for him.
Oh and also they have Rashard Lewis. Almost forgot about him. Count him in for about 25 a game.
After the Ariza trade to the Lakers, they have
picked up floor-spreaders Maurice Evans and Brian Cook, to go alongside Keith Bogans (another career year), Keyon Dooling, and the All-Bench Superstars Adonal Foyle and JJ Redick. And the Other Van Gundy has them believing, which shouldn’t be surprising, since he’s been leading under-manned teams every year other than the one that Miami and Pat Riley pulled a coup-de-etat on him. So (four and twelve) how’s that (four and twelve) working out (four and twelve) for you guys?
I’m telling you, if Orlando stay healthy, they’re going to run away with the East. Yes, including Boston. Just ask Mark Stein (ESPN).
* * *
As for my made-up categories, The Top Step-Up Performers takes into consideration both the surprise factor, the “right-timing” scenario, the player’s rise in stats, and how much the player adds to the overall success of the team.
Caron Butler is the epitome of the
Right-Time-Right-Place scenario. He’s played the little brother throughout his entire career, finally being recognized in the All-Star game only last year when he probably deserved it far before. (Having Wince Carter in his conference probably didn’t help.) I will state it now: the success of the Washington Wizards depends directly on him. He could mail it in like Colin Cowherd does on the radio daily, and the Wizards would be last place by about 82 games. (Who else do they have other than Jamison?)
But instead he’s rising to the occasion, and he should be an All-Star starter this year.
As for the Rookie award, I gave it to Durant purely because he has that entire city riding on him. I mean, they have NO OTHER OPTION. He’s in a worse situation than Bryant Big Country Reeves was, and HE was drafted by Canada. He can score 30 a game and still only win 20 games all year. Sad. Maybe Seattle will go have a mocha and forget about the whole situation.
…but I do like that Jamario Moon drinks a couple Red Bulls before each game. Makes me feel like less of a caffeine addict.
Quickly, some picks:
2007-08 Champion: Utah Jazz
Best Record: Boston Celtics
Worst Record: New York Knicks
Overachievers: Orlando Magic (okay, okay…runner up: Milwaukee Bucks)
Underachievers: Charlotte Bobcats (you have the freaking roster to compete now! Get out of this Post-Colonial BS mindset already!)
More posts to come...soon I swear...
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