The pictures says it all. That is exactly how Nate McMillian should feel. Confused.
I don’t want to take anything away from Scott Skiles, who did a wonderful job with the Bucks this year. Jerry Sloan, who has never won the award. Also, let’s not forget Larry Brown, who worked his magic with the Bobcats this year (only to look into leaving the team during the most important part of the season — typical LB). Hell, Alvin Gentry also deserved a big time look at this award. The field was deep.
Of course there is Scott Brooks, he won the award and his team won 50 games, shocking the league with an insane turnaround. They are even tied 2-2 with the World Champion Lakers in their first-round series. Granted Brooks deserves credit, I think most of that lies within Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Not all, not by any means, but a good portion of it. Let’s not discredit what Brooks has done with the Thunder at all, but it doesn’t compare to McMillan’s impact in Portland.
Dudes, I worked like three 12-hour days in a row last week, so I jacked it up — plus — I went to Chicago over the weekend and my fingers were shaking too much every morning while there — which meant I couldn’t type.
I missed a couple during that time, the NBA was like fire handing these awards out. If you ask me, they were much faster than usual. I blame the internet and the mass amount of media in this day and age.
So as of now, they’ve beat me to Most Improved, Coach of the Year and also Sixth-Man.
Well, the NBA beat me to it. Big surprise. I figured I had another day before I started my NBA Award Winners series, “The Fresh Awards,” but I was wrong.
Make no doubt about it, the voters got it right. Dwight Howard is the best defensive player in the league. It would be stupid to pick anyone else, based on their performances this year. Howard dominates the paint defensively. You saw it on live TV Sunday night. Howard had nine blocks, eight of which were in the first half. The record for blocks in a playoff game is 10, you figured by halftime, Howard was going to crush that record.
Howard controls the game with his defense, cause obviously his offensive game is not worthy of his superstar status. Fortunately for the Magic, his defensive game is so damn good that they can win a playoff game with Howard only taking four shots (as he did Sunday against Charlotte).
When DeJuan Blair busted out the Rookie/Sophomore game’s first ever 20-20 game and posted a game-record 23 rebounds, it was obvious that he should have been the game’s MVP. Well, it wasn’t obvious enough, because the Kings’ Tyreke Evans took home the honors.
Evans is the clear front-runner for Rookie of the Year honors right now, and has been the league’s best rookie. Blair on the other hand has had some big games in San Antonio, and is a second-round draft pick in more of a role-player role on one of the league’s better teams.
When given minutes and full run, Blair has been great this season. Obviously other people know that Blair can play, especially after last night’s performance. The Nets’ Brook Lopez is one of those people. Lopez looks shocked, saddened, angry and distraught that Blair didn’t take the award.
Watch his reactions in the background, unless Craig Sager’s suit totally distracts you.
Only one thing matters at the end of the NBA season and that would be who wins the NBA Championship. That is the goal for every team, or at least it should be. Team success is the ultimate reward in the NBA, but hey, a little bit of individual glitz and glamour isn’t so bad either.
If I won the NBA’s Sixth-Man of the Year Award, you can bet your life on the fact that I would be taking that thing with me to the bar all summer trying to impress the ladies.
Hot Chick:“Ummmm…Why do you have that trophy?”
Me:“Because I’m the best sixth-man in the NBA! [Then I smile and lick my upper lip]“
Hot Chick:“Really? Well you’re not riding the bench no more, let’s get out of here.”
BOOM!
On that note, I’m not going to win an award this year, but I’ll tell you who will win awards this season.
LeBron James has won the NBA MVP Award, but I think the league forgot about the league’s Most Improved Player Award. Since when did they announce MVP before that?
I’ve said it before on this site, that I’m not fond of James. Today might have won me over a bit more. James hosted his press conference at his alma mater St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, and that to me is the definition of putting on for your city.
Granted at one point, he tried to evade the question, I think this was a sign to Cleveland Cavaliers fans, “Don’t worry, this is where I belong and this is where I want to be.”
Hopefully I can get the full press conference on here soon.
Back a few weeks ago, I already declared LeBron James the MVP, changing my original Dwayne Wade vote. Back in October, I delcared Yao Ming as the MVP, it’s too bad Rick Adelman doesn’t let the ball go to Yao more often.
As much as I really cannot stand James, I cannot deny his talent, his desire, his will to win and his success. I cannot put my bias against him, it wouldn’t be right, I must analyze the game fairly, even if I’m a die-hard fan.
Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade and Dwight Howard all had phenomenal seasons. They all had huge impacts for their teams. They all were valuable for the league. They all put up huge numbers. None of them played as well as James though. None of their teams had a better record that James’ Cavaliers and none of them meant more to the league from a popularity standpoint.
I don’t think any of that can really be argued, but if you feel the need to challenge the choice, then I will keep going. Read the rest of this entry »
2k9 FRESH MOST DISAPPOINTING TEAM: DETROIT PISTONS
There is no need to waste a bunch of space writing about the Detroit Pistons and why or how they were awful. It’s not because Chauncey Billups’ isn’t playing for them anymore, it’s not because Allen Iverson is a selfish player, it’s because they are stubborn as a team.
They wanted to stay together, after three straight Conference Finals exits.
They didn’t want to adapt to Allen Iverson, nor even try and play with him.
Their “core” players were bitter about the Billups/Iverson trade from the get-go, and here’s some more proof from Tayshaun Prince, who has been miserable in the playoffs:
Prince scored only six points in the first two games of the series.
His spirits did brighten some when he was asked if he was keeping an eye on Chauncey Billups‘ success in Denver.
“Yes I am,” he said. “And you best believe I am pulling for him, too.”
Billups and LeBron James are both averaging 33.5 points in two playoff games.
“I have texted him after games a couple of times, but I haven’t had a conversation with him,” Prince said. “But it just goes to show the leadership he provides by how Denver’s been playing. Hope we can take a page out of that book.”
Keep crying Pistons, if Joe Dumars has any sense there will be some MAJOR moves come this offseason and I have to hope think that Prince will be one of the players shipped out.
And that’s from an angry Pistons fan, you haven’t heard the last of it, trust me. More is coming soon, but for now, back to the rest of the league…
Andersen has defied the odds and become one of the best shot-blockers in the NBA after spending two years banished from the league.
When the 2007-08 season began, Chris Andersen didn’t exist to most NBA fans.
Andersen was suspended from the league in 2006 for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. He was pretty much an unknown reserve to begin with. Most NBA fans that knew of him just joked about his physical appearance and his atrocious display in the 2005 Slam Dunk Contest.
Now, that has all changed.
Andersen is relevant, he’s the “Birdman,” and he’s made a name for himself after this season.
Change your NBA franchise? Recent NCAA POY. A.Davis,Jimmer,E.Turner,Blake,Tyler H,KD,Redick,Bogut,Jameer,TJ Ford,JWill,Shane,KMart,Brand.(via Twitter)5 hours ago
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