As an avid Phoenix Suns fan, I feel compelled to give you my opinion on their team in general right now. Let's just say I am deeply, and I mean deeply, dissatisfied with their front office. The Killing K's (not Killer, mind you) are hurting this franchise more than anything else. They got rid of James Jones, a remarkable shooter, to go under the cap and then basically gave away Kurt Thomas for next to nothing. Last season, those were two key reserves on a team that got within one win of the Western Conference Finals.
Now wait, it gets much better. They trade Shawn Marion, a four-time all-star and possibly their most valuable player, for Shaquille O'Neal, a past-his-prime overly-expensive center. At the time, I wasn't quite sure what to think of the trade. However, after Shaq's little playoff performance, in which he went 32-63 from the FREE THROW LINE and fouled out of two of the five games, this trade was one of the biggest mistakes made all year by any team with the exception of the Knicks.
My next problem I have with them is their drafting ability or lack of any drafting ability. Rudy Fernandez, also known as the next Manu Ginobili, was traded by the Suns to the Blazers. Luol Deng and Nate Robinson were, like Rudy, drafted by Phoenix before being traded away. What do they think they are doing? Drafts are supposed to be used for building your future. The Killing K's, however, have been trading their future away.
My final "beef" with them is their rumored decision to get rid of head coach Mike D'Antoni. This is the wrong move. D'Antoni is a great coach who helps that team very much. Yes, he made some mistakes in the series against the Spurs this year, but that doesn't mean you drop him like a bad habit. If Phoenix does decide to hire a halfcourt offense-favoring coach, they are in some serious trouble. Not only will it take the veterans of D'Antoni's system such as Nash and Stoudemire some time to adjust, but it will also weaken the talent of the team. Diaw, Barbosa, and Bell help the team because of their ability to play well in an uptempo game. With a slowed-down tempo, these players aren't so good.
To end this, Kraft and Kerr better make some good decisions fast or the fans won't be too happy. I doubt it will get anywhere near the situation that Isaiah had in New York, but it definitely will not be good for the organization. My first advice is to either keep Coach Mike or hire a coach that favors the uptempo game. Next they should draft either a defensive specialist or a shooter and KEEP HIM for years to come.
Moving on in this blogging program...the MVP race is close. Last year, Kobe's averages of 28 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists while leading his team to the #1 seed would have been enough to win the League's most coveted award. However, last year did not include the phenomenal season of third-year playmaker Chris Paul. So without further adieu, I give to you my top three Most Valuable Players of the 2007-08 NBA season.
3. LeBron James- King James is like no one else on the court. He is dominant and puts up his great numbers, but his supporting cast (or lack thereof) is holding him back from winning. At any rate, if Cleveland didn't have this guy, they would be the cellar dweller of their division behind even the Milwaukee Bucks.
Stats: 30 pts, 8 reb, 7 ast, 2 stl
2. Kobe Bryant- As I mentioned before, Kobe has put up ridiculous stats and his team is actually doing well for the first time since the Shaq and Kobe Era. So why doesn't he win? Well he could, but the competition for the award this year is as stiff as ever. My reason for his being second though is simple: he's not so valuable to his team as the person I chose to win the trophy.
Stats: 28 pts, 6 reb, 5 ast, 2 stl, 46% FG
1. Chris Paul- I believe this year's Most Valuable Player award goes to the player that is the most valuable for his team. He is the player that makes the #2-seeded Hornets go. Without him, they would be settling in mediocrity. Paul is the playmaker for his team that simply wins them games.
Stats: 21 pts, 12 ast, 4 reb, 3 stl, 49% FG
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Poll Results: After asking readers "Who was the best team to lose in the Elite Eight?", they responded with some very close results. Texas drew 40% of the votes while Davidson and Louisville received 30% each. Xavier, however, garnered no votes.
Showing posts with label Phoenix Suns. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Phoenix Suns. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
The NBA...In January
Yes, this is the blog in which I'll tell you who the best of the best are in the League as well as mentioning the most MVP-worthy players of the 2007-2008 season. Anyways, there were some great finishes yesterday in the NBA. John Salmons had a game-winning runner for the Kings and Kobe had a game-winning pull-up J for the Lakers. So in the spirit of it all I found a YouTube video of Kobe Bryant Game Winners. Back to the actual premise of the blog though...
The STRONGER Rankings
1. Los Angeles Lakers (26-11) - Now I am a Suns fan but I'll admit that the Lakers are definitely for real. They're tied with my team, Phoenix, for the division lead and are riding a 7-game win streak. LA are also 9-1 in their last ten games. They haven't lost in the month of January. In those past seven wins, however, they've defeated their opponents by an average of 14.3 points including a win over New Orleans by 29. And, trust me when I say this, the Lakers are not a one-man show. Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum, Derek Fisher, and Jordan Farmar average a combined 48.2 points per game.
2. Dallas Mavericks (26-12) - The Mavs are only one game back of the Spurs as I type this and have pulled out wins in seven of their last eight games, which included wins over Atlanta and Detroit. Dirk and Josh Howard are averaging 22 and 20 points respectively; Jason Terry and Devin Harris aren't too bad either averaging 15 and 14 points apiece. A marquee matchup coming soon will be Dallas against the Lakers on January 25th. Alas, it is not on cable TV.
3. Boston Celtics (30-6) - The Celts have dropped two games in a row and three of their last four! What is up? Well, I suppose it's worth mentioning that they haven't scored more than 86 points in those four games. What bothers me even more is WHO they have suffered losses to. That would be the Wizards...twice and the Bobcats once. They should get back on their feet by the end of the week as they have both the Sixers and Knicks coming up on their schedule.
4. Phoenix Suns (26-11) - I tried to be unbiased in putting these guys fourth. The Suns are 7-3 in their last ten games. Recently, they've lost to Utah and New Orleans and have defeated Denver. This season Phoenix is 0-2 versus the #1-ranked Lakers. On the flip side, it's been a truly collective effort for this team as six players are averaging double figures in points. Back to addressing negatives though, they are being outrebounded by an average of 47-41 and that could definitely be this team's downfall come April/May/June (the playoffs are long!).
5. New Orleans Hornets (25-12) - Even if the Hornets don't get a high enough seed to get home court advantage, they'll still win. That is why this team is #5. They have the second-best road record in the NBA at 15-5 and are 8-2 in their last ten games. They don't have a particularly difficult schedule coming up either. The Blazers are the only tough foe in their next five games. After that, however, they'll have to go on the road to San Antonio for a divisional matchup.
MVPs- 35 to 40 Games In
1. Kobe Bryant - Sorry, you're probably getting tired of seeing all the Lakers atop these lists, aren't you? Yet can you possibly justify not putting him here? He's averaging 28 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists (which are all above his career averages, by the way) for the NBA's #1 team. If it matters, he shoots 86% from the line.
2. LeBron James - Does someone have any clue as to why LBJ is SEVENTH in NBA.com's Race to the MVP? I sure as hell don't. Yes, his team is only 18-17 but his team is playing well again as they've won seven of their last nine games. As for King James, he's putting up crazy-good numbers: 29 ppg, 8 rpg, 8 apg. Unless the Cavs fail to make the playoffs, he should finish in the top three of MVP voting.
3. Dwight Howard - The Magic's center is averaging a cool 23 points, 15 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 2 assists per contest. In his last three games he's scored 66 points and grabbed 45 rebounds. He's been held to less than 10 rebounds only FOUR times all season so don't expect to stop this guy from hitting the boards hard every single game.
4. Chris Paul - CP3 is playing better than any other point guard in America right now (sorry, Nash) while averaging 22 points, 10 assists, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals. He also shoots 37% from beyond the arc, 88% from the line, and 48% from the field. And did I mention the Hornets are 25-12?
5. Kevin Garnett - Anyone that lives north of New York is probably thinking to himself/herself, "What is this guy doing? Does he even watch basketball?" I got news for you: stats like his aren't as impressive when he plays in one of the weakest divisions, the weaker conference, and with two other amazing basketball players. As of today, KG is averaging 19 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. To the contrary, he's only had 15 rebounds in the last two games, both of which were against the Wizards and were losses for Boston.
In conclusion, I've realized that after reading this, 90% of people on the West Coast will absolutely love me. There's always next time though. But, to remind you, I wrote a blog similar to this one a little over a month ago and here were my lists way back when:
Rankings-
1. Spurs (New Rank: 6)
2. Suns (4)
3. Magic (9)
4. Celtics (3)
5. Hornets (5)
MVPs-
1. Dwight Howard (New Rank: 3)
2. LeBron James (2)
3. Kevin Garnett (5)
4. Allen Iverson (7)
5. Steve Nash (8)
That's all for now. Have a good week (if you can).
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Poll Result: 87% of voters deemed that the Tar Heels of North Carolina are unworthy of the top spot in the poll due to their recent play. However, 12% thought that as long as they were winning they should stay at #1.
The STRONGER Rankings
1. Los Angeles Lakers (26-11) - Now I am a Suns fan but I'll admit that the Lakers are definitely for real. They're tied with my team, Phoenix, for the division lead and are riding a 7-game win streak. LA are also 9-1 in their last ten games. They haven't lost in the month of January. In those past seven wins, however, they've defeated their opponents by an average of 14.3 points including a win over New Orleans by 29. And, trust me when I say this, the Lakers are not a one-man show. Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum, Derek Fisher, and Jordan Farmar average a combined 48.2 points per game.
2. Dallas Mavericks (26-12) - The Mavs are only one game back of the Spurs as I type this and have pulled out wins in seven of their last eight games, which included wins over Atlanta and Detroit. Dirk and Josh Howard are averaging 22 and 20 points respectively; Jason Terry and Devin Harris aren't too bad either averaging 15 and 14 points apiece. A marquee matchup coming soon will be Dallas against the Lakers on January 25th. Alas, it is not on cable TV.
3. Boston Celtics (30-6) - The Celts have dropped two games in a row and three of their last four! What is up? Well, I suppose it's worth mentioning that they haven't scored more than 86 points in those four games. What bothers me even more is WHO they have suffered losses to. That would be the Wizards...twice and the Bobcats once. They should get back on their feet by the end of the week as they have both the Sixers and Knicks coming up on their schedule.
4. Phoenix Suns (26-11) - I tried to be unbiased in putting these guys fourth. The Suns are 7-3 in their last ten games. Recently, they've lost to Utah and New Orleans and have defeated Denver. This season Phoenix is 0-2 versus the #1-ranked Lakers. On the flip side, it's been a truly collective effort for this team as six players are averaging double figures in points. Back to addressing negatives though, they are being outrebounded by an average of 47-41 and that could definitely be this team's downfall come April/May/June (the playoffs are long!).
5. New Orleans Hornets (25-12) - Even if the Hornets don't get a high enough seed to get home court advantage, they'll still win. That is why this team is #5. They have the second-best road record in the NBA at 15-5 and are 8-2 in their last ten games. They don't have a particularly difficult schedule coming up either. The Blazers are the only tough foe in their next five games. After that, however, they'll have to go on the road to San Antonio for a divisional matchup.
MVPs- 35 to 40 Games In
1. Kobe Bryant - Sorry, you're probably getting tired of seeing all the Lakers atop these lists, aren't you? Yet can you possibly justify not putting him here? He's averaging 28 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists (which are all above his career averages, by the way) for the NBA's #1 team. If it matters, he shoots 86% from the line.
2. LeBron James - Does someone have any clue as to why LBJ is SEVENTH in NBA.com's Race to the MVP? I sure as hell don't. Yes, his team is only 18-17 but his team is playing well again as they've won seven of their last nine games. As for King James, he's putting up crazy-good numbers: 29 ppg, 8 rpg, 8 apg. Unless the Cavs fail to make the playoffs, he should finish in the top three of MVP voting.
3. Dwight Howard - The Magic's center is averaging a cool 23 points, 15 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 2 assists per contest. In his last three games he's scored 66 points and grabbed 45 rebounds. He's been held to less than 10 rebounds only FOUR times all season so don't expect to stop this guy from hitting the boards hard every single game.
4. Chris Paul - CP3 is playing better than any other point guard in America right now (sorry, Nash) while averaging 22 points, 10 assists, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals. He also shoots 37% from beyond the arc, 88% from the line, and 48% from the field. And did I mention the Hornets are 25-12?
5. Kevin Garnett - Anyone that lives north of New York is probably thinking to himself/herself, "What is this guy doing? Does he even watch basketball?" I got news for you: stats like his aren't as impressive when he plays in one of the weakest divisions, the weaker conference, and with two other amazing basketball players. As of today, KG is averaging 19 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. To the contrary, he's only had 15 rebounds in the last two games, both of which were against the Wizards and were losses for Boston.
In conclusion, I've realized that after reading this, 90% of people on the West Coast will absolutely love me. There's always next time though. But, to remind you, I wrote a blog similar to this one a little over a month ago and here were my lists way back when:
Rankings-
1. Spurs (New Rank: 6)
2. Suns (4)
3. Magic (9)
4. Celtics (3)
5. Hornets (5)
MVPs-
1. Dwight Howard (New Rank: 3)
2. LeBron James (2)
3. Kevin Garnett (5)
4. Allen Iverson (7)
5. Steve Nash (8)
That's all for now. Have a good week (if you can).
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Poll Result: 87% of voters deemed that the Tar Heels of North Carolina are unworthy of the top spot in the poll due to their recent play. However, 12% thought that as long as they were winning they should stay at #1.
Monday, December 10, 2007
The NBA Update
Okay, all you casual NBA fans, listen up! Now, you may have been paying attention to your favorite college football team or NFL team the past month, and you may have missed all the NBA action. So here's something to get you caught up...
The STRONGER Rankings
1. San Antonio Spurs (17-3) - Down deep, I just can't bring myself to putting an Eastern Conference team first in the power rankings. I just can't. The Spurs are very, very good this year thanks in large part to the stellar play of Manu Ginobili (21 ppg). Tony Parker (21 pts, 7 ast) and Tim Duncan (18 pts, 9 reb) have also been key contributors to San Antonio's 17-3 start. But they better watch out for the Hornets, who are nipping at their heels at the top of the Southwest Division.
2. Phoenix Suns (16-5) - Amare is healthy again and he's averaging 21 points and 9 rebounds per contest. Steve Nash is playing just the way he always plays with 18 points and 12 assists per game. But you can't forget one of the main reasons Phoenix is so good: Shawn Marion (16 pts, 11 reb). Also worthy of mentioning is Grant Hill's (16 pts, 5 reb, 4 ast) and Leandro Barbosa's (18 pts, 3 reb, 3 ast) play.
3. Orlando Magic (16-5) - Dwight Howard has been unstoppable to date and is a front runner for MVP. What was most impressive was how he shut down Kevin Garnett when the Magic defeated the Celtics not too long ago. Why are they higher than Boston? The beat the Celtics and all of their losses were to quality opponents. (#1 San Antonio and #2 Phoenix to name a few.) I mentioned Howard (24 pts, 15 reb), yet you can't dismiss what Rashard Lewis (19 pts, 5 reb, 3 ast), Hedo Turkoglu (18 pts, 6 reb, 4 ast), and Jameer Nelson (13 pts, 6 ast, 5 reb) are doing out on the court.
4. Boston Celtics (17-2) - Okay, all you Boston Blowhards can just calm down. The Celtics are 17-2 in one of, if not the, weakest divisions in all of basketball. The Big Three are no surprise. Each are averaging great numbers and are doing their part. What is surprising are the role players. Rajon Rondo (9 pts, 5 ast, 4 reb), Eddie House (8 pts, 45% from deep), and Kendrick Perkins (7 pts, 5 reb) have all helped Boston to their great start. Their Achilles' heel? Injuries. Can the older guys on the team hold up for the entire season?
5. New Orleans Hornets (14-7) - If N.O. didn't have Chris Paul they would be doomed, most likely. Paul, who's averaging 21 points, 10 assists, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals per game, is leading his troops like never before. It's quite impressive that they're playing this well in the rugged Southwest Division, too. David West has popped out of nowhere with his 18 points and 9 rebounds per contest. Peja Stojakovic (14 pts, 3 reb) and Tyson Chandler (12 pts, 11 reb) have also greatly aided the Hornets.
MVPs- 20 Games In
1. Dwight Howard - Maybe I mentioned his 24 points and 15 rebounds a game before? Oh well, I said it again. This guy is playing great right now. Against fellow USA teammate Amare Stoudemire, Dwight had 30 points, 23 rebounds, and 2 blocks in a loss to the Suns. I rest my case.
2. LeBron James - LBJ is the ONLY active player with two games of 30 points, 13 rebounds, and 13 assists. Well, in the Cavs one-point loss to Orlando, he had 39 points, 14 assists, and 13 rebounds! James has scored 40+ points three times this year so far. But, lastly, LeBron is averaging 31 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists in only his fourth year in the League.
3. Kevin Garnett - Once again, all you Boston natives probably think this is way too low for "your star". Tough luck. Yes, he's averaging 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists but look what he did against a good big guy in Dwight Howard: 14 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 turnovers, 7-13 on field goals. Not to mention he fouled out and didn't get to the free throw line once.
4. Allen Iverson - Guess what? AI is back. He's averaging 25 points per game and...[gasp] 8 assists to go with 3 rebounds per game. He has scored over 30 points four times this year including a 51-point effort against the Lakers. Iverson also has four double-doubles to date.
5. Steve Nash - How could I justify leaving him off? Not only is he averaging 18 points and 12 assists but also he's led his team to the #2 spot in my STRONGER Rankings. Nash is shooting 95% from the line and 46% from three-point land. Also note that he's shooting 52% from the field. In the last four games, he's dishing out 17 assists per contest.
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The STRONGER Rankings
1. San Antonio Spurs (17-3) - Down deep, I just can't bring myself to putting an Eastern Conference team first in the power rankings. I just can't. The Spurs are very, very good this year thanks in large part to the stellar play of Manu Ginobili (21 ppg). Tony Parker (21 pts, 7 ast) and Tim Duncan (18 pts, 9 reb) have also been key contributors to San Antonio's 17-3 start. But they better watch out for the Hornets, who are nipping at their heels at the top of the Southwest Division.
2. Phoenix Suns (16-5) - Amare is healthy again and he's averaging 21 points and 9 rebounds per contest. Steve Nash is playing just the way he always plays with 18 points and 12 assists per game. But you can't forget one of the main reasons Phoenix is so good: Shawn Marion (16 pts, 11 reb). Also worthy of mentioning is Grant Hill's (16 pts, 5 reb, 4 ast) and Leandro Barbosa's (18 pts, 3 reb, 3 ast) play.
3. Orlando Magic (16-5) - Dwight Howard has been unstoppable to date and is a front runner for MVP. What was most impressive was how he shut down Kevin Garnett when the Magic defeated the Celtics not too long ago. Why are they higher than Boston? The beat the Celtics and all of their losses were to quality opponents. (#1 San Antonio and #2 Phoenix to name a few.) I mentioned Howard (24 pts, 15 reb), yet you can't dismiss what Rashard Lewis (19 pts, 5 reb, 3 ast), Hedo Turkoglu (18 pts, 6 reb, 4 ast), and Jameer Nelson (13 pts, 6 ast, 5 reb) are doing out on the court.
4. Boston Celtics (17-2) - Okay, all you Boston Blowhards can just calm down. The Celtics are 17-2 in one of, if not the, weakest divisions in all of basketball. The Big Three are no surprise. Each are averaging great numbers and are doing their part. What is surprising are the role players. Rajon Rondo (9 pts, 5 ast, 4 reb), Eddie House (8 pts, 45% from deep), and Kendrick Perkins (7 pts, 5 reb) have all helped Boston to their great start. Their Achilles' heel? Injuries. Can the older guys on the team hold up for the entire season?
5. New Orleans Hornets (14-7) - If N.O. didn't have Chris Paul they would be doomed, most likely. Paul, who's averaging 21 points, 10 assists, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals per game, is leading his troops like never before. It's quite impressive that they're playing this well in the rugged Southwest Division, too. David West has popped out of nowhere with his 18 points and 9 rebounds per contest. Peja Stojakovic (14 pts, 3 reb) and Tyson Chandler (12 pts, 11 reb) have also greatly aided the Hornets.
MVPs- 20 Games In
1. Dwight Howard - Maybe I mentioned his 24 points and 15 rebounds a game before? Oh well, I said it again. This guy is playing great right now. Against fellow USA teammate Amare Stoudemire, Dwight had 30 points, 23 rebounds, and 2 blocks in a loss to the Suns. I rest my case.
2. LeBron James - LBJ is the ONLY active player with two games of 30 points, 13 rebounds, and 13 assists. Well, in the Cavs one-point loss to Orlando, he had 39 points, 14 assists, and 13 rebounds! James has scored 40+ points three times this year so far. But, lastly, LeBron is averaging 31 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists in only his fourth year in the League.
3. Kevin Garnett - Once again, all you Boston natives probably think this is way too low for "your star". Tough luck. Yes, he's averaging 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists but look what he did against a good big guy in Dwight Howard: 14 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 turnovers, 7-13 on field goals. Not to mention he fouled out and didn't get to the free throw line once.
4. Allen Iverson - Guess what? AI is back. He's averaging 25 points per game and...[gasp] 8 assists to go with 3 rebounds per game. He has scored over 30 points four times this year including a 51-point effort against the Lakers. Iverson also has four double-doubles to date.
5. Steve Nash - How could I justify leaving him off? Not only is he averaging 18 points and 12 assists but also he's led his team to the #2 spot in my STRONGER Rankings. Nash is shooting 95% from the line and 46% from three-point land. Also note that he's shooting 52% from the field. In the last four games, he's dishing out 17 assists per contest.
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Saturday, November 17, 2007
Awards From Around The NBA
The "I-Can't-Believe-They-Actually-Have-A-Good-Record" Award:
This was a tie between two teams. The Orlando Magic (8-2) and the New Orleans Hornets (8-2) have been surprising people immensely this season. The Magic have faced formidable foes such as the Pistons, Suns, Cavs, and Nets. They've gone 2-2 in those games and have been led my MVP candidate Dwight Howard. He's averaging 22 points, 15 boards, and 2 blocks per contest. Rashard Lewis (21 pts, 5 reb, 3 ast) and Jameer Nelson (13 pts, 7 ast, 4 reb) have also been key contributors in their, so far, great start. Moving on, the Hornets may be even more surprising based solely on the division they play in. The Southwest is the deepest and toughest division in the NBA hands down. No other division even compares. They've posted impressive wins over Denver and New Jersey while suffering loses to the Spurs and Trailblazers. N.O. is led by third-year point guard Chris Paul (20 pts, 11 ast, 3 stl). He's been the playmaker out there and his game is looking a lot like Steve Nash's right now, maybe even better. A healthy Peja Stojakovic has helped them a good amount but who would have thought David West would be their number one scoring option? I sure as hell didn't. He's averaging 21 points and 8 rebounds per game.
The "I-Can't-Believe-They-Actually-Have-A-Bad-Record" Award:
This one definitely goes to the Chicago Bulls. They're are 1-6 right now and look terrible. At least the Heat have an excuse for their horrendous record. The Bulls have nothing. Their opponents are outscoring them by an average of 10 points per game. Ben Gordon is the leading scoring with 19 ppg. They only have 4 guys putting up double-figures in the points column. Not one person is averaging 8 or more boards a night. They have 5 guys averaging two or more turnovers a game and are shooting 79% from the line. The Bulls look like they are in utter discombobulation out there. Skiles needs to bring some order to his team.
The "My-Team-Sucks-But-I-Dominate" Award:
And the winner is...Baron Davis! He's averaging 25 points, 10 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block per game but his team is 1-6 and in last place in the Pacific Division. They lost to Utah in the opener by 19 points. In that game, Baron scored 25 points, dished out 10 assists, had 5 steals, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks! He was unstoppable yet the rest of his team was a disgrace and struggled in the 12 minutes he spent on the bench during the game.
The "We're-Always-Good-So-Don't-Expect-Otherwise" Award:
This one goes to the Phoenix Suns. They have a record of 7-2 and are currently riding a four-game winning streak. Steve Nash is averaging 19 points, 10 assists, and 4 rebounds. Shawn Marion is averaging 18 points and 12 rebounds. Amare Stoudemire is averaging 15 points and 7 rebounds. And, finally, Grant Hill is putting up 14 points and 5 rebounds per contest. Same-old, same-old, right?
The "I-Better-Get-My-MVP-Award-This-Year-Or-Else" Award:
Kobe Bryant. This guy has to be angry. He puts up great numbers every year but the media hates him so he never wins. This year he's averaging 28 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists while leading his team to a respectable record of 5-3. He's more well-rounded this year than in years past and is showing that he can help the Lakers contend with the Suns. They dominated Phoenix in their first meeting in which Kobe only scored 16 points BUT he did grab 11 rebounds, dish out 4 assists, and steal the ball 3 times. And you can't look past his 45 points against the Rockets in the opener.
The "I'm-The-Best-Rookie-No-Contest" Award:
This award was an easy pick. It goes to Kevin Durant of the Seattle soon-to-be OK City SuperSonics. Someone needs to tell him that he's not in Austin anymore. KD is averaging 20 points and 5 rebounds. During a period of three games he averaged 26 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists. No other rookie is really coming close to putting up those kind of numbers. Many of you may have heard of Stephen A. Smith, right? Well, Stephen A. compared Durant to a better version of George Gervin. This one really is no contest...for now.
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This was a tie between two teams. The Orlando Magic (8-2) and the New Orleans Hornets (8-2) have been surprising people immensely this season. The Magic have faced formidable foes such as the Pistons, Suns, Cavs, and Nets. They've gone 2-2 in those games and have been led my MVP candidate Dwight Howard. He's averaging 22 points, 15 boards, and 2 blocks per contest. Rashard Lewis (21 pts, 5 reb, 3 ast) and Jameer Nelson (13 pts, 7 ast, 4 reb) have also been key contributors in their, so far, great start. Moving on, the Hornets may be even more surprising based solely on the division they play in. The Southwest is the deepest and toughest division in the NBA hands down. No other division even compares. They've posted impressive wins over Denver and New Jersey while suffering loses to the Spurs and Trailblazers. N.O. is led by third-year point guard Chris Paul (20 pts, 11 ast, 3 stl). He's been the playmaker out there and his game is looking a lot like Steve Nash's right now, maybe even better. A healthy Peja Stojakovic has helped them a good amount but who would have thought David West would be their number one scoring option? I sure as hell didn't. He's averaging 21 points and 8 rebounds per game.
The "I-Can't-Believe-They-Actually-Have-A-Bad-Record" Award:
This one definitely goes to the Chicago Bulls. They're are 1-6 right now and look terrible. At least the Heat have an excuse for their horrendous record. The Bulls have nothing. Their opponents are outscoring them by an average of 10 points per game. Ben Gordon is the leading scoring with 19 ppg. They only have 4 guys putting up double-figures in the points column. Not one person is averaging 8 or more boards a night. They have 5 guys averaging two or more turnovers a game and are shooting 79% from the line. The Bulls look like they are in utter discombobulation out there. Skiles needs to bring some order to his team.
The "My-Team-Sucks-But-I-Dominate" Award:
And the winner is...Baron Davis! He's averaging 25 points, 10 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block per game but his team is 1-6 and in last place in the Pacific Division. They lost to Utah in the opener by 19 points. In that game, Baron scored 25 points, dished out 10 assists, had 5 steals, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks! He was unstoppable yet the rest of his team was a disgrace and struggled in the 12 minutes he spent on the bench during the game.
The "We're-Always-Good-So-Don't-Expect-Otherwise" Award:
This one goes to the Phoenix Suns. They have a record of 7-2 and are currently riding a four-game winning streak. Steve Nash is averaging 19 points, 10 assists, and 4 rebounds. Shawn Marion is averaging 18 points and 12 rebounds. Amare Stoudemire is averaging 15 points and 7 rebounds. And, finally, Grant Hill is putting up 14 points and 5 rebounds per contest. Same-old, same-old, right?
The "I-Better-Get-My-MVP-Award-This-Year-Or-Else" Award:
Kobe Bryant. This guy has to be angry. He puts up great numbers every year but the media hates him so he never wins. This year he's averaging 28 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists while leading his team to a respectable record of 5-3. He's more well-rounded this year than in years past and is showing that he can help the Lakers contend with the Suns. They dominated Phoenix in their first meeting in which Kobe only scored 16 points BUT he did grab 11 rebounds, dish out 4 assists, and steal the ball 3 times. And you can't look past his 45 points against the Rockets in the opener.
The "I'm-The-Best-Rookie-No-Contest" Award:
This award was an easy pick. It goes to Kevin Durant of the Seattle soon-to-be OK City SuperSonics. Someone needs to tell him that he's not in Austin anymore. KD is averaging 20 points and 5 rebounds. During a period of three games he averaged 26 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists. No other rookie is really coming close to putting up those kind of numbers. Many of you may have heard of Stephen A. Smith, right? Well, Stephen A. compared Durant to a better version of George Gervin. This one really is no contest...for now.
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