Post by A2J on Mar 17, 2008 18:24:10 GMT -5
35 days into the season isn't a ton of time, but at this point we've got a sense for how teams are performing, which players are setting themselves ahead of the rest, and who's got their sights set on pulling in some trophies at the end of the season. This article will break down a few of the contenders for the MVP, DPOTY, 6th Man and ROY awards.
MVP
The Front Runner: PF - Alonzo Mourning (34.3 PPG, 12.7 RPG, 3.8 APG, 2.4 BPG, 53.2 FG%)
Before the season started, the general consensus seemed to be that of the teams in their contract years, the New Orleans Hornets were in the most trouble. That is until a flurry of trades before the start of the season landed Tiger with one of the most star studded rosters in the East, based around this guy. Mourning has been simply unreal this season, scoring at will, playing excellent defense and cleaning the glass like a bottle of Windex. Perhaps most impressive? Those Hornets who everyone wrote off at the start of the season have jumped out to a quick 12-6 start, and look to be contending for the Eastern Conference crown.
The Biggest Competition: SG - Tracy McGrady (30.9 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 4.5 APG, 1.7 SPG, 49.5 FG%)
In a league full of talented swingmen, T-Mac sets himself apart in my eyes for his sheer efficiency and the unbelievable effect he's had on his team. The Raptors are 16-7 with T-Mac, underground rap artist Tony P and a bunch of crap around them (Kendrick Perkins gets 27 MPG!) That alone is an impressive feat for the young superstar, but even more impressive are McGrady's shooting percentages and his ability to control turnovers despite having the ball in his hands so much. That team success is what keeps McGrady above guys like Kobe, the efficiency above guys like Ginobili.
The Rest of the Pack
SG - Kobe Bryant (33.4 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 4.2 APG)
C - Shaquille O'Neal (25.6 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 3.1 BPG)
SG - Allen Iverson (31.3 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 3.6 SPG)
SG - Quentin Richardson (30.3 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 1.2 SPG)
DPOY
The Front Runner: PF - Ben Wallace (12.0 RPG, 4.1 BPG, 1.4 SPG)
Big Ben has been absolutely unbelievable this season, and would be on the short list of MVP candidates if the FBB program didn't value offensive production so heavily. His rebounding, shotblocking and overall defensive presence are a large reason why the Pacers are sitting on top of the East right now. Even more incredible is the offensive production that Ben is putting forth, actually averaging 11.3 PPG on 53.2 FG%, shedding a bit of the one-dimensional player tag that often gets applied to defensive specialists.
The Biggest Competition: C - Theo Ratliff (11.0 RPG, 4.5 BPG, 1.2 SPG)
Now, Ben has been the better all around player this season, but the argument for Theo as a stronger defensive player could easily be put forward, with his superior shotblocking ability. I give the nod to Ben because of a slight edge in steals and a larger one in rebounding making up for the extra blocks Theo provides. Nonetheless, any team would kill for a guy who puts up blocks the way that Ratliff does, in my eyes easily justifying the large contract the Pistons doled out for him this offseason. These two guys are head and shoulders above the rest of the league, and this category really boils down to a two man race.
The Rest of the Pack
C - Alonzo Mourning (12.7 RPG, 2.4 BPG, 0.9 SPG)
C - DaSagana Diop (10.0 RPG, 3.4 BPG, 1.3 SPG)
SG - Allen Iverson (3.6 SPG), PG - Jason Williams (3.2 SPG)
6th Man
The Front Runner: SF - Andrei Kirilenko (9.3 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 0.7 BPG)
In a very difficult category to predict, AK seems to be the guy producing the most off of the bench from my checking of the rosters. He's doing well offensively at multiple positions for the Pistons, crashing the glass and playing suffocating defense. His versatility and defensive ability make him an excellent bench player, while keeping him off of the bench utilized his skills while hiding his shortcomings as an outside shooter and ball handler.
The Biggest Competition: ...
I don't really know. There's a ton of guys who are producing well off of the bench, but haven't caused much separation. Both Marcus Camby and Elden Campbell are providing solid rebounding and shotblocking off of the bench for two of the stronger teams in the West. Luke Ridnour and Leandro Barbosa are passing well and scoring off of the bench for two of the East's stronger teams. Many of the other contending teams are lacking a bench presence, as the talent depth in the league is still approaching the state where it will likely reside. So we'll make this section like the newest Radiohead album - you decide!
ROY
The Front Runner: SF - Carmelo Anthony (19.7 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 4.1 APG, 46.8 FG%)
Carmelo and LeBron are putting up very similar stats, with the exception being Carmelo's better FG%, which sets him just ahead of LeBron in the ROY race. Melo has been swapped already in his young career, but appears to be settling in to his new home in San Antonio just fine. A lethal scorer and solid rebounder, if Carmelo can increase his defense as the years go on he will be a unique and effective player.
The Biggest Competition: SG - LeBron James (20.4 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 3.6 APG)
LeBron is having a solid though unspectacular rookie season, but it is still good enough to be above the rest of the rookie crop. His scoring still needs to be refined, an outside shot will have to be added to an already lethal inside game, but his ball handling is already reaching a strong level. Within a few years, it would be very surprising to see LeBron not among the league's elite players, and this is clearly just a starting point on the way to a very successful career.
The Rest of the Pack
PG - Kirk Hinrich (15.3 PPG, 7.9 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.9 TOPG)
SF - David West (15.8 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 47.1 FG%)
PF - Chris Bosh (13.7 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.3 SPG)
MVP
The Front Runner: PF - Alonzo Mourning (34.3 PPG, 12.7 RPG, 3.8 APG, 2.4 BPG, 53.2 FG%)
Before the season started, the general consensus seemed to be that of the teams in their contract years, the New Orleans Hornets were in the most trouble. That is until a flurry of trades before the start of the season landed Tiger with one of the most star studded rosters in the East, based around this guy. Mourning has been simply unreal this season, scoring at will, playing excellent defense and cleaning the glass like a bottle of Windex. Perhaps most impressive? Those Hornets who everyone wrote off at the start of the season have jumped out to a quick 12-6 start, and look to be contending for the Eastern Conference crown.
The Biggest Competition: SG - Tracy McGrady (30.9 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 4.5 APG, 1.7 SPG, 49.5 FG%)
In a league full of talented swingmen, T-Mac sets himself apart in my eyes for his sheer efficiency and the unbelievable effect he's had on his team. The Raptors are 16-7 with T-Mac, underground rap artist Tony P and a bunch of crap around them (Kendrick Perkins gets 27 MPG!) That alone is an impressive feat for the young superstar, but even more impressive are McGrady's shooting percentages and his ability to control turnovers despite having the ball in his hands so much. That team success is what keeps McGrady above guys like Kobe, the efficiency above guys like Ginobili.
The Rest of the Pack
SG - Kobe Bryant (33.4 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 4.2 APG)
C - Shaquille O'Neal (25.6 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 3.1 BPG)
SG - Allen Iverson (31.3 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 3.6 SPG)
SG - Quentin Richardson (30.3 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 1.2 SPG)
DPOY
The Front Runner: PF - Ben Wallace (12.0 RPG, 4.1 BPG, 1.4 SPG)
Big Ben has been absolutely unbelievable this season, and would be on the short list of MVP candidates if the FBB program didn't value offensive production so heavily. His rebounding, shotblocking and overall defensive presence are a large reason why the Pacers are sitting on top of the East right now. Even more incredible is the offensive production that Ben is putting forth, actually averaging 11.3 PPG on 53.2 FG%, shedding a bit of the one-dimensional player tag that often gets applied to defensive specialists.
The Biggest Competition: C - Theo Ratliff (11.0 RPG, 4.5 BPG, 1.2 SPG)
Now, Ben has been the better all around player this season, but the argument for Theo as a stronger defensive player could easily be put forward, with his superior shotblocking ability. I give the nod to Ben because of a slight edge in steals and a larger one in rebounding making up for the extra blocks Theo provides. Nonetheless, any team would kill for a guy who puts up blocks the way that Ratliff does, in my eyes easily justifying the large contract the Pistons doled out for him this offseason. These two guys are head and shoulders above the rest of the league, and this category really boils down to a two man race.
The Rest of the Pack
C - Alonzo Mourning (12.7 RPG, 2.4 BPG, 0.9 SPG)
C - DaSagana Diop (10.0 RPG, 3.4 BPG, 1.3 SPG)
SG - Allen Iverson (3.6 SPG), PG - Jason Williams (3.2 SPG)
6th Man
The Front Runner: SF - Andrei Kirilenko (9.3 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 0.7 BPG)
In a very difficult category to predict, AK seems to be the guy producing the most off of the bench from my checking of the rosters. He's doing well offensively at multiple positions for the Pistons, crashing the glass and playing suffocating defense. His versatility and defensive ability make him an excellent bench player, while keeping him off of the bench utilized his skills while hiding his shortcomings as an outside shooter and ball handler.
The Biggest Competition: ...
I don't really know. There's a ton of guys who are producing well off of the bench, but haven't caused much separation. Both Marcus Camby and Elden Campbell are providing solid rebounding and shotblocking off of the bench for two of the stronger teams in the West. Luke Ridnour and Leandro Barbosa are passing well and scoring off of the bench for two of the East's stronger teams. Many of the other contending teams are lacking a bench presence, as the talent depth in the league is still approaching the state where it will likely reside. So we'll make this section like the newest Radiohead album - you decide!
ROY
The Front Runner: SF - Carmelo Anthony (19.7 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 4.1 APG, 46.8 FG%)
Carmelo and LeBron are putting up very similar stats, with the exception being Carmelo's better FG%, which sets him just ahead of LeBron in the ROY race. Melo has been swapped already in his young career, but appears to be settling in to his new home in San Antonio just fine. A lethal scorer and solid rebounder, if Carmelo can increase his defense as the years go on he will be a unique and effective player.
The Biggest Competition: SG - LeBron James (20.4 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 3.6 APG)
LeBron is having a solid though unspectacular rookie season, but it is still good enough to be above the rest of the rookie crop. His scoring still needs to be refined, an outside shot will have to be added to an already lethal inside game, but his ball handling is already reaching a strong level. Within a few years, it would be very surprising to see LeBron not among the league's elite players, and this is clearly just a starting point on the way to a very successful career.
The Rest of the Pack
PG - Kirk Hinrich (15.3 PPG, 7.9 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.9 TOPG)
SF - David West (15.8 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 47.1 FG%)
PF - Chris Bosh (13.7 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.3 SPG)
