Kleeman's Last Word

NBA Awards Season...It's My Turn

With the curtain on this magnificent NBA season closed, it's time to generate some ballyhoo as to who will walk away with what hardware. There won't be any symphony music to cut off our esteemed winners should their speeches exceed a reasonable limit of time. Unlike the Grammys, Stevie Wonder will not be the surprise guest for the 500th time. And though there's little glitz and glam in the 82 game slamming these athletes have endured, don't count out an Oscar finish.

Without further ado, if I had a vote, these would be my selections. For most awards, I have listed multiple candidates.

COACH OF THE YEAR
It's a two-way tie, folks.
1. Jerry Sloan
Martin Scorsese finally received his trophy this year, so why shouldn't the admirable Sloan get his? The Utah Jazz are finishing the season on a pathetic, God-awful note, but hey, is The Departed really as good as Goodfellas or Raging Bull? Sloan is the only coach with 1,000 + victories to never receive a coach-of-the-year nod for his winning ways. The Jazz will not finish lower than 5th place in the talent-packed Western Conference. Following a 41-41 season with an almost 50 win one is not too shabby.

1. Sam Mitchell
Five months ago, Mitchell figured to have no hope of escaping a pink slip at the end of the year. When his contract expired at the end of this season, his tenure with the Toronto Raptors was supposed to go with it, in the most pathetic of ways. Instead, Mitchell led his Raptors to their first ever division title and an improbable third place finish in the Eastern Conference. I originally thought Toronto might be lucky to hang on to the 8th seed and get swept in the first round. Now, I'm not so sure this young ball club won't reach the Eastern Conference Finals. Reaching the NBA Finals may be out of the question for now, but Mitchell has given Raptors fans something to hope for and get genuinely excited about.
He also made the awful Atlantic Division a little prettier to look at. The Raptors are the only team in that bunch that will finish with at least a .500 record.

Close, but no cigar:
2. Avery Johnson
Despite leading the Mavericks to 67 wins, an incredible feat by any coach, Johnson is competing with Sloan and Mitchell. While this award celebrates winning, it should also recognize triumph over adversity. Sloan and Mitchell meet all three requirements and Johnson only meets one.
The Mavericks have the motivation of losing the Championship on their home court to drive them along. Neither the Jazz or Raptors made the playoffs last year, so they merely had the will of their coaches to guide them to the post season.

3. Jeff Van Gundy
He's made too many coaching mistakes to deserve this award. However, reaching the 52 win plateau with Yao Ming missing 32 games and T-Mac skipping 10, that is impressive. Had the Rockets won about 10 more games, he would get the nod. I won't waste time elaborating on what those mistakes have been. If Jeff wins the award, I don't picture myself crying. : )

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Marcus Camby and Shawn Marion have the individual numbers to qualify for this award, but defense isn't exactly synonomous with the Nuggets or Suns. I'm not rewarding a guy, no matter how good his numbers are, who plays for a team where defense is wishful thinking. When Ben Wallace nabbed the award, his defense was a huge part of the Pistons' 64 win finish. Camby's blocked shots and rebounding have nothing to do with how Denver wins games. Don't get me started on Phoenix.

1. Tim Duncan
He's averaging almost 2 blocks a game and is pulling down an average of 11 boards. His last line of defense style of play is a gigantic reason why the Spurs why the Suns' and Mavericks' seasons aren't that much more incredible, after all. Duncan? Why Not?

2. Shane Battier
His numbers aren't stunning, but the effort he exudes every night is. Watch a Rockets game this week and watch his hustle. Battier proves that statistics can be more irrelevant than Herman's Hermits attempting a comeback album.

3. Dikembe Mutombo
He only gets honorable mention for this award, but excluding him from the discussion would be a crime. With Yao Ming sidelined by a tibia injury, Mutombo sucked the fountain of youth dry and played like a 20-year-old. He also passed Kareem Abdul Jabar for second on the all-time blocked shots list. How's that for a stat?

Close but no cigar:
Emeka Okafor
The Bobcats may finish with 10 more victories than they had all of last year, but Oakfor's numbers aren't much better than Duncan's, and the Spurs will win about 35 more games.

Tyson Chandler
The Hornets barely missed a playoff berth this year. However, I would put him in the running for most improved. See below.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
This award is a no-brainer. I won't bother even listing other candidates.
1. Brandon Roy
If you think the Trail Blazers can't compete without star forward Zach Randolph, just ask the Houston Rockets and the Utah Jazz. Both playoff-bound teams were upset by the undermanned, lottery-hungry Blazers in consecutive games. The reason for those pathetic losses?
Some rookie named Brandon Roy gave them both fits they couldn't handle. After watching this rookie blossom with Randolph out, I'm convinced this kid is on his way to never seeing a shot he doesn't like. Just like a certain Kobe Bryant, who has been throwing up some monstrous 50 pointers in the last month and a half. We expected him to be good, but now, he's very good.
For this, he runs away with the award.

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER
This category is the toughest of them all because it seemed like an avalanche of players came out of nowhere. Since this is a one-time per player regular season award, my main criteria for selection was that the player had to far exceed expectations this season alone. For this reason, I am not including Sacramento's young supernova Kevin Martin, since he was already expected to succeed when the regular season commenced. He forced a key turnover in the final seconds that ensured the Kings would take the Spurs at least six games. I believe the four players below showed a much more drastic improvement arc than did Martin, who keyed the Kings run at the playoffs.
There's no clear winner, and I certainly wouldn't protest if voters selected Martin, so disregard the order.

1. Tyson Chandler
Who expected anticipated this Dominguez High School product would lead the NBA in FG percentage and come second only to Kevin Garnett in rebounding? I certainly didn't. Chandler's story is an interesting one because the All-American high schooler entered the draft early with high hopes he could be an instant impact player. He floated from his draftees the Clippers to the Bulls in the Elton Brand trade. His pairing with Eddy Curry turned out to be a disaster, as he was frequently plagued by back pains and foul trouble. After two teams and nearly six sub par seasons, Chandler finally has a fit with the New Orleans Hornets.
His surprising low post dominance mid-season kept the Hornets' playoff hopes alive while most of the starting lineup sat out with injuries. It's also been nice to see him quit feuding with players. Chicago still needs a low-post scorer? Aw shucks, they got rid of one at the end of last season.

2. Monta Ellis
Kevin Martin knew he would be a starting guard for the Kings this season, while Monta Ellis didn't know if Don Nelson would even let him suit up as a Golden State Warrior. The high school phenom had a dissapointing rookie season to say the least. But his athletic, hyperspeed legs and his swift finishing ability are a big reason why Warrior fans have been chanting "playoffs" legitimately for the first time in 13 years. Since Nelson inserted Ellis into the starting lineup, nearly every team has had a hiccup of a time stopping him. According to calculated stats, The Warrios had the toughest schedule at the end of the season, to which they went a snappy 16-5.

3. Deron Williams
It's tough to watch the flourishing Williams stumble through his current shooting slump, especially when he's crafted such a fine season. He averaged 10 points in his rookie year and make the all-rookie team with Chris Paul, both laudable accomplishments. However, it's been this year and this alone where Williams has entered the discussions as one of the five best point guards in the NBA. To be put in the same company as Steve Nash, Tony Parker, Jason Terry and Sam Cassell in your second professional season is hot stuff.
The Houston Rockets are eyeing this speedy youngster, gritting their teeth and bracing for a tough first round series.

4. Jason Kapono
To put it kindly, the four-year strong shooting guard, who was sent to Miami as a decent scrap player, murdered Dirk Nowitzki and Gilbert "Hibachi" Arenas in the All Star Saturday Night Three Point Contest. He's been inflicting similar pain on teams in the regular season, too, leading all players in 3 point shooting percentage. Like Chandler, Kapono needed several changes of scenery before he would lock with a franchise. Though he was on the roster for Miami's championship team, he didn't emerge as a dynamite professional shooter until the beginning of this season.

SIXTH MAN
Manu Ginobili

Like you didn't see this argument coming. I admit I'm more predictable a Creed CD, but hear me out.
Most analysts seem to dismiss Ginobili from the discussion because he is a bona-fide All-Star starter who merely comes of the bench because he is asked to do so. These purists won't reward someone who's started more than 45 percent of their games.
This argument is the exact reason why Manu should edge out Brazilian blur Leandro Barbosa for best bench player honors. I can name few All-Stars, especially ones can that claim they are the best players in an entire country (Argentina), who would shrug off being told to forfeit a starting role and continue being one of the best competitors in the NBA. Ginobili may not be better than the player(s) who start in his place, but that doesn't matter. What should count is that coach Pops has asked Gino to come off the bench for at least a segment of time in all of his seasons as a Spur. This spring, his contributions as a reserve took on more importance than ever before. Without Manu's bench play, Spurs fan can kiss that 13-game winning streak goodbye. The thrilling chase to catch Phoenix for 2nd place in the West? A more than respectable 58 win season? A true title contender?
You could have kissed all of that goodbye had Ginonili not been the best 6th man this season. Imagine telling Vince Carter or Kobe Bryant to be a reserve in more than 40 games and you can imagine hefty fines, suspensions and bickering with management.
As usual, Manu just shrugs and plays the game. He does it because it's what his team needs to pull out key victories. How can you not reward that?

Close, but no cigar ...

Leandro Barbosa
If he wins this award, I wish luck to the poor soul who has to catch up with him to hand him the award. There's fast and then there's the Brazilian Blur. He arrives at the basket before you have time to even say the word. He's averaged 18 points as the Suns top reserve.
However, he wasn't a more efficient reserve or scorer than Ginobili.

Jerry Stackhouse
An 11 points per game average says nothing about how much #42 means to the league leading Dallas Mavericks. I also have to throw him a line for asking officials if he could wear Robinson on the back of his jersey to commemorate the black baseball great.

Luther Head
No other player shoots a better 3 point percentage in the fourth quarter, when those deep shots matter the most. Considering he's been the Rockets only bench scoring in many games, seems he should be considered.

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Few voters can agree on what winning the Maurice Podoloff Trophy signifies about its recipient. I can say emphatically that it doesn't champion the most talented or gifted players. If that was the case, Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant would have a two-man race every season. No player has more composite and complete skills than Garnett and yet there's something dissettling about awarding a player whose team misses the playoffs so badly you're making Titanic comparisons.
Kobe may be the most dynamic scorer in modern professional sports, easily notching 10 50-point games, but after his Lakers nearly sucked their way out of the postseason, he's definitely not the MVP. Even though KB24 might be on a small scoring island sipping cognac with Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan, he can't like his teams chances of escaping the Phoenix "we should be scored in scientific notation" Suns in the first round.
Even though basketball fans bicker about what the award qualifications should be, there do seem to be a few constant requirements:
1) Team has one of the top two or three records in the league.
2) Best player on that team.
3) Makes other players around them better and in the case of Steve Nash is the only reason people know who they are.
4) Displays an air-tight work ethic that doesn't crack when the pressure is really applied.
5) Multi-dimensional in at least one aspect of the game.

So with those few rules out of the way and Steven Spielberg ready to open the envelope, let's get it on.

And...the winner is...

Dirk Nowitzki
Undeniably, Dirk is the best player on the best team. Just let that sentence soak in; best player on the best team. It's hard not to vote for a 7' footer who has literally led his franchise to its finest season ever and one of the 10 best since basketball became a professional sport.
The Mavericks may sport dangerous depth, but without Nowitzki's undefendable mid-range game, they would barely be a 50-win team with little hope of squeaking past the first round.
With a healthy dose of German engineering, instead the Mavericks will surprise and shock many if they don't surge back to defend the championship they let slip in last season's Finals.
He's a classy player with a stern work-ethic. He doesn't know how to leave the practice court. Also this season, he's become less of a defensive liability and a greater vocal leader, both of which are qualities the Mavs have lacked in coming up short of a title.

Close, but no cigar...
Steve Nash
To say Steve makes the players around him better would be the understatement of the century. Would the casual basketball fan have heard of Leandro Barbosa, Shawn Marion or Boris Diaw if they didn't have the reigning, two-time MVP to thread them ridiculous passes that make their highlight-reel finishes look effortless? Probably not.
Nash is one of the worst defenders in the history of the game. I wouldn't bet on him in a head to head Bubba Wells matchup.
On the offensive end, however, Steve is an enigmatic offensive force that few players can slow down. Tim Duncan has cooly averaged a meaty 20-10 this season, but Nash has a 20-10 of his own. 10-11 assists per game.
Phoenix lost 2 of 4 when Nash was injured because he is their motor. If offense somehow squelches defense to win a title, this man will be the sole reason.

He doesn't win the award for two reasons.
1) Despite better numbers, he failed to lead his team past the conference finals twice. Putting him a category so exclusive that 2 six-time NBA champions don't belong is a bit ridiculous. He may be amazing watch, but let's not be absurd with the Larry Bird comparisons.

2) Dirk is the best player on the best team. The Suns finished second to the Mavs by a six-game margin. The MVP award covers the entire regular season, not just two games.

I INVENTED SOME AWARDS OF MY OWN.
These awards have only one recipient. I mean these in the funnest of ways, so try not to take offense if I insult one of your favorite teams or players.

YOU KNOW THE OPPOSING COACH THINKS YOU'RE SCREWED, WHEN _____ CHECKS IN.
I lied, this one is a two-way tie.

Beno Udrih, San Antonio Spurs
Vassilis Spanoulis, Houston Rockets

Gregg Popovich and Jeff Van Gundy have reportedly destroyed these respective players' confidences so badly, they are now on the same level as that of a dead tree frog.
Apparently, Spanoulis has shown himself so badly that he wasn't good enough to check in when the Rockets were slaughtering the Sixers by 50 points.
In all fairness, both international players sport incredible potential, but they are turnover prone and cause more faces to be suffocated by hands than any other reserves.
If you see one of these two players on the court, there's a pretty good chance Pops or Van Gundy thinks a schizophrenic house fly has a better chance of winning than you do.
Lesson: make sure these guys don't have a reason to check in.

P.S. Spanoulis and Udrih are favorites of mine. I intend this award in the silliest of ways.

HOW DID YOU LOSE THAT ONE?
Could anybody else but the 2006-2007 Los Angeles Lakers win this one?
Kobe easily racks up a 50-pointer and a 17-point lead against the in-city rival Clippers seems comfortable as can be at halftime. But wait, Luke Walton and the boys aren't done finding a way to blow this one.
The Lakers can find a way to lose any game. Guaranteed. Playing against a depleted D-League team? That group of amateurs doesn't have a prayer of losing.
They're the most talented losers in all of professional sports. Give them that at least.

MOST DISAPPOINTING TEAM
I lied again, another two-way tie.

New Jersey Nets
Los Angeles Clippers

The poor season records these two teams unhappily advertise speak for themselves. Many people predicted the Nets could win the East.
After the best season in franchise history, the Clippers were expected to do a lot more than not make the playoffs.

NICEST SURPRISE
Toronto Raptors

Chris Bosh anchors a sturdy plethora of youthful gems. I'm beginning to think maybe Pat Riley wasn't off his rocker when he said he had hoped to draft Bosh over Dwyane Wade. Going from a last place in the division prediction to a possible finals berth - now that's a surprise worth hooting about.

MOST HILARIOUS MOMENT
Every Rasheed Wallace technical foul accrued this and every NBA season.
The ball don't lie Rasheed and you get T'd up every time it tells the truth.

As the playoffs unravel, I will be handing out more of these fake, unorthodox awards.
Until then, thanks for reading.
Enjoy the postseason of the greatest sport in the history of mankind! I know I will.

posted by Robert Kleeman @ 2:26 PM