It's trophy time in the NBA, and the FanHouse crew has submitted its ballots. Find out which players deserve to take home the hardware and which ones don't, in our NBA Awards series. Next up: Coach of the Year.
This turned out to be one of those seasons where it would be hard to be wrong in making a pick for Coach of the Year. Eight different coaches were named by our voters, and it was so close that we ended up with a tie for third place. But the one man that stood out above the rest was the one holding the clipboard to your right.
It's trophy time in the NBA, and the FanHouse crew has submitted its ballots. Find out which players deserve to take home the hardware and which ones don't, in our NBA Awards series. First up: Sixth Man of the Year.
The Sixth Man award, as you probably have guessed from its name, is given to the player believed to have the biggest impact for his team coming off the bench. Over the past couple of seasons, the discussion is one that's been dominated by two names -- Manu Ginobili and Leandro Barbosa. This year, however, we have a new group of players in the conversation, and, while the voting was close, we were able to come up with a clear cut choice.
Scott guided the Hornets to one of the biggest turnarounds in the NBA this season, and the 2nd seed in the West. While the other finalists were considered mainly due to their management of unbelievably amazing rosters full of talent (Doc Rivers), playing above expectations (Maurice Cheeks), or weathering a storm of injuries (Rick Adelman), Scott managed an ensemble of challenges. He guided Chris Paul into being one of, if not the best point guard in the league. He turned David West and Tyson Chandler into household names and made the Hornets one of the most consistent teams in a hyper-competitive Western Conference on both sides of the ball. He did all of this with arguably one of the thinnest benches in the league.
Jerry Stackhouse recently stated, along with saying he'd like to fight him, that he didn't "think Byron Scott is the best coach." Well, Jerry, with your team on the brink of elimination, your starting spot revoked for Jason Terry, and Scott's Hornets in position to move to the next round, maybe you might want to rethink that. And even if Stack doesn't think Scott is the best coach, for this season, at least, Scott's peers disagreed.
One of the best things about an expiring NBA season is predicting awards. Or saying who should win them, which isn't always the same activity.
This year, though, there's not room for much of either of those. Nash/Nowitzki has been run into the ground. Brandon Roy has been the hands-down ROY since the preseason. Kevin Martin gets Most Improved for abruptly becoming one of the NBA's best shooters, and if there were a Comeback honor, Amare gets it unanimously. Sixth Man is a little trickier, but that's mainly because the top two contenders are hardly bench players.
The one trophy that seems truly up-for-grabs is the Defensive Player of the Year. For the last five years, this award has been a struggle between Ben Wallace's stats and Ron Artest's reputation. Before that, it was a battle between 'Zo and Mutombo based on blocks per game. With no such rivalry in place, even coming up with a list of candidates requires some imagination. That's also why I have no idea how to handicap this race.
Some speculation: Shawn Marion has to be in the mix, and not only because he so badly wants to be. His combination of small and power foward defensive skills is indispensable to what the Suns do. Marcus Camby deserves it--because he's built like me, people overlook what a dominant presence he is in the paint. Gerald Wallace has been hurt too much. How about Okafor? Could we see a resurrection of Alonzo Mourning, DPOY?
Tonight's Suns/Spurs game is a big deal, no doubt. But don't let the massive playoff implications distract you from the real prize: this year's race for Six Man of the Year. With most of the season over, it looks to be between the Suns' Leandro Barbosa and the Spurs' Manu Ginobili. Stackhouse is a distant third, in part because his 11.9 per game can't mess with Barbosa's 17.9 or Manu's 16.6.
The real question, though, is whether either of these two is actually a sixth man. Both play tons of minutes, and both have made their share of starts. Good thing for Manu that Pop's got his back. From the East Valley Tribune:
Ginobili will be ineligible for the Sixth Man Award if he starts one more game (36 so far) than he comes off the bench (33). So with starter Brent Barry out with a back problem Tuesday, Popovich gave Michael Finley the start, and would likely do so again if Barry is still out.
Umm, okay. That doesn't exactly strike me as the epitome of basketball honor and dignity, but like I can question anything Greg Popovich does. My haircut has nothing on his.
Anyone familiar with the NBA knows of the term "sick." Here is the oft-maligned Stephon Marbury giving a visual demonstration of the concept. It's kind of like filthy, but even nastier, to the point where the dirt, sweat and funk on a play make you queasy.
I don't think, though, that's it's supposed to be taken literally. Unfortunately, no one told the Memphis Grizzlies that. The team has incorporated the possibility of throwing up into their campaign for Rudy Gay, Rookie of the Year. From the Memphis Commercial Appeal:
The campaign features a brochure in the form of an airline ticket. The in-flight services say there will be highlight reel dunks, blocks and game-winning shots featured every flight...
Attached to the air sickness bag is a pair of pilots' wings, which reads, 'Rudy Air. Taking flight, every night.' Also included is a luggage tag with Rudy Gay for Rookie of the Year.
Okay, I guess that would make me want to heave a vote his way. Since, you know, nothing makes me like a player like being reminded of puking on airplanes.
Every year, debates rage on about exactly what the MVP means. Is it best player, best player on best team, player most crucial to his team, or some combination of the three? Hardcore fans have in the past voiced similar concerns about the Most Improved Player, which could refer to either a comeback, an expected leap, or something no one saw coming.
This season, the Kings' Kevin Martin is the odds-on favorite to run away with the MIP-no matter how you define it. But at least one opposing coach thinks Martin has no business getting the award. From The Sacramento Bee, via TZ'sSactown Royalty, here's George Karl's take on the subject:
"If I was Kevin Martin, I'd probably be disappointed if I was just Most Improved Player," Denver coach George Karl said. "How about, He's just a damn good basketball player? He's moved into a level of All-Star talent and skills. He's above and better than the award for Most Improved Player, in my opinion. He's real."
So basically, Karl thinks that someone who has improved too much shouldn't be considered. Or that the award is supposed to go to people who are still developing. The second kind makes sense; they don't give it to solid players who have All-Star seasons. But Martin has made a leap from promising to number one option. While it's unusual to see this happen so quickly, isn't this the most exciting kind of improvement possible? T-Mac and Zach Randolph got their MIP's under similar circumstances; maybe Karl is greatly underestimating the Most Improved Player award.
Each week I'll look at the players who would have the best shot at the Rookie of the Year award if the season ended today. Why? Because I was told to keep an eye on the kids...
1. Brandon Roy, G, Blazers: Meh. All-Star games are bourgeois, too. Roy followed up an apathetic Rookie Challenge performance (six-points on 2-for-7 shooting) with two fantastic games this past week. On Tuesday he led the way with 27 points in a win over the Jazz, and on Wednesday he scored 16 points and dished seven assists in a win over the Lakers. In case you didn't notice, those are two of the best teams in the West. (Well, were ...)
2. Andrea Bargnani, F-C, Raptors: He's getting thirty minutes a game, still hitting the long ball (3-for-6 against the Cavs) and everyone wants to have a picture taken with him. Remind me why Bargnani's hanging with Darrick Martin in Las Vegas again?
3. Rudy Gay, F, Grizzlies: Since winning back his starting spot, Gay is averaging 18.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.3 threes (!) per game. He was also one of the lone first-player stars in the Rookie Challenge, leading the way with 22 points.
4. Adam Morrison, F, Bobcats: Young Adam had his finest half as a pro on Wednesday, leading the Cats to a win over the Wolves with 26 points, four bombs and four boards in 29 minutes. Looks like leaving him off last week's list lit a torch under his 'Stache.
5. Randy Foye, G, Timberolves: I haven't seen much of Foye, so you'll have to excuse me, but is this kid really going to be one of the best players from this draft when it's all said and done? I realize his minutes were handcuffed by Coach Casey early on, but I don't know ... I just don't feel/see it with him. What am I missing? Please fill me in.
On the cusp: Jorge Garbajosa, Paul Millsap and LaMarcus Aldridge.
It's trophy time in the NBA, and the FanHouse crew has submitted its ballots. Find out which players deserve to take home the hardware and which ones don't, in our NBA Awards series. Next up: Coach of the Year.
It's trophy time in the NBA, and the FanHouse crew has submitted its ballots. Find out which players deserve to take home the hardware and which ones don't, in our 
A 
One of the best things about an expiring NBA season is predicting awards. Or saying who should win them, which isn't always the same activity. 
Tonight's Suns/Spurs game is a big deal, no doubt. But don't let the massive playoff implications distract you from the real prize: this year's race for Six Man of the Year. With most of the season over, it looks to be between the Suns' Leandro Barbosa and the Spurs' Manu Ginobili. Stackhouse is a distant third, in part because his 11.9 per game can't mess with Barbosa's 17.9 or Manu's 16.6. 
Anyone familiar with the NBA knows of the term "sick." Here is the oft-maligned Stephon Marbury giving 
Every year, debates rage on about exactly what the MVP means. Is it best player, best player on best team, player most crucial to his team, or some combination of the three? Hardcore fans have in the past voiced similar concerns about the Most Improved Player, which could refer to either a comeback, an expected leap, or something no one saw coming. 
Each week I'll look at the players who would have the best shot at the Rookie of the Year award if the season ended today. Why? Because I was told to keep an eye on the kids... 
