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NBA BASKETBALL
NBA Awards Contenders
<February 5, 2002>
By
Joseph Boylan
With the All-Star Weekend quickly
approaching, here is a look at who is in contention
for this year’s NBA Awards.
Most Valuable Player
1. Jason Kidd, G, Nets
Single-handedly (ok, with some help) transformed a mediocre
franchise into legitimate Eastern Conference contenders,
and has made the Nets the team to beat in the East.
26-56 one year ago, this year’s Nets has already won
31 games before the All-Star break, good for fifth most
in the entire league. What could have been the sparkplug
for such a turnaround? Having already surpassed the
win total by five in half the time? Hmm, Todd MacCulloch’s
signing might appear to have been the catalyst, but
everyone knows that the boneheaded move by Suns’ management
became a huge break for the Nets, who have, in essence,
traded away their locker room cancer for the league’s
MVP.
2. Kevin Garnett, F, Timberwolves
KG’s squad is currently 4th in the West with 32 wins,
and they owe almost all of it to the Kid. Almost 22
points points, 12 boards and over 5 assists a game basically
epitomizes "complete player." Oh, and he also leads
his team in steals and blocks, while ranking #1 in assists
among non-PGs. Flat out is carrying his team on his
back, Minnesota is becoming a Western conference powerhouse.
3. Michael Jordan, F, Wizards
Another man whose play has been in a factor in more
W’s for his team. While it might seem redundant at this
point, MJ has dragged the Wizards to 24 victories, five
more than their 2000 total of 19 wins. 25ppg, 6rpg,
5apg are incredibly solid statistics, especially due
to the fact that he isn’t playing with a supporting
cast that even closely resembles a playoff team.
4. Shaquille O’Neal, C, Lakers and Kobe Bryant, G, Lakers
It’s impossible to leave these two guys off the list
- they can share a spot. Kobe remains steady, 26 points
per, to go with 5 dimes and 5 boards, and the Big Fella
is dominant as always, despite the hacks, injuries,
and triple-teams, with 26 and 11, and ninth overall
in blocked shots. His complete supremacy over the league
was never more apparent than against the Mavericks on
Sunday, when not one, not two, not even three defenders
tried to stop him, but four Mavericks swarmed the ball
in the post to try and stop Shaq.
5. Tim Duncan, F, Spurs
Duncan is having a stellar year, in every aspect of
the game. He has led his team to 30 wins in the rugged
Western Conference, while posting 25.5ppg (6th in the
league), 12.7rpg (1st in the league), and 2.76bpg (3rd
in the league), and shooting 50% from the floor. He
is a practically unstoppable force offensively, and
a tenacious defender.
Defensive Player of the Year
1. Ben Wallace, F, Pistons Doc Rivers called him the
power-forward’s version of Jason Kidd, a guy everybody
wants to play with. Everyone has heard of Ben Wallace
- an underrated, dirty-work player with the eccentric
hair styles, but not everyone realizes just how good
Big Ben is. A big reason the Pistons have won 24 games
so far this year is his ability to rebound and defend
the opposing team’s top inside presence. Wallace averages
11.8 rebounds per game, 4th in the NBA, and 3.2 blocks
per game, 1st in the NBA. He is in the top 20 for rebounds,
blocks, and steals, while maintaining the second highest
steals to turnover ratios in the league. His energy
and presence on the court are statistically immeasurable.
You've got to watch him play.
2. Ron Artest, G, Bulls
A defensive specialist on the perimeter, and an enthusiast
for guarding the best of the best. Backs down from nobody
in the NBA, has very quick hands and great passion for
playing defense. One piece question for Ron is, what's
the deal with the John Stockton-like shorts?
3. Dikembe Mutombo, C, Sixers
The most imposing presence patrolling the middle in
the NBA. 11.8 rebounds per, 2.6 blocks, but more importantly,
alters countless shots by slashers to the basket by
maintaining position and using his incredible shot-blocking
ability to make players think twice before going up
against Deke.
Rookie of the Year
1. Pau Gasol, F, Grizzlies
His 17.1 points per game blows away the competition;
with only 4 rookies averaging double digits, his nearest
competitor is teammate Shane Battier at 14.8. Gasol
has provided an incredible ray of hope for a Memphis
organization who didn’t expect him to be this good for
another two or three years. His 8.7 rebounds per game
average is almost three more than his closest rookie
competition, and he also leads rookies in blocked shots.
A developed and smooth offensive player who is very
versatile, Gasol is shooting 51% from the floor. So
far, the crown jewel of this rookie class.
2. Shane Battier, F, Grizzlies
In the top 5 for rookies in scoring, rebounding, blocked
shots, assists, steals, three-point percentage, field
goal percentage, and minutes played. Nearly 15ppg and
a polished NBA player at this point. He has turned out
to be exactly what everyone said, a solid player. You
knew exactly what you were getting by drafting him.
3. Jamaal Tinsley, G, Pacers
He has hit the wall in terms of recent production, but
still has astounding numbers for a rookie point guard
in the NBA. The 37% from the field and 18% from 3-point
leave much to be desired, but 9 points and almost 9
assists per game for a team that has won 25 games this
year is very encouraging. Given the reigns by Isiah
at the beginning of the season, he has made the teams
who were desperate for a PG, but passed on him (see
the Atlanta Hawks) look very stupid.
4. Eddie Griffin, F, Rockets
9 points and 6 rebounds per game, the third youngest
player in the NBA has proven to the Houston fans that
with enough playing time, he will dominate. Nearly 2
blocks per game, he has become an intimidating force
on the defensive end, with a wide-ranging offensive
arsenal. If given the minutes Gasol and Battier have
received, he might be putting up similiar or even better
numbers.
5. Andrei Kirilenko, F, Jazz
10.1ppg and 5rpg, has provided a wonderful surprise
to the Utah Jazz. Is playing solid minutes for a veteran
team with 25 wins in the West. An unexpected aspect
of his game is his tremendous shot blocking ability,
as he ranks 16th in the league with 1.9 per game. A
steal at 24th overall, only 18 years old.
On the way: Coach of the Year, Most Improved, Sixth
Man
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