How I voted
Since today is the last day of the regular season, I thought I’d share my postseason awards ballot. This will be my second year voting, and for the second year in a row I’ve found it to be more of a chore than an honor. The actual process is quick and easy. The NBA e-mails you a document that already has the awards separated by category with the spaces for you to type in your vote. Then you e-mail it back. Simple.
But I’ve stressed over my votes these last two years because there is always someone deserving that ends up left out. For example, they ask you for your top five picks for MVP. Well, my last slot came down to Tim Duncan and LeBron James. Both are deserving. Both mean everything to their teams. After going back and forth for days, I ultimately picked Duncan over James.
With all that said, here’s how I voted. I welcome your feedback. Let me know your gripes on my slights, snubs and screw ups.
T-Mobile Rookie of the Year:
PLAYER, TEAM
1. Brandon Roy, Portland Trail Blazers
2. Rudy Gay, Memphis Grizzlies
3. Adam Morrison, Charlotte Bobcats
NBA Coach of the Year:
PLAYER, TEAM
1. Avery Johnson, Dallas Mavericks
2. Sam Mitchell, Toronto Raptors
3. Mike D’Antoni, Phoenix Suns
NBA Defensive Player of the Year:
PLAYER, TEAM
1. Marcus Camby, Denver Nuggets
2. Bruce Bowen, San Antonio Spurs
3. Shawn Marion, Phoenix Suns
All-NBA First Team
F Dirk Nowitzki
F Tim Duncan
C Yao Ming
G Kobe Bryant
G Steve Nash
All-NBA Second Team
F LeBron James
F Kevin Garnett
C Chris Bosh
G Tracy McGrady
G Gilbert Arenas
All-NBA Third Team
F Carlos Boozer
F Carmelo Anthony
C Amare Stoudemire
G Dwyane Wade
G Allen Iverson
NBA Sixth Man:
PLAYER,TEAM
1. Leandro Barbosa, Phoenix Suns
2. Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs
3. Jerry Stackhouse, Dallas Mavericks
NBA Most Valuable Player:
PLAYER,TEAM
1. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
2. Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns
3. Chris Bosh, Toronto Raptors
4. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
5. Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
NBA Most Improved Player:
PLAYER, TEAM
1. Kevin Martin, Sacramento Kings
2. Monta Ellis, Golden State Warriors
3. Tyson Chandler, New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets
-DM-
To all Hornets fans
Just wanted to let you all know that we will not be covering the last two Hornets games this season. With the Hornets officially out of playoff contention, the final two games have no real significance. Since they’re both in California and will not start until 9 and 9:30 p.m. our time, the games are too late to make our paper’s deadlines as well. Those factors ultimately led to a cost-benefit decision on our end.
I would like to thank all of you for reading our coverage of the Hornets over the past two seasons. I hope you enjoyed it. I hope you join me in wishing the Hornets well in their return to New Orleans. I hope we in Oklahoma City soon get a major league franchise of our own that we can all cheer for.
-Darnell Mayberry-
Feeling a draft
It was around this time 24 years ago when Hornets coach Byron Scott had just finished his junior season at Arizona State.
Scott was exhausted, having averaged 36.5 minutes and 21.6 points per game that season for the Sun Devils. Mulling over his early entry into the upcoming NBA draft, Scott decided to take a day off and not play in any pickup games.
One of his ASU coaches approached Scott and suggested he reconsider his day of rest.
“My coach told me, ‘Well, I didn’t want to tell you this but Jerry West, Gail Goodrich and Bill Sharman are going to be sitting in the stands. They want to make a trade and get up to where the (San Diego) Clippers are in the draft. They want to see you play,’ ” Scott said.
Scott went up against guard Dennis Johnson and several other members of the Phoenix Suns. “And I played my ass off,” Scott said. “D.J. guarded me and I guarded him. D.J. helped me a lot (with advice).”
Scott wound up being the No. 4 overall pick in the 1983 draft, selected by the Clippers and traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, with whom he would win three world championships and play in six NBA finals.
- John Rohde
Paul is amazing, Chandler coming back?
I can’t tell you how bad Chris Paul looked tonight. Physically. The guy is beat up. Probably mentally, too. He was playing with an obvious limp in the first half, but he didn’t stop. Then he gets elbowed in the waist by Randy Foye late in the game and doesn’t let it bother him. His injury count is up to his foot, thumb, waist and who knows what else?
Coach Byron Scott said it best, the Hornets wouldn’t have won this game without him. Now they need the next one against a hot Clippers team. I’m not sure what kind of performance Chris can/will have in that one. He’s probably hurting a lot more than he’s leading on. But give the guy credit for at least trying to will his team into the playoffs.
Because the Hornets won, Tyson Chandler also said he’s pretty much a go for Tuesday because of how important the game is. He says it’ll take a lot to keep him out. Kudos to him as well.
I got a look at his left big toe before Saturday’s game, and it looks terrible. For anyone who thinks a toe injury is minor or doesn’t understand why he’s missed the past two games, that thing is severely swollen. It’s to the point that I don’t even expect him to have that much of an impact on the game Tuesday if he does play. But knowing Chandler, he’ll find a way to play through the pain and score eight points with seven rebounds and a blocked shot. We’ll see.
I’m excited about Tuesday’s game. And every basketball fan in Oklahoma should be as well. This is what the NBA season is all about. The Hornets are in the thick of a playoff race in the NBA’s toughest conference. The Ford Center should be packed. And loud. Doesn’t matter that it’s a Tuesday night game. Fans should come early and stay till the end. The Hornets should give out those rally towels to create more of a boisterous environment.
If the Hornets go down, at least their star player is going down fighting.
The fans shouldn’t let him go down swinging alone.
-DM-
Three straight
None were pretty, but the Hornets did what they had to do to get wins against the Knicks, Bucks and Sonics over the last week. The rest of the schedule is tough, though, and the Hornets are going to run into some mighty big challenges in the coming days.
It doesn’t help that nearly their entire team is hobbled right now…..
Chris Paul — sore left foot.
Desmond Mason — Possibly concussion.
Tyson Chandler — jacked up left toe.
Jannero Pargo — Right knee sprain.
Hilton Armstrong — sprained wrist.
Cedric Simmons — sprained ankle.
Bobby Jackson — sore right foot.
Peja Stojakovic — back surgery.
“I told Bobby (Jackson), I said, ‘If we didn’t have bad luck, we wouldn’t have no luck at all.’”
Tyson walked out of the Ford Center with one of those big black protective boots on his left foot. I don’t expect him to play Friday.
Desmond looked bad. I don’t expect him to play Friday.
Chris never sits. I don’t expect him to play Friday.
But here’s one way of looking at the situation. The injuries that this team encountered earlier this season might be a blessing in disguise. Guys like Jannero Pargo and Rasual Butler and Marc Jackson and Linton Johnson have played heavy minutes already this season. If they are forced to again for the next two or three games it won’t be anything new.
But will that experience be enough?
Teams are playing with a different intensity now. Can the Hornets keep up?
-DM-
Hornets stay in the race
MILWAUKEE — To be honest, the game against the Bucks worried me a little bit. Not too long ago, this would have been a game the Hornets easily would have dropped. Third worst team. On the road. Everything to gain. Opponent has nothing to lose. The Hornets surprised me with how they came out and controlled the game from the start. That’s what they need to do in each of these last eight games if they want to qualify for the postseason.
For as good as Tuesday’s blowout win was, I’d caution against getting too excited about this team’s playoff chances just yet. Forget the fact that the Bucks are 25-48. Forget about how Charlie Villanueva, Bobby Simmons and Andrew Bogut are all out for the season. The things that didn’t look good despite the blowout win were defense (of course), turnovers and bench play.
The Hornets had 21 turnovers, leading to 24 Bucks points. That’s pretty much a guaranteed loss against the Clippers, Phoenix Suns, Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets. Obviously the Hornets can’t afford anymore losses, let alone four, so they need to take better care of the ball.
The Hornets shouldn’t have given up 101 points to an injury-plagued Bucks team. The Bucks do average 99, but without the aforementioned names, they shouldn’t have reached 101 points or shot 48.2 percent for the game. That tells me, this team’s defense still isn’t where it needs to be to be successful. Again, against the better teams, that’s a loss on most nights.
And the bench play can’t have a drop off like it did in the second quarter. Entering the fourth quarter, the Hornets had 11 bench points. Milwaukee guard Lynn Greer had scored 15 by himself.
The Hornets have one more gimmie Wednesday as the Sonics come into town. They had better take care of business because their chances are slim to none if they don’t beat Seattle. Maybe they’ll correct some of their mistakes against the Sonics.
-DM-
