Link:http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2006-02-01-midseason_x.htm Posted 2/1/2006 9:31 PM Updated 2/1/2006 9:46 PM ================================================ Pistons, Kobe lead NBA way at season's midpoint By John Denton, Florida Today ORLANDO — The most significant number in the NBA so far this season? No, not Kobe Bryant's 81 points or even that wacky 93 that Ron Artest chose for his new duds in Sacramento. Kobe Bryant drives past Detroit's Tayshaun Prince on Sunday in Auburn Hills, Mich. Who gets the midseason numbers nod: Kobe or the Pistons? By Duane Burleson, AP It's 70 — as in how many wins the Detroit Pistons are on pace to achieve this season. They have been so dominant, wiping out everything in their path, even the reigning champion San Antonio Spurs — victims of 85-70 and 83-68 drubbings — have been no match. A record of 35-5 carries great weight in Detroit because that's the stunning mark the 1984 Tigers put up on their way to the 1984 World Series. But the Pistons easily surpassed that mark in the midst of a league-best 11-game winning streak. Next in their sights could be the Chicago Bulls' 72-10 mark of 1995-96. "That's an unbelievable feat, one that hasn't been seen in a long time," Pistons point guard Chauncey Billups said of Detroit's start. "We may not see this again for a long time." But as Detroit learned last season, losing Game 7 to the Spurs, the only way to secure greatness is a title. Will the Pistons be the champion 1995-96 Bulls or the 2005 Indianapolis Colts? The first half of the NBA season usually is overshadowed by the NFL and college football, but the league has enjoyed a banner run so far. Bryant's 81 points on Jan. 22 against Toronto had the sports world buzzing about the possibility of a player someday scoring 100 in a game. Three players — Bryant (35.9), Allen Iverson (33.6) and LeBron James (31.2) — are averaging at least 30 points a game and locked in one of the best scoring battles in years. Orlando's Dwight Howard is leading the NBA in rebounding, and at 20 years old, he is threatening to become the youngest player in history to do so for the season. So, just beyond the midpoint, it's time to hand out some half-season awards: •MVP: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers. Detroit's Billups and Phoenix's Steve Nash deserve mention because of the flawless jobs they have done directing their teams. Nash might be more worthy than last season, when he actually won the award, for keeping the Suns afloat without Amare Stoudemire. How Bryant has taken his game to another stratosphere and a very pedestrian Lakers team back into the playoff hunt has been too awesome to overlook. Without him, the Lakers would be the NBA laughingstock. But Bryant is the one doing the laughing with an 80-point game, a 60-point game, two 50-point games, nine 40-point games and 16 more 30-point games. Sure, he shoots too much, but you want him passing to Kwame Brown, Chris Mihm or Smush Parker? The Michael Jordan comparisons have come and gone through the years, but Bryant's rip-your-heart-out-to-win intensity is as close to M.J. as this league might ever see. "Whether you like him or dislike him, Kobe is a special player," said Magic assistant general manager Otis Smith. "He has the killer in him that a lot of the talented players don't have. When he smells blood, he goes for the jugular. That's a Jordan-like quality." •Most improved: Dwight Howard, Magic. Though no longer a teenager, there's still plenty of kid left. The 6-foot-11, 265-pound power forward playfully wore a diamond-studded WWE belt to practice Tuesday, claiming he's the new world heavyweight champion. Seriously, Howard's jump this season has been jaw-dropping. He's used his 38-inch vertical leap and 7-foot, 8-inch wingspan to average 12.5 rebounds a game and zip to the top of the league. If he can win that title, he would be the youngest in NBA history to do so by almost three years, eclipsing Bob Pettit (23 in 1956), Wilt Chamberlain (23 in 1960), Larry Foust (23 in 1952) and Mel Hutchins (23 in 1952). Howard also has boosted his scoring average by three points, posting 15 points a game this season. He's still taking only 10 1/2 shots a game, so imagine what he'll do when he actually becomes the focal point of the Magic offense. "I'm still down here near the bottom," Howard said, holding his hand down near his fake wrestling belt, "but where I think I can go is way up here," slowly raising his hand above his head. •Rookie of the Year: Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets. The 6-foot guard surprisingly fell to fourth on draft night when Utah selected Deron Williams third overall. But Paul has been the driving reason why the Hornets, 18-64 last season, are 22-22 and in the thick of the rugged Western Conference's playoff race. Paul has looked like a superstar in the making, averaging 16.3 points, 7.4 assists and 2.26 steals a game. Head coach Byron Scott put pressure on him before the season, saying he easily would win the league's top rookie award. Now, Scott looks like a prophet. •Comeback Player: T. J. Ford, Milwaukee Bucks. Grant Hill recently joked he still has time to win the award this season. But he'll have a hard time catching the pint-size Ford, who has played well after missing all of last season with a spinal injury that put his career in jeopardy. Ford is 13th in the league in assists and has boosted his scoring from 7.1 ppg as a rookie to 12.1 ppg. He is a major part of a revamped team that features newcomers Andrew Bogut, Bobby Simmons, Jamaal Magloire and head coach Terry Stotts. •Coach of the Year: Flip Saunders, Pistons. The slam-dunk choice because he has taken an elite team and made it better than ever. Larry Brown suffocated the Pistons with his emphasis on defense and micromanaging the offense. Saunders has allowed Detroit to play more freely, with staggering results. Ranked 24th in scoring last season, the Pistons are up to sixth. Last year they were 17th in shooting and 23rd in three-point percentage, numbers they have improved dramatically to fifth and first. Saunders, foolishly fired by Minnesota last fall, has Rasheed Wallace more involved on offense and gave Billups freedom to take any shot. Tayshaun Prince and Ben Wallace are looked to more offensively, and Richard Hamilton is still doing his Reggie Miller impersonation, running off screens. Charlotte coach Bernie Bickerstaff put it best recently, saying the Pistons don't have a go-to player, they have a go-to team. *** QUICK HITS All-NBA first team: G Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers; G Kobe Bryant, Lakers; F LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers; F Tim Duncan, Spurs; C Shaquille O'Neal, Miami Heat Biggest surprise team: Los Angeles Clippers Biggest disappointment team (tie): Houston Rockets, Seattle SuperSonics Biggest surprise player: Mehmet Okur, Jazz Biggest disappointment player: Ron Artest, Kings Most underrated: Chris Bosh, Raptors Most overrated: Stephon Marbury, New York Knicks Best trade: Indiana Pacers getting Peja Stojakovic for Artest Worst trade: Timberwolves taking on the contracts of Ricky Davis and Mark Blount for Wally Szczerbiak and Michael Olowokandi Best free-agent signing: Michael Redd, Bucks Worst free-agent signing: Stromile Swift, Rockets Best draft pick: Channing Frye, Knicks Worst draft pick: Fran Vazquez, Magic Subscribe Today: Home Delivery of USA TODAY - Save 35% USATODAY.com partners: USA Weekend Sports Weekly Education Space.com Home Travel News Money Sports Life Tech Weather Resources: Mobile news Site map FAQ Contact us E-mail news Jobs with us Internships Terms of service Privacy policy Media kit Press room Electronic print edition Reprints and Permissions Add USATODAY.com RSS feeds © Copyright 2006 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.
D. Howard has a 7'8" wingspan? That guy is an animal. He can jump and put his chin above the rim, unless that pic I saw was a fake.
worst free agent signing? Stro? He was signed cheap. For what he was paid and the production he is giving and occasionally big numbers, I wouldnt say it's the worst signing over the summer.
I think it's more about expectation. Remember Tmac said he's going to make Stro an all-star? Well, if you go with that standard Stro is quite dissapointing.
this season who are free agents that haven't worked out? I really can't think of any. simmons, mobley, marshall? any?
Yes lets think about this a whole lot and while your busy thinking take a good hard look at San Antonio Spurs. They play tough defense and have seem to win a number of championships under Popvic who clearly is a defensive minded coach. I've said it before and I'll say it again "players make the difference". And by the way, the Pistons are still playing good defense.
Pretty much every free agent signing last summer has been a dissapointment save for maybe the Mobley signing. In Cleveland, Larry Hughes has been injured the whole season and Donyell Marshall's field goal percentages (37FG%, 32%3-pts) have taken a huge nosedive. Plus, he's looked very slow defensively. Damon Jones has been in a season long shooting slump. Bobby Simmons, despite playing well recently has been a disapointment. 12 points a game is not very good production for a 9 mil a year player. SAR hasn't really helped the Kings win much. I'm pretty sure the Heat are regretting giving Antoine Walker the 55 million or so he's owed the next 6 years. Damon Stoudamire has a season ending injury after singing with Memphis. Until recently, Earl Watson has been burried in the bench playing behind Boykins and Miller. Jerome James, Kwame Brown, and Antonio Daniels haven't done anything for their new teams. Comparatively speaking, considering Swift is only signed for 3 years at a cheap price, he's one of the better free agent signing, although that isn't saying much.
That just goes to show how careful you have to be in free agency. If their aren't any marquee guys, those players that are at the top of the free agent class (though they aren't superstars) are going to be overpaid. I still wonder if we even made a significant offer to Mobley. The guy would be a perfect 3rd scorer for the Rockets right now and a good defender at that. Plus, no clashing with Steve at PG. Anyway, might as well stop thinking about it...but he would've been nice.
the pistons won a freaking nba championship under larry brown and got them to the finals last season. i'm having a hard time understanding how he held them back other than his flirting with new york during the playoffs last year. yes they are playing better under flip but they haven't won anything YET and it's pretty obvious that larry was also successful with that group.
KOBE the MVP???? Please, stop kissing Kobe's ass!!! Kobe is the best individual player this season and i agreed with it! But MVP??? Where did Kobe carry his team to??? The Lakers are not even the top 10 team in the league. Chris Mihm, Kwame Brown, Smush Parker etc etc etc are all excuses, the Kobe wankers give. To me, the MVP belongs to the a player whose have the most impact on his team. Yes, Kobe meets this but the MVP must be from a team whose team are the TOP FOUR teams in the league. Sorry, Kobe wankers, Kwame, Smush and Mihm are not an excuses..... Either Steve Nash or Billups, or even Brand should win this award!
this article is such a piece of trash. how the he has snaq as first team all nba just astounds me. the guy has played like 20 games this season. this is a joke.
Kobe should definitely be considered, though, probably a top 3 or 4. I don't see Billups or Brand winning. Chauncy's #'s are definitely improved, but the Pistons are such a team....you get rid of Chauncy, they are still a top 4 team in the East. Plus Nash's numbers are better and he is so much more important to his team - though, granted he really doesn't play defense still. Brand's having a great year, but if the Clippers slip anymore, his votes will dissapear. If the Lakers finish around the Clippers, there really isn't a good argument that Kobe shouldn't get more votes. My personal choice is Lebron. The Cavs are a top 4 team in the East. The Cavs are definitely NOT playoff bound without Lebron. Lebron's all around stats are better than Kobe's in almost every category, except PPG. And while one could argue that Lebron has more help, as has already been mentioned in this thread, the Cavs offseason signings aren't really exploding either and as good as Z can be, and as much as people complain about Odom, their stats are eerily similiar. You could even argue that Odom is having an equal year, given his passing ability and superior rebounding and defensive athleticism. Statistically, Lebron is having one of the best all around seasons since MJ in the late 80's/early 90's. Dirk may get more votes than usual given the Mavs record, but I'd argue their success this season is as much about other players picking up their games, and Avery Johnson's coaching, then Dirk, who is having no better a year than he normally does.
Its like you took the words right out of my of my keyboard! Let's also not forget about Earl WatsonSteven Hunter
