Mutombo, as I expected, wins Defensive player of the year.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news/ap/20010424/ap-76ers-mutombo-defensiveplayer.html

I figured after Ratliff and Mourning went down, he would get it.


PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Dikembe Mutombo realized early in his basketball career that he wasn't going to make a living scoring points. He's done quite well preventing them.

Mutombo, acquired by the Philadelphia 76ers in a midseason trade, won his fourth NBA Defensive Player of the Year award on Monday. No other player has more than two.

``Coach (John) Thompson told me at Georgetown, 'Son, when it goes up, go get the ball,''' Mutombo said, explaining that offensive rebounds are his best way to get shots because teammates don't look for him to score.

Mutombo received 48 of a possible 123 votes from a panel of sports writers and broadcasters.

Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves was second with 26 votes, followed by Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs with 14.

When the season started, Mutombo wasn't thinking about awards or championships. His goal was to get back on the court.

During a September trip to the Congo, his native country, Mutombo contracted a mild case of malaria. He was hospitalized during the preseason and missed the first five games of the season.

But he returned to play for Atlanta, then was dealt to the Sixers at the trading deadline in a six-player deal that sent All-Star Theo Ratliff and Toni Kukoc to the Hawks,

``This whole season has been a blessing,'' Mutombo said. ``There was no thought in my mind I would have this successful a year.''

Mutombo led the league in rebounding at 13.5 per game and was fifth in blocked shots with 2.71.

In 26 games with the 76ers following the trade, he had four or more blocks nine times, and on March 9 against the Hawks, he recorded a season-high nine blocks.

``He's been tremendous, everything we expected when we got him,'' Sixers coach Larry Brown said of his center.

Mutombo averaged 10 points and was third in defensive rebounds with 708. He finished the season sixth on the NBA's career blocked shots list with 2,646.

Now his main focus is helping the Sixers get past the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Indiana's stunning 79-78 victory in Saturday's opener took home-court advantage away from Philadelphia.

``They're a good team, but I don't believe they should beat us,'' said Mutombo, who had 12 points, 22 rebounds and five blocks in Game 1.

Mutombo first won the Defensive Player of the Year Award in 1995 with Denver, then won with Atlanta in 1997 and '98, becoming the first player to win it three times since it was first handed out in 1983.

Alonzo Mourning of Miami, winner of the award the past two years, sat out most of this season with a kidney ailment.

Other two-time winners were: Sidney Moncrief (1983-84), Mark Eaton (1985,'89), Dennis Rodman (1990-91) and Hakeem Olajuwon (1993-94).

``I don't believe offense wins games,'' Mutombo said. ``Defense wins games.''

Mutombo, originally drafted by the Denver Nuggets out of Georgetown with the No. 4 overall pick in the 1991 draft, is in the final year of a five-year contract he signed with Atlanta in 1996.

The Sixers have every intention of keeping him, and he says he's happy to be in Philadelphia.

``Everything worked out for me,'' Mutombo said. ``This organizations has the will to win, to be successful for many years.''




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HEAD KNIGHT:
We are now... no longer the Knights Who Say 'Ni'.
KNIGHTS OF NI:
Ni! Shh!
HEAD KNIGHT:
Shh! We are now the Knights Who Say 'Ecky- ecky- ecky- ecky- pikang- zoop- boing- goodem- zoo- owli- zhiv'.

 

A lot of it also is his ability to alter shots, and grab a TON of rebounds.

He is a glass cleaner. I can't argue with the decision.



------------------
HEAD KNIGHT:
We are now... no longer the Knights Who Say 'Ni'.
KNIGHTS OF NI:
Ni! Shh!
HEAD KNIGHT:
Shh! We are now the Knights Who Say 'Ecky- ecky- ecky- ecky- pikang- zoop- boing- goodem- zoo- owli- zhiv'.

 

Dream eats everyone alive, what's your point?

Mutombo is a good on the ball defender down low. I can't think of anyone that does it better, besides Mourning maybe, and Dream in his prime.

Heck, I don't even like the guy, but he deserved this award.


------------------
HEAD KNIGHT:
We are now... no longer the Knights Who Say 'Ni'.
KNIGHTS OF NI:
Ni! Shh!
HEAD KNIGHT:
Shh! We are now the Knights Who Say 'Ecky- ecky- ecky- ecky- pikang- zoop- boing- goodem- zoo- owli- zhiv'.