NBA Beat: Writers offer hints of year-end awards to come By Mike Triplett Bee Staff Writer (Published April 16, 2000) The voting is unofficial, and only 20 of the 29 precincts reported, but one poll of beat writers throughout the league provided some interesting results nonetheless. Doc vs. Phil. Brand vs. Francis. Shaq vs. ... OK, Shaq will win. Here is a taste of what else is to come: MVP Twenty beat writers voted, and 20 of them voted Shaq. The most dominant player in the NBA is also its most valuable, no ifs, ands or 7-foot-2, 360-pound butts about it. Kings forward Chris Webber, however, who at the time of the All-Star break was considered by many to be O'Neal's top competition, finished seventh in MVP voting. Rounding out the top five were: Miami center Alonzo Mourning, Minnesota forward Kevin Garnett, Utah forward Karl Malone, and, tied at fifth, Philadelphia guard Allen Iverson and Seattle guard Gary Payton. All-NBA teams O'Neal was also a unanimous first-teamer at center, the only choice so popular. Seattle's Payton was on 19 first-team ballots and joined Iverson on the first-team ballot, although Iverson received only nine first-team votes. The first-team forwards were Garnett, who was named on 17 first-team ballots, and San Antonio's Tim Duncan, who was listed on nine first-team ballots. Forward is clearly the most interesting of the All-NBA races, since six forwards are among the top 10 MVP vote-getters. In this balloting, Malone (with 10 first-team votes) and Detroit's Grant Hill (two first-team votes) earned second-team all-NBA honors. They joined Mourning, a unanimous second-team choice, Phoenix guard Jason Kidd (seven first-team votes) and Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (five first-team votes). Webber narrowly missed out on the second team with two first-team votes. He joined Toronto's Vince Carter (no first-team votes) on the third team. Charlotte guard Eddie Jones and New Jersey guard Stephon Marbury -- who didn't even make the East's All-Star roster -- were the third-team guards. And there was a tie between San Antonio center David Robinson and Atlanta's Dikembe Mutombo with seven third-team votes apiece. Coach of the Year This race will be a lot more interesting than some might expect. Eleven of the 20 voters went against the grain by voting first-year Orlando coach Doc Rivers the coach of the year. He might lose steam if his Orlando Magic does not make the playoffs, though. The other nine votes went to L.A.'s savior, Phil Jackson. Rookie of the Year Another down-to-the-wire finish had Houston's Steve Francis making up for not being selected first in the NBA draft. The second overall pick received 10 votes while first overall pick -- Chicago's Elton Brand -- received nine votes. Utah point guard Andre Miller received the other vote. Sixth Man of the Year In a runaway, Phoenix forward Rodney Rogers received 18 votes for the award, showing he adjusted nicely to a reserve role after "starring" with the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers in years past. Toronto's Tracy McGrady and New York's Marcus Camby each received a vote. Most Improved Player Rogers received only one vote in this category, hinting that he might not repeat the success of last year's dual award winner, Darrell Armstrong of Orlando. However, the votes gave no clear picture of who the winner will be. Three votes apiece went to Detroit's Jerry Stackhouse, Indiana's Jalen Rose and Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki. McGrady and Indiana's Austin Croshere each received two votes. And Rogers was joined with one vote by Cleveland's Bob Sura, Orlando's John Amaechi, Toronto's Carter, Seattle's Ruben Patterson and the Kings' Peja Stojakovic (from a non-Sacramento media member). Only 19 votes were cast. Defensive Player of the Year Dominant Miami center Mourning impressed more with his defense than his offense, apparently, and beat out Shaq for this award in a landslide, piling on 13 votes. Payton received two votes, while O'Neal, Portland's Scottie Pippen, Mutombo and Jones received one vote apiece. Only 19 votes were cast. Executive of the Year Orlando's John Gabriel, for a combination of clearing cap space for next season, finding low-priced gems like Amaechi and Chucky Atkins, and for hiring the inexperienced Rivers as coach, won handily, earning 11 of 14 votes cast. Toronto's Glen Grunwald, Phoenix's Jerry Colangelo and Portland's Bob Whitsitt received one vote each. Stern takes offense The hot topic in Sacramento call-in sports radio shows has been referees -- more specifically, conspiracy theories suggesting the NBA has its say on the outcomes of basketball games. The same topic heated up in Indiana after a no-call last week in which Knicks center Patrick Ewing tipped in a Larry Johnson three-pointer that was counted as a made three. Official JoeyCrawford admitted after seeing film that he made a mistake, but the Pacers were not satisfied. "They cheated us," Pacers guard Reggie Miller said. "I don't know if it's a small-market thing or what, but we'll never get the benefit-of-the-doubt calls like New York, L.A., Miami and the big-market teams." The league has long been accused of favoritism in whispers and fans' complaints. Commissioner David Stern tried to shoot such accusations down on a conference call last week. "Officials have blown calls against large-market teams, too," said Stern, who also denied that the league wants New York in the NBA Finals for better TV ratings. "It's not good for TV ratings. Indiana's a great television attraction. Go back and check your Nielsen ratings. So you're going to have to come up with a better one than that. The answer is that the beauty of our event is defined by the talent and the ability of the teams that get there. "My biggest concern is, you've just asked a very gentle question in the nature of accusing me of a crime, whether you realize it or not. You're accusing me of a crime, and my officiating staff. ... It's not true." Rivers takes a shot Rivers, the mild-mannered coach of Orlando, didn't say much after Milwaukee coach George Karl ripped into Magic president Gabriel, saying Gabriel is showing no loyalty to the current players who are leading the team on a playoff run as he prepares to bring in free agents next year. Bur Rivers didn't let Karl off: "I just think it's unprofessional to make comments like that about other people's management," Rivers said. "Maybe if I was in his position, with two All-Stars and predicted to be in the top five, then maybe I'd make those kind of comments. But everything is fair in war. I still respect George 100 percent. The only thing I don't respect with George is the T-shirt/sport coat combination." Jackson's mind games Lakers coach Jackson has already started trying to get in the head of potential second-round opponent San Antonio by suggesting that the Spurs need an asterisk next to their 1999 championship because it came in a lockout-shortened season. Said Spurs center Robinson: "I guess I'm going to have to have an asterisk etched into my ring." Spurs coach Gregg Popovich called Jackson's comments "childish," and guard Terry Porter said, "I would like to see if all that Zen stuff would work in Vancouver or Dallas." Beat writers in other NBA cities contributed to this report. ------------------ if you are reading this signature because you are looking for something funny or witty to make you chuckle you have been fooled because this is the most unfunny and unwitty signature ever but i find it absolutely hilarious that you've read it this far
