David Aldridge: Some difficult choices found in this batch of award winners

Lengthy article with prelimanary awards list and winners.
David snubs both LMA for MIP and Nate for COY
Also interviews LMA about his year and the Blazers.

about 1 year ago dpnim 13 comments 1 recs |

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I'll be frustrated if Derrick Rose wins MVP and Tom T. gets snubbed for COY. To me, that'd be a travesty.

For one thing, the NBA MVP this year should hands down be Dwight Howard; he’s markedly more valuable to the Orlando Magic than any other single player is to their respective team. Also, if there was a Most Productive Player Award, it’d undoubtedly go to LeBron James, who’s still a dominant force statistically.

Regarding MIP, it’s probably a toss-up between Kevin Love and LaMarcus Aldridge. Quite frankly, though, I don’t really care who wins it, as that’s a rather meaningless award to some degree.

Back to the COY Award, I’d probably vote for Tom T. first, Doug Collins second, George Karl third, Monty Williams fourth, and Gregg Popovich fifth. So yeah, Nate McMillan doesn’t even crack my top five.

"They say it has no memory. That’s where I want to live the rest of my life. A warm place with no memory."

by AK1984 on Apr 11, 2011 10:09 AM PDT reply actions

disagree

/cambyfive

by CroRupt on Apr 11, 2011 11:24 AM PDT up reply actions

In Orlando

the offense is built around Dwight Howard, but it basically functions the same way with any other big man (like when they had Gortaat it worked the same way). So Howard is valuable because the offense is set up to make him valuable.

Rose on the other hand… he has elevated his teammates to a level that Howard cannot do by just providing space for shooters… no, Rose runs an entire offense. The offense runs the way he wants it to. He has elevated players like Noah and Deng to beyond what they could be.

I vote Rose!

by CaptainSexyJacob on Apr 11, 2011 4:35 PM PDT up reply actions

You make it sound like you're giving it to Rose for being a good point guard.

“[Player X] on the other hand… he has elevated his teammates to a level that Howard cannot do by just providing space for shooters… no, [Player X] runs an entire offense. The offense runs the way he wants it to. He has elevated players like [Players Y and Z] to beyond what they could be.”

That sounds like Andre Miller. Miller has led the Blazers to the 10th best offense and Rose has led the Bulls to the 11th best offense.

Of course Rose is a far better player/candidate than Andre Miller, but I have to say that Rose’s MVP case doesn’t seem that strong to me. The Bulls are arguably the best team, and Rose is the best player on the team by leading the offense. The Bulls, however, are special overall because of defense and strong bench play.

Rose winning wouldn’t bother me though since he really is becoming a great player. I just think he’s not the MVP.

by poster on Apr 11, 2011 7:02 PM PDT up reply actions

I love Marcin Gortat, but his +/- #s in Orlando were bad compared to Dwight Howard for a reason.

2010-2011
2009-2010
2008-2009
2007-2008

Look, a few guys out there can mirror what Derrick Rose has done this year in Chicago — such as Russell Westbrook, who could take over in Chi-Town with the Bulls not missing a beat — however, there’s not one active player in the NBA who’s able to duplicate what Howard brings to the table.

The Bulls have got two big things to thank for it being the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference this season, which is coaching and defense. After that, Rose’s ability to be a high-usage guard who can run an above average offense comes in as the third most important aspect. Heck, I contend replacing Rose with Chris Paul would’ve improved the Bulls win-loss record by 2 to 3 games on the season.

"They say it has no memory. That’s where I want to live the rest of my life. A warm place with no memory."

by AK1984 on Apr 12, 2011 3:21 AM PDT up reply actions

Wait a minute, you don't like Nate McMillan!?

Thanks for your top five btw. I know everyone here has been losing sleep waiting for you to let it out.

No one in the world can beat me at RBI baseball 3(nes).

by svlittle on Apr 12, 2011 3:18 AM PDT up reply actions

Not that anyone cares, but here's how I'd vote.

MVP: Dwight Howard
COY: Tom Thibodeau
MIP: LaMarcus Aldridge
ROY: Blake Griffin
6th Man: Lamar Odom
DPOY: Dwight Howard

Just like the All-Star voting, however, there is no specific criteria involved, so the results are often very subjective.

"Nicolas! You're the strongest boy in the world!"

by ericking on Apr 11, 2011 11:51 AM PDT reply actions

Me next!

MVP: Derrick Rose
COY: Tom Thibodeau
MIP: LaMarcus Aldridge
ROY: Blake Griffin
6th Man: George Hill
DPOY: Dwight Howard

by CaptainSexyJacob on Apr 11, 2011 4:41 PM PDT up reply actions

just about the same list here

MVP:Howard
COY: Collins
MIP: Aldridge
ROY: Griffin
6th Man: Odom
DPOY: Howard

while i like rose a lot, the main difference on the chicago bulls this season is the additon of the utah jazz trio (boozer, korver, brewer) trio, and a few less injuries. howard hands down the most important player to his team. lebron shouldn’t even enter the discussion.

collins over thibby as coach of the year is tough choice, but he has much less talent to work with.

aldridge by a tad over westbrook as most improved. westbrook may be more important than durant to his team.

by utahcoyote on Apr 12, 2011 11:42 AM PDT up reply actions

williams from 76ers for odom as 6th man had some merit, but odom just does too many things.

by utahcoyote on Apr 12, 2011 11:47 AM PDT up reply actions

The only award that matters to me

Is hanging that championship banner up in the rafters of the Rose Garden.

Does Aldridge deserve MIP? You bet, but the people who vote are going to go off of stats only.
If Nate didn’t win COY last year, he wasn’t this year.
Frankly, Collins deserves it hands down. He took a team that was, what, 3-13? Now they’re in the playoffs and have a bright future. I expected them to be on the bottom of the 30 NBA teams this year. Not part of the sweet 16.

by sacredcow on Apr 11, 2011 1:06 PM PDT reply actions