Post by 20/20/20/20 on Aug 6, 2010 21:56:52 GMT -5
We have reached the midpoint of the 2002 season. Let's hand out some hardware!
Top 5 Stories of 2002:
5. M*A*S*H Unit
Injuries have played a major role in the 2002 season, with an inordinate amount of injuries to star players directly affecting the standings. Star players such as Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady, Karl Malone, Jermaine O'Neal, Zach Randolph, and Kevin Garnett have all suffered setbacks that kept them out for multiple games. A fractured skull left the Nuggets without Randolph for half their season. Allen Iverson has had multiple injuries. In the case of O'Neal, the Bulls lost him for the season, effectively ending their playoff and championship hopes. The Bulls have been hit harder by than any other team when it comes to injuries, with O'Neal, McGrady, and Iverson all going down at one time or another. Bad luck and poor medical staffs have lead to tons of star players missing games in 2002.
4. Michael Who?
After winning the 2001 TMBSL championship, the Raptors suffered a great loss. Michael Jordan decided to call it quits. The greatest player of all time was done, and the Raptors were left scrambling. Still an incredibly talented squad, there were questions about how the Raptors would respond. Toronto has been just fine without His Airness, as the Raptors own TMBSL's best record at the midway point (28-8).
Kobe Bryant has led the way, stepping up his game in Jordan's absence. The improved Kobe is leading TMBSL in scoring at 35.3 PPG, 4 points ahead of the competition. Bryant has really stepped up his leadership role without MJ looking over his shoulder and the Raptors are officially Bryant's team. No MJ? No problem.
3. A Full Tank
Coming in as the 3rd biggest story of the season so far is just how many teams have decided to tank the 2002 season. Numerous teams were planning on tanking going into 2002, and even more teams have decided mid-season that they were going to throw their efforts into losing in hopes of securing a high draft pick. Teams such as Golden State, Miami, Sacramento, Memphis, New York, and now Dallas sold off their assets for young players or picks in hopes of landing one of the coveted prizes in this year's draft. You might ask yourself "why this much excitement about the draft?" Which leads us into the #2 story of the first half...
2. Royal Class
The 2003 draft class has been long anticipated as a once in a lifetime type of draft class. With so much hype and anticipation, there were some owners who had predicted this class would be a letdown and some of the top talents would opt for college and enter a draft in the future.
Well, the hype delivered. All of the top prospects have officially put their names into the draft and this class will be everything it was advertised as. The 2003 class features players such as LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Darko Milicic, Carlos Boozer, and more. This class is not only extremely strong at the top, it also boasts above average depth. Teams who were building for the 2003 draft should be pleased with the players in the pool. Now, they have one more leap to overcome in that pesky lottery...
1. East Coast Bias
A hot topic recently has been the dominance of the Eastern conference. An undeniable gap exists between the East and the West, and recent moves have only widened that gap. The shocking trade of Western conference superstar Tim Duncan to the Detroit Pistons is yet another example of the rich getting richer.
One would think this has to stop at some point. But currently, it looks like the East will be stacked for years to come. Contenders in the East will simply have to suck it up and give it their best, while the top teams out West have to be counting their blessings daily.
MVP:
5. Steve Francis - 26.5 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 9.6 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.2 BPG - 46.2 FG%, 45.6 3PT%
He may be stuck on a rebuilding team, but Francis' numbers are simply too obscene to ignore. The highlight of the season for Francis came in a win over Washington, where he put up this stat-line: 27 points, 21 assists, 12 rebounds, on 11-17 shooting (5-7 from 3). The Franchise has certainly lived up to his nickname for the Knicks this season.
4. Chris Webber - 29.6 PPG, 12.1 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.2 SPG, 1.5 BPG - 49.9 FG%
Clearly the best player on one of the top teams in the East, Webber can make a strong argument for not only being in the top 5, but actually winning the MVP award. There is not one thing Webber does not do well, his numbers are crazy across the board. 1+ steal and 1+ block per game for a big man is very impressive, not to mention his 30 and 12 he gives you nightly. Webber has lead the Celtics to a tie for the best record in the East at the midway point and he would be a fine choice as MVP.
3. Vince Carter - 27 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.3 BPG - 46. FG%, 38.5 3PT%
Carter has had a monster season for the Rockets who currently sit atop the West. In addition to scoring 27 a game, Carter puts up very high rebound and assist numbers for a SG. Vince is the leader of the Rockets team who many consider a potential title team, and he is one of the leading candidates for the MVP.
2. Alonzo Mourning - 30.0 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.2 SPG, 4.9 APG - 48.5 FG%
If it wasn't for Kobe Bryant, Zo would be a runaway choice as MVP. Even with a guy like Kobe out there, one can make a fantastic case for Mourning as the MVP. He has fantastic offensive numbers as one of only 3 guys in the league scoring 30 points per game. But where Alonzo really sets himself apart is on the defensive end. The guy is blocking 4.9 shots per game. His next competition is at 3.1.... he blocks 50% more shots than the 2nd highest shot blocker in the league. Add in that he grabs 1.2 steals a game and you have the league's best defender.
1. Kobe Bryant - 35.3 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 4.6 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.5 BPG - 51.3 FG%, 46.5 3PT%
No surprise here. Kobe Bryant has clearly established himself as the league's MVP in 2002. The guy leads TMBSL in scoring and has lead his team to the league's best record. The most amazing part of Kobe's game is that he is shooting 51.3% as a SG. That is simply unheard of for a guy who is pouring in 35 a game. Combine all the elements of Kobe's game together and there isn't much of an argument that he shouldn't be this year's MVP.
Rookie of the Year
5. Dajuan Wagner - Right now he doesn't do anything but score, but he sure can fill it up. Anytime a guy is putting up 19 points in 28 minutes per game, he deserves a spot in the top 5. Needs to cut down on the turnovers and work on other aspects of his game if he wants to become a star in this league.
4. Ryan Humphrey - Steal of the draft is producing 11 and 8 nightly while blocking 3 shots a game! Has played a big role for the playoff bound Lakers.
3. Jay Williams - Showing tons of poise for a rookie PG. Easy to see the talent that made him the 4th pick in the draft. Jay is averaging 13, 5 and 5 as a rookie PG.
2. Amar'e Stoudemire - Everyone knew that Amare would score. He came into the league with one talent already developed and that was his ability to put the ball in the bucket. He has not disappointed for the Suns by averaging 24 and 7 per game.
1. Yao Ming - Yao was the consensus #1 prospect in the draft and he is performing like it. There were some detractors who suggested that Yao would be a bust, but that has turned out to be false so far. Sim Yao is averaging 24 and 10 and has turned the Nets into a legit title contender.
Defensive POY:
Alonzo Mourning, Denver Nuggets - No one else is close. 4.9 blocks and 1.2 steals on average. Insane.
Most Improved Player:
5. Eddie Griffin - Griffin's numbers might not look too different at first glance, but he has clearly improved his game in two ways. His defense has taken huge strides and he now swats 3.1 shots per game compared to 1.8 the prior year. Secondly, Griffin has developed a real outside game. He has already made more 3s this year than all of last season, and Eddie is shooting 43% from downtown, up from 31% last season.
4. Keyon Dooling - All Keyon Dooling ever wanted was a chance. Well, he got his chance this year and is making the most of it. After getting traded to Memphis, Dooling is seeing twice as many minutes this year, and has responded by upping his PPG from 5 to over 17! Dooling's field goal percentage has also been on the rise: from 40.8% to 45.8%.
3. Kobe Bryant - You might think this is an odd choice, but superstars can improve too. Kobe has improved his shooting from 49 to 51 percent while adding 12 points a game (from 23 to 35) to his scoring average. Guy went from one of the top 15 players in the game to the best player in the game.
2. Kenny Thomas - Thomas' numbers have skyrocketed this year, mostly due to more playing time. The power forward couldn't get off the bench for the Eastern Conference Powerhouse Hornets last season and was traded to the Warriors before 2002 begun. After putting up 20 and 8 for the Warriors, Kenny has become a sought after commodity as he has been traded 3 times this season, most recently as a part of the infamous Tim Duncan trade.
1. Michael Redd - This transformation has been incredible. Redd is like a completely different player this year for the Celtics. Averaging 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists per game, along with 1.5 steals, Michael Redd has become one of the best off guards in the league. He is a fantastic shooter as well, connecting on 51% of his shots and 47% of his threes. Quite different from last year when he was regarded as a disappointment and overdraft as a 1st round creation draft selection. He has silenced any of those doubters with a fantastic 2002.
All League
1st Team:
C: Alonzo Mourning
PF: Chris Webber
SF: Grant Hill
SG: Kobe Bryant
PG: Steve Francis
2nd Team:
C: Shaquille O'Neal
PF: Tim Duncan
SF: Dirk Nowitzki
SG: Vince Carter
PG: Sam Cassell
3rd Team:
C: Yao Ming
PF: Antonio McDyess
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SF: Rashard Lewis
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SG: Eddie Jones
PG: Jason Kidd
All Defensive:
1st Team:
C: Alonzo Mourning
PF: Eddie Griffin
SF: Shawn Marion
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SG: Eddie Jones
PG: Gary Payton
2nd Team:
C: Theo Ratliff
PF: Raef LaFrentz
SF: Shane Battier
SG: Kobe Bryant
PG: Terrell Brandon
All Rookie Team:
C: Yao Ming
PF: Amare Stoudemire
SF: Tayshaun Prince
SG: Dajuan Wagner
PG: Jay Williams
Top 5 Stories of 2002:
5. M*A*S*H Unit
Injuries have played a major role in the 2002 season, with an inordinate amount of injuries to star players directly affecting the standings. Star players such as Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady, Karl Malone, Jermaine O'Neal, Zach Randolph, and Kevin Garnett have all suffered setbacks that kept them out for multiple games. A fractured skull left the Nuggets without Randolph for half their season. Allen Iverson has had multiple injuries. In the case of O'Neal, the Bulls lost him for the season, effectively ending their playoff and championship hopes. The Bulls have been hit harder by than any other team when it comes to injuries, with O'Neal, McGrady, and Iverson all going down at one time or another. Bad luck and poor medical staffs have lead to tons of star players missing games in 2002.
4. Michael Who?
After winning the 2001 TMBSL championship, the Raptors suffered a great loss. Michael Jordan decided to call it quits. The greatest player of all time was done, and the Raptors were left scrambling. Still an incredibly talented squad, there were questions about how the Raptors would respond. Toronto has been just fine without His Airness, as the Raptors own TMBSL's best record at the midway point (28-8).
Kobe Bryant has led the way, stepping up his game in Jordan's absence. The improved Kobe is leading TMBSL in scoring at 35.3 PPG, 4 points ahead of the competition. Bryant has really stepped up his leadership role without MJ looking over his shoulder and the Raptors are officially Bryant's team. No MJ? No problem.
3. A Full Tank
Coming in as the 3rd biggest story of the season so far is just how many teams have decided to tank the 2002 season. Numerous teams were planning on tanking going into 2002, and even more teams have decided mid-season that they were going to throw their efforts into losing in hopes of securing a high draft pick. Teams such as Golden State, Miami, Sacramento, Memphis, New York, and now Dallas sold off their assets for young players or picks in hopes of landing one of the coveted prizes in this year's draft. You might ask yourself "why this much excitement about the draft?" Which leads us into the #2 story of the first half...
2. Royal Class
The 2003 draft class has been long anticipated as a once in a lifetime type of draft class. With so much hype and anticipation, there were some owners who had predicted this class would be a letdown and some of the top talents would opt for college and enter a draft in the future.
Well, the hype delivered. All of the top prospects have officially put their names into the draft and this class will be everything it was advertised as. The 2003 class features players such as LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Darko Milicic, Carlos Boozer, and more. This class is not only extremely strong at the top, it also boasts above average depth. Teams who were building for the 2003 draft should be pleased with the players in the pool. Now, they have one more leap to overcome in that pesky lottery...
1. East Coast Bias
A hot topic recently has been the dominance of the Eastern conference. An undeniable gap exists between the East and the West, and recent moves have only widened that gap. The shocking trade of Western conference superstar Tim Duncan to the Detroit Pistons is yet another example of the rich getting richer.
One would think this has to stop at some point. But currently, it looks like the East will be stacked for years to come. Contenders in the East will simply have to suck it up and give it their best, while the top teams out West have to be counting their blessings daily.
MVP:
5. Steve Francis - 26.5 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 9.6 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.2 BPG - 46.2 FG%, 45.6 3PT%
He may be stuck on a rebuilding team, but Francis' numbers are simply too obscene to ignore. The highlight of the season for Francis came in a win over Washington, where he put up this stat-line: 27 points, 21 assists, 12 rebounds, on 11-17 shooting (5-7 from 3). The Franchise has certainly lived up to his nickname for the Knicks this season.
4. Chris Webber - 29.6 PPG, 12.1 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.2 SPG, 1.5 BPG - 49.9 FG%
Clearly the best player on one of the top teams in the East, Webber can make a strong argument for not only being in the top 5, but actually winning the MVP award. There is not one thing Webber does not do well, his numbers are crazy across the board. 1+ steal and 1+ block per game for a big man is very impressive, not to mention his 30 and 12 he gives you nightly. Webber has lead the Celtics to a tie for the best record in the East at the midway point and he would be a fine choice as MVP.
3. Vince Carter - 27 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.3 BPG - 46. FG%, 38.5 3PT%
Carter has had a monster season for the Rockets who currently sit atop the West. In addition to scoring 27 a game, Carter puts up very high rebound and assist numbers for a SG. Vince is the leader of the Rockets team who many consider a potential title team, and he is one of the leading candidates for the MVP.
2. Alonzo Mourning - 30.0 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.2 SPG, 4.9 APG - 48.5 FG%
If it wasn't for Kobe Bryant, Zo would be a runaway choice as MVP. Even with a guy like Kobe out there, one can make a fantastic case for Mourning as the MVP. He has fantastic offensive numbers as one of only 3 guys in the league scoring 30 points per game. But where Alonzo really sets himself apart is on the defensive end. The guy is blocking 4.9 shots per game. His next competition is at 3.1.... he blocks 50% more shots than the 2nd highest shot blocker in the league. Add in that he grabs 1.2 steals a game and you have the league's best defender.
1. Kobe Bryant - 35.3 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 4.6 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.5 BPG - 51.3 FG%, 46.5 3PT%
No surprise here. Kobe Bryant has clearly established himself as the league's MVP in 2002. The guy leads TMBSL in scoring and has lead his team to the league's best record. The most amazing part of Kobe's game is that he is shooting 51.3% as a SG. That is simply unheard of for a guy who is pouring in 35 a game. Combine all the elements of Kobe's game together and there isn't much of an argument that he shouldn't be this year's MVP.
Rookie of the Year
5. Dajuan Wagner - Right now he doesn't do anything but score, but he sure can fill it up. Anytime a guy is putting up 19 points in 28 minutes per game, he deserves a spot in the top 5. Needs to cut down on the turnovers and work on other aspects of his game if he wants to become a star in this league.
4. Ryan Humphrey - Steal of the draft is producing 11 and 8 nightly while blocking 3 shots a game! Has played a big role for the playoff bound Lakers.
3. Jay Williams - Showing tons of poise for a rookie PG. Easy to see the talent that made him the 4th pick in the draft. Jay is averaging 13, 5 and 5 as a rookie PG.
2. Amar'e Stoudemire - Everyone knew that Amare would score. He came into the league with one talent already developed and that was his ability to put the ball in the bucket. He has not disappointed for the Suns by averaging 24 and 7 per game.
1. Yao Ming - Yao was the consensus #1 prospect in the draft and he is performing like it. There were some detractors who suggested that Yao would be a bust, but that has turned out to be false so far. Sim Yao is averaging 24 and 10 and has turned the Nets into a legit title contender.
Defensive POY:
Alonzo Mourning, Denver Nuggets - No one else is close. 4.9 blocks and 1.2 steals on average. Insane.
Most Improved Player:
5. Eddie Griffin - Griffin's numbers might not look too different at first glance, but he has clearly improved his game in two ways. His defense has taken huge strides and he now swats 3.1 shots per game compared to 1.8 the prior year. Secondly, Griffin has developed a real outside game. He has already made more 3s this year than all of last season, and Eddie is shooting 43% from downtown, up from 31% last season.
4. Keyon Dooling - All Keyon Dooling ever wanted was a chance. Well, he got his chance this year and is making the most of it. After getting traded to Memphis, Dooling is seeing twice as many minutes this year, and has responded by upping his PPG from 5 to over 17! Dooling's field goal percentage has also been on the rise: from 40.8% to 45.8%.
3. Kobe Bryant - You might think this is an odd choice, but superstars can improve too. Kobe has improved his shooting from 49 to 51 percent while adding 12 points a game (from 23 to 35) to his scoring average. Guy went from one of the top 15 players in the game to the best player in the game.
2. Kenny Thomas - Thomas' numbers have skyrocketed this year, mostly due to more playing time. The power forward couldn't get off the bench for the Eastern Conference Powerhouse Hornets last season and was traded to the Warriors before 2002 begun. After putting up 20 and 8 for the Warriors, Kenny has become a sought after commodity as he has been traded 3 times this season, most recently as a part of the infamous Tim Duncan trade.
1. Michael Redd - This transformation has been incredible. Redd is like a completely different player this year for the Celtics. Averaging 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists per game, along with 1.5 steals, Michael Redd has become one of the best off guards in the league. He is a fantastic shooter as well, connecting on 51% of his shots and 47% of his threes. Quite different from last year when he was regarded as a disappointment and overdraft as a 1st round creation draft selection. He has silenced any of those doubters with a fantastic 2002.
All League
1st Team:
C: Alonzo Mourning PF: Chris Webber SF: Grant Hill SG: Kobe Bryant PG: Steve Francis2nd Team:
C: Shaquille O'Neal PF: Tim Duncan SF: Dirk Nowitzki SG: Vince Carter PG: Sam Cassell3rd Team:
C: Yao Ming PF: Antonio McDyess PG: Jason KiddAll Defensive:
1st Team:
C: Alonzo Mourning PF: Eddie Griffin SF: Shawn Marion PG: Gary Payton2nd Team:
C: Theo Ratliff PF: Raef LaFrentz SF: Shane Battier SG: Kobe Bryant PG: Terrell BrandonAll Rookie Team:
C: Yao Ming PF: Amare Stoudemire SF: Tayshaun Prince SG: Dajuan WagnerPG: Jay Williams
