NBA FanHouse

NBA MVP Rankings: Can LBJ Repeat?

Tom Ziller — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Cavaliers, Hawks, Heat, Lakers, Mavericks, Raptors, NBA Awards

Every few weeks, FanHouse will offer a writer's opinion on the current NBA MVP Rankings. This time, Tom Ziller gives his top 20 through the season's first four weeks, as well as an assessment of the multitude of rookie point guards.

1. LeBron James, Cleveland. The Chosen One won his fairy tale Podoloff last season before embarking on the Summer of 'Bron, but missed out on the real prize, the O'Brien. This season, with the Finals on his mind and free agency taking up slot No. 2, LeBron doesn't exactly seem to be gunning for a repeat MVP coronation. But who cares? The offseason shooting work worked: James is matching his '08-09 scoring average (28 points a game) on two fewer FGAs, owing to a much improved jumper. Thirty-six percent from long range? Be afraid, America.

2. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas. My brosef Bethlehem Shoals has handed Dirk the early season lead, and with good reason: the Mavericks are smoking, and Nowitzki's the ringleader. Dirk can and will shoot more efficiently, but don't forget that because he primarily shoots jumpers he rarely coughs up turnovers (just 18 through 12 games). He's also rebounding like a champ, and forcing flashbacks to his '06-07 MVP season.

3. Chris Bosh, Toronto. The Raptors can't quite put it together as a team, though there are signs of a pending breakthrough. But Bosh has it together individually, and he's shattering the old definition of Bosh. Playing two fewer minutes a game in the high-octane Toronto attack, Bosh is averaging an extra four points (with just one extra FGA) and almost four more rebounds a night. Call this the Chris Paul Memorial "Outshone by Ridiculousness" Third-Place Award, for now.

4. Josh Smith, Atlanta. Speaking of putting it altogether, a la Bosh. Smith abandoned the three (for the most part) and took over the paint. His field goal percentage is outrageous (56 percent, compared with 45 percent career), his rebounding has been stellar and he has regained the indefatigable blocking spirit missing from the soulless but successful '08-09 campaign. It's like the exclamatory Smith from Atlanta's lean years has found a way to exist within the framework of team success. And it is GLORIOUS.

5. Dwyane Wade, Miami. Wade will probably never win a Podoloff -- he's already 28, LeBron has gone into full-on Madman mode, and the next wave is ready to rise up -- and he has definitely relaxed a bit from that psychotic '08-09 bit. Of course, this is because he has more, better help, especially on defense (Jermaine O'Neal is downright spry). Still, 27/5/5? Not sane.

6. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles. This ranking is too low for the extraordinary Bryant, but that's owed more to the excellence above than anything Kobe has done. The Mamba is shooting more frequently than anyone in the league (excluding Antawn Jamison's night of infamy), and he's making plenty of his attempts. The surprising thing in the pre-Gasol games has been Kobe's lack of assists. He's at 2.9 per game right now, the lowest level since he was 19 years old. And even then he averaged 2.5 per game ... in 13 fewer minutes a night. With Kobe's scoring where it is, it's not a huge problem. But it bears monitoring. So, you know, we can call him selfish the next time there's a two-game losing streak.

7. Brandon Roy, Portland. Like Dirk, Roy's shooting looks a bit off in the ledger right now, but that's owed to a slow start amid the Blake-Miller media malaise. Now that 'Dre is in charge, Roy is back, with the Blazers on his back. Like Dirk Part II, Roy is sure as Brevin Knight (slight exaggeration) with the rock, only giving up two turnovers a night despite 15 shots, seven free throws and five assists. That is some ridiculous ball efficiency. Naismith weeps in joy.

8. Carmelo Anthony, Denver. 'Melo has made a mockery of his rep, coalescing last season's defense/periphery-focused approach with his original Murderous Scorer persona to create some jacked-up Megatron of Impending Doom. It's all come out to the most effortless 30-point per game average in recent memory, a razor-like focus I can't see fading over the long march. All these cats on the list should matter in the postseason, assuming everyone makes it. (Looking at you, CB4.) But you can really foresee 'Melo taking May by its haunches, can't you?

9. Chris Paul, New Orleans. Paul is injured badly, and will fall from this perch as his absence rolls on. Because -- not in spite of, because -- of that, what he did in 10 games deserves mention: 24/9 on a True Shooting percentage of (ahem) .706. Paul shot better from three than almost the entire league shoots in the paint. All birds touch Earth some day, and it's unlikely CP3 would have kept up the clip. But doing it for 10 games is a triumph in itself.

10. Dwight Howard, Orlando. Even though the early going has been a disappointment for Howard and the Magic, the young Superman has still dominated the paint with regularity, and with ease. It's the "ease" that bothers -- there's a sense that, based on previous exploits, Howard could be doing more. On defense, especially. But he leads the league in defensive rebound rates and is currently second in total rebound rate. He leads the league in field goal percentage. He's fine.

11. Steve Nash, Phoenix. The Suns have been amazing, and refreshing, but it's amazing and not refreshing to see Nash mentioned as an early MVP candidate. His offensive contribution remains exemplary (hence this fairly lofty rank above some deserving friends), but -- here's this old canard -- his defense can't be hidden, not now and not in April. Phoenix is a bottom tier defensive squad, and while the frontline is less than optimal, Nash is a huge, glaring reason as to why opponents score at near-will. It's not Nash's fault -- his flaw is a physical one, and he knows (as well as Alvin Gentry and thankgoodnessnow Steve Kerr) to play and prepare to his strength. But it's there, it's readily apparent, and it's non-negotiable.

12. Joe Johnson, Atlanta. That Johnson's best pro season has coincided with Atlanta's leap up the leaderboard is not coincidence. J.J. has basically been a more gunner-y, less stopper-ish Roy. One could argue he belongs way up this list (like, say, alongside Roy), but Atlanta's backcourt is giving up as many open looks as the frontcourt (anchored by Smith and stout Al Horford), and while Mike Bibby and Jamal Crawford are leading suspects, J.J. is not immune from rotating late.

13. Rajon Rondo / 14. Kevin Garnett, Boston. Rondo and Garnett don't drop jaws in the stat lines (OK, Rondo's numbers at least leaves jaws aloof on occasion), but there's a reason Boston again has the league's best defense, and I'm willing to credit the continued physical psychosis of Rondo and the return of a not-quite-healthy-but-still-incredible Big Ticket. Rondo is like the defensive version of Nash. I could read a story about Rondo working with a physicist on finding the most anatomically efficient method of swiping at a live dribble without batting an eye. As for Garnett, he still has the mental capacity to stop any scorer, and the physical capacity hasn't left him yet. For basketball's sake, I hope it's not over for at least a couple more years.

15. Joakim Noah, Chicago. Laugh (at me and him), but Noah's superlative defense and energetic flavor have kept the Bulls afloat despite struggles for Derrick Rose and John Salmons, and injuries (one emotional, one physical) to Tyrus Thomas. If not for Noah and Luol Deng (playing as well as he ever has after recovering from a leg fracture last spring), the Bulls might be sitting on one or two wins. What a steal at No. 9 in the 2007 draft.

16. Andrew Bynum, Los Angeles. I said you could laugh at the Noah pick, but hold your fire here. Q(uick): how does one score 20 points on 14 shots in the NBA? Ask Andrew Bynum, who's gone 20/12, basically, and might actually improve considering he's been more efficient in the past. The Lakers have missed Pau Gasol -- that's undeniable. But Bynum has helped Bryant keep the Lakers elite during that absence. Bynum showed in the past how well he works with Pau, and I expect that while the center's raw numbers will fall to make room for the star Spaniard, his effectiveness will continue to shine through.

17. Danny Granger, Indiana. Granger continues to build his invisible brand. The Pacers look better (excepting the loss to the Knicks), and Granger is outpacing his own standard, averaging roughly 25/7. His shooting efficiency is grand, owing to an underhyped propensity to get to the stripe and a killer three-point stroke (which is a bit behind in the early going). The defense is also coming along. That's wasted in Indiana, of course, but it's still nice to have in your back pocket. (Shockingly, Indiana is currently in the top 10.)

18. Greg Oden, Portland. Did someone say defense? The Blazers improbably boast the league's No. 2 defense, and Oden -- all 24 minutes per game -- is the biggest reason. Oden leads the league in rebound rate (grabbing 20.9 percent of all rebound opportunities) and block rate (swatting 7.6 percent of all opponent FGAs while on the court). While Oden's on the court, opponents shoot 43 percent from the field, which is, my friend, ridiculous. At the other end, while Oden turns the ball over way too much (about three for every 36 minutes played), he doesn't take shots he can't make, and his free throw rate is shockingly good for a defensive specialist big man. So, yay Greg Oden. You're doing it.

19. Brandon Jennings, Milwaukee. The triumphs heaped upon the wonderfully joying Jennings may not last -- forget the rookie wall, there's an inkling Jennings might be on a serious hot streak before accounting for the schedule-based struggles first-year players often see. In that case, let's pile on now. Not even Jennings, confident as he's been, could have expected this much success so early. Heck, it was a minor upset than Jennings won over coach Scott Skiles enough to get the starting job over Luke Ridnour (a victory, you'll remember, Ramon Sessions couldn't quite reach most of last year). Jennings has been a scoring wizard, a legit playmaker and a mascot for a team in desperate need of spirit. Well done, sir. Well done.

20. Amar'e Stoudemire, Phoenix. Stoudemire has seen a decline in his numbers despite the Gentry reversion, but he has seemingly gotten his head on straight and his defense (while still not exactly excellent) has improved. In the interest of promoting this type of behavior, let's give Stoudemire as much credit as we would if he were still averaging 25 points and 10 blown defensive rebounds a game.

Five more: Tim Duncan, Andrew Bogut, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer, Ben Gordon.

Etc.: Top Rookie Point Guards

1. Jennings.

2. Tyreke Evans, Sacramento. Evans has scored 20 points in each of his past five games, and is putting up numbers which could be defined as Roy-ish/R.O.Y.-ish. During the course of a game, you can actually see him learning NBA defense. It's pretty striking how receptive to real-world lessons Evans has been -- it's like he learns through basketball osmosis, giving new meaning to "trial by fire." Kudos as well for spending so much time with assistant coach/basketball Yoda Pete Carril, who has turned this fellow into a really good free throw shooter. (How often does an average college FT shooter fail to improve in the pros? Evans has been in the lig four weeks.)

3. Jonny Flynn, Minnesota. Ramon Sessions has now been displaced by two rookie point guards -- first Jennings, now Flynn, who isn't getting too many assists (just 3.2 per game) but has been a bright spot in an otherwise dispiriting situation.

4. Ty Lawson, Denver. I have no idea why anybody would be surprised that Lawson, as efficient a college point guard as he was, is just as successful as a blur off the bench for a team like the Nuggets.

5. Rodrigue Beaubois, Dallas. Beaubois, on the other hand, I can understand. The young Maverick is now featured with Jason Kidd in a double-PG starting line-up, shattering all early expectations. Beaubois hasn't quite been the Caribbean Westbrook we'd expected, but no one will care if he keeps shooting like a Dwarven rifleman.

6. Stephen Curry, Golden State.

7. Darren Collison, New Orleans. Collison has plenty to learn about defending the Steve Nash pick-and-roll, but don't we all? Collison missed a ton of shots against Phoenix Thursday, but stuck with it and sealed the game with a ballsy drive to the rim in the final moments. Bully for you, sir.

8. Eric Maynor, Utah.

9. Jeff Teague, Atlanta.

Nowhere to be found in North America: Ricky Rubio, Minnesota.

NBA MVP Rankings: Can LBJ Repeat? originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tip-Off Timer: After 27 Years of the Sixth Man Award, We're Still Adjusting

Tom Ziller — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: NBA Awards

Tip-Off Timer counts down the days until the first game of the 2009-10 season. On Wednesday, there are 27 days remaining.

The NBA created the Sixth Man of the Year Award back in 1982-83, some 27 years. It was an attempt to recognize great team players who subjugated their egos to come off the bench despite obvious talent. Eventually, the award became a coronation of the league's top scorer who happened to start fewer than half of his games.

Early winners include Philadelphia stud Bobby Jones, Kevin McHale (who won twice) and Bill Walton. For all his virtuoso work, Manu Ginobili has only won one Sixth Man award, in the 2007-08 season which followed San Antonio's third title of the decade. Two players other than McHale have won twice: Detlef Schrempf and Ricky Pierce.

The award really has not been given to anyone who isn't a preeminent scorer since Aaron McKie in 2000-01. Many of the winners since have been deserving of recognition, including last season's winner (Jason Terry of the Mavericks). You wonder if at some point, though, defense will figure back into the equation. Leandro Barbosa ('06-07) and Ben Gordon ('04-05) ain't changing the game on one end, right?

Going into this season, the favorites for the award might actually include Barbosa, Gordon, Ginobili and Terry. That's not me being uncreative -- those fellows are always contenders. Rudy Fernandez, Chris Andersen, Jamal Crawford also have their sights on the title.

Tip-Off Timer: After 27 Years of the Sixth Man Award, We're Still Adjusting originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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For Starters: Five Best Moments From the 2009 Hall of Fame Class

Matt Steinmetz — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: NBA Awards

Who doesn't like a list, especially on a Monday morning when that's about all you can handle?

Here is each Hall of Fame Inductees' best line from Friday night's ceremony in Springfield, Mass.:

Jerry Sloan: "Tom Boerwinkle ... 6-foot-11, built my backyard. When he bought the house behind me, I said: 'Tom, we were roommates one day and next day you're in my backyard looking out the window. He said 'I've got that figured out; I'll build a fence 6-feet-10, I can see over it and you can't.'

David Robinson: "There's a story about 10 lepers that were healed by Jesus. And one of them came back, fell on his knees before him and said thank you, and honored him and blessed him. I just want to say thank you. God has followed me in my career and he has blessed me and he has strengthened me and encouraged me. Anybody who knows me or anybody who has watched me, you have seen his hand in my life. My prayer is that he will walk with you as he has walked with me all through my life."

John Stockton: "There's a large group of people who have traveled over a thousand miles. Some from Alaska, some from Hawaii. Just to support me. You almost start laughing there because I think they actually came to see Michael (Jordan). He makes one big shot and everyone thinks he's kind of cool. I don't get it."

C. Vivian Stringer: "I grew up in a small, coal-mining town. This is the most unusual, unexpected thing in the world. Because I grew up in this place called Edenborn and it's not even on the map. And it isn't. ... Seldom did they travel beyond 50 miles. But I had dreams. Big dreams. I remember watching the soap operas sometimes and wondering, 'Who are those people that actually dress in suits and gowns at 12 o'clock in the afternoon?' I don't know anyone like that."

Michael Jordan: "(Owner) Jerry Reinsdorf. The next year I come back. I broke my foot, I was out for 65 games. I came back; I wanted to play. He and the doctors came up with this whole theory I could only play seven minutes a game, but I was practicing two hours a day. I'm saying ... well, I don't agree with that math. ... I just wanted to win. I just wanted to make the playoffs. ... So I had to go into his office and sit down with him. I said, 'Jerry, I think I should play more than 14 minutes, I'm practicing two hours.' He said, 'M.J., we have to protect the long-term investment.' I said; 'Jerry, I really think I should be able to play.' At that time, there was a 10 percent chance I could reinjure my foot. He said, 'If you have a headache and you have 10 tablets and one of them is coated with cyanide, would you take it?' I looked at him and I said: 'How bad is the headache? Depends on the headache.' Jerry looked at me and said: 'That's a good answer, you can go back and play.'"

For Starters: Five Best Moments From the 2009 Hall of Fame Class originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jordan Goes From Classy to Clown

Terence Moore — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 00:30:00 EST

Filed under: Bobcats, Bulls, Wizards, NBA Awards

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- When it's your party, you can cry if you want to, and you also can embarrass yourself if you want to. Just ask Michael Jordan, who spent his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday night doing his version of dancing naked on a coffee table with a lamp shade on his head.

What was that?

Whatever it was, it wasn't good. It rivaled anything you can name through the decades as the most brutal Hall of Fame acceptance speech ever. Soon after receiving a standing ovation of 73 seconds from a packed and adoring house at Springfield Symphony Hall, he went from sobbing to reflective to vicious.

I mean, where is Sandman (you know, that guy who yanks terrible acts off the stage at the Apollo Theatre) when you need him?

It was this brutal Friday night: Anybody who bothered Jordan mentally, physically or spiritually in hoops during his 46 years was assassinated with his tongue. The coach who cut him from his high school team in Wilmington, N.C. Buzz Peterson, who was named high school player of the year in North Carolina over Jordan. His archenemy with the Chicago Bulls, Jerry Krause. Several NBA coaches who worked for his teams and against his teams. Doubting media types. Opposing players Isiah Thomas, Magic Johnson, George Gervin, John Starks and Byron Russell.

Russell Reacts: 'I'll Play His A** Right Now!'

Oh, and Jordan even gave a gentle whack to the knees to Dean Smith. According to Jordan, he still is miffed that his former head coach at North Carolina told Sports Illustrated in 1981 to go with four Tar Heel starters on its cover instead five, which would have included the freshman Jordan.

If that wasn't enough, Jordan looked at his two sons and daughter, shrugged and then said, "You guys have a heavy burden. I wouldn't want to be you guys."

Nice touch, Michael. So was this: With youngsters watching back home during this prime time telecast, Jordan turned to David Thompson nearby and said, "I know I shocked the (bleep) out of you." He was referring to Thompson's likely reaction after he received Jordan's call to be his presenter for the event. Thompson is a fabled alumnus of North Carolina rival North Carolina State.

Tomasson: David Thompson Talks About Presenting MJ

In other words, it was a blessing that those who decide such things blew it this time. Jordan's meltdown aside, they needed one ceremony for the only person that folks really cared about among this year's class, and they needed another for those deserving but thoroughly misplaced inductees not named Michael Jeffrey Jordan.

I mean, what were those who run the Hall of Fame thinking?

They weren't. Well, unless they were omniscient enough to see Jordan racing in his Air Jordans toward that lamp shade.

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Michael Jordan, alongside David Thompson, is inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame at Symphony Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts, Friday, September 11, 2009. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/MCT)

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Chicago Tribune

Latest NBA Images

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SPRINGFIELD, MA - SEPTEMBER 11: Coach Larry Brown and Hall of Fame player George Gervin present David Robinson to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame during an induction ceremony on September 11, 2009 in Springfield, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Larry Brown;George Gervin;David Robinson

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SPRINGFIELD, MA - SEPTEMBER 11: Isiah Thomas presents John Stockton to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame during an induction ceremony on September 11, 2009 in Springfield, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Isiah Thomas;John Stockton

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SPRINGFIELD, MA - SEPTEMBER 11: David Thompson leads to his seat after Michael Jordan was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame during a ceremony on September 11, 2009 in Springfield, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.(Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** David Thompson;Michael Jordan

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SPRINGFIELD, MA - SEPTEMBER 11: Michael Jordan stands with other members of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on September 11, 2009 in Springfield, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.(Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Michael Jordan

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SPRINGFIELD, MA - SEPTEMBER 11: Michael Jordan is inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame during a ceremony on September 11, 2009 in Springfield, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.(Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Michael Jordan

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SPRINGFIELD, MA - SEPTEMBER 11: David Robinson is inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on September 11, 2009 in Springfield, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** David Robinson

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Michael Jordan arrives with Yvette Prieto for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Symphony Hall in Springfield Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts, Friday, September 11, 2009. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/MCT)

MCT

That said, you can't turn Jordan into a basketball immortal with others, no matter who they are or what their qualifications. It also doesn't matter that such a move of designating Jordan as a solo induction act would be unprecedented. He is peerless, and come to think of it, they sort of understood as much around here.

You could tell by the way they decided to have John Stockton, David Robinson, Jerry Sloan and Vivian Stringer arrive for the evening festivities one by one -- long before Jordan's considerable entourage. Those others had two motorcycle policemen leading their shiny Rolls Royces to the red carpet that stretched from the edge of Court Street to the aged steps of the hall. Then, as the largest crowd in the 50-year history of this event roared in the distance, Jordan arrived with four motorcycle policemen and a couple of more cops next to his antique car on bicycles.

They applauded the others. They roared for Jordan.

To say this was awful timing for those others to join the elite of the hoops elite with Jordan is to say the man of the moment fired the only blatant air ball of his life earlier in the day. That's when a considerably more humble Jordan stood at a podium inside of the Hall of Fame's center court, studied those across the way with only thoughts of impossible dunks, Craig Ehlo and an eternally wagging tongue on their minds and said with a straight face, "Contrary to what you guys believe, it's not just me going into the Hall of Fame. It's a group that I'm proud to be a part of, and believe me, I'm going to remember them as much as they remember me."

Doubtful. Still, there are many things to remember about those others, ranging from their accomplishments on the court to their speeches on Friday. While dribbling down the stretch of his talk, a highly emotional Robinson implored everybody to have God walk with them "they way He walked with me." Then came Stockton, who left his typically stoic ways to choke on his words when discussing his deceased mother.

Later, Stringer spoke about how we all go "through our trials and tribulations" while referring to the tragic death of her husband and her battle with cancer. Then Sloan gave a sometimes funny and often poignant review of his life that would have ended 32 years ago had he taken a head coaching job at Evansville, his alma mater. Months after he turned it down, the team plane crashed and killed everybody on board.

Jordan was last to take the stage.

Oh, boy.

At one point near the beginning of Jordan's speech of 21 minutes and 30 seconds, he asked those listening, "What is it about me that you don't know?" He proceeded to give us the answer in detail -- unfortunately.

Watch More of Jordan's Speech: Part 1 | Part 3

Terence Moore is a national columnist and commentator for FanHouse. He is a frequent panelist on "Rome Is Burning," an ESPN show hosted by Jim Rome, that is seen Monday through Friday at 4:30 PM ET. Moore spent more than three decades working for major newspapers, including 26 years as an award-winning sports columnist for the San Francisco Examiner and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He resides in Atlanta.

Jordan Goes From Classy to Clown originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 12 Sep 2009 00:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michael Jordan, Four Others Poised for Hall of Fame Induction

Matt Steinmetz — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:13:00 EST

Filed under: NBA Awards, NBA Twitter

The hardwood will be replaced by the red carpet when Michael Jordan and four others are inducted into the Hall of Fame tonight in Springfield, Mass.

Jordan, perhaps the greatest player to ever play the game, will be honored at the ceremony along with David Robinson, John Stockton and coaches Jerry Sloan and Vivian Springer.

Of course, Jordan's induction is a mere formality. But that doesn't mean it isn't creating more of a buzz than inductions past.

Tomasson: David Thompson on Presenting MJ

One indication of how big tonight's festivities are expected to be is the fact that the venue was changed to allow for a larger crowd. Enshrinements usually take place at the Hall of Fame, itself. Tonight, the event will take place at Springfield's Symphony Hall, which holds close to 3,000.

The evening begins with a Red Carpet show at 5:30 PM ET on NBA TV, followed by the induction ceremony on ESPN at 6:30 PM. Matt Steinmetz will be tweeting during the ceremony -- join the conversation by sending your thoughts to @matt_steinmetz.

Michael Jordan, Four Others Poised for Hall of Fame Induction originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:13:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tip-Off Timer: 60th Pick in Draft Wins Rookie of the Year

Tom Ziller — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: NBA Awards, NBA Draft

Tip-Off Timer counts down the days until the first game of the 2009-10 season. On Friday, there are 60 days remaining.

In 1957, the NBA draft sprawled some 14 rounds, with each of the league's eight teams picking out a handful of additions. Most of the 83 players selected never played a second of NBA basketball, especially those taken in later rounds.

But there was one diamond in the rough. The Philadelphia Warriors spent their eighth round pick -- No. 60 overall -- on forward Woody Sauldsberry of Texas Southern. And Sauldsberry turned out to be the best pick of all, winning the 1957-58 Rookie of the Year award.

Sauldsberry is by far the R.O.Y. drafted lowest. Don Meineke, the league's inaugural R.O.Y. in 1952-53, had been drafted No. 35. Since Sauldsberry, the lowest a R.O.Y. has been drafted is No. 18 -- where 1987-88 R.O.Y. Mark Jackson was picked by the Knicks. Since Jackson's win, no player drafted outside the top 10 has won Rookie of the Year.

Sauldsberry stuck in the league for seven seasons. Only Sam Jones (picked No. 8) ended up with a fuller playing career out of all '57 picks, though Hot Rod Hundley (the top pick) and Jim Krebs turned out decent terms. Sauldsberry actually walked away from the game in 1963 after a dispute with his St. Louis Hawks coach Harry Galatin. Bill Russell, who years earlier had been convinced by Sauldsberry not to join the Harlem Globetrotters and instead go to the NBA, convinced Red Auerbach to sign Sauldsberry (who took a job selling plane tickets for TWA) for the 1965-66 season. The Celtics won another title, and Sauldsberry retired for good.

Tip-Off Timer: 60th Pick in Draft Wins Rookie of the Year originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 28 Aug 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sports Greats Past and Present Get Together for a Great Cause

Elie Seckbach — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bucks, Celtics, Clippers, Hornets, Lakers, Suns, NBA Awards, NBA Draft, NBA Videos, Interviews, NBA Twitter, FanHouse Exclusive, NBA Coaches

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

For the past nine years the Harold Pump Foundation, created by David and Dana Pump (known as the gurus of high school and college basketball) has raised over $3.5 million dollars to fight cancer. The foundation's efforts have not gone unnoticed. Major stars such as Magic Johnson, Paul Pierce, Sugar Ray Leonard, Pete Sampras and Denzel Washington have all joined the Pump brothers. In this report we also hear from young NBA stars like Kevin Love, Brandon Jennings, and Blake Griffin.

Check out the video after the jump.

Sports Greats Past and Present Get Together for a Great Cause originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Coach John Wooden to Be Honored

Elie Seckbach — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 03:15:00 EST

Filed under: Celtics, Lakers, NBA Awards, NBA Videos, Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive, NBA Coaches

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

The Hangar Athletic Exchange is the most advanced basketball gym in Los Angeles, with six full-size courts under one roof. It's a gym where NBA stars like Elton Brand and Paul Pierce rub elbows with up-and-coming players of all ages. But HAX is much more than a place to shoot hoops, it's the place where kids can get academic assistance. So it's no surprise the Wizard of Westwood John Wooden has teamed up with HAX to help them raise money for their foundation. On Sept. 12 Coach Wooden will be honored in a special gala, with proceeds going to the HAX foundation. In this FanHouse exclusive, we talk to coach Wooden about his success and what advice he has for young players.

Check out the video after the jump.

Coach John Wooden to Be Honored originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 14 Aug 2009 03:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBA Champion Shannon Brown: Will the Real Chris Brown Please Stand Up?

Elie Seckbach — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Lakers, NBA Awards, NBA Videos, Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

Shannon Brown, a member of the World Champion Los Angeles Lakers, is one of the most popular players on the team. Besides his basketball skills, Shannon gets a lot of attention, especially from his teammates, because of his resemblance to singer Chris Brown. In this FanHouse exclusive we hear from Shannon, Josh Powell, Jordan Farmar and Sasha Vujacic as they all tell us about the Shannon Brown - Chris Brown saga.

Check out the video after the jump.

NBA Champion Shannon Brown: Will the Real Chris Brown Please Stand Up? originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Begrudging Congratulations to Vecsey

Matt Steinmetz — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:50:00 EST

Filed under: NBA Awards, NBA Media Watch

Of course you bite your lip a little bit when you congratulate Peter Vecsey for being named a recipient -- along with Doug Collins -- of the Curt Gowdy media award for 2009.

Vecsey, the long-time writer for the New York Post, and Collins, NBA and Olympic television analyst, will be honored by the Basketball Hall of Fame during its enshrinement ceremonies in September.

You begrudgingly tip your cap to Vecsey because he was a beat writer's nightmare. And I was a beat writer for a while, covering the Golden State Warriors. As a national writer, Vecsey had a knack for interjecting himself into your team's beat every now and again, and in general, making a general nuisance of himself.

Vecsey seemed to have tons of sources and his stories were usually filled with tidbits and nuggets of information that you either had to acknowledge or follow up on. There was nothing worse than hearing from your editor: "You see what Vecsey had in the Post today?"

Yeah, I heard that here and there, even 3,000 miles removed from Vecsey, the Post and New York.

No point in getting into Vecsey's credentials right now, but not only was he breaking stuff back in the day, he was one of the first newspaper guys to make the crossover into television. The guy was tapped in.

Safe to say most writers envied Vecsey (OK, couldn't stand) and tried to detract from his work. No NBA writer's story came under more scrutiny than one written by Vecsey. And, no, he didn't bat a thousand.

Then again, John Stockton is in the Hall of Fame and he's the all-time turnover leader; Nolan Ryan is in the baseball Hall of Fame and nobody walked more batters; and Warren Moon fumbled more than any other pro football player in history and he's in the Hall.

Vecsey wasn't perfect. But he was a factor in the NBA media game. Actually, I'd better write: Still is. So, it's through gritted teeth I offer my congratulations to Vecsey.

And as for Collins, forget about the Gowdy honor. In my book, he's in the Hall of Fame for making the two most clutch foul shots in the history of basketball.

More Steinmetz on twitter: @matt_steinmetz

Begrudging Congratulations to Vecsey originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kobe Caps Off Year With Another Honor

Elie Seckbach — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Lakers, NBA Awards, Playoffs, NBA Videos, USA Basketball, Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive

Kobe Bryant is on top of the world, enjoying one of his best years ever as an NBA player after his impressive haul of hardware -- the NBA championship, Finals MVP, co-MVP of this year's All-Star Game. And don't forget about the Olympic gold medal from last summer.

So how does he top it all off? By starting a new charity in China. In this FanHouse exclusive we catch up with Kobe at an awards ceremony as he was being honored by the Asia Society Southern California. We also hear from T-Mac and Tim Leiweke, the CEO of AEG, who was also honored on this night.

Check out the video after the jump.

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

Kobe Caps Off Year With Another Honor originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kobe Bryant Named Finals MVP

Brett Pollakoff — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:02:00 EST

Filed under: Lakers, Magic, NBA Awards, Playoffs

Kobe Bryant was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player, and being the best player on the team that just won the championship, it's tough to disagree. It was Kobe's first time winning the award, because it went to Shaquille O'Neal the first three times that the Lakers won the title with Bryant on the roster.

Bryant averaged better than 32 points, five rebounds, and seven assists for the series, so again, his numbers validate the fact that he's taking home the award. But this was truly a team effort, and there are others that are arguably just as deserving.

Pau Gasol is a strong candidate, especially if you consider his contributions on both ends of the floor. He averaged over 18 points and nine rebounds in the series, shot better than 57 percent from the field, and largely kept Dwight Howard in check on defense.

Derek Fisher's series-long numbers weren't that fantastic, but without his two huge three-pointers in Game 4, the Lakers wouldn't be standing on the championship podium -- at least not after Game 5.

But while Kobe shot under 46 percent from the field for the series, and averaged 27 shot attempts per game, he's the unquestionable leader of this team. Without his work ethic, drive, and desire, the rest of the team wouldn't have stepped up to the championship level that they were able to in these playoffs.

By most standards, the definition of the MVP is not only the best player on the team, but someone who makes his teammates around him better. When you look back at what Bryant was able to do with this Lakers team throughout the post-season, there's simply no argument to be made: choosing Kobe Bryant as the Finals MVP was a no-brainer.

Kobe Bryant Named Finals MVP originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Does the Regular Season Even Matter?

Matt Watson — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Lakers, NBA Awards, Playoffs

Earlier this morning, Nate Jones explained how winning the MVP is no longer the indicator of playoff success that it used to be. Apparently, neither is finishing with a boat-load of regular season wins.

As The Painted Area notes, until the 2004-05 season, there were 13 teams in NBA history that won at least 64 games; 10 of those went on to win the title, and two of the teams that fell short lost to teams with even more regular season wins. In the four years since, five teams have won at least 64 wins, and depending on how the Lakers finish their season, only last year's Celtics sealed the deal. Check out The Painted Area for a deeper look at the league's recent parity.

Does the Regular Season Even Matter? originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The MVP Award Lost Its Playoff Luster

Nate Jones — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 02:40:00 EST

Filed under: Cavaliers, NBA Awards, Playoffs

There have been many debates over the MVP award over the last few years -- from Kobe v. LeBron to the merits of Steve Nash's back-to-back awards. You can debate all you want about who should have won each year's MVP, but it is clear that a particular season's MVP is no longer likely to have playoff success.

With LeBron James' elimination at the hands of the Orlando Magic, this season marks the eighth time this decade that the MVP hasn't won the championship, and the sixth time that the MVP hasn't even made it to the NBA Finals. Compare those numbers to the 1990s, when the winner of the MVP award made the NBA Finals seven times and the won the championship five times.
The award has definitely fallen on tough times. I mean we've actually seen a regular season MVP (Dirk and the Mavs in '07) get eliminated in the first round! Could you imagine that happening in the 1990s? Yeah, it almost happened to the Barkley in '93, but you know what I'm saying.

Partially due to the poor performance of recent regular season MVPs, the Finals MVP trophy has been less dominated by the greats in recent years. This decade, guys like Chauncey Billups, Tony Parker and Paul Pierce have been able to secure the Finals MVP awards. Billups, Parker and Pierce are All-Star level players, but they have not and likely never will win the regular season MVP.

In the '90s, regular season MVP winners such as Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon and Tim Duncan dominated the Finals MVP trophy. That decade, Isiah Thomas was the only Finals MVP award winner to not secure a regular season MVP at some point in his career. And Isiah was an infinitely better player than Billups, Parker, and Pierce.

I don't know exactly what all of this means, but I found it quite interesting to compare the playoff success of this decade's MVPs with those of the last generation.

The MVP Award Lost Its Playoff Luster originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 02:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The NBA: Where Awkward Trophy Presentations Happen

Brett Pollakoff — Sat, 30 May 2009 16:07:00 EST

Filed under: Lakers, Nuggets, NBA Awards, Playoffs, NBA Videos

As you may have heard by now, the Lakers have earned themselves a trip back to the Finals by eliminating the Denver Nuggets to become the Western Conference Champions. And with this great honor comes a great prize: the aptly named Western Conference Champions ... trophy.

Yeah, it's a bit awkward. But not as awkward as the presentation of the award itself, which took place somewhere in the bowels of the Pepsi Center in front of no one but Doris Burke, James Worthy, and an ESPN camera crew. Let's watch together, shall we?

That was about as stale as you can get.

Doris Burke is an excellent sideline reporter, but she doesn't exactly seem thrilled to be the mistress of this ceremony. This is a trophy presentation people, how about showing some excitement?

And is James Worthy the best we can do, as far as digging up a former member of the organization to make the "official" presentation? Really? The man can't even pronounce the word "ask." They got Jerry West -- a Hall of Fame player and architect of seven of the team's championships as general manager -- to hand the Lakers the trophy last year.

There was no hooting or hollering from the players (few even cracked so much as a smile), and only a smattering of applause from the team when the trophy was presented. A lot of that has to do with the fact that the Lakers got to this point a year ago, only to get crushed by a better Celtics team in the Finals. But you can't tell me that things wouldn't have been a little better had they done it on the court in front of whatever portion of the crowd decided to stay and watch.

They do this in other major sports like the NFL, so why not do it in the NBA?

As far as I can tell, the league only started handing out a trophy for winning the conference title sometime near the beginning of the decade, in either 2001 or 2002. They started this tradition with little fanfare, and didn't even bother to name the trophy that they award to the winners.

If the league wants to make winning the conference a big deal, they need to treat it as such, and in the same way every year, no matter where the winning team closes out the series. There should be an on-court presentation, in front of the crowd, with a league representative doing the honors.

Maybe there's a reason they haven't made a big deal about it since, and it might be because unless you're a team that's never been there before, it isn't ultimately something that's worth celebrating.

If that's the case, then just pass out the free hats and t-shirts, and let the players begin their preparations for the Finals.

[This post has been edited from the original published version, as it contained an inaccurate comment about Jerry West still working for the Memphis Grizzlies at the time of the trade that sent Pau Gasol to Los Angeles. He had actually retired more than six months before, in July of 2007.]

The NBA: Where Awkward Trophy Presentations Happen originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 30 May 2009 16:07:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Danny Granger Wins NBA's Most Improved

Tom Ziller — Tue, 12 May 2009 12:55:00 EST

Filed under: Nets, Pacers, NBA Awards

All NBA awards are completely subjective and usually debatable. None registers moreso (on both counts) than the Most Improved Player award. There are a million arbitrary, unwritten rules about who can be eligible for consideration. Some voters reject all All-Stars, others think second- or third-year players shouldn't be valid. It's a mess, really.

But this season had some great candidates we can all agree on. Chief among them were Danny Granger and Devin Harris. Today, Granger was announced as the victor, beating out Harris by just a handful of votes.

Granger deserved it. On a bad Pacers team in desperate need of a constant lift, Granger provided it. His scoring jumped up into the top 10 without his efficiency suffering. He takes a ton of threes ... and has hit 40% two straight seasons. He took on an incredible load in Indiana, given the injury to Mike Dunleavy Jr. And he met the call.

Harris deserves dap, too. His move to Jersey coincided with a transformed game. Harris had never been a credible deep shooter ... so he began taking the ball to the rack relentlessly. His free throw rate shot up, and so did his scoring. He has work to do (especially on the stroke), but he made major offensive strides this year.

While the qualifications for the award remain fuzzy, I think we can agree voters made a good choice. And honestly, I don't want stricter definitions involved. As long voters withhold from making (Zach) Randolphian decisions in the awards, leave it up the air.

(Note to Jim O'Brien, who wore gym shorts to Granger's award ceremony: You're dead to me.)

Danny Granger Wins NBA's Most Improved originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 12 May 2009 12:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LeBron James Was the Right Pick

Matt Steinmetz — Tue, 05 May 2009 02:00:00 EST

Filed under: Cavaliers, Lakers, NBA Awards, NBA Media Watch

A sincere "job well done" by my colleagues, by the way.

They made the absolute right and the absolute best decision-- and in the convincing way that it should have been made -- honoring Cleveland's LeBron James as the NBA's MVP this season.

James totaled 109 of a possible 121 votes by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters in the U.S. and Canada, winning easily over the Lakers' Kobe Bryant. I didn't have a vote because I am no longer a traveling beat writer. But I would have voted for James.
It's not that Bryant "didn't deserve" the MVP. He was in the conversation and deserved to be there. Just like Dwyane Wade and Dwight Howard deserved a mention.

But when you take a step back, James was the obvious choice. There were solid and sound cases why James deserved it, and he pretty much had the winning argument at every turn. Not the least of which was that he was the best player on the best team in the league.

And, apparently, 11 out of about every 12 voters saw it like that.

First and foremost, James deserved to the MVP because the Cleveland Cavaliers were the best team in the NBA, winning 66 games. The Lakers, who were the best team in the Western Conference won 65 games.

Sure, it's easy to scoff at that one-game difference as virtually insignificant. But it is significant, particularly if the two teams are going to meet in the NBA Finals. That one-game difference is going to give the Cavaliers homecourt advantage, should both advance, and so from that standpoint it is a tangible kind of measurement.

I'm harping a little bit on the records here because, to me, that's the No. 1 factor to consider when thinking about an MVP. You've got to start with the best team, and go from there. Cleveland was the best team, and they're best player was LeBron James.

Do you really need to go any further?

We haven't even gotten into the individual statistics between James and Bryant because it is a secondary argument, and should be. But James' numbers this year were better than Bryant's virtually across the board, including big categories like field goal percentage, assists and rebounds.

Hey, voting for James as the league's MVP was breakaway layup for the media. At least they got it to go down.

LeBron James Was the Right Pick originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 05 May 2009 02:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Can LeBron Challenge MJ and Oscar?

Tim Povtak — Mon, 04 May 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Cavaliers, NBA Awards, Playoffs

Not since Michael Jordan in Chicago has any team won an NBA title relying so heavily on one individual player.

That might be the next trick for LeBron James.

By winning the Most Valuable Player Award on Thursday, James cemented his status as the best basketball player in the world today. If he wants to reach the real rarified air where the best in history reside, there are other things he must accomplish now.

Like winning championships. Like averaging a triple-double through an entire season, something no one has done since Oscar Robertson did it 47 years ago.

Throughout the last 12 years, the key to winning championships has been some kind of team balance, either a 1-2 punch like Shaq and Kobe had with the Lakers, or a real spread-the-wealth system like Detroit and Boston did.

James finished the season averaging 28.4 points, almost 11 points more than anyone else on the Cleveland roster, a scoring gap that no NBA champion has had since Jordan and the Bulls in the 1995-96 season.

And Jordan at least had Scottie Pippen, an All-Star in his own right. James has only Mo Williams as his second fiddle. And Mo Williams is no Scottie Pippen, leaving James lonelier than Jordan ever was.

The Cavs may have won a league best 66 games, but winning a championship is far from a given. In fact, it's probably not going to happen this year. There still are too many things that can go wrong without help.

Assuming Atlanta is no more than a nuisance, the Cavs still must face either Boston with a one-two punch of Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, or more likely Orlando, which has a Big Three of Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu. The Magic held a 2-1 advantage in the regular season.

Then in the Finals, there is either Kobe and Gasol with the Lakers, or the Denver Nuggets with Chauncey Billups and Carmelo Anthony. Notice that every other team out there has co-stars.

There is a reason winning with one star - however big -- is so difficult. If James can do with this Cavs team, he deserves his rightful place among the greatest.

Then we can start talking about averaging that Triple-Double, when he can challenge Oscar Robertson for the title of the Greatest Basketball Player of All Time.

Can LeBron Challenge MJ and Oscar? originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 04 May 2009 19:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LeBron James Is the NBA MVP

Will Brinson — Mon, 04 May 2009 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Cavaliers, Lakers, NBA Awards, NBA Fans, NBA Media Watch, NBA Rumors

LeBron James was named the NBA MVP Monday afternoon. This is, of course, not a tremendous shock.

In a year where there were three (James, Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant) or four (Dwight Howard) MVP candidates, it was almost a shame for the other players to put up huge seasons, because LeBron's statistical dominance (28.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 7.6 assists per game), as well as the Cavaliers' team play (66 wins), simply dwarfed everyone else.

James will become the second youngest player in the history of the NBA to win the MVP award, with only Wes Unseld in 1969 being younger. Additionally, Bron would be the first Cleveland player in the history of the franchise to win the award -- a true testament to exactly how much he means to the Cavalier franchise.

Word on the street is that the announcement will be made at St. Vincent - St. Mary's High School in Akron, where LeBron played high school and won three state championships, in addition to his announcement that he would forgo college for the NBA.

It's a special occasion for James, of course, but it's also a special time for people that love the NBA. The recognition of James' greatness and the possibility of a Cavs-Lakers matchup in the NBA Finals -- pitting the two best teams and the last two MVPs -- is more than enough to drown out anyone who thinks that the L qualifies as a niche sport.

LeBron James Is the NBA MVP originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 04 May 2009 10:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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An NBA Awards Voter Doesn't Know the Difference Between the Lopez Brothers

Tom Ziller — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:27:00 EST

Filed under: Nets, Suns, NBA Awards, NBA Media Watch

The biggest surprise in Rookie of the Year balloting wasn't (sniveling) Kevin Love's low placement (sixth) -- it was Suns rook Robin Lopez earning a second-place vote.

Robin's season in Phoenix wasn't too bright. He played in only 60 games despite flawless health; in those contests, he averaged only 10 minutes a game. His campaign ended with per-game averages of three points and two rebounds. Not exactly awards material ...

... which means that in all likelihood one of the voters -- a fraternity of writers and broadcasters -- meant to vote for Robin's twin, Brook, who ended up in third place in balloting. As far as I know, the ballot isn't a "fill in the bubble" affair -- you write in the names. Some voter really can't keep the Lopez brothers straight. (Hat-tip to Phoenix Stan.)

An NBA Awards Voter Doesn't Know the Difference Between the Lopez Brothers originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:27:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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