NBA Yearender: Awards

     Every year, the NBA awards its best players with awards recognizing their skills and efforts, but it isn't every year that I agree with their choices.  This year, though, I completely agree with their choices. Now, writing about how I agree with all those choices, so I decided to give my own set of awards to end this past NBA season.

Appendix Award (Best Player who didn't help or worsen the team)

Winner: Zach Randolph (Los Angeles Clippers)

     Every year, Randolph is the top player in this category.  To his credit, Randolph seemed to avoid getting into trouble with the law this past season so he didn't actually worsen the team.The news, on the other hand, is that this past season, he once again provided the team with tremendous points and rebounds numbers (20.8 points and 10.1 rebounds), but as with his past teams, he has not helped lift his team's standings in any way.  The Clippers, despite being stocked with talent, were a mediocre, 19-win team.  He was no great vocal leader and he was no inspiration.  It seemed like he ambled along, getting his own numbers.  It's good to know the Clippers decided to start the Blake Griffin era without Randolph.

Best Value For Money Deal

Winner: David Lee (New York Knicks)

     One of the bright spots for the Knicks, Lee is a base year compensation player and recently the Knicks made the 1 year qualifying offer to keep him a restricted free agent. The offer was in line with his salary and it totaled $2.6 million.  The Knicks certainly got their money's worth on the dynamic forward from Florida, as he averaged 16 points and 11.7 rebounds, while shooting 54.5 percent from the field and 75 percent from the free throw line.  The best part about all that was his sturdiness, managing to play 81 regular season games at that high level of his.  It's no wonder the Knicks are going to have problems keeping him.

Most Disappointing All Star

Winner: Mo Williams (Cleveland Cavaliers)

       For all his talk about how he served to be an all star when he wasn't initially picked, eventual all star guard Mo Williams was a dud when the Cavs needed him the most.  After putting up great numbers (17.8 points on 47 percent shooting), and proving to be clutch with late baskets resulting in wins in the regular season, Williams disappeared in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Magic.  In the critical first 5 games against the Magic, Williams eventually got his numbers, but at the cost of his team's offensive efficiency.  Shooting only 33 percent while taking over 15 shots, Williams was almost a big liability on offense as he usually is on defense.  His disappointing showing was mostly magnified in Game 4 (a game he guaranteed they would win), as he sot 5 of 15 from the field and scoring a mere four points in the tightly-contested 2nd half.  Maybe he should show up more in the playoffs before telling people they're wrong about picking Ray Allen before him in the All Star roster.

"Poor Deal" Player

Winner: Elton Brand (Philadelphia 76ers)

     After scoring what seemed like a free agent signing coup, the 76ers were excited about adding Elton Brand to their young and athletic line up.  Unfortunately, a season ending injury obliterated Brand's season, basically leaving the 76ers paying the first year of the newly-signed $85 million deal on a bench warming former All Star.  What's worse is that in the little time that he got to play, Brand seemed out of place and disruptive to the team's play.  Philly fans hope that new coach Eddie Jordan and his Princeton offense will help integrate Brand back into usefulness country.

"One Step in the Grave" Player

Winner: Bruce Bowen (San Antonio Spurs)

      While I was harsh on Rasheed Wallace's game this year, I still sense a good season or two from him.  Apparently so do the Boston Celtics, who are doing their best college try to recruit 'Sheed.  That's why I think this award should be handed out to Bruce Bowen.  After being a much-valued defensive stopper for those San Antonio Spurs championship teams, Bowen seems to have finally hit the end of his productive career.  This year, almost all his numbers (points 2.7, blocks 0.2, steals 0.5, rebounds 1.8 and minutes 18.48) were down from previous years, causing Coach Greg Popovich to cut his minutes and use someone else.  It's no wonder the Spurs jumped at the chance to trade him in the Richard Jefferson deal.  It will also be no big surprise if the Bucks buy out his contract.

     So there you have it.  These are my own version of the NBA's annual awards, a little unorthodox, but honest, if I may say so myself.  This also concludes my set of year ender stories for the 2008-09 season.  Now, I can fully enjoy the wheelings and dealings before November and for sure I'll write about the more memorable ones.