Evenard M. Panes
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Sports InsiderThe Latest NBA All-Star Game Voting and MVP Candidates.
January 7th 2007 11:51
Ben Wallace in Detroit made sense – a working class player in a blue collar town. We thought this relationship would last forever. Than Flip Saunders came into
town and changed everything. Larry Brown may be a lot of things but a fool isn’t one of them. One of the genius things that Brown did with Wallace was run some offensive plays now and again as a sign of good faith for all the dirty work that Big Ben did, thus, keeping the big fella happy.
Flip didn’t extend Ben the same courtesy, therefore poisoning his relationship with the new coach.
Ben had to go.
So, we arrive at today’s game in which Ben Wallace who was the embodiment of the team from Motown found himself in the opposition colours of the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls won and Ben had his revenge, 106-89.
Luol Deng for the Baby Bulls continued with his purple patch by scoring 30 points, while Big Ben had 12 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks. Ben was a beast.
There was understandably a little more effort from Wallace today which must have warmed the hearts of the Chicago establishment to no end because this was the player they envisioned when signing him during the summer – energetic, willing to do the dirty work and a rock on the defensive end.
Detroit must have been cringing.
Let’s give Joe Dumars the head honcho for Detroit some props because he understood what Ben brought to his team and was heartbroken to see Wallace go. This one would have stung.
Although, Wallace’s relationship had soured with his former coach this could not be further from the truth in regards to his former teammates – they love him and he loves them, as evidenced when all of the Detroit players came into the game sporting headbands. Rasheed Wallace even jokingly tossed one to Ben too.
The most important thing was the win and Ben Wallace would be smiling somewhere in Chicago tonight.
Speaking of Larry Brown wouldn’t you know it? The man is back in the NBA loop when he was rehired by the Philadelphia 76ers as their new executive vice president. Oh, the irony: Larry returns to the Sixers when Allen Iverson is no longer wearing the team colours.
MVP Candidate List Redux
Last month NBALOUD drew up a list of the top five MVP candidates at that stage of the season. We’ve revised this list and this will become a monthly fixture now.
Here are the top MVP level ballers at this stage of the season in order of ranking.
5. LeBron James (26.4 points per game, 6.8 rebounds per game, 6.1 assists per game)
Is there anything this man can’t do? As his statistics will attest, he is the all-rounder that has his hands in all of the cookie jars. Not only that, he has helped put the Cavs on top of the Central Division with a 21-12 record that is besting teams such as Detroit and Chicago. Two teams that arguably have more talent than Cleveland, but neither team has Bron-Bron.
4. Kobe Bryant (28.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 5.5 apg)
His scoring and field goal attempts are way down on last season, yet his team is winning more with essentially the same unit from their previous campaign. Kobe trusting his teammates more! You read correctly.
Bryant’s assists average is also up this season and the result is a happier bunch of teammates because they’re actually getting more shots, while winning. Perhaps the most important thing is the Lakers are only behind Phoenix for the best record in the Pacific Division, while playing very good basketball.
3. Dirk Nowitzki (23.7 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 3.1 apg)
Dallas have the best record in the league with Dirk Diggler being the driving force behind the Mavs tilt at the NBA title. Coach Avery Johnson has his players operating at maximum capacity, but let’s not take anything away from the Big Sauerkraut. He has been a monster for the ‘D’.
Mr. Diggler is not primarily a jump shooter anymore – he now can back down, play defence and has a nasty streak to compliment his new found attributes.
2. Gilbert Arenas (30.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 6.6 apg)
Agent Zero is breaking out in a big way. NBALOUD has always known about Gil, but the public are starting to catch on. The Washington fans regularly break out in chants of M-V-P and why wouldn’t they? Gilbert the Great has been on fire of late.
Hitting game winning shots, scoring points at will and keeping Washington on top of the Southeast Division is sure to garner some MVP love.
1. Steve Nash (20.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 11.1 apg)
Playing better than his last two MVP seasons. ‘Nuff said.
Latest All-Star Game Voting.
Balloting third returns are in for the big showcase in Vegas with no real change from the second returns. Here are the latest numbers courtesy of NBA.com.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Forwards: LeBron James (Cleveland) 1,587,738; Chris Bosh (Toronto) 589,829; Jermaine O’Neal (Indiana) 531,531; Paul Pierce (Boston) 382,287; Grant Hill (Orlando) 331,931; Rasheed Wallace (Detroit) 299,296; Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia) 260,993; Tayshaun Prince (Detroit) 200,065; Emeka Okafor (Charlotte) 186,445; Chris Webber (Philadelphia) 173,572.
Guards: Dwyane Wade (Miami) 1,191,403; Vince Carter (New Jersey) 867,437; Gilbert Arenas (Washington) 647,281; Jason Kidd (New Jersey) 490,622; Stephon Marbury (New York) 347,994; Chauncey Billups (Detroit) 244,236; Michael Redd (Milwaukee) 192,280; Joe Johnson (Atlanta) 160,280; Steve Francis (New York) 155,676; Richard Hamilton (Detroit) 136,946.
Centers: Shaquille O'Neal (Miami) 1,013,747; Dwight Howard (Orlando) 789,950; Ben Wallace (Chicago) 451,575; Alonzo Mourning (Miami) 155,605; Zaza Pachulia (Atlanta) 103,301; Andrew Bogut (Milwaukee) 103,321; Zydrunas Ilgauskas (Cleveland) 88,979; Nazr Mohammed (Detroit) 73,139; Eddy Curry (New York) 68,445; Nenad Krstic (New Jersey) 62,550.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Forwards: Kevin Garnett (Minnesota) 947,040; Tim Duncan (San Antonio) 852,827; Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas) 794,581; Carmelo Anthony (Denver) 769,491; Shane Battier (Houston) 539,714; Shawn Marion (Phoenix) 283,766; Lamar Odom (L.A. Lakers) 275,327; Josh Howard (Dallas) 256,409; Carlos Boozer (Utah) 217,872; Pau Gasol (Memphis) 198,075.
Guards: Kobe Bryant (L.A. Lakers) 1,386,477; Tracy McGrady (Houston) 1,205,510; Allen Iverson (Denver) 1,157,031*; Steve Nash (Phoenix) 869,645; Chris Paul (New Orleans/Oklahoma City) 276,477; Jason Terry (Dallas) 267,698; Manu Ginobili (San Antonio) 256,362; Tony Parker (San Antonio) 242,929; Ray Allen (Seattle) 221,003; Jerry Stackhouse (Dallas) 220,385.
Centers: Yao Ming (Houston) 1,629,832; Amaré Stoudemire (Phoenix) 610,444; Erick Dampier (Dallas) 246,918; Mehmet Okur (Utah) 189,778; Marcus Camby (Denver) 154,712; Brad Miller (Sacramento) 81,424; Francisco Elson (San Antonio) 71,114; Tyson Chandler (New Orleans/Oklahoma City) 69,851; Chris Mihm (L.A. Lakers) 69,840; Chris Kaman (L.A. Clippers) 67,430.
Ben Wallace and Chicago were too good for Detroit. (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE/Getty Images)
Flip didn’t extend Ben the same courtesy, therefore poisoning his relationship with the new coach.
Ben had to go.
So, we arrive at today’s game in which Ben Wallace who was the embodiment of the team from Motown found himself in the opposition colours of the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls won and Ben had his revenge, 106-89.
Luol Deng for the Baby Bulls continued with his purple patch by scoring 30 points, while Big Ben had 12 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks. Ben was a beast.
There was understandably a little more effort from Wallace today which must have warmed the hearts of the Chicago establishment to no end because this was the player they envisioned when signing him during the summer – energetic, willing to do the dirty work and a rock on the defensive end.
Detroit must have been cringing.
Let’s give Joe Dumars the head honcho for Detroit some props because he understood what Ben brought to his team and was heartbroken to see Wallace go. This one would have stung.
Although, Wallace’s relationship had soured with his former coach this could not be further from the truth in regards to his former teammates – they love him and he loves them, as evidenced when all of the Detroit players came into the game sporting headbands. Rasheed Wallace even jokingly tossed one to Ben too.
The most important thing was the win and Ben Wallace would be smiling somewhere in Chicago tonight.
Speaking of Larry Brown wouldn’t you know it? The man is back in the NBA loop when he was rehired by the Philadelphia 76ers as their new executive vice president. Oh, the irony: Larry returns to the Sixers when Allen Iverson is no longer wearing the team colours.
MVP Candidate List Redux
Last month NBALOUD drew up a list of the top five MVP candidates at that stage of the season. We’ve revised this list and this will become a monthly fixture now.
Here are the top MVP level ballers at this stage of the season in order of ranking.
5. LeBron James (26.4 points per game, 6.8 rebounds per game, 6.1 assists per game)
Is there anything this man can’t do? As his statistics will attest, he is the all-rounder that has his hands in all of the cookie jars. Not only that, he has helped put the Cavs on top of the Central Division with a 21-12 record that is besting teams such as Detroit and Chicago. Two teams that arguably have more talent than Cleveland, but neither team has Bron-Bron.
4. Kobe Bryant (28.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 5.5 apg)
His scoring and field goal attempts are way down on last season, yet his team is winning more with essentially the same unit from their previous campaign. Kobe trusting his teammates more! You read correctly.
Bryant’s assists average is also up this season and the result is a happier bunch of teammates because they’re actually getting more shots, while winning. Perhaps the most important thing is the Lakers are only behind Phoenix for the best record in the Pacific Division, while playing very good basketball.
3. Dirk Nowitzki (23.7 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 3.1 apg)
Dallas have the best record in the league with Dirk Diggler being the driving force behind the Mavs tilt at the NBA title. Coach Avery Johnson has his players operating at maximum capacity, but let’s not take anything away from the Big Sauerkraut. He has been a monster for the ‘D’.
Mr. Diggler is not primarily a jump shooter anymore – he now can back down, play defence and has a nasty streak to compliment his new found attributes.
2. Gilbert Arenas (30.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 6.6 apg)
Agent Zero is breaking out in a big way. NBALOUD has always known about Gil, but the public are starting to catch on. The Washington fans regularly break out in chants of M-V-P and why wouldn’t they? Gilbert the Great has been on fire of late.
Hitting game winning shots, scoring points at will and keeping Washington on top of the Southeast Division is sure to garner some MVP love.
1. Steve Nash (20.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 11.1 apg)
Playing better than his last two MVP seasons. ‘Nuff said.
LeBron James is a leading MVP candidate. (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)
Latest All-Star Game Voting.
Balloting third returns are in for the big showcase in Vegas with no real change from the second returns. Here are the latest numbers courtesy of NBA.com.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Forwards: LeBron James (Cleveland) 1,587,738; Chris Bosh (Toronto) 589,829; Jermaine O’Neal (Indiana) 531,531; Paul Pierce (Boston) 382,287; Grant Hill (Orlando) 331,931; Rasheed Wallace (Detroit) 299,296; Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia) 260,993; Tayshaun Prince (Detroit) 200,065; Emeka Okafor (Charlotte) 186,445; Chris Webber (Philadelphia) 173,572.
Guards: Dwyane Wade (Miami) 1,191,403; Vince Carter (New Jersey) 867,437; Gilbert Arenas (Washington) 647,281; Jason Kidd (New Jersey) 490,622; Stephon Marbury (New York) 347,994; Chauncey Billups (Detroit) 244,236; Michael Redd (Milwaukee) 192,280; Joe Johnson (Atlanta) 160,280; Steve Francis (New York) 155,676; Richard Hamilton (Detroit) 136,946.
Centers: Shaquille O'Neal (Miami) 1,013,747; Dwight Howard (Orlando) 789,950; Ben Wallace (Chicago) 451,575; Alonzo Mourning (Miami) 155,605; Zaza Pachulia (Atlanta) 103,301; Andrew Bogut (Milwaukee) 103,321; Zydrunas Ilgauskas (Cleveland) 88,979; Nazr Mohammed (Detroit) 73,139; Eddy Curry (New York) 68,445; Nenad Krstic (New Jersey) 62,550.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Forwards: Kevin Garnett (Minnesota) 947,040; Tim Duncan (San Antonio) 852,827; Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas) 794,581; Carmelo Anthony (Denver) 769,491; Shane Battier (Houston) 539,714; Shawn Marion (Phoenix) 283,766; Lamar Odom (L.A. Lakers) 275,327; Josh Howard (Dallas) 256,409; Carlos Boozer (Utah) 217,872; Pau Gasol (Memphis) 198,075.
Guards: Kobe Bryant (L.A. Lakers) 1,386,477; Tracy McGrady (Houston) 1,205,510; Allen Iverson (Denver) 1,157,031*; Steve Nash (Phoenix) 869,645; Chris Paul (New Orleans/Oklahoma City) 276,477; Jason Terry (Dallas) 267,698; Manu Ginobili (San Antonio) 256,362; Tony Parker (San Antonio) 242,929; Ray Allen (Seattle) 221,003; Jerry Stackhouse (Dallas) 220,385.
Centers: Yao Ming (Houston) 1,629,832; Amaré Stoudemire (Phoenix) 610,444; Erick Dampier (Dallas) 246,918; Mehmet Okur (Utah) 189,778; Marcus Camby (Denver) 154,712; Brad Miller (Sacramento) 81,424; Francisco Elson (San Antonio) 71,114; Tyson Chandler (New Orleans/Oklahoma City) 69,851; Chris Mihm (L.A. Lakers) 69,840; Chris Kaman (L.A. Clippers) 67,430.
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