Midseason Report: Preseason elite face midseason challenges
Something unexpected happened on the way to the halfway point of the NBA season. The Big Four started to look beatable.
It's not time to cancel those plans for a Cavs-Lakers NBA Finals just yet, or for a Magic-Lakers rematch, for that matter. But look at what the Big Four are dealing with as the season passes the 41-game mark:
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| LeBron James and Kobe Bryant may get their Finals matchup, but nothing is certain. (Getty Images) |
• Injuries wiped out the Cavs' entire starting backcourt, and weapons charges could erase one member, Delonte West, for an extended period of time.
• The Celtics are tip-toeing back to health after Kevin Garnett's return Friday night, but they recently lost three in a row for the second time in a month.
• The Magic's addition of Vince Carter hasn't been nearly as beneficial as many observers (including this one) expected. There has been some talk lately of Carter going to the bench, and numbers compiled by stat guru Wayne Winston show why. Of Orlando's three most effective lineups, Carter is absent from two of them. Orlando also plays better with Jason Williams at the point instead of Jameer Nelson.
The Lakers (33-10) still have the best record in the league as they muddle through a season-high eight-game trip. But Denver (29-14) and Atlanta (28-14) have nudged Orlando (29-15) out of the top four, with Dallas (29-15) moving into the mix. The point being: It's entirely possible that only three of the Big Four will remain prohibitive championship favorites by the time the postseason starts. The definition of elite -- and who qualifies -- could be changing.
In any event, it's time for the second edition of the annual Midseason Berger Awards, a series of prestigious honors that will get you a ride on the New York subway as long as you have a MetroCard:
Midseason MVP: LeBron James, Cavaliers. As impressive as LeBron was while singing along with Eminem's verse in Forever during a timeout in the Cavs' victory over the Lakers on Thursday night, his play has been even better. Whether you measure individual performance with PER (player efficiency rating) or adjusted plus/minus, LeBron is having the best year. His clutch block of Kevin Durant to preserve a 100-99 victory over the Thunder on Saturday night only reinforced the breadth of his impact on every game he plays.
Rookie of the Year: Tyreke Evans, Sacramento. The anticipated showdown between Evans and Blake Griffin went by the boards when Griffin was lost for the entire season due to knee surgery. Ty Lawson, DeJuan Blair, Brandon Jennings and others have made this a deep rookie class. But Evans' production, the dominant role he plays for his team and the Kings' surprising success have made ROY a one-man show.
Coach of the Year: There's no shortage of candidates, such as Rick Adelman and Nate McMillan, who both have their injury-depleted teams in the playoff race. Paul Westphal deserves serious consideration due to the lengthy absence of Kevin Martin, but the Kings have come back to Earth with seven straight losses. If coach of the year were awarded today, I would give it to Lionel Hollins. Not only did he survive a showdown with Allen Iverson -- a rare feat for any coach -- but Hollins also has the Grizzlies (23-19) in the hunt for a playoff spot.
Sixth Man: Jamal Crawford, Hawks. If there's a nicer guy in the NBA, I've yet to meet him. But Crawford went to Atlanta with serious baggage, having been pigeonholed as a conscienceless chucker who doesn't defend and who had never been to the playoffs. It turns out, Crawford's closing touch was just what the Hawks needed. Now, it isn't all on Joe Johnson's shoulders when the Hawks get to closing time in the fourth quarter.
Most Underrated: David Lee, Knicks. How could a popular, hard-working player in the world's largest media market be underrated? A few reasons. First, it is widely assumed that Lee is playing his last season in New York, so his All-Star production has gone largely unnoticed. Combine that with the fact that Lee's production also can easily be chalked up to a byproduct of Mike D'Antoni's system, and you have the perfect storm for a player who isn't getting enough credit. Here's a question for you: If Lee, whose improving jump shot is still well below average, can average 19 points and 11 rebounds for D'Antoni, what would Chris Bosh do?
Most Overrated: Richard Jefferson, Spurs. It turns out Carter wasn't the only ex-Net who didn't have the expected impact on his new team. The Spurs have been slow to figure out how to best take advantage of R.J.'s abilities as a slasher and transition threat. In turn, Jefferson has been slow to figure it out, too.
Biggest Surprise: Vinny Del Negro hasn't been fired yet. Despite an early circling of the vultures predicting Del Negro's demise, he has survived. The Bulls have won six of eight, can see the .500 mark, and enter the second half of the season in the eighth playoff spot in the East.
Biggest Disappointment: Washington Wizards. Considering how poised they were to join the Eastern Conference elite, the extent to which the Wizards have unraveled is mindboggling. This week, they're expecting to learn how long Gilbert Arenas will be suspended. Then, the fire sale can begin.
