What's Spanish for "not terribly shocking?"
Award season is now officially upon us, kicked off the announcement that the Spurs' Manu Ginobli won the Sixth Man of the Year award. Wasn't tough to see this coming, considering el hombre averaged nearly 20 ppg off the pine (making him the team's leading scorer by percentage points), was often the team's go-to dude in final possessions and played at an All-Star level throughout 2008. Thus, it's hard to get slack jawed over the news.
That said, the actual vote count does reveal a pair of interesting tidbits. First, Jordan Farmar earned a second place nod, plus a pair of third placers. Also, Ginobli received 123 out of a possible 124 first place votes... and assuming I'm doing the math right, was left off the ballot entirely by whichever writer gave the overall nod to Leandro Barbosa. Similar to when a few writers excluded Kobe from their sheet in 2006 (I can easily accept them voting for someone else, but not putting him in the top 5? Seriously?), it would be lying on my part to declare that anything short of a head scratcher.
AK
AK / BK,
Do you know when the winner of the MVP award will be announced ???
Thanks in advance...
Posted by: Ray B. | April 21, 2008 at 11:33 AM
Who cares about Manu and his stinking award..Kapish!! Total NONSESNE!!
We are talking about champsionship on the line and lot ast stake for me..so Go WIN this year, otherwise my friend at the butcher shop will be very unhappy..
Anyone has any problem with it then come join me for breakfast with my paisans, Nicky "The Tormentor" and Luca "The Kapish" Brazzi in hollywood.
The Mob Boss
Posted by: The Mob Boss | April 21, 2008 at 11:36 AM
Check hoopshype too guys!!!
Posted by: Charles | April 21, 2008 at 11:37 AM
Meaningless. Just Pop's choice to have Manu off the bench. He plays starter's minutes and always finishes.
Has any other 6th man won a Finals MVP?
Posted by: | April 21, 2008 at 11:40 AM
I think the write who left Manu off the ballot considers him a starter - and that he cannot be judged by sixth man standards. I personally agree with that...the sixth man award should go to a role player who has contributed the most to his team...not a genuine starter on his team playing with the second unit
Posted by: | April 21, 2008 at 11:53 AM
Good morning all!
15 more to go!!
congrats to Jordan for getting some recognition.
Posted by: Lakers Legacy | April 21, 2008 at 11:55 AM
The writer who left him off probably figured Manu shouldn't even have been on the ballot, since he's an obvious starting caliber player as well as peripheral MVP candidate. It's only the quirk of the Spurs that brings him in off the bench, when he's clearly one of the Top 3 players (if not best player).
I'm surprised more voters didn't leave him off, but I imagine the NBA could frown on that kind of thing, no matter what your reason.
Posted by: Critical Beatdown | April 21, 2008 at 12:29 PM
I like Van Gundy's take:
They don't have a 2nd-man award, 3rd man award, etc., so why give props to a 6th man award? Ludicrous! Especially when the person who won the 6th man award is really a 2nd man or maybe even a 1st man for his team.
I echo the question: When is the MVP given out?
Also, any updates at all on Bynum??? Ariza? 2nd round maybe??
Posted by: Earth Wind & Fire | April 21, 2008 at 12:39 PM
The NBA should do away with the 6th Man award precisely because of situations like that of Ginobli. It has become a meaningless award for that very reason.
Posted by: Robyn | April 21, 2008 at 12:43 PM
yeah, manu is a starter that comes off the bench... i mean common.. if kobe comes off the bench he'd always win.. i mean, manu is what the 1st or 2nd best player on the spurs? common.. that's not fair.
now leandro barbosa... he's a 6th man. the suns already have nash and raja bell at the guards.. so then barbosa has to come off... and yeah.
kudos to the voter who didn't put manu on the ballot at all.
Posted by: wasssssssup | April 21, 2008 at 12:47 PM
The omitter was clearly voting that Manu wasn't a starter on general principle. I think Chad Ford of espn did that on his ballot for their site. Does he have an actual vote? He may be the cantankerous contrarian here.
Posted by: J.D. Hastings | April 21, 2008 at 12:57 PM
wasssssssup,
Why do you keep talking to Common? Does he visit this blog? Does he know Manu?
Posted by: J.W. Weatherman | April 21, 2008 at 01:06 PM
Thats pretty cool that Jordan got a few votes, I wouldn't have expected that. Hopefully he can continue to grow and be our point guard of the future. He makes a few bad decisions here and there however overall I think he is a great asset to this laker team. He needs to keep hitting the 3, drive more, play better defense and get slightly more assists. Heres to Farmar for sixth man of the year 2009.
GO LAKERS
Posted by: mrbarneydangles | April 21, 2008 at 01:07 PM
AK/BK do you worry about the second game!!!
I feel what Denver should do if they have any sense is to make the Lakers into a jump shooting team
I expect them to double down on Pau any time he gets the ball in post hence make other lakers take shots away from the basket and get the ball out Pau's hands!!!
What do you think!!!
Peace!!
Angry_Laker
Posted by: Angry_Laker | April 21, 2008 at 01:11 PM
Manu's a starter and if you look at the 6th Man award, I don't think a Laker has ever won it. I don't know if I'd go so far as to say worthless, but it certainly is as unquantifiable as the MVP. It's like an MVP for the bench players of the league. I guess our benches on those championship teams over the last, oh 20 or so years, have been pretty slack.
Congrats to Farmar, but he's GOT to learn to stay in front of the other teams PG. He's fast enough, he just doesn't move his feet. I love his buzzer beaters though. Tremendous upside for the young man, even after this season of major progress. He is the PG of the future for the team.
If we don't get Von Wafer back.
Posted by: Jamie Sweet | April 21, 2008 at 01:12 PM
AK/BK do you worry about the second game!!!
I feel what Denver should do if they have any sense is to make the Lakers into a jump shooting team
I expect them to double down on Pau any time he gets the ball in post hence make other lakers take shots away from the basket and get the ball out Pau's hands!!!
What do you think!!!
Peace
Angry_Laker
Posted by: Angry_Laker | April 21, 2008 at 01:24 PM
Here's Spanish for "not terribly shocking...
....no chocante terriblemente!!
Hope this helps!
Posted by: Robyn | April 21, 2008 at 01:31 PM
Charles,
Hoopshype stuff is way off base.
My awards.
MVP - Kobe
6th man - Farmar
DPOY - Kobe
COY - Phil
Exec - Mitch
Pest - Sasha
1st Team:
Kobe
PAU
LO
Vlad
Fisher
2nd team:
Ronny
AB
Walton
Sasha
Farmar
3rd team:
DJ
Mihm
Ariza
Karl
Newble
All D team:
AB
LO
Ariza
Kobe
Sasha
Posted by: Fairweather Fatty | April 21, 2008 at 01:35 PM
I'm not saying whichever voter that snubbed Manu should have voted for him (although I would have), but I'm not buying that Ginobli actually plays too many minutes to be considered a 6th man. Manu averaged 31 mpg this season. Last season, Barbosa won while playing 32 mpg. Mike Miller won in '06 playing almost 31 mpg. If you look over the last several seasons, it's always been a guy playing high 20's/low 30's.
Plus, the voter who didn't give it to Manu went with Barbosa, who played 29.30 mpg. Are you telling me that 90 seconds worth of PT is all the difference between a true bench player and "a starter in bench clothing?" And that 31 mpg somehow eliminates Ginobli from his ballot altogether? C'mon, now. Even if you wanna give it to Barbosa, how can you possibly not rank Ginobli in the top 3 with the season he's had?
Unless this particular voter has a history of only voting for guys playing 25 mpg or less, I'm guessing this is just a voter looking to be the contrarian.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | April 21, 2008 at 01:42 PM
Fairweather Fatty
Thanks for the post. I never said they were way on base brother...
Posted by: Charles | April 21, 2008 at 01:47 PM
Probably left him off because he didn't feel Ginobili qualified as a non-starter.
Posted by: meh | April 21, 2008 at 01:48 PM
Angry_Laker,
Doubling on Pau is probably the worst thing they could do - better to try and have Camby do a better job one-on-one. Pau is an exceptional passer, and he rarely tries to force anything; double him and Lamar or Kobe cut to the basket, or Vlad/FIsher have an uncontested three-point shot.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | April 21, 2008 at 01:51 PM
Lakers fans like to hate on opposing players the same way we get hated on.
Give Manu his due, dude gets it done.
Posted by: Xodus | April 21, 2008 at 01:53 PM
Jamie Sweet,
So a Laker never winning the award somehow invalidates it? LOL wow.
Having a good bench doesn't mean you have the best individual bench player, it usually means you have the best second unit. The Lakers have the best collection of best players and Manu is the best player that comes off the bench.
Two different things.
Posted by: Xodus | April 21, 2008 at 01:57 PM
First, MLB would never give out a the best PINCH HITTER award and the NFL woud never (NEVA EVA) give out a SPECIAL TEAM MVP award. These league are much better than giving out awards like candies. (an somevody tell the NBA they are a professional, world famous league and basically aim higher?)
Second, Giving the 6th man award to Ginobili CONTRIDICTS the true reason, which I think is to recognize the importance of bench players, for gving out this award.
Thank Goodness Kobe is not coming off the bench casue then everybody would want to change the qualifications every year according to what Kobe hasn't done that year so we'd be in a much bigger mess than what the really BS award of the man of the year already is.
So I guess thanks to Kobe for not being a bench player????
Posted by: rayray | April 21, 2008 at 01:59 PM
Xodus,
That wilely Argentinian is pretty damned good.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | April 21, 2008 at 02:01 PM
Funny quotes:
Mark Kiszla of The Denver Post:
"Follow the chain that yanked the Nuggets all game long and you will find the devilish smile of the man clearly in command of this NBA playoff series after only one game: Kobe Bryant. Did Bryant and his Los Angeles Lakers get in the heads of Denver players and coaches, who were yapping, crying dirty pool, complaining to the refs and trying to regain their equilibrium after a 128-114 loss? Put it this way: Bryant did more than beat the Nuggets. He performed brain-salad surgery on them. Can Denver recover? Or was this the beginning of yet another sad, quick end for the Nuggets in the playoffs?"
Posted by: HmrHed | April 21, 2008 at 02:01 PM
Xodus-
Whoever doesn't respect Manu's game is a ...... (I'm tired of caling people names) by ...... I mean some thing like not very intelligent, basketbally.
Posted by: rayray | April 21, 2008 at 02:03 PM
The Mob Boss-
Are you talking about the first thing or the second thing?
Posted by: rayray | April 21, 2008 at 02:04 PM
Guys can anyone tellme if Kobe is hurt? He looked slow, was not bending very well, was not handling the ball to well and my wife said he looked old. Iv'e seen him when he wants to play defense and the guy is lightning. In this game he was slow, even running up the court he looked slow.
As for Boston and KG. I 'm sick and tired of that guy. He is such an errogant SOB. I'm glad we did not get him. All i ever here about is the big 3. How about the big 5 Kobe, Bynum, Gasol Odom and Fish. Celtics would not even stand a chance with us.
I'm out,
CrzyFan
Posted by: CrzyFan | April 21, 2008 at 02:05 PM
Exhelodrvr I hear what you are saying!!!
Exactly, It will take Pau high percentage shooting out of the game. I guarantee you this, Denver will not be allow Pau to go off again like he did on sunday.
We must continue to swing the ball and make sure the Denver’s bench production is has minimal effect!!!
Peace!!!
Angry_Laker
Posted by: Angry_Laker | April 21, 2008 at 02:06 PM
MVP buzzz...
http://tinyurl.com/45k65o
Posted by: wet blanket | April 21, 2008 at 02:07 PM
AK/BK I assume I am on your 'Ignore Black List'
All is quiet on the "Kamenetzky Front"
Peace!!!
Angry_Laker
Posted by: Angry_Laker | April 21, 2008 at 02:14 PM
Thelonius (aka Tsphere),
Outstanding series of posts regarding the silliness being perpetrated about Kobe’s performance in yesterday’s playoff opening win over the Nuggets. I never noticed the Monk moniker before but it’s good to know what the T in Tsphere stands for.
While I thought Kobe had a sub-par game based on his personal standards, I thought he was still a key component to the Lakers winning the game. Yes, he did hit only 9 out of 26 shots, but he made up for his off-shooting night in many other ways that contributed to the big win, including scoring 18 points in the 4th quarter to seal the win.
First, Kobe is the leader and the model that has taught this team how to work hard and how to win. The team’s confidence and growth are a direct result of the solid patience and strong leadership that Kobe had provided this team. The perfect example was his counseling of Jordan Farmar after Phil had chastised Jordan for his defense on the floor. You could see Kobe explaining to Jordan how to respond and encouraging him.
Second, it really annoys me to see posters treating Kobe’s comments about being a decoy as if it were some kind of excuse for having an off day. The simple facts are that Kobe was a decoy for much of the game, drawing the Nuggets best defender out of the middle as well as getting half of the Denver defense leaning toward his side of the floor while Pau and Lamar were carving up the Nuggets on the weak side by attacking the hoop. Without Kenyon Martin helping Camby inside, the Nuggets were grossly overmatched in the paint defensively. The result was an astounding 60 out of 128 points in the paint.
Third, while I also bitched at a couple of jumpers that Kobe took that enabled the Nuggets to get going in transition, I also noticed that Kobe consistently made excellent feeds to open teammates when doubled who either missed the shot or found an even more open teammate to pass the ball to. Yesterday, Pau was the recipient of most of those second passes on plays where Kobe had initiated the mismatch by passing out of the Nuggets double or triple teams. The result was an amazing 33 assists out of 46 hoops.
Fourth, when his outside shot was not hitting, Kobe started forcing the Nuggets to foul him by aggressively attacking, drawing Denver players off their feet, making the smart plays to get to the line, and then converting the misses (13 of 14 from the line). Those who have actually played the game know how very tough it is to consistently attack on offense and draw the contact to get free throws. It is so inviting when you are exhausted to just pull up and hoist an easy jumper, especially when you have talent like Kobe.
Viva Paris. Good to see you in playoff form, Tsphere.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | April 21, 2008 at 02:17 PM
That was a long shot Robyn but just a little fix:
"No terriblemente choncante"
Anyway this sounds weird in spanish... a good match wouls be "No es para tanto".
Posted by: HugoSpain | April 21, 2008 at 02:18 PM
wet in bed,
Stop posting links to obscene material.
Posted by: HmrHed | April 21, 2008 at 02:18 PM
Angry_Laker,
There seems to be little rhyme or reason to the questions that the K Brothers respond to. I haven't figured it out yet.
Still, I guess we should cut them some slack. They generally have to produce a lot of text each day.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | April 21, 2008 at 02:23 PM
Jon K & Laker Tom I hope PJ makes sure Denver's bench are non factor!!!
Please, please can we stop opposing team role players from having career games against us. Game 1 should have been a blow out, if we had stopped their bench from being a factor!!!
Open letter to Mr Karl, "Please keep Marcus on the bench for whole game, I feel it helps us a lot when the 'Defensive Player of the Year' is on the bench"
Peace!!!
Angry_Laker
Posted by: Angry_Laker | April 21, 2008 at 02:38 PM
Hugo Spain,
Thanks for the correction!
Considering that I dropped out from high school and never had a chance to take Espanol courses, I am sure you would be most understanding and forgiviing!
Gracias!
Posted by: Robyn | April 21, 2008 at 02:42 PM
Angry Laker,
Sorry. I've been juggling a few things and didn't have time to answer. Anyway, I don't think it's a question of Denver doubling Pau consistently as it is finding someone else besides K-Mart to guard Kobe. Or at least tweaking the lineup while doing it.
Interesting and (in terms of how Kobe was affected) effective as the approach was, it left the paint way too vulnerable. Martin on the perimeter equals Denver giving up too size down low- Pau, LO and Walton were posting up guys all day in mismatches- as well as the paint's passing lanes being pretty exposed because guys can't really be guarded down there. Plus, Gasol can draw Camby back away from the basket, do without Martin down there, the rack becomes easier to reach.
Maybe Denver will go big and allow Martin to stay on Kobe that way. But otherwise, I don't see how they can keep using that approach without expecting more of the same.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | April 21, 2008 at 02:45 PM
AK,
One way for Denver to get away with it is if they start Kleiza instead of Carter. They could put Kleiza on LO and take their chances with LO's speed advantage.
Posted by: Xodus | April 21, 2008 at 02:56 PM
As per the Collective Bargining agreement, all NBA teams are required to have a quota of players sporting corn rows, tattoos, head bands, old school knee socks, butt ugly mutants, dorkey white guys, and smelly Europeans on their roster...
Some teams can cover this quota with combinations, such as corn rollers with head bands, and dorkey, smelly white Europeans etc.....
truely efficient teams are the ones that have a heavily tattooed dude sportin' corn rows and a head band, with knee high socks who can break a mirror from 200 yards---
to date no team has a player who has all those attributes AND is a white smelly dork from Europe...but the Spurs are probably working on that....
Does anyone know if any NBA team is in violation of the Collective Bargining Agreement?
GO LAKERS !!!
Posted by: Floyd | April 21, 2008 at 02:56 PM
Robyn,
You´re welcome.
I´m impressed, cause I´ve been learning english for decades and it just seems like I´m fouling at least one out of three words.
GO LAKERS!!!
KOBE=MVP!
GASOL=MVPau!
ODOM=SILENT HUNTER!
GO LAKERS!!!
Posted by: HugoSpain | April 21, 2008 at 03:06 PM
Hip-Hip (W)Ho Cares!!!
Posted by: utzworld THE BANNER HOLDER | April 21, 2008 at 03:07 PM
Xodus,
Kleiza was the main guy I was thinking, too. Or Najera. And they basically run with an AI/Melo backcourt and nobody besides AI and Camby really guarding "their guy," if you know what I'm saying.
Of course, it could also become a little different if Nene is available. Even if he doesn't become that new starter for size, Karl can throw out one more big without depleting their bench of all its size.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | April 21, 2008 at 03:08 PM
To All:
This site is hilarious. A must read.
http://www.firegeorgekarl.com/
Posted by: Xodus | April 21, 2008 at 03:13 PM
Denver thought they would surprise the Lakers with Martin on Kobe and cover the mismatches it caused.
Martins post game comments were very interesting.
He didn't know the Lakers were that good in spacing, cutting, finishing and especially passing.
Uhmm...don't they watch film in Denver?
Still, the adjustments the Lakers made on the fly were spectacular.
They read, positioned well, and passed nicely with out PJ calling a time out and telling them what to do.
Lakers offensive efficiency was fantastic. Except for poor outside shooting by them in the late first, early 2nd, and early 4th, they played almost a perfect offensive game.
128 pts and not playing uptempo, you would think is impossible.
Now, can that energy into D and we can do some serious hurting on Denver the next three games.
Posted by: Fairweather Fatty | April 21, 2008 at 03:20 PM
Thanks Xodus,
That was great.
Posted by: frank1rizzo | April 21, 2008 at 03:21 PM
Xodus,
From Denver site:
Memo to the Nuggets: Kobe, Lamar and Luke aren't passing to Kwame Brown anymore! Pau can actually catch the ball and make the basket! No, really, he can!!
Posted by: Fairweather Fatty | April 21, 2008 at 03:32 PM
Xodus that was funny!!!
"Memo to the Nuggets: Kobe, Lamar and Luke aren't passing to Kwame Brown anymore! Pau can actually catch the ball and make the basket! No, really, he can!!
All I can say is "Free at Last, Free at Last, The Lakers are Free at Last"
If you really want to have a laugh!!!
Check out Spurs Fans vs Suns Fans game1
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/2008/04/20/20080420suns.html
Peace!!!
Angry_Laker
Posted by: Angry_Laker | April 21, 2008 at 03:33 PM