The most enraging and preposterously underrated...
Posted: Wed Apr 2, 2008 11:42 am
So I was thinking about how underrated so many teams, players and just things are. I swear sometimes this place is filled by people who watch basketball once a week, and they either watch Boston, Dallas, Los Angeles, or Phoenix, and that was the end of the story. I felt sick with lack of media coverage of many of the great stories in the NBA, and it does make me angry. Many things that have transpired throughout the season have gone under radar and I have decided to share with you the most enraging and preposterous underrated in the NBA.
Teams:
East - Philadelphia 76ers: 28-7 in the last 34 games
They started flat down terrible, and were getting owned in terrible fashion. Even their own fan base were producing the worst attendance numbers in history for the 76ers. But Cheeks has made his point accross and they got it together. 76ers are playing stifling defense in one side of the floor, producing opponent turnovers, and running the fast breaks with athletic players. From Young, Green, Ollie, and Iguodala, and a nightly Fort Knox effort by Dalembert. They have beaten Boston, San Antonio, Denver, Phoenix, Houston, Dallas, Orlando and the list goes on. The coaching staff and the caliber of players had been long underrated.
West - Utah Jazz: 14-9 vs Top 9 West Teams
So you win a 7 game series on the road (20% chance), get to the WCF, and still get no respect. So yes, Utah Jazz are the only division leading team that has a losing record. But lets take other things into account in the record such as the fact the their 14-9 against the playoff teams in the Western Conference is second best. Or how about being the only Western Conference team to beat Boston in Boston or been sweeping the Pistons for a couple of years now. How about in the era of the Nuggets, Suns, and Warriors, that Jazz are #1 in scoring efficiency. Road woes are a big distractor. Did you knew that if the Jazz would have beaten the Knicks, T-Wolves (x2), and Miami they would be alone in the top of the West. Let alone beat the 12 games on the road they lost to out of playoff teams, they could be right now with the Celtics. The Jazz ARE CONTENDERS, and people are still blind enough to get confused about records. It's all gonna be about matchups.
Miscellaneous Awards:
6th Man - Jason Maxiell & Paul Millsap: 7.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg | 8.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg
Do they post numbers like Manu Ginobli? Definitely not. But their strength to enhance both of their benches lies in their hustles and inside play. These underrated set of players provide hustle, get offensive boards, block shots, score points, dunk seriously to increase morale, and if injury happens to important players, can step up and go for 20+ pts, 15+ reb nights easily. With starter minutes, they could easily be 20/10ers.
Veteran - Andre Miller: 17 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 6.9 apg
32 years old, traded to this team for their franchise player. During the same time, Chris Webber also resigns from the team. Doom and the end of his career seemed to begin to happen. However, Andre Miller has not let down, and now he is putting prime numbers to feed the resurgent 76ers with no superstars. Downright the most underrated veteran.
International - Hidayet Turkoglu: 19.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 4.9 apg
When we think international we think Steve Nash, Manu Ginobli, Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki, and Yao Ming. But Hedo has been putting career best numbers this year, and at times has carried his team on his back and has knocked down several game winning shots this year. Should have been an All-Star this year, but was looked down. Very much the most underrated international player.
Rookie - Carl Landry: 8.5 ppg, 5.1 rpg, .629 FG%
During the Rockets hot winning streak, everyone looked at the void in the starting lineup and how Scola would feel it, but it was Carl Landry who was playing stiffling defense and putting very efficient numbers of a very slow paced team that make him easily be ignored in stat sheets. His contribution to the streak and throughout this year is simply invaluable.
Coach - Eddie Jordan: 38-36 record in 07-08
Wouldn't it be easy to be Rivers and have a contender roster automatically, and at best lose one starter for short periods? So what do you when your 1st player, 2nd player, and then over half of your starters go down? Run away? Tank for picks? Knicks 2.0? Not Eddie Jordan. Playing with a Roster of only 9 players as of late, he is still kicking around, and his team is 5th on the East. The Wizards have learned to live without their prolific scorers mainly due to great team defense and excellent isolation sets around the perimeter, as well as good passing for points in the paint. Overhyped Cleveland Cavalier are just 3 games ahead of the team that has most games missed by injury this year. Critics won't unzip Adelman's, and Scott's pants, but I will tell it right, and people greatly underestimate Eddie Jordan
Trade - UTA/PHI: Gordan Giricek+2nd rnd pck 09 for Kyle Korver
Utah shares the best record since the start of 08 with the Rockets, and have added depth and a lot of firepower to their great weakness of outside shooting. Philadelphia has had the hottest record since waiving Gordan Giricek, since players like Willie Green and Rodney Carney have remerged. And after Gordan Giricek joined the team, the Suns had gone into mad streak and have regained their contending confidence thanks to his proven outside shooting, ability to create his own shot and to take it to the basket along with perimeter defense. Gasol trade was risky, as it was a lot of money into one player, and depth is gone once he is gone too. This trade was the very first of the year, and has gone under the radar. Without any franchise names involved it ran stealthily, but this trade without a doubt has had the greatest impact this year.
Players
5. Al Jefferson: 21 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 50 dbl-dbl
He is 23 years old, and this 4 year veteran would probably be coming out of college as a senior looking to hopefully be drafted high. Rather than that, he took into the NBA early, and right now he is a Double double beast. His career high in points is of 40, and also earlier this year he recorded a career best 22 rebounds. He is the franchise player, and he is doing all of this while being slightly undersized for a PF/C, and without a decent PG. This guy is gonna be HOF is no injuries come along.
4. Jose Calderon: 11.9 ppg, 8.3 apg, .529 fg%
Chris Paul's efficiency numbers are historically great, probably the highest ever recorded in a season. To me, it is abosutely numbing to see that he is king in the NBA with 5.9 TO/AST ratio. Also his shooting percentages are sick with .529 FG % and a sniper like .443 3FG%. These numbers are king among PGs, and he is just hands down the atomic clock PG that is having a stocktonesque year. His numbers would be much higher if Sam Mitchell would utilize him more. Even then, I am shocked he is never considered the MVP of the Raptors this year.
3. Chris Kaman: 15.7 ppg, 12.7 rpg, 2.8 bpg
So the Denver Nuggets got 2 players into the All-Star game, and people were saying it was a travesty that Marcus Camby didn't get in even as a reserve. Marcus Camby is labeled as the most underated big man, but even then, he is overated compared to Chris Kaman. Do you see those monster numbers. He puts up great defense, and has a very quality offensive set which under a system that has a decent power forward that will spread the floor and also just a decent point guard other than Knight or Dickau he could be 20/15 guy. The guy is a monster, and should be hidden gem for GMs to hunt this summer.
2. Deron Williams: 19.3 ppg, 10.5 apg, 48 dbl-dbl
Deron Williams is just a crime how overlooked he has been. Last year he had a very strong case but the commissioner decided to put injury plagued Allen and Okur rather than anoint him as an All-Star. Funny you see lists all around of the best point guards, and Deron is usually ranked far behind Jason Kidd, Chauncey Billups, and Reggie Miller he says he will be a Baron Davis in about 5 years. Didn't Brandon Roy actually make the All-Star this year in front of Deron too, even after Deron took his team to the WCF? Deron has accomplished crazy feats like having the most assists in two games total in over a decade, and also have the most assists in a month, even then, his stats don't compare to other PGs and Marc Stein best explains, "There are still plenty of GMs who would take D-Will over Paul because of his all-around floor game and his size/durability advantages. Don't forget that Williams will never have the gaudier numbers in Utah's system, where he's often throwing the ball ahead and giving it up a lot more than Paul has to." This guy is 1-2, 2-1 with CP3 career wise. Nuff said.
1. Kevin Martin: 23 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.1
K-Money is ranked 7th in points per game behind Nowitzki and Stoudamire. Is this guy for real? He also shoots the less shots of the top 10 scorers in the NBA, yet still produces more points. He also has the deficiency of not having a good point guard to set him up for shots, so therefore he has to create his own. By far the most despicably underrated player in the NBA. I can't believe the empty All-Star selections, the inexcusable lack of invitations to Team USA (and they are aching for perimeter offense).
Do you feel enraged too about someone being ridiculously ignored? Something or someone I forgot? Bogut? Stephen Jackson? Detroit Pistons? Kurt Thomas Trade? David West? Share with us.
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Teams:
East - Philadelphia 76ers: 28-7 in the last 34 games
They started flat down terrible, and were getting owned in terrible fashion. Even their own fan base were producing the worst attendance numbers in history for the 76ers. But Cheeks has made his point accross and they got it together. 76ers are playing stifling defense in one side of the floor, producing opponent turnovers, and running the fast breaks with athletic players. From Young, Green, Ollie, and Iguodala, and a nightly Fort Knox effort by Dalembert. They have beaten Boston, San Antonio, Denver, Phoenix, Houston, Dallas, Orlando and the list goes on. The coaching staff and the caliber of players had been long underrated.
West - Utah Jazz: 14-9 vs Top 9 West Teams
So you win a 7 game series on the road (20% chance), get to the WCF, and still get no respect. So yes, Utah Jazz are the only division leading team that has a losing record. But lets take other things into account in the record such as the fact the their 14-9 against the playoff teams in the Western Conference is second best. Or how about being the only Western Conference team to beat Boston in Boston or been sweeping the Pistons for a couple of years now. How about in the era of the Nuggets, Suns, and Warriors, that Jazz are #1 in scoring efficiency. Road woes are a big distractor. Did you knew that if the Jazz would have beaten the Knicks, T-Wolves (x2), and Miami they would be alone in the top of the West. Let alone beat the 12 games on the road they lost to out of playoff teams, they could be right now with the Celtics. The Jazz ARE CONTENDERS, and people are still blind enough to get confused about records. It's all gonna be about matchups.
Miscellaneous Awards:
6th Man - Jason Maxiell & Paul Millsap: 7.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg | 8.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg
Do they post numbers like Manu Ginobli? Definitely not. But their strength to enhance both of their benches lies in their hustles and inside play. These underrated set of players provide hustle, get offensive boards, block shots, score points, dunk seriously to increase morale, and if injury happens to important players, can step up and go for 20+ pts, 15+ reb nights easily. With starter minutes, they could easily be 20/10ers.
Veteran - Andre Miller: 17 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 6.9 apg
32 years old, traded to this team for their franchise player. During the same time, Chris Webber also resigns from the team. Doom and the end of his career seemed to begin to happen. However, Andre Miller has not let down, and now he is putting prime numbers to feed the resurgent 76ers with no superstars. Downright the most underrated veteran.
International - Hidayet Turkoglu: 19.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 4.9 apg
When we think international we think Steve Nash, Manu Ginobli, Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki, and Yao Ming. But Hedo has been putting career best numbers this year, and at times has carried his team on his back and has knocked down several game winning shots this year. Should have been an All-Star this year, but was looked down. Very much the most underrated international player.
Rookie - Carl Landry: 8.5 ppg, 5.1 rpg, .629 FG%
During the Rockets hot winning streak, everyone looked at the void in the starting lineup and how Scola would feel it, but it was Carl Landry who was playing stiffling defense and putting very efficient numbers of a very slow paced team that make him easily be ignored in stat sheets. His contribution to the streak and throughout this year is simply invaluable.
Coach - Eddie Jordan: 38-36 record in 07-08
Wouldn't it be easy to be Rivers and have a contender roster automatically, and at best lose one starter for short periods? So what do you when your 1st player, 2nd player, and then over half of your starters go down? Run away? Tank for picks? Knicks 2.0? Not Eddie Jordan. Playing with a Roster of only 9 players as of late, he is still kicking around, and his team is 5th on the East. The Wizards have learned to live without their prolific scorers mainly due to great team defense and excellent isolation sets around the perimeter, as well as good passing for points in the paint. Overhyped Cleveland Cavalier are just 3 games ahead of the team that has most games missed by injury this year. Critics won't unzip Adelman's, and Scott's pants, but I will tell it right, and people greatly underestimate Eddie Jordan
Trade - UTA/PHI: Gordan Giricek+2nd rnd pck 09 for Kyle Korver
Utah shares the best record since the start of 08 with the Rockets, and have added depth and a lot of firepower to their great weakness of outside shooting. Philadelphia has had the hottest record since waiving Gordan Giricek, since players like Willie Green and Rodney Carney have remerged. And after Gordan Giricek joined the team, the Suns had gone into mad streak and have regained their contending confidence thanks to his proven outside shooting, ability to create his own shot and to take it to the basket along with perimeter defense. Gasol trade was risky, as it was a lot of money into one player, and depth is gone once he is gone too. This trade was the very first of the year, and has gone under the radar. Without any franchise names involved it ran stealthily, but this trade without a doubt has had the greatest impact this year.
Players
5. Al Jefferson: 21 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 50 dbl-dbl
He is 23 years old, and this 4 year veteran would probably be coming out of college as a senior looking to hopefully be drafted high. Rather than that, he took into the NBA early, and right now he is a Double double beast. His career high in points is of 40, and also earlier this year he recorded a career best 22 rebounds. He is the franchise player, and he is doing all of this while being slightly undersized for a PF/C, and without a decent PG. This guy is gonna be HOF is no injuries come along.
4. Jose Calderon: 11.9 ppg, 8.3 apg, .529 fg%
Chris Paul's efficiency numbers are historically great, probably the highest ever recorded in a season. To me, it is abosutely numbing to see that he is king in the NBA with 5.9 TO/AST ratio. Also his shooting percentages are sick with .529 FG % and a sniper like .443 3FG%. These numbers are king among PGs, and he is just hands down the atomic clock PG that is having a stocktonesque year. His numbers would be much higher if Sam Mitchell would utilize him more. Even then, I am shocked he is never considered the MVP of the Raptors this year.
3. Chris Kaman: 15.7 ppg, 12.7 rpg, 2.8 bpg
So the Denver Nuggets got 2 players into the All-Star game, and people were saying it was a travesty that Marcus Camby didn't get in even as a reserve. Marcus Camby is labeled as the most underated big man, but even then, he is overated compared to Chris Kaman. Do you see those monster numbers. He puts up great defense, and has a very quality offensive set which under a system that has a decent power forward that will spread the floor and also just a decent point guard other than Knight or Dickau he could be 20/15 guy. The guy is a monster, and should be hidden gem for GMs to hunt this summer.
2. Deron Williams: 19.3 ppg, 10.5 apg, 48 dbl-dbl
Deron Williams is just a crime how overlooked he has been. Last year he had a very strong case but the commissioner decided to put injury plagued Allen and Okur rather than anoint him as an All-Star. Funny you see lists all around of the best point guards, and Deron is usually ranked far behind Jason Kidd, Chauncey Billups, and Reggie Miller he says he will be a Baron Davis in about 5 years. Didn't Brandon Roy actually make the All-Star this year in front of Deron too, even after Deron took his team to the WCF? Deron has accomplished crazy feats like having the most assists in two games total in over a decade, and also have the most assists in a month, even then, his stats don't compare to other PGs and Marc Stein best explains, "There are still plenty of GMs who would take D-Will over Paul because of his all-around floor game and his size/durability advantages. Don't forget that Williams will never have the gaudier numbers in Utah's system, where he's often throwing the ball ahead and giving it up a lot more than Paul has to." This guy is 1-2, 2-1 with CP3 career wise. Nuff said.
1. Kevin Martin: 23 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.1
K-Money is ranked 7th in points per game behind Nowitzki and Stoudamire. Is this guy for real? He also shoots the less shots of the top 10 scorers in the NBA, yet still produces more points. He also has the deficiency of not having a good point guard to set him up for shots, so therefore he has to create his own. By far the most despicably underrated player in the NBA. I can't believe the empty All-Star selections, the inexcusable lack of invitations to Team USA (and they are aching for perimeter offense).
Do you feel enraged too about someone being ridiculously ignored? Something or someone I forgot? Bogut? Stephen Jackson? Detroit Pistons? Kurt Thomas Trade? David West? Share with us.
Copy and paste the following code and share with us your thoughts.
Code: Select all
[u][b]Players:[/b][/u]
[b]1. [/b]
[b]2. [/b]
[b]3. [/b]
[b]4. [/b]
[b]5. [/b]
[u][b]Miscellaneous Awards:[/b][/u]
[b]6th Man -[/b]
[b]Veteran -[/b]
[b]International -[/b]
[b]Rookie -[/b]
[b]Coach -[/b]
[b]Trade -[/b]
[b][u]Teams:[/u][/b]
[b]East -[/b]
[b]West -[/b]
wow, he was simply stating that the marketability of the superstars has out shadowed the accomplishments of certain players/teams that should be garnering there own recognition.