2002 NBA SEASON AWARDS & PLAYOFF PREVIEW
Date: 4/18/02
By: Rice & Gerry

The NBA regular season has just ended, and now the "real" season begins. The 16 best teams in the league duke it out for the championship. 82 games played to get to this point. This is the true standard that players judge their careers by. Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing....... all are first ballot Hall of Famers, but there'll be an unofficial asterisk next to their names because they've never won it all.

Will the Lakers repeat? Will the East put up a fight or lie down and die like the punks that they are? I can't fucking wait to find out. Here's Rice and my picks for the NBA regular season awards and my playoff predictions.

Gerry:

MVP - Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
Runner up: Shaquille O'Neal

I give Duncan the nod because he's simply been the most valuable player in the league. He gets it over Shaq, but only because Shaq has been hampered all season by nagging injuries, and hasn't given the Lakers all he could. Duncan, on the other hand, carried the Spurs on his back. I don't remember him ever having a bad game this whole year.

Rice:

MVP - Jason Kidd, New Jersey Nets
Runner up: Tim Duncan

There is no way a team composed of Kenyon Martin, Keith Van Horn, Kerry Kittles, and Todd MacCulloch was going to play fundamental team basketball... unless Jason Kidd was running point. But the biggest reason my vote goes to Kidd is because the Nets were a last place team last season and are now a first place team. Their only major offseason move? To acquire Kidd, and that has made all the difference.

Gerry:

Defensive Player of the Year - Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons
Runner up: Dikembe Mutombo, Philadelphia 76ers

Ben Wallace's hair deserves a share of this award. His fro is so lopsided and haphazard that it obviously scares his opponents into missing shots. Seriously though, Ben Wallace was a defensive monster this season. Not only did he lead the league in rebounds, but he led the league in blocks and was right up there in steals as well. His defensive energy changed the complexion of games and also rubbed off on his teammates.

Rice:

Defensive Player of the Year - Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons
Runner up: Doug Christie, Sacramento Kings

If Ben Wallace doesn't win this award unanimously, I'll eat my computer. Lead league in rebounds, blocks, and sheer intimidation with his Mr. Glass hair-do. What, you think the Pistons succeed by outscoring the other team?? Doug Christie a distant runner-up.

Gerry:

Rookie of the Year - Pau Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies
Runner up: Shane Battier, Memphis Grizzlies

In a few years, Pau Gasol will be a white Kevin Garnett. He's got that much skills. Right now he's too damn skinny and inexperienced, but what a phenomenal rookie season he had. Led all rookies in scoring, rebounding, and field goal percentage, and was right up there among the league leaders in blocks too. What I've noticed recently is that he's developed a knack for passing the ball. When he bulks up, he'll be unstoppable.

Rice:

Rookie of the Year - Pau Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies
Runner up: Andrei Kirilenko, Utah Jazz

Although I feel Pau Gasol is a bit overrated, he will win by a landslide. People are comparing him to Kevin McHale already! Kirilenko an underlooked candidate in this category, but when Malone finally retires, he'll be there to carry on the torch.

Gerry:

Sixth Man of the Year - Quentin Richardson, Los Angeles Clippers
Runner up: Tim Thomas, Milwaukee Bucks

I don't understand all this Bobby Jackson/Corliss Williamson talk. A 6th man is not just supposed to score. They have to fit into the offense the entire team is running and contribute to the entire game in all categories. Q was an unstoppable scorer and displayed uncanny 3-point bombing capabilities. But he's also one of the best rebounding guards in the league, and a fantastic finisher. No non-starter had as good a season.

Rice:

Sixth Man of the Year - Quentin Richardson, Los Angeles Clippers
Runner up: Darius Miles, Los Angeles Clippers

Ah, my beloved Clippers. Sixth man of the year is like the story of their season. So far, yet so close. Q's got 3-point range, plus a smooth post-up game. Plus, he's consistent night in and night out. Often times, he lead the Clippers in scoring coming off the bench! Miles rounds off the QRich/DMiles connection. These two will be dynamite in the years to come.

Gerry:

Most Improved Player of the Year - Jermaine O'Neal, Indiana Pacers
Runner up: Baron Davis, Charlotte Hornets

This was a tough decision for me. I was about to pussy out and make it a tie, but I thought it over and decided that Jermaine O'Neal deserves the award because he's developed into the premier post player in the East. He's ready to become a superstar and a franchise leader. Baron Davis narrowly misses out on this award, mainly because he is following a standard superstar learning curve. Jermaine O'Neal has exploded onto the scene over the last couple years after not doing anything for the previous 3 or 4 years.

Rice:

Most Improved Player of the Year - Brent Barry, Seattle SuperSonics
Runner up: Jermaine O'Neal, Indiana Pacers

This category is so wishy-washy. Oh well. My ballot goes to Brent Barry, a perennial bench warmer turned Gary Payton sidekick. He posted career highs in points, rebounds, field-goal percentage (a sizzling .508 from a guard!), and 3-point percentage (makes 2 out of every 5). If that's not improvement, I don't know what is. The most impressive thing is he was never deemed to be a star like his father, yet has managed to carve out a name for himself finally in his 7th season.

Gerry:

Coach of the Year: Rick Carlisle, Detroit Pistons
Runner up: Nate McMillan, Seattle Supersonics

Who would've thought the Detroit Pistons would amount to anything? They really have a crappy team over there, except Carlisle has somehow infused the team w/ a win-through-teamwork-and-defense attitude that's carried them to a Central Division crown. He somehow got Jerry Stackhouse to stop hogging the ball and make his teammates better. Props go to McMillan, too, for guiding the Sonics into the playoffs despite playing in a horribly tough conference and having no low post presence whatsoever.

Rice:

Coach of the Year: Rick Adelman, Sacramento Kings
Runner up: Jim O'Brien, Boston Celtics

I think it's high time someone give Adelman credit for leading the Kings to the top record in the NBA. And he did it without Chris Webber for more than a quarter of the season, too. Jim O'Brien is a close second, making the Celtics a force in the East rather than the joke it was under Rick Pitino with essentially the same players.

Gerry:

All-NBA Selections

1st team: Jason Kidd, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett

2nd team: Gary Payton, Tracy McGrady, Ben Wallace, Paul Pierce, Dirk Nowitzki

3rd team: Andre Miller, Baron Davis, Jermaine O'Neal, Elton Brand, Chris Webber

Rice:

All-NBA Selections

1st team: Jason Kidd, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, Tim Duncan, Tracy McGrady

2nd team: Gary Payton, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce

3rd team: Andre Miller, Baron Davis, Jermaine O'Neal, Elton Brand, Ben Wallace

Playoff Predictions

Gerry:

Western Conference - Los Angeles Lakers over Dallas Mavericks

Lucky for the Lakers, the Mavericks will face the Sacramento Kings in the 2nd round. Those two teams match-up very well, and the Lakers should end up taking on a very tired Dallas team in the finals. No one has an answer for Shaq. Nobody. Of course, I'm also boldly predicting that the Lakers get past the Spurs in the 2nd round, which won't be easy at all.

Eastern Conference - New Jersey Nets over Boston Celtics

Every year I pick the damn Charlotte Hornets to emerge out of the East, and every year they implode. This year, they once again have a good chance to get out of the East, but I ain't jinxing them by picking them. Instead, I'll take the Nets, who play the West Coast style of basketball that should carry them to the finals. I have a bad feeling about Philly, which could click all of a sudden w/ the return of Allen Iverson. That team can come out of the East if they gel quickly.

Championship - Los Angeles Lakers over New Jersey Nets

The Nets have a chip on their shoulder, since no one's predicting them to get out of their own conference. I ain't too impressed w/ them either, considering that they won only 2 more games than the Minnesota Timberwolves, who ended up w/ a 5 seed. But I like the way they play the team game and how they don't slouch on defense. Unfortunately, they don't have a go to scorer that takes pressure shots, so I wouldn't be surprised if they don't even make it this far.

Rice:

Western Conference - Dallas Mavericks over San Antonio Spurs

I'm going to make an unpopular prediction that L.A. is going to tank against San Antonio in the 2nd round. The Spurs ought to dismember the Sonics with ease, but the Lakers are going to get a real dogfight against Portland who's not intimidated by them at all. Especially after their last nationally televised game where they essentially threw in the towel. If you remember, last year the Lakers entered the Playoffs with a killer streak going. No such streak this year. On the other side of the bracket, the Kings vs. Mavs will be one of the best series to watch in years. The Mavs have more bench depth than Sac., despite all the Bobby Jackson for 6th man brouhaha. It looks like their trade for Nick the Quick and Raef will finally pay true dividends. Dallas is just too deep and too explosive, plus they've added defense to their latest repetoire as well. Anyone notice that they've kept 8 of their last 9 opponents under 100 points?

Eastern Conference - New Jersey Nets over Detroit Pistons

Honestly, this is a crapshoot. Any two teams can emerge from this fray to play the Mavs in the finals. The Nets have been semi-slumping, and the Pistons have been charging hard, but JKidd ain't gonna win MVP for nothing. It's rare that a team's best player is also their wild card, but that's what Kidd is to the Nets, and that's what'll propel them into the NBA finals. However, don't be surprised if it ends up being Indiana vs. Toronto. Geez, this crazy conference...

Championship - Dallas Mavericks over New Jersey Nets

Yes, there will be a new champion this year. The Lakers' reign will come to a screeching halt, while Mark Cuban's array of stars take the podium for the first time in franchise history, I think. Why, you ask? I have no clue, really. It's 3 in the morning, and I'm going more by desire than logic. I'm tired of the Lakers. Yeah, I'm a fan and all, but still, they're starting to get boring to watch. The Mavs are fun and gun, and the Nets have floor general Jason Kidd. This is the series I want to experience. Forget Phil Jackson and his triangle offense--throw it into Shaq, back out to Kobe, back into Shaq, blah blah... Just thinking about it makes me sleepy. Show me Steve Nash penetrating the paint like a little white blur. Show me Dirk Nowitzki's unorthodox but oh-so pretty jumper. Show me Michael Finley's ridiculous athleticism. Show me Nick Van Exel jacking up 3's like there's no tomorrow. Show me Wang Zhi-Zhi jacking up 3's like there's no tomorrow. Show me Mark Cuban getting thrown out by Ed Rush and fined by the league. Show me Don Nelson's portly figure hopping up and down on the sidelines. These Mavericks are the NBA equivalent of the St. Louis Rams--the greatest show on earth. As a fan, this is THE series to watch. And maybe for once... just once... the most fun team in the NBA can also be crowned the best team in the NBA.