Post by kobe on Jun 18, 2012 0:59:21 GMT -5
1st Team Center
Elvin Hayes, New York Knicks
Hayes’ contract is terrible, but he is still an absolute beast. He may be the best center in the league in fact. Hayes is everything you want out of you center and then some. He can get you 20 pretty easily without being the focal point of the offense, his FG% isn’t great but he makes all of his FTs and doesn’t turn it over so he would be a great choice as a first option. He is also one of the top shot blockers and rebounders in the league. His only weakness is his contract and he is getting up there in age. Pretty soon he will be almost impossible to move.
2nd Team Center
Dave Cowens, Brooklyn Nets
Cowens is having another good season for the Nets. He is currently putting up his usual 14, 12 and 3. He still has consistency issues and struggles from the field at times, but he is a great FT shooter so that makes up for it a bit. He isn’t a great shot blocker but is a very good one. Cowens had a chance to be great but he never quite took that next step. Still a very good player though.
Honorable Mentions: Artis Gilmore, Willis Reed
1st Team Power Forward
Marvin Barnes, Washington Wizards
Barnes isn’t talked about much around the league, somewhat because the Wizards GM is a little quiet but this guy is a flat out stud and deserves more attention. He averaged 25, 11 and 4 last year and is backing that up by averaging 27, 12 and 4 so far this year. Very well could be the best big in the league, he is definitely the least talked about. His only weakness is his turnovers, but he has been asked to handle a lot of the offensive load in Washington. As they get better players around him or he is traded to a good team I think his turnovers will go down as his touches do. They shouldn’t be a problem especially with his production. Washington just signed him to a long term deal and he should be a keeper. They will definitely need him next year without their pick/going into CY.
2nd Team Power Forward
Julius Erving, Boston Celtics
Not a natural PF, but Ill list him here since he has been playing there all year and the rest of the PFs in the Atlantic are meh. Erving has been a very good player for awhile, but over the last 2 seasons he has turned into a top 5 player. Dr J has been great at PF for the Celtics, averaging 27 ppg, 10 rpg, 5 apg, 2 spg, and 3 bpg. Bingo-like numbers. He is also shooting great %s. He isn’t a great rebounder at PF but he has held his own so far.
Honorable Mentions: M.L. Carr(playing PF this year), Darryl Dawkins
1st Team Small Forward
Bob McAdoo, New York Knicks
Should be Erving or Carr but since they are both playing PF, McAdoo gets this spot. He is having a good bounce back year after a down season for him last year. So far putting up 24 ppg and 9 rpg on 50% shooting with a steal and block per game too. McAdoo has proven he can score efficiently but hasn’t put up the volume yet. McAdoo has been great for the Knicks, but he needs help from Hayes and Beard if the Knicks are going to turn it around.
2nd Team Small Forward
Charlie Scott, Washington Wizards
Scott has been quietly putting up big numbers for the Wizards since coming over from the Pistons. If it wasn’t for the turnovers he would be great. He rebounds well, but doesn’t stats defend. Averaging 24 ppg with 8 rpg this year. Scoring is down a bit but so are his turnovers so that’s a good thing. Wizards will need Scott to come up big for them next year alongside Barnes.
Honorable Mentions: Sonny Parker, John Drew
1st Team Shooting Guard
Skeeter Swift, Boston Celtics
Skeeter is having a bit of a down year so far for his standards. The Celtics have him at 2nd option and have been running balance so his numbers are down a bit. But 22 ppg on 50% from the field is definitely nothing to scoff at. He has shown he can avg. 30 ppg, shoot 50/90/50 and lead his team to a title though(see last year). So even though Westphal is putting up the better numbers this year, Skeeter is the best SG in the Atlantic, maybe in the league. With Magic and Parker at PG and SF its hard to run outside, but once Parker is gone I think the Celtics should go outside and unleash Swift.
2nd Team Shooting Guard
Paul Westphal, Miami Heat
After a few down years in LA, Westphal is back to his scoring ways from early in his career. He has only played 15 games, but it has been a great 15 games he is averaging 30 ppg on 51% FG, 96% FT, 49% 3PT. The Heat aren’t a great team, but Sobers, Drew and Dawkins all can score a bit so its not like he is playing on a horrible team. His turnovers are low as well thus far which is key. If he keeps playing like this HF could get something nice for him.
Honorable Mentions: Butch Beard, Jim Barnett
1st Team Point Guard
Magic Johnson, Boston Celtics
Only 19 years old but Magic is already establishing himself as one of the best PGs in the league. He did so by almost averaging a triple double through his first 24 games. 20 ppg, 9 rpg, 11 apg, 2 spg, 1 bpg. Shooting great %s to go along with that stat line and it looks as though he may have a 3 point shot to develop after all. Bit of a turnover problem but 2.7 isn’t bad for a rookie especially with his other numbers. If Magic is already this good its scary to imagine him after all his camps and a few more TCs. Magic should be taking over the league soon as we all expected..
2nd Team Point Guard
Mike Glenn, Orlando Magic
Glenn has played 17 games and is still putting up 37 ppg. Obviously should come down, but not just anyone can do that, this kid could be the real deal. Though the Magic don’t really have another offensive threat to speak of, what Glenn has done the past 2 seasons has been impressive. NVL is having a great year and might should be here, but Glenn deserves some notoriety for his impressive start.
Honorable Mentions: Norm Van Lier, Michael Ray Richardson
1ST TEAM ALL-ATLANTIC
Center: Elvin Hayes (New York Knicks)
Power Forward: Marvin Barnes (Washington Wizards)
Small Forward: Bob McAdoo (New York Knicks)
Shooting Guard: Skeeter Swift (Boston Celtics)
Point Guard: Magic Johnson (Boston Celtics)
2ND TEAM ALL-ATLANTIC
Center: Dave Cowens (Brooklyn Nets)
Power Forward: Julius Erving (Boston Celtics)
Small Forward: Charlie Scott (Washington Wizards)
Shooting Guard: Paul Westphal (Miami Heat)
Point Guard: Mike Glenn (Orlando Magic)
Team Breakdown:
Boston Celtics (3)
New York Knicks (2)
Washington Wizards (2)
Brooklyn Nets (1)
Orlando Magic (1)
Miami Heat (1)
