Post by kobe on Jun 20, 2012 0:12:00 GMT -5
1st Team Center
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Portland Trailblazers
Kareem has been the best center in the league for awhile now and the Blazers just acquired him while keeping arguably their three best players. The trade irked a lot of GMs, most of which are trying to win themselves and are just jelly. But KAJ probably does put the Blazers over the top. KAJ is a top notch scorer, rebounder and shot blocker in this league. He can score 30, get you 13 rebounds and block 4 shots every game. The Blazers didn't need much help but they just got a lot of it. Sucks for the rest of us.
2nd Team Center
Tree Rollins, Portland Trailblazers
Sorry Broph didn't wanna put him at PF. Natural center and been playing there most of the year. Broph's going to be playing him at PF eventually I think but I'm just going to list him at center. Most of us thought Tree would be a great shot blocker, but instead he has become a great offensive player whilst still blocking 3 shots and grabbing 12 rpg. 50% from the field and over 90% from the FT line is amazing.
Honorable Mentions: Goo Kennedy, Elmore Smith
1st Team Power Forward
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Lloyd Neal, Los Angeles Clippers
Neal has been a center his whole career but after the Clippers traded Moore they moved Neal to PF and he has been just as great. Currently averaging 20.5 ppg and 11.6 rpg. Both would be career highs for him. Also the move to PF didn't effect his blocks, he is still averaging 4 a game. This is the first year Neal has really been asked to score and he has handled it well. He has always been a viable option because of his great free throw shooting for a big and the Clippers are taking advantage of it this year.
2nd Team Power Forward
Rick Roberson, Utah Jazz
Roberson has been one of the best scoring bigs in the league for years, but rarely gets talked about because he plays in Utah. Currently at 22 ppg and 9 rpg. His mpg are down some too which is why his numbers are a little low but they are still great per 36. Snyder kind of died in TC and the Jazz have struggled this year, Roberson very well could finally be traded after playing his whole career in Utah.
Honorable Mentions: Robert Parish, Jack Sikma
1st Team Small Forward
Larry Bird, Phoenix Suns
Bird hasn't disappointed in his short time in the league. 31.7 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 4.0 apg at SF. Bird has put up better numbers than Magic so far, but completely different circumstances obviously. Bird is quickly becoming one of the best scorers in the league and his rebounding at SF is huge. The only thing he doesn't do is get blocks and steals. Some GMs won't like that, but you don't need to get steals and blocks when you put up 32, 10 and 4. Bird is stuck on a bad team with a not so active GM so this could mean doom for his career in terms of winning.
2nd Team Small Forward
Wil Jones, Golden State Warriors
Should probably be Bobby Jones here, but Wil Jones is having a career year and deserves his due. Jones is averaging 24 and 10 for the Warriors and has been a big part of their turn around from last year's debacle. He also gets over 1 spg and 2.5 bpg which is mostly why he gets the nod over Jones right now. His %s are starting to drop a bit but nonetheless up until this point he has been great.
Honorable Mentions: Bobby Jones, Spencer Haywood
1st Team Shooting Guard
Larry Kenon, Los Angeles Lakers
Kenon's a natural forward, but has been playing SG this year and is having himself a career year as well. This guy has slowly developed into one of the best scorers in the league, currently putting up 32.5 ppg. His plus rebounding and shotblocking at SG is also huge. Not sure how his perimeter defense is so he could get lit up in the playoffs by all of the good shooting guards. Lakers are struggling without Lanier this year, but Kenon is doing all he can to pick up the slack that's for sure. I said Bing and Gervin could be the best back court in the league in the midwest article, but didn't notice Kenon was playing SG. Money-Kenon is definitely the best back court.
2nd Team Shooting Guard
Rick Barry, Oklahoma City Thunder
Perhaps just as impressive as Kenon has been the 34 year old Rick Barry. 30 ppg, 8 rpg, 4 apg with 2 spg is basically routine for him but his contract and age pretty much kill all the value his talent gives him. Not sure he will be traded as the Thunder aren't in a position to just give him away but I doubt many are willing to give much more than expirings and firsts. Barry is still a top SG in the league though sucks he has to be on the contract.
Honorable Mentions: Allan Bristow, George Carter
1st Team Point Guard
Eric Money, Los Angeles Lakers
Money is the best PG in the league and is only 23 years old. Seems like he has been in the league longer, its scary to think he can still improve. 27 ppg, 12 apg, 5 rpg, 2 spg with awesome percentages. Can't ask for a whole lot more. Money is the type of player you never trade but I could see him going soon as the Lakers have struggled since getting rid of Lanier and they could opt to rebuild with the Michael Jordan draft coming up soon. But definitely going to be hard to get equal value for him.
2nd Team Point Guard
Bernie Fryer, Portland Trailblazers
There are a lot of great PGs in the Pacific. Walt Hazzard, Foots Walker, Don Buse, Dick Snyder, and Mike D'Antoni to go along with Money and Fryer is quite a collection of point guards for one division. But back to Fryer, he has been great this year and Broph is letting everyone know as usual. 26 ppg, 12 apg, 5 apg with under 2 tpg and really good %s. Fryer is at least playing at Money's level which is impressive to say the least.
Honorable Mentions: Walt Hazzard, Foots Walker
1ST TEAM ALL-PACIFIC
Center: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Portland Trailblazers)
Power Forward: Lloyd Neal (Los Angeles Clippers)
Small Forward: Larry Bird (Phoenix Suns)
Shooting Guard: Larry Kenon (Los Angeles Lakers)
Point Guard: Eric Money (Los Angeles Lakers)
2ND TEAM ALL-PACIFIC
Center: Tree Rollins (Portland Trailblazers)
Power Forward: Rick Roberson (Utah Jazz)
Small Forward: Wil Jones (Golden State Warriors)
Shooting Guard: Rick Barry (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Point Guard: Bernie Fryer (Portland Trailblazers)
Team Breakdown:
Portland Trailblazers (3)
Los Angeles Lakers (2)
Los Angeles Clippers (1)
Golden State Warriors (1)
Oklahoma City Thunder (1)
Phoenix Suns (1)
Utah Jazz (1)
