Tap Dancing & Year End Awards

> This year’s tap dancing segment is the smallest it’s ever been since I started covering the NBA full time mid-way through the 2002-03 season. I ended up missing only one team per conference for a grand total of 14 out of 16 playoff teams.

EAST

I had in…

6. Indiana (35-47) – I should have taken the shootout outside that strip club in training camp as a sign of things to come. Nothing went right for the Pacers this season. From Jermaine O’Neal, Jamaal Tinsley & Marquis Daniels being injured, to the trade for Troy Murphy & Mike Dunleavy Jr., to coach Rick Carlisle losing control of the locker room. It all went from bad to worse in a hurry. Losing 11 straight games from 2/23 to 3/14 pretty much sealed their fate.

I had out…

11. Toronto (47-35) – I mentioned in my Eastern preview that I liked the looks of the Raptors roster on paper, but thought they were still at least a year away. As it turned out, T-Dot came together faster than anyone expected, so I really don’t feel all that bad about missing on them.

WEST

I had in…

7. Clippers (40-42) – This has to be the most disappointing squad in the NBA for a variety of reasons. It’s easy to blame the injures to Sam Cassell & Shaun Livingston, but it’s deeper than that. Elton Brand got off to an extremely slow start, Corey Maggette feuded with coach Mike Dunleavy Sr. and Tim Thomas reverted to his non-contract-year form. The biggest thing for me though was their inconsistent effort as a team. For evidence you need look no further then their home loss to a floundering Sacramento club in the third to last game of the season.

I had out…

12. Golden State (42-40) – Again, I don’t feel too bad about missing on the Warriors because they weren’t a playoff team until they pulled off the biggest trade of the season. If I messed up on anything it’s that coach Don Nelson definitely still knows how to win games in the association.

> Before I hand out my year end awards I just wanted to mention that if some familiar names are missing it’s because they didn’t play in at least 60 games this season. The envelopes please…

Defensive Player of the Year

1. Marcus Camby (Denver)
2. Jermaine O’Neal (Indiana)
3. Shane Battier (Houston)

All-Defense Team

PG – Kirk Hinrich (Chicago)
SG – Anthony Parker (Toronto)
SF – Shane Battier (Houston)
PF – Jermaine O’Neal (Indiana)
C – Marcus Camby (Denver

Sixth Man of the Year

1. Leandro Barbosa (Phoenix)
2. Manu Ginobili (San Antonio)
3. Matt Harpring (Utah)

Executive of the Year

1. Bryan Colangelo (Toronto)
2. Chris Mullin (Golden State)
3. John Paxson (Chicago)

Coach of the Year

1. Sam Mitchell (Toronto)
2. Jerry Sloan (Utah)
3. Avery Johnson (Dallas)

Rookie of the Year

1. Brandon Roy (Portland)
2. Andrea Bargnani (Toronto)
3. Paul Millsap (Utah)

All-Rookie Team

PG – Rajon Rondo (Boston)
SG – Brandon Roy (Portland)
SF – Andrea Bargnani (Toronto)
PF – Paul Millsap (Utah)
C – LeMarcus Aldridge (Portland)

Most Valuable Player

1. Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas)
2. Steve Nash (Phoenix)
3. Tim Duncan (San Antonio)
4. Kobe Bryant (Lakers)
5. Tracy McGrady (Houston)

All-NBA

PG – Steve Nash (Phoenix)
SG – Kobe Bryant (Lakers)
SF – Tracy McGrady (Houston)
PF – Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas)
C – Tim Duncan (San Antonio)

Second Team

PG – Gilbert Arenas (Washington)
SG – LeBron James (Cleveland)
SF – Chris Bosh (Toronto)
PF – Carlos Boozer (Utah)
C – Amare Stoudemire (Phoenix)

Third Team

PG – Jason Kidd (New Jersey)
SG – Vince Carter (New Jersey)
SF – Kevin Garnett (Minnesota)
PF – Elton Brand (Clippers)
C – Dwight Howard (Orlando)