Portland's Randolph wins NBA Most Improved Player award

 

 

April 22, 2004

NEW YORK (AP) -- Portland Trail Blazers forward Zach Randolph won the NBA Most Improved Player award Thursday after more than doubling his averages for points, rebounds and assists.

 

He easily beat Cleveland Cavaliers forward Carlos Boozer in voting by sports writers and broadcasters, with 59 first-place votes and 379 points.

 

Boozer got 12 first-place votes and 166 points, followed by Memphis Grizzlies forward James Posey with 17 first-place votes and 137 points.

 

Randolph averaged 20.1 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists for the revamped Blazers, who went 41-41 to finish 10th in the Western Conference, two spots out of the playoffs.

 

Last season, his second in the league, Randolph averaged 8.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 0.5 assists

I wonder how he celebrated? Did he go out and shoot his gun in the air, or did he go out and get drunk?

I wonder how he celebrated?  Did he go out and shoot his gun in the air, or did he go out and get drunk?

They'd do both wouldn't they?

I wonder how he celebrated?  Did he go out and shoot his gun in the air, or did he go out and get drunk?

Or high?

 

I wonder how he celebrated?  Did he go out and shoot his gun in the air, or did he go out and get drunk?

LOL.

 

Zachary is a good guy, though.

Before the season started, I hit the free agent market & picked up Zach and Camby for my fantasy team. I already had Boozer (a 10th round pick).

 

Needless to say, I won my fantasy league. I love all of those guys.

Or high?

 

That's cool.

LOL. 

 

Zachary is a good guy, though.

Not really, but that's OK.

I think Andrei Kirilenko not winnin is a joke, but that's just my opinion.

I think Andrei Kirilenko not winnin is a joke, but that's just my opinion. 

Kirilenko was already a monster last year. I'm pretty sure that he led the league this year in total turnovers forced (he was #1 through 60 games). Barkley also went on the record and stated that Kirilenko is his favorite player in the league. He gets a lot of respect.

I think Andrei Kirilenko not winnin is a joke, but that's just my opinion. 

I think Kirilenko might be better, but Zach Randolph took a big leap (on the floor) this season. I just don't know if Zach has too much more upside. I think we (The Blazers ) should trade him, because I don't think his stock will get any higher.

 

 

 

Now I'm waiting for Theo Ratliff to take home the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award.

I think Kirilenko might be better, but Zach Randolph took a big leap (on the floor) this season. I just don't know if Zach has too much more upside.  I think we (The Blazers ) should trade him, because I don't think his stock will get any higher.   

 

 

 

Now I'm waiting for Theo Ratliff to take home the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award.

There's been rumors of Allen goin to Portland for Randolph or Adbul - Rahim. I only said Kirilenko should hav won it, because Zach only contributes on the offensive end. Kirilenko is the league's best defensive playa in my opinion, gets so many steals and blocks.

Kirilenko is the league's best defensive playa in my opinion, gets so many steals and blocks.

Kirilenko is definitely a Top 10 defensive player, and easily one of the best at his position. I'd rank the top 10 defensive players in this order:

 

1. Ben Wallace

2. Ron Artest

3. Theo Ratliff

4. Tim Duncan

5. Bruce Bowen

6. Samuel Dalembert

7. Jermaine O'Neal

8. Kevin Garnett

9. Shaquille O'Neal (Defense by default, mostly)

10. Andrei Kirelenko

 

Other guys who could crack this list:

 

Baron Davis

Marcus Camby

 

And I am a huge Elton Brand fan. He has worked so hard on his defensive game, and it's paying off to the tune of 2.5 blocks per game and plenty of defensive rebounds. It sure would be nice to have Artest and Brand right about now.