Congrats to the Clippers for a great turnaround. They look to have a promising future with Kaman, Brand, Livingston, Mobley, and possibly Maggette. I see this being the beginning of a great rivalry between LA and LA. However this year isn't their year. Suns will win this series.
The Clippers look great and appear to have put together a team that can develop far beyond this year's level and they may not beat the Suns this time around, but if Elgin Baylor can keep this team intact, then he will have accomplished what few excutives have been capable of doing in the NBA. Then give him an award. Oh yeah, Snikastyle, the Suns may beat the Clippers, but I don't see the Suns as capable of beating either the Mavericks or that former Dallas team, the Spurs. Yet, I could see the Clippers as being capable of beating either one of them.
"In a year when 16 executives got at least one vote, Elgin was still a clear winner," Stan McNeal, editor of The Sporting News, said.
Meh. I can't get too excited about this. A year with no stand out candidates results in the award being given to the long time good-tryer. A feel-good move that acknowledges the franchises improvements. To make a Hollywood metaphor this seems like when The Academy finally give an (honorary) Oscar to a long time contributor who went from mediocre to promising despite years of toiling. So eventually Brendan Fraser will get his Academy Award? Acquiring Sam I Am was not a brilliant move but a move involving little risk with a discarded point guard trying to prove his value in a contract year. Mobley ended up in LA because of his desire to be near Hollywood and willingness to take less money than the Kings could have, but hadn't, offered him. Kaman has been a solid contributor, (nearly a double double), after two years of mediocrity to rise up in a contract year. Go figure. Not to say that the future isn't bright for the Clippers and their fans, just to put a little perspective on it. Considering that 16 candidates received a vote I could point at Joe Dumars, Danny Ferry or even Geoff Petrie and make a decent argument.
Wow... I say the Knicks can Thomas, and offer this guy a HUGE MEGA contract- just so maybe the ywould have a chance of making the playoffs in the next decade.
