re: General NBA Links

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You just can't run the sets you were running for Holiday, Anderson, Smith.

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That's the point; ATL hit on it a few posts up- it was talented players getting theirs, not a legit system. Spacing was horrid all year. Some of that is unfamiliarity, sure. But there is a good bit of design flaw too

You really think they couldn't go uptempo because of Brian Roberts? The Sixers ran more than anyone with MCW and Tony Wroten running the point and D Leaguers filling lanes.

If Roberts couldn't do it, then maybe Rivers could have, and certainly Evans (and perhaps Gordon) can. If they wanted to keep the pace up, they could have easily done so

Regardless of the talent, you've still got a bunch of ball dominant guards playing together with enough shooting that you can get work done. You can lay foundations. You tweak, not change who you are, because of injuries.

Here is a link to SI awards. LINK

Davis was the consensus MIP with 3/5 ballots. Gerald Green and Dragic were the other 2.

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Mannix: Anthony Davis, Pelicans
Ballot: Davis, Goran Dragic, Lance Stephenson
Voting for this award is subjective, to say the least. Does it belong to the star who becomes a superstar? The middle-of-the-road veteran who rises from the pack? My ballot features a little of both, but it’s impossible to overlook Davis, a holy terror on both ends of the court who makes me think Durant has some competition as James’ heir apparent. That Davis has added a reliable mid-range jump shot and an emerging post game to his elite-level defense at the ripe age of 21 is downright scary. The Suns’ Dragic deserves some award (“Player Who Strapped What Was Supposed To Be A Crappy Team On His Back And Nearly Got It In the Playoffs?”). The Pacers’ Stephenson will get his reward in free agency this summer.

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Golliver: Anthony Davis, Pelicans
Ballot: Davis, Gerald Green, Lance Stephenson
As a former No. 1 pick who hadn’t yet reached legal drinking age, Davis and “anticipated improvement” were synonymous entering the season. Nevertheless, he blew past any reasonable development curve, averaging 20.8 points, 10 rebounds and a league-leading 2.8 blocks. Davis’ PER (26.5) is the highest ever for a player during his age-20 season, including LeBron James. Going from “potential franchise player” to “bona fide franchise player” this quickly and this effortlessly makes his growth more impressive than that of the rest of a loaded field. Green’s mid-career emergence and Stephenson’s blossoming as an all-around talent make them both worthy runners-up.

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Dollinger: Anthony Davis, Pelicans
Ballot: Davis, Lance Stephenson, Goran Dragic
The rate of Davis’ evolution continues to marvel. Keep in mind Davis is nine years younger than LeBron James. He’s a defensive anchor, leading the league in blocks, and he’s a blossoming offensive star, raising his scoring average by seven points per game. Stephenson has been the best player on the best team in the East for portions of this season, using his unconventional playmaking to spark the Pacers’ often-stalled offense. His tenacity on defense and vision on offense make him one of the best two-way players in the league.

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