It was announced on 4/27/07 that Marcus Camby won the defensive player of the year award in the NBA. I admit that he is a great shot-blocker. But it's not an award for most blocks in a season. It's an award for best defense/defender. To make my point, here's a quote from Bill Walton's commentary during the ESPN Game 3 broadcast of Nuggets vs. Spurs:
(and to set the scene, it's a fairly close game with just a few minutes to go in the fourth quarter, as the Spurs are bringing the ball up the floor)
"Can Nene stop Duncan in the paint...They got the switch now and Camby on the ball defense against Duncan. Not the strength in his game."
Nene was guarding Duncan for pretty much the whole game, and did a decent job by the way. When Camby got stuck on him when there was a switch on defense (at a very important part of the game), the color commentator felt the need to point out that Duncan had a big advantage because he just got stuck being defended by the DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR.
So my question is, what business does this guy have being the defensive player of the year? Yes, he's a great shot-blocker. Yes, he's a great help-defender. But if the experts calling the game think you are a lesser 1-on-1 defender than Nene Hilario...how are you the best defender in the league?
Couldn't figure out why Camby won, frankly. If you're going by blocks, couldn't you also go by charges taken? If so, Steve Nash would be right up there. Or maybe it should be judged by steals? Or deflections?
Or maybe it should go to a guy who gets the unenviable task of guarding a point guard one night, a power forward the next, followed by a shooting guard.
Shawn Marion. Just my opinion. Oh by the way, he gets a ton of defensive rebounds as well.
Well if Ricko didn't make sence for once.
Marrion was a good pick. Heck they should of gave to the best defensive team in the NBA
Detriot ! Ben Wallace ? Kidd ? Stoudemire ?
But Cambys alright too. Atleast were not talking about Kobe !!!!!
Didn't make a whole lot of difference to me but the fact that Marion wasn't even in the top three in votes has to make you wonder what the hell the voters were watching.
Congradulations to Camby for his weak side blocking ability.
Steve Nash he doesnt even play defense. All he does is flop and cry and everyone talks about him like he is the greatest player of all time. All he did was have 3 great years other then that his career was weak
ricko said if u go off of charges(flops) taken nash should be considered. Thats y i snapped and im not a lakers fan im a kincks fan sad i know. But the right player won dpoy camby does it all. Maybe marion. Marion always plays good if not great d
Echo's of Willis Reed, Walt Frazor and the Pearl !
Hey and Patrick Ewing !
Nothing sad back then. Your just like the Laker and Celtic fans, got the good taste and its hard to except anything lower. You'll recover some day !
Hey it could be even worse. I waited 39 years to blog support my team.
This blogger is a New Yorker, born and raised. I'm a huge sports fan, following pretty much every major sport out there. Sadly, this does not include hockey, NASCAR, or boxing. Hockey lost my affection during the lockout, NASCAR is not a sport, and boxing has become incredibly boring since the dawn of MMA. If you want to talk football, baseball, basketball, or MMA, then I'm your man. I could also debate NASCAR with anyone, but we would probably end up just going around in circles...
