|  Who do you guys think would win the NBA 2009 ROY award? This batch has been phenomenal so far, though not as great and hyped as the 2003 batch which had LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh.
At first I though that it's going to be Derrick Rose of Chicago but things have gone so unclear lately. Memphis' OJ Mayo has been spectacular as well as New Jersey's Brook Lopez. The Clippers' Eric Gordon, Oklahoma's Russell Westbrook, Miami's Michael Beasley, and Portland's Rudy Fernandez also are playing great and as expected.
My take: I think it's going to be OJ Mayo of Memphis but getting it without a fight from Derrick Rose.
Rose vs Mayo. Derrick Rose is second overall in scoring among rookies as well as in minutes played but leads all rookies in assists by a far mile. As of this writing, Rose averaged 6.3 assists a game, way far from second leading Russell Westbrook with 4.9. What could pull Rose close to the ROY award? Aside from his stellar stats, it's Chicago's current position in the standings. The Bulls are in the hunt of a playoffs spot. If Chicago can make it to the playoffs, Rose's got a good chance of winning the ROY. What can pull him down? Chicago is loaded with good players in Ben Gordon, Kirk Hinrich, Drew Gooden, Tyrus Thomas, and Andres Nocioni. Basically, Rose got what he needs to win games.
Clearly in a rebuilding mode, Memphis is looking for a bright star in the future and is banking on Rudy Gay and guess who? OJ Mayo. Mayo leads all rookies in scoring and minutes played and is not a bad outside shooter either. As of this writing, Mayo is averaging 19.4 points while Rose is running second with 16.9 a game. Because Memphis is losing a considerable number of game (they even lost more than their wins), Mayo's impact is not that magnified. On a basketball critic's POV, I think Mayo by far deserves the ROY with what he's doing in Memphis. So what can make Mayo win the ROY? It's playing for and leading a not so deep and so young team. Mayo's number are more than decent for a rookie, especially playing for a team like Memphis, and more importantly, the impact that he brings to the team. Imagine Memphis without Mayo this season. What might pull him down? Derrick Rose is posting good numbers too and it might come down to whose team performed better. Chicago has the better chance to have a better record at the end of the season than Memphis and if it comes to that, it might blow Mayo's chances. But who knows? Allen Iverson won the ROY award back in 1997 after Philadelphia won only less than 30 games.
Other surprises are Brook Lopez and Eric Gordon. Lopez, way opposite from his twin Robin in Phoenix, could be New Jersey's next big thing. In 53 games so far, Lopez is averaging 12.3 points, 8.1 boards, and 1.8 blocks in 29.0 minutes a game. And what a way to cap a big season so far, in their recent game against San Antonio, Lopez slipped past Tim Duncan and went on for a big slam. Imagine both Lopez and Devin Harris in the future. New Jersey can relive the Jason Kidd glory days once again.
The injuries of Baron Davis, Marcus Camby, and Zach Randoplh was a big blow for the Clippers season but it was an opportunity for Eric Gordon. Gordon is averaging a little above 14 points a game and has become one of the scoring machines and go to guy in the Clips camp (this might change now that B-Diddy is back). Nevertheless, Gordon has shown great potential that the Clips can lean on in the future. More experience and Gordon and Thornton can turn this franchise around.
Some have played great and some played just the way everybody expected them to be. Rudy Fernandez and Greg Oden are serious contributors for Portland's sudden rise though Oden has not been playing at the level everybody is expecting him to (he's number 1 pick last season). Russell Westbrook, playing and sharing with Kevin Durant and Jeff Green at Oklahoma City is not that disappointing either. Another Monta Ellis in the making?
A lot has yet to be seen from Michael Beasley, Kevin Love, and Greg Oden. If these guys can catch up with their games, the ROY race will be a lot better.
Now, who's your pick?
|
