Post by Dallas Mavericks on Mar 28, 2016 14:50:20 GMT -6
Basketball Guru's
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER 2016
DeMarcus "Boogie" Cousins
Sacramento Kings
This year's Basketball Guru Most Valuable Player Award goes to DeMarcus Cousins of the Sacramento Kings!
This year both Cousins and Kings-newcomer, Dirk Nowitizki, shared the spotlight in Sacramento as they surged to become a top three team in the league, going 15-4. Dirk, seeking a second ring, fit in perfectly with Cousins by spreading the floor and opening up opportunities Cousins never had before.
This year Cousins rose from an uncertain Kings team with a shaky management to a General Manager committed to winning and the first time the Kings have reached the playoffs since 2000 and the first time the Kings have ever been to the NBA finals. Falling just 2 wins shy of the number 1 record in the league, DeMarcus Cousins has been the unquestionable captain of this team and the leader day-in and day-out.
The Kings face their biggest test yet: overcoming the New Orleans Pelicans, who beat the Kings in Matchup #10 on December 28 - Jan 3rd.
Despite what you may think about DeMarcus Cousins' personality or attitude, he is statistically the best big man in the game right now. He is on pace to finish the season averaging: at least 27 PPG, at least 11.5 RPG, at least 3 APG, at least 1 SPG and at least 1 BPG. The last person to put up a statline like that was Hakeem Olajuwon back in 1993-94, 22 years ago. Even more impressive, Cousins is putting up these numbers while averaging less than 35 MPG. This means that he's on track to become the 1st player in NBA history to average at least 27 PPG, at least 11 RPG, and at least 3 APG while also averaging less than 35 MPG. He's also going to set the record for usage rate by a center for the second year in a row.
Credit for the success of the Kings must go to the Sacramento Kings, who picked up the steal of 2013's free agency to acquire Rajon Rondo, when so few others refused to even give him an offer after a down season with the Dallas Mavericks. Credit must also go towards Sacramento's trade to acquire Dirk. The retention of franchise faces is one of the primary character points, and reasons for success, of Basketball Guru and thanks must go to all the unheralded GMs who continue to build around their team's recognizable heroes! Sacramento has retained many of their original core players such as Rudy Gay and Darren Collison but they have also added youth in Michael Carter-Williams from the reload draft and role-players such as Aminu, Randolph, Danny Green and Jeff Green who have all played hard to get the Kings into the finals.
This year was again a close race. Russell Westbrook was obviously hot, pulling together another string of games of consecutive triple-doubles as was Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans who led his team to the top of the East. While Russell Westbrook did post superior numbers, his team could only clinch the seventh seed while Anthony Davis has been struck with lingering injuries and has put up inferior stats.
However this year there was one man that must be recognised for his greatness
. Congratulations to DeMarcus Cousins, 2016 Basketball Guru Most Valuable Player!
2015/16 Stats - 27ppg | 11.6rpg | 3.3apg | 1.5spg | 1.4bpg
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER 2016
DeMarcus "Boogie" Cousins
Sacramento Kings
This year's Basketball Guru Most Valuable Player Award goes to DeMarcus Cousins of the Sacramento Kings!
This year both Cousins and Kings-newcomer, Dirk Nowitizki, shared the spotlight in Sacramento as they surged to become a top three team in the league, going 15-4. Dirk, seeking a second ring, fit in perfectly with Cousins by spreading the floor and opening up opportunities Cousins never had before.
This year Cousins rose from an uncertain Kings team with a shaky management to a General Manager committed to winning and the first time the Kings have reached the playoffs since 2000 and the first time the Kings have ever been to the NBA finals. Falling just 2 wins shy of the number 1 record in the league, DeMarcus Cousins has been the unquestionable captain of this team and the leader day-in and day-out.
The Kings face their biggest test yet: overcoming the New Orleans Pelicans, who beat the Kings in Matchup #10 on December 28 - Jan 3rd.
Despite what you may think about DeMarcus Cousins' personality or attitude, he is statistically the best big man in the game right now. He is on pace to finish the season averaging: at least 27 PPG, at least 11.5 RPG, at least 3 APG, at least 1 SPG and at least 1 BPG. The last person to put up a statline like that was Hakeem Olajuwon back in 1993-94, 22 years ago. Even more impressive, Cousins is putting up these numbers while averaging less than 35 MPG. This means that he's on track to become the 1st player in NBA history to average at least 27 PPG, at least 11 RPG, and at least 3 APG while also averaging less than 35 MPG. He's also going to set the record for usage rate by a center for the second year in a row.
Credit for the success of the Kings must go to the Sacramento Kings, who picked up the steal of 2013's free agency to acquire Rajon Rondo, when so few others refused to even give him an offer after a down season with the Dallas Mavericks. Credit must also go towards Sacramento's trade to acquire Dirk. The retention of franchise faces is one of the primary character points, and reasons for success, of Basketball Guru and thanks must go to all the unheralded GMs who continue to build around their team's recognizable heroes! Sacramento has retained many of their original core players such as Rudy Gay and Darren Collison but they have also added youth in Michael Carter-Williams from the reload draft and role-players such as Aminu, Randolph, Danny Green and Jeff Green who have all played hard to get the Kings into the finals.
This year was again a close race. Russell Westbrook was obviously hot, pulling together another string of games of consecutive triple-doubles as was Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans who led his team to the top of the East. While Russell Westbrook did post superior numbers, his team could only clinch the seventh seed while Anthony Davis has been struck with lingering injuries and has put up inferior stats.
However this year there was one man that must be recognised for his greatness
. Congratulations to DeMarcus Cousins, 2016 Basketball Guru Most Valuable Player!
2015/16 Stats - 27ppg | 11.6rpg | 3.3apg | 1.5spg | 1.4bpg
Also in contention:
2. Russell Westbrook - 23.7ppg | 7.7rpg | 10.4apg | 2.1spg | 0.3bpg
3. Anthony Davis - 24.3ppg | 10.3rpg | 1.9apg | 1.3spg | 2.0bpg
4. LeBron James - 25.0ppg | 7.4rpg | 6.6apg | 1.4spg | 0.6bpg