Crawford wins Sixth Man award
Wed Apr 28, 2010 9:58 am
An article
I believe most of us picked him to win, whether he was our personal choice or not.
After willingly accepting a backup role for the first time in his career, the Atlanta Hawks guard was named the NBA Sixth Man of the Year in a landslide.
“You have to check your ego at the door,” the 30-year-old Crawford said. “It’s all about winning. You do what you’ve got to do.”
I believe most of us picked him to win, whether he was our personal choice or not.
Re: Crawford wins Sixth Man award
Wed Apr 28, 2010 10:19 am
I went with Manu, but I don't have a problem with Crawford winning since he didn't start 20+ games. (He started none.)
He was a far better offensive version of Ronald Murray a year ago, and gave the Hawks more choices in the backcourt and on the perimeter in terms of lineups. And while Crawford is getting too much credit for the Hawks moving up to the 50-55 win range (Horford's continued development and Josh Smith finally becoming a good player mattered more) it was a good addition. (Not that anyone thought it was anything but a good move before the season, or at least I don't remember it.)
It is another example of "play at least 30 minutes, get around or more than 15 points and play on a winning team and you'll win in a landslide." Actually being a combo guard (or swingman?) is a pretty good indicator too. Looking at the winners of the last decade, outside of Corliss Williamson's fluke season and Antawn Jamison's lone benching ever winner is a combo guard or whatever you think Manu/Mike Miller are.
Other than Aaron McKie you also have to go back to 1995 to find a winner below 13 ppg.
Odd that Manu didn't place, Varejao placing so high is surprising as well. (I was just looking at the voting, and it's usually 90% guards/scorers.) Even though he picked up more win shares than Crawford in about 300 fewer minutes.
He was a far better offensive version of Ronald Murray a year ago, and gave the Hawks more choices in the backcourt and on the perimeter in terms of lineups. And while Crawford is getting too much credit for the Hawks moving up to the 50-55 win range (Horford's continued development and Josh Smith finally becoming a good player mattered more) it was a good addition. (Not that anyone thought it was anything but a good move before the season, or at least I don't remember it.)
It is another example of "play at least 30 minutes, get around or more than 15 points and play on a winning team and you'll win in a landslide." Actually being a combo guard (or swingman?) is a pretty good indicator too. Looking at the winners of the last decade, outside of Corliss Williamson's fluke season and Antawn Jamison's lone benching ever winner is a combo guard or whatever you think Manu/Mike Miller are.
Other than Aaron McKie you also have to go back to 1995 to find a winner below 13 ppg.
Crawford won the award going away with 580 of a possible 610 points, including 110 out of 122 first-place votes. Jason Terry(notes) of the Dallas Mavericks, last year’s Sixth Man winner, finished second this time with 220 points. Anderson Varejao(notes) of the Cleveland Cavaliers (126 points) was third.
Odd that Manu didn't place, Varejao placing so high is surprising as well. (I was just looking at the voting, and it's usually 90% guards/scorers.) Even though he picked up more win shares than Crawford in about 300 fewer minutes.
Re: Crawford wins Sixth Man award
Wed Apr 28, 2010 2:27 pm
Media got tired of Manu.
Re: Crawford wins Sixth Man award
Thu Apr 29, 2010 12:47 am
Not surprised at all to see Crawford win, though I was surprised to see Varajao so high on the ballot.