My top picks are.. Ariza, Nate, Terry (but he is like Odom and Manu, a should be starter coming of the bench)
I think Ariza should be chosen. He is on the best team in the league, leading the best bench in the league. He is producing some pretty good numbers this year for a bench player. And as for JET, I don't really see him as a true 6th man. He is sometimes playing as a starter for the Mavericks, whereas Ariza hasn't started a game as of yet (correct me if I'm wrong).
Should be starters count as six-man as long as they spend most of the season coming off the bench. So, all in all, a fair competition.
My bias wants to say Nate Robinson, but it's pretty hard to deny Terry the award. He's averaging 20 PPG off the bench; who was the last player to do that? I guess his only knock would be that he is playing starter's minutes at around 35 MPG. Nate, on the other hand, is only playing 29 MPG. I like Ariza and all, but I think it's a long shot for him to get it. Most of these awards are stat-based and 9/5/2 doesn't exactly cut it (although he has a bigger impact which isn't reflected in his stats).
Rip has already started 32 out of 33 games so at the very least it's way too early to say. I hear Curry might even prefer to have Iverson come off the bench. I hear Curry might want Iverson off the bench instead, so Rip might not even keep that role.
I can't imagine Curry bringing Iverson off the bench. He may want to, but could you imagine the circus of bullshit he'd have to deal with? Iverson would bitch and moan so much, it wouldn't be funny. And that would be way too much for a rookie coach to have to endure. Iverson is too self-centered to ever accept coming off the bench, even if it's for the good of the team.
At this point, I think Jason Terry has the biggest chance to win it this year. Eventhough the Mavs are on mediocre spot on the standings, Terry has posted carrer-high numbers to keep them afloat...
keep an eye on travis outlaw. he's been putting up some big numbers off the bench as of late, and what other team uses one of there bench guys for some many critical 4th quarter shots. Outlaw is mr.4th quarter, and I think a dark horse in the running for 6th man of the year.
