Durant is leading his team in scoring and among rookies, and has had some huge games. Horford is averaging a double-double, and has helped his team more. Which one should be ROY, or should it be someone else?
Horford helps his team win, but that team has Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, and Marvin Williams on that team. Who does Durant have on his team?
My vote goes to Durant. Leads all rookies in scoring and has had a solid season despite being on a terrible team.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Real @ Apr 6 2008, 11:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Horford helps his team win, but that team has Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, and Marvin Williams on that team. Who does Durant have on his team?</div> Honestly thats what I was thinking...
How many rookies could have done what Durant did today? As much as I love Horford, this playoff reasoning doesn't sit too well with me because they're a 35 win team in a laughably weak conference. On that criteria I think Scola is more deserving. Apart from the game against Houston, Durant's last month and a bit has been electric.
I think Durant will win it, but I think this award belongs to Al Horford. Durant is an unbelievable talent and has the chance to be one of the biggest superstars the league has seen in the past decade. With that said, Al Horford is a much better all-around ballplayer than Durant is at this point in time. He doesn't impress anybody on the box scores, although I believe he's pulling down 10 boards a night, but he does everything well. Durant doesn't seem to have the confidence this year that he did in his freshman hear at Texas. Last year, he scored in every way imaginable. Off the dribble, spin moves, post ups, turnarounds, jab steps, off screens, etc. You name it, he did it. This year? A completely different story. This year he is all about finishing on the break and taking effortless, contested jumpers. Now, with a smooth shot like that I can't blame him, but I'm surprised he isn't fully utilizing his skills. Most of the time, you hear about NBA coaches not correctly utilizing his players' abilities. In this case, it's Kevin Durant not comfortable enough to expand his horizons to his capabilities. Sure, he's only 19 and I still have no doubt in my mind that this kid can be a Hall of Famer when it's all said and done. But as of right now, he has a loooooong way to go. Al Horford is a much better and more valuable basketball player at this point in time. Durant will win this award because of his name, hype, and scoring average. But once again, I believe it belongs to Horford.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Apr 6 2008, 11:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Durant will win this award because of his name, hype, and scoring average. But once again, I believe it belongs to Horford.</div> No, Durant will win because he is producing like a superstar on a team going nowhere. The entire Atlanta Hawks team has stepped up this year, Al Horford isn't looked upon to carry a franchise in his first year. Kevin Durant is, and has done incredible things with such a huge burden at such a young age. Put Al Horford in a Sonics uniform and watch him fade into obscurity. Durant hands down.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Shard @ Apr 7 2008, 12:47 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Apr 6 2008, 11:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Durant will win this award because of his name, hype, and scoring average. But once again, I believe it belongs to Horford.</div> No, Durant will win because he is producing like a superstar on a team going nowhere. The entire Atlanta Hawks team has stepped up this year, Al Horford isn't looked upon to carry a franchise in his first year. Kevin Durant is, and has done incredible things with such a huge burden at such a young age. Put Al Horford in a Sonics uniform and watch him fade into obscurity. Durant hands down. </div> And I almost took you seriously smh. Horford with the Sonics, would have a similar year to Emeka Okafor in his rookie year with the Bobcats.
If Horford were on the Sonics, he'd do next to nothing. The reason he produces as well as he does is because of the attention Smith, Johnson, Williams and now Bibby all receive. I'm sorry, but if I'm a coach, I'll let Horford take a few non-contested shots if it means getting an added hand in the face of those four.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Run BJM @ Apr 7 2008, 09:15 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Durant if for no other reason than he saved the Warriors' season last night.</div> Co-sign.
Just on this whole Horford helping his team more argument; the Hawks have only won six games more than they did last year and are only in playoff contention due to playing in a horrible conference. Is that enough to swing it?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Apr 7 2008, 12:36 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I think Durant will win it, but I think this award belongs to Al Horford. Durant is an unbelievable talent and has the chance to be one of the biggest superstars the league has seen in the past decade. With that said, Al Horford is a much better all-around ballplayer than Durant is at this point in time. He doesn't impress anybody on the box scores, although I believe he's pulling down 10 boards a night, but he does everything well. Durant doesn't seem to have the confidence this year that he did in his freshman hear at Texas. Last year, he scored in every way imaginable. Off the dribble, spin moves, post ups, turnarounds, jab steps, off screens, etc. You name it, he did it. This year? A completely different story. This year he is all about finishing on the break and taking effortless, contested jumpers. Now, with a smooth shot like that I can't blame him, but I'm surprised he isn't fully utilizing his skills. Most of the time, you hear about NBA coaches not correctly utilizing his players' abilities. In this case, it's Kevin Durant not comfortable enough to expand his horizons to his capabilities. Sure, he's only 19 and I still have no doubt in my mind that this kid can be a Hall of Famer when it's all said and done. But as of right now, he has a loooooong way to go. Al Horford is a much better and more valuable basketball player at this point in time. Durant will win this award because of his name, hype, and scoring average. But once again, I believe it belongs to Horford.</div> What you are describing has nothing to do with confidence and everything to do with facing NBA defenders. Durant has been getting a steady diet of the best NBA defenders and guess what, they've slowed him down.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (o.iatlhawksfan @ Apr 7 2008, 09:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Shard @ Apr 7 2008, 12:47 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Apr 6 2008, 11:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Durant will win this award because of his name, hype, and scoring average. But once again, I believe it belongs to Horford.</div> No, Durant will win because he is producing like a superstar on a team going nowhere. The entire Atlanta Hawks team has stepped up this year, Al Horford isn't looked upon to carry a franchise in his first year. Kevin Durant is, and has done incredible things with such a huge burden at such a young age. Put Al Horford in a Sonics uniform and watch him fade into obscurity. Durant hands down. </div> And I almost took you seriously smh. Horford with the Sonics, would have a similar year to Emeka Okafor in his rookie year with the Bobcats. </div> No he wouldn't have. The Sonics actually have some capable big men that could contribute on other NBA teams. Okafor got stats by default because someone on Charlotte was going to have rebound the ball. Now if you said "Put Al Horford in a Bobcats uniform and watch him out perform Okafor," then I'd agree with you.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan @ Apr 10 2008, 08:47 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>What you are describing has nothing to do with confidence and everything to do with facing NBA defenders. Durant has been getting a steady diet of the best NBA defenders and guess what, they've slowed him down.</div> Exactly, you only have to look at his last month or so to realise this. He's making better decisions, spotting lanes to the basket quicker and recognising double teams early. The result has been higher percentages across the board, more free throws and less threes and contested jump shots. It's all about learning, and he is doing it on a team without many players to take the defensive focus off him.
