[Izulde]

The Utah Six 2009 Recap

PG Brandon Brooks - Portland Trailblazers
Started 79 games this year and continues to show steady improvement as Portland's PG, averaging 12.6 points and 7.8 assists. A Sophomore All-Star starter, he's on the verge of becoming a great player, I think. Still, he's definitely good at this stage in his career.

PF Kelvin Moody - Minnesota Timberwolves
Made major strides after a disappointing rookie season (even though he won Rookie of the Year), shooting up to 13.7 points, 9 rebounds and 2.6 blocks. It's hard to believe the T-Wolves were only 30-52 with him and Kevin Garnett, though the team's play did drastically improve after trading away Randy Foye, which suggests a chemistry issue. Moody was a Sophomore starter as well and shows signs of becoming one of the elite players in the league sooner rather than later.

SF Julius Austin - Miami Heat
Despite starting 78 games, appeared to take a step backward, regressing in most major statistics with 7.3 points and 3.9 rebounds, though his steals up were to a 1.4 average. It's looking more and more as if he'll turn into a defensive specialist, the kind of player that's a good role player on a championship team, but without the offense to be a star. On the other hand, he's still got some development left, so maybe he can snap it around. Sophomore Reserve.

C Rudy Braun - New York Knicks
Big gains by the big man, who started 61 games. 8 points a game and 5.5 rebounds both represent significant improvements. Well okay, not the boards, but definitely the points. Hasn't quite adjusted his 7'5" 301 lbs. body to the NBA it seems and who knows he ever will. There's promise there, however. Sophomore Starter.

SF Brian Robertson - Dallas Mavericks
Significantly improved, both in the 5 games he appeared in the NBA and in the D-league. Posted 9.3 points and 5.6 boards a game for the Fort Worth Colonials, but there's nothing to suggest that he'll be anything more than a D-League lifer.

PF B.J. Whitehead - Houston Rockets
Played fewer NBA games, but averaged over 20 minutes in the 17 games he played, averaging 7.9 points and 6.5 rebounds. He's really worked hard and definitely stands a good shot at being a legitimate NBA bench player. His numbers with the Mammoths were almost exactly identical to last season however, suggesting that he doesn't have the same intensity and desire in the D-Leagues that he does in the NBA. Too bad, because we could have really used a dominating B.J. here in Austin.

NBA Lottery
1. Orlando Magic (+10)
2. Dallas Mavericks (+7)
3. Minnesota Timberwolves (+2)
4. Indiana Pacers (-3)
5. New Orleans Hornets (-3)
6. New York Knicks (-3)
7. Washington Wizards (-3)
8. Memphis Grizzlies (-2)
9. Atlanta Hawks (-2)
10. L.A. Clippers (-2)
11. Golden State Warriors (-1)
12. Sacramento Kings
13. Miami Heat
14. New Jersey Nets

What a major upset in the lottery! The Magic and the Mavericks have to be absolutely thrilled with their luck. I'm gleeful to see the Knicks continue to have hard luck and hope it stays that way for them.

2009 NBA Awards

MVP
Dirk Nowitzki - Dallas Mavericks - 28.8 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 4.5 apg, 1.5 bpg, 1.1 spg
Defensive Player of the Year
Andrei Kirilenko - Utah Jazz - 12.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 3.3 apg, 4.1 bpg, 1.5 spg
Rookie of the Year
Narcyz Malinomowski - Memphis Grizzlies - 10.9 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.3 bpg, 0.7 spg
6th Man of the Year
Johan Petro - San Antonio Spurs - 8.0 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.0 bpg, 0.7 spg
Coach of the Year
Mike D'Antoni - Phoenix Suns

Andrei Kirilenko continues to be the only player in the history of this universe to win Defensive Player of the Year. That's three straight trophies for those counting at home.

All-NBA 1st Team
PG Dwayne Wade - Miami Heat
SG Michael Redd - Milwaukee Bucks
SF Dirk Nowitzki - Dallas Mavericks
PF Elton Brand - L.A. Clippers
C Andrew Bynum - L.A. Lakers

All-NBA 2nd Team
PG Steve Nash - Phoenix Suns
SG Tracy McGrady - Houston Rockets
SF Paul Pierce - Boston Celtics
PF Tim Duncan - San Antonio Spurs
C Yao Ming - Houston Rockets

All-NBA 3rd Team
PG Mike Bibby - Chicago Bulls
SG Allen Iverson - Denver Nuggets
SF Carmelo Anthony - Denver Nuggets
PF Carlos Boozer - Utah Jazz
C Greg Oden - Toronto Raptors (3rd season)

All-Defense 1st Team
PG Dwayne Wade - Miami Heat
SG Tracy McGrady - Houston Rockets
SF Andrei Kirilenko - Utah Jazz
PF Tim Duncan - San Antonio Spurs
C Greg Oden - Toronto Raptors

All-Defense 2nd Team
PG Kirk Hinrich - Chicago Bulls
SG Allen Iverson - Denver Nuggets
SF Gerald Wallace - Charlotte Bobcats
PF Tyrus Thomas - Chicago Bulls
C Marcus Camby - Denver Nuggets

All-Rookie 1st Team
PG Major Drayton - Minnesota Timberwolves
SG Mike Tice - Orlando Magic
SF Patrick Pastner - Indiana Pacers
PF Mike Patterson - Toronto Raptors
C Narcyz Malinomowski - Memphis Grizzlies

All-Rookie 2nd Team
PG Gabe Rosen - L.A. Clippers
SG Rob Robinson - Washington Wizards
SF Donte Whiting - Denver Nuggets
PF T.J. Roberts - Miami Heat
C Jayson Alexander - Atlanta Hawks

Next day, the owner calls and this time it's the right owner. I tell him I was pretty pleased with how we did overall, pointing out the turnaround we made after I hired Jeff Van Gundy, when we were playing so badly we were likely to be spotty to even make the playoffs. I also noted that although we lost to Sioux Falls in the first round, it was a close game and the Commodores went on to win the D-League title.

He thinks we should've won the championship.

I tell him to fuck off and quit.

One job opening in the NBA

...And it's the Denver Nuggets, the 2008 NBA Champions who lost in the first round this year.

I don't see much chance of getting it, but I apply anyway, calling up Steve Crenshaw, the Nuggets' owner.

"You've been doing some great work down in the D-League, turning around the Anaheim Cats and pulling that shrewd move with Van Gundy in Austin this year. I like a GM that's not afraid to make gutsy moves to turn things about and honestly, we could use that to get back in shape here in Denver. You got ripped in New York, but I promise you, if you want to get the Nuggets back to form, you're welcome to it, Jestor!"

"Um, you mean you're offering me the GM job?"

"That's right!"

"...I'LL TAKE IT!!!"

"Welcome back to the NBA, Mr. Jestor!"

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!