AC TITTICOCK'S WEEKLY FREE NBA BASKETBALL PICKS AND WINNERS

NBA BASKETBALL WEEK 24

We are coming up to the last week of the NBA season, and with that, I bring you my end of season awards. It is time for us to honor the good (Garnett), the bad (Atlanta Hawks), and the ugly (Scottie Pippen).

MVP (also known as the Bird award): Kevin Garnett. There is a lot of talk about Duncan and some talk about Jermaine O’Neal but neither of them can come close to what Garnett has done this year. KG has led the Timberwolves to the best record in the league with 24 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 assists per game. However, his biggest accomplishment has been making sure Cassell and Sprewell did not kill each other, Flip Saunders, or Wally Szczerbiak. KG has willed the Wolves to the best record in the NBA. We’ll see what the playoffs hold but KG dominated the regular season.

LVP (Least Valuable Player, known as the Mokeski award): Tie between Vince Carter and Allen Iverson. Vince continued to be the leagues biggest baby missing games 13 games to what was probably a hang nail or maybe just hurt feelings. Even when he is heathly, Vince just can not play. He does not elevate his teammates and does not rebound. He is like a Kobe Bryant, without the skill, determination, or rape charge. As for Iverson, he alienated two coaches, refused to play, and lost a game of horse to Gumby (you have to the see the commercial, trust me it is painful). AI has the heart but apparently not the brains. I don’t blame him for not wanting to listen to Chris Ford, in fact, I applaud that, but you still have to stay on the court.

Most Improved Player( known as the Michael Redd award): Carlos Boozer just edges out Joe Johson. I like Boozer’s game. He has a nice assortment of post moves and a decent mid-range game. He also crashes the boards and plays tough defense. Seriously, he is the kind of player you need on your team to win by doing the dirty work.

Least Improved Player (The Kedrick Brown Award): Kedrick Brown. For the third year in a row Chris Wallace’s boy wins the least improved player award. In three years Kedrick has gone from unpolished leaper to unpolished leaper. He is Jerome Moiso without height. The Cavs game him a chance by starting him after the trade, and he quickly played his way onto the bench. Nice job Kedrick, I like the consistency.

Rookie of the Year (The Jordan): LeDong. He is on a different level, end of story.

Worst Highly Drafted Rookie (The Chris Washburn Award): Darko Milicic. Do I need to write anything? No, really, do I?

Best Coach (The Auerbach): Jerry Sloan. He has done more with nothing than any coach I can remember. Utah has some talent, but not that much and Sloan has them gearing up for a playoff run. Just a tremendous job by Sloan

Worst Coach (The Isiah award): This is a tie between Jim O’Brien and John Carroll. Obie was the worst in-game coach in the history of the NBA (excluding Isiah of course) while John Carroll is perhaps the stupidest coach in the NBA (excluding Isiah of course). Carroll consistently plays Walter McCarty 40 minutes a game at power forward when the GM doesn’t want him doing that, the fans don’t want him doing, and that strategy does not win. The Celtics get outrebounded every night, except for the four games they gave Brandon Hunter playing time. 3-1 when Hunter plays over 20 minutes. Seriously, it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure this out. Carroll is either the dumbest human alive or Danny Ainge told him to lose on purpose.

There you have it, the 2003-2004 NBA season awards, now on to the picks.

On to the free NBA picks for Saturday & Sunday (April 10th & 11th):

Houston at Utah Over 171.5:

No idea who is going to win with Houston coming off of a big victory and Utah fighting for the 8th spot but I do know they will both break 90.

Detroit -10 at Orlando:

Detroit killed me last night by only winning by 8. Took money off of my table so now my kids can’t eat today (that is if I had kids, but that’s not the point). Orlando has zero players that can score, Detroit has 1 million players that can play defense. Take the Pistons here and if you’re feeling smart , parlay it with the under 181.

Miami at Cleveland +3:

Don’t ask, just a gut feel here. I know Cleveland has not won since about 1984 and the Heat own the Queers. I just have a feeling my man LeDong is going to win this one.

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