Halfway Through, A Look Back

By: Robert Kivell

Through the first half of the season, we have seen some great things and some terrible things.  We saw the Celtics win 19 in a row and we saw the Thunder lose 14 in a row on their way to a 3-29 start.  We saw the usually faces owning the league (see Lebron and Kobe), but we also saw new guys becoming up and coming stars in the league (see Brandon Roy and Devin Harris).  However, as time goes on, teams change and players change too.  Since their polar opposite starts, the Thunder actually have a better record (5-4) than the Celtics do (6-7).  Here is a look back at what we have seen so far in the first half of the season.

First Half MVP:  Lebron James

No surprise here.  For the first half of the season,

 Lebron James truly has been the king of the league.  King James is averaging 27.8 points, 6.7 assists, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.0 steals.  James has propelled the Cavs to a 31-7 record, first in the East, and first in the league.  James finally has the supporting cast necessary to win a championship.  If Lebron can continue to dominate the competition the way he has so far, the Cavs will be able to make a very deep run into the playoffs.

First Half LVP: Elton Brand

When the 76ers signed Elton Brand this offseason to a five year deal this offseason, they thought they would return to the days when they were at the top of the eastern conference.  With a lineup consisting of Brand, Igoudala, Delembert, and some young talented guards, the sixers were not crazy to be aiming for a 50 win year.  However, Brand has contributed next to nothing for the sixers so far.  Elton is averaging career lows in points (15.9), blocks (1.4), and FG% (44.7).  To add insult to injury, Brand went down with a shoulder injury 23 games into the season.  You know you are having a bad year when you are supposed to be the start on your team and they are 9-14

 with you, and 10-6 without you.  That five year deal isn't looking so good now if I were a sixers fan.

Most Surprising Team: Atlanta Hawks

This award could go to the Magic, Cavs, or the Blazers, but all those teams were expecting to be top contenders in their conferences going into the season.  Going into the season, the Hawks were picked by many to finish 3rd or 4th in the Southeast division and miss the playoffs.  Only their coach knew how good they really were.  Woodson said his Hawks were going to win 50 games, and Atlanta is on pace to do just that.  Phillips Arena has become one of the hardest places to play in  the league.  The Hawks have posted a 15-4 record at home so far.  With key offseason moves including the re-signing of Josh Smith, and a n

ew defense first mentality, the Hawks are on their way to their first winning season since the 1998-99 season.  Joe Johnson has become one of the best players in the league, whil

e Flip Murray and Mo Evans have been great acquisitions.  I like this team to finish out the season strong, ending up fourth in the East and winning a round in the playoffs.