Unsung Heroes

[TheSyndicate]

We talk a lot about the stars of our league, and coming out of the ASB, I've had about enough of this shit. Every GM has a few guys on the team that they appreciate a little more than the rest of the league does. So maybe they don't carry a ton of trade value, won't be players of the week, and won't even get love in any of the media articles (plenty though they may be). Well, I'm gonna give these guys some love. Starting with the Western Conference!

Dallas Mavs
Unsung Hero: Gerard Carlsen
Key Stat: Averaging 1 point every 2 minutes of floor time on 54.4% shooting
Commentary: Carlsen's ratings don't JMP off the screen, but he does the things does some real great things in his 28 mpg. Mostly, what he does is SCOAR, but he also blocks shots, has a positive AST/TO ratio, and he's probably injured your best player as he clocks in at 4.1 fouls per game.

VanMemphis Grizzlies
Unsung Hero: Omer Asik - How is he still G/G?
Key Stat: Shooting 54.7% (Career-High)
Commentary: This is not the guy you gameplan around if you're facing the Grizz, but his 18 minutes off the bench absolutely shut down your back-up big. With his 97 strength and high PSD/Rebounding numbers, he gives this Grizzlies second unit some much-needed glue.

Nawlins Pelicans
Unsung Hero: Doug McDermott
Key Stat: .544 TS%
Commentary: This was a tough one, because on this team there's not a lot outside the big 4, but Doug McDermott - aka 'The Other Starter' has been quietly pretty okay. He can stretch the defense a little, shoot the ball a little, and doesn't make a ton of mistakes. He may not be a 'Hero', but at least he's 'Unsung'...

H-Town Rockets
Unsung Hero: Gerald Henderson
Key Stat: 4.9rpg from the SG spot
Commentary: Gerald isn't a guy talked that has been talked about much throughout his career, but he's posting career highs in points and rebounding, he gets to the line 4 times a game, and hits 80% of his free throws. On a team with a big 4, he's a more than worthy 5th wheel.

Reigning Champion San Antonio Spurz
Unsung Hero: Amare Stoudamire
Key Stat: 22mpg in his 16th season
Commentary: Can 2-time MIP award winner and 6-time all star Amare Stoudamire really be considered 'unsung'? Sure. He's playing on a min contract, he's y/y, he's slow as shit. But he's still doing Amare things, like putting the ball in the bucket 55% of the time, and playing for a Division leader. He's definitely a key to the Spurs' dominance, whether anyone knows it or not.

Golden State Dubs
Unsung Hero: Jonathan 'Broccoli' Raab
Key Stat: 2.7 ORB/g in 28mpg
Commentary: He scores and hits the offensive boards hard. He's like an NFL change-of-pace back behind the offensive plodder and defensive stalwart that is Rudy Gobert. I'll take 11/7 from my backup any day.

LA Lakers
Unsung Hero: Kendrick Perkins
Key Stat: Only 1 less rpg this year in 8 less mpg than last year
Commentary: Kendrick has lost a step or two (okay with 1 QKN, he's lost all his steps), but he can still rebound the basketball and block shots. Teams don't really have a hard time scoring against this starting unit, but good luck scoring against the backups with Perk in there.

Phoenix Kevin Loves
Unsung Hero: Danny Green
Key Stat: 25-15 pre-injury; 5-8 since
Commentary: What? Danny Green is a b/b, how can he be the unsung hero? Listen. Everyone not named Kevin Love is unsung and overshadowed on this team. Also, Danny Green is playing freaking point guard and not totally sucking at it. It's really cool what he's doing this season, and I'm very interested to see how teams match up against him in the playoffs.

Los Angeles Kevin Durants
Unsung Hero: Julyan Stone
Key Stat: 50% shooter from the SG spot
Commentary: The fact that a y/y SG is getting enough shots to put up double-digits on this team dominated by Durant is pretty remarkable. It makes sense he can hit double-digits because he makes half his shots. In addition, he plays good defense, and even grabs a steal every game.

Sacramento Kangs
Unsung Hero: Lavoy Allen
Key Stat: 4th on the team in +/- in only 24mpg
Commentary: Just waiting for NOLa. to hit 'CTRL-C, CTRL-V into trade block' on this one, but both Lavoy Allen and Kosta Koufos have been revelations for the Kings this season. They each play about half the game, both shoot WELL over 50%, grab almost 6rpg, and play competent defense. This big-man rotation is one of the things that makes the Kings so tough to beat.

Portlandia Trailblazers
Unsung Hero: Ezra 'Wait, Who?' Radtke
Key Stat: 2nd on the team in apg in only 17.1mpg
Commentary: Okay, so maybe that stat highlights how bad the REST of the team is, but this 2nd round rookie is putting up some numbers that should make folks take note. He's getting 3.1ast against only 1.3 TO and 1.4 STL with 37% 3p% in only 17mpg. Portland has found their backup PG for the next decade if they want him.

Utah Digiskunks
Unsung Hero: Patty Mills
Key Stat: Broken Leg - Out 110 Days
Commentary: Aside from the rookies we talk a lot about, this team doesn't have very much in terms of unsung heroes. So today, we drink to you, Patty Mills. You couldn't stand playing with these guys so much you broke your leg to avoid having to step on that court, and for that, we salute you.

OK'Can you'C Thunder
Unsung Hero: Randy Foye
Key Stat: .422 3p%
Commentary: Randy Foye is enjoying a Renaissance season in Oklahoma shooting above his career average from deep, while pitching in 15 points in 34 minutes. He's been a consistent offensive presence in an otherwise inconsistent season for the Thunder

Dernvurr Nurgerts
Unsung Hero: Nikola Mirotic
Key Stat: Career-highs 9.3ppg and 24.5mpg
Commentary: Mirotic has always been a guy with tantalizing percentages, but would he be able to put them up in extended minutes? This year has heard Nikola answer a resounding 'yes'. He's been a god-send for the second-place Nuggets off the bench. Rumor has it, he also set the record for most cubic-inches of vomit ever after witnessing teammate Jrue Holliday's disgustingly graphic broken leg.

Minny T-Wolves
Unsung Hero: Cory Joseph
Key Stat: Career-best 10.7ppg
Commentary: The diminutive Joseph filled in admirably during Wiggins' injury and with little fanfare kept the ball rolling (and scoring) for the first-place T-Wolves.

[kucoach7]

Portland has found their backup PG for the next decade

Exactly my thought when I drafted him.

[digiskunk]

Utah Digiskunks
Unsung Hero: Patty Mills
Key Stat: Broken Leg - Out 110 Days
Commentary: Aside from the rookies we talk a lot about, this team doesn't have very much in terms of unsung heroes. So today, we drink to you, Patty Mills. You couldn't stand playing with these guys so much you broke your leg to avoid having to step on that court, and for that, we salute you.

Ahahaha that is genius!

[78#]

Love this article.

[TheSyndicate]

Thanks y’all, part 2 coming tonight. Had a horrible travel day yesterday so couldn’t finish yet

[TheSyndicate]

Awarding myself 3 points, with the full 5 points awarded if I'm able to get to the East. New job has me scramblin.