FanPost

Awards Watch: The Jazz's Post Man

[Note by Basketball John, 04/12/10 7:19 AM MDT, the Jazz are promoting Boozer, Deron, and Millsap for places on the All-NBA team and 6th Man of the Year award. We'll be writing on why each of them are deserving ]

Uta

via i.cdn.turner.com


A picture of consistency, Carlos Boozer hasn't received the kind of accolades he's earned for his season. From endless speculation on all fronts about his will to win and likeability as a teammate in the preseaon, resulting in endless articles and columns on his bailing out of Utah at the first chance, or the Jazz brass giving him the heave-ho, to getting snubbed in favor of a Kaveman at the February festivities in Dallas, Carlos has been leading the charge in the paint for the Utah Jazz, a staple of the Sloan system.

Boozer is having as good of a year as any he's ever posted. Maybe even his best. He's outpaced John Hollinger's PER preseason prediction for him by several points, and many analysts had Utah missing the playoffs this year altogether.

If there's any power forward in the league that's deserving of First Team All-NBA Honors, it's the Jazz's post man, their power in the paint.

Booz is practically a lock to put up his third 20/10 season (20 point and 10 rebounds a game average) in the last four years. His per-36 numbers already have him there, and currently sits at 19.7 points and 11.3 rebounds per game. Before being injured last season he was on pace to be the only player in the NBA that would have posted 20/10 seasons in three consecutive years. Unfortunately, the Jazz had a hard time incorporating him back into the lineup, although he did manage to drop a 20/20 game on Pau Gasol's mop in the playoffs. Carlos_boozer_dunks_on_pau_gasol_2_medium

via 2.bp.blogspot.com

Since then Carlos has put up two more 20/20's, both on West contenders in wins (Phoenix, Portland), and nearly dropped another on the Lakers' main force on the low block, Gasol, coming up just two boards shy, and Gasol couldn't stop that force that was Boozer (head-to-head, advantage Booz).

Add in what might be the softest touch on a jumper in the league, and Boozer becomes a formidable force to be reckoned with. Many times his shot has two, or even three chances to go in because of that natural shooter's touch of his.

Most analysts have Gasol, another player erroneously selected ahead of Booz for the All-Star game, on their First Team ballots. The myopic big-market favortism must end. Give the man his due already. Gasol hasn't put up more 20/20's than Boozer over the last year, indeed one less, not to mention when you compare game logs Boozer is far more consistent than Gasol.

But I'll stop picking on Gasol. I love the guy and his game, always have. I just find it hard to believe that he's had a bigger impact on his team's standing than Carlos has. We expected exactly what Gasol has given, but no one saw Carlos coming (okay, I and a handful of others did).

Boozer is a leader at his position in many categories. You'd be hard pressed to find another PF that's right up there in so many different stat cats. At the power forward position, per game:

Points

19.7

NBA Rank 5th

Western Conference 4th

___

Rebounds

11.3

NBA Rank 3rd

Western Conference 3rd

5th among all players in the NBA

___

Defensive Rebounds

8.9 (Career High)

NBA Rank 1st

West 1st

3rd among all players in the NBA

___

FG Percentage

.563 (Career high)

NBA Rank 1st

West 1st

6th among all players in the NBA

___

Assists

3.2 (Career high)

NBA Rank 4th

West 2nd

___

Steals

1.1 (0.1 shy of career high)

NBA Rank T-4th

West 2nd

___

Double Doubles on the season

55 (Through 80 games)

NBA Rank 2nd

West 1st

3rd among all players in the NBA

___

Go ahead. Browse through the facts and try to find me another power forward in the league that's this consistent, this high up on the list in so many different categories.

The man has every right to shout "And one!" all he wants. I'd be yelling too, if I got trashed on and snubbed as much as this man has. All he's done is blow away every preconceived notion and stereotype that people keep trying to stick him with.

Boozer-venom_medium

via www.bustabucket.com

C'mon, now. Give the dude his due. He's earned it.

All comments are the opinion of the commenter and not necessarily that of SLC Dunk or SB Nation.