In a land of overexposed superstars, there lies a seldom appreciated, rarely duplicated player, who, due to his deficiency of flashiness, hardly ever receives recognition on a wide scale. A man with dexterity, strength, ubiquity, balance and etiquette. An individual who is adored in the world’s biggest city, yet neglected everywhere else.
The disregard for David Lee’s heroism is sickening to behold.
Going into All-Star Weekend, David Lee had a streak of 16 straight double-doubles, 21 in his last 22 games. That would help him amass 41 double-doubles; enough for a share of the lead with All-Star Starter Dwight Howard. Lee was in third in the NBA in rebounds per game, with 11.8, not to mention his 16.4 points per game, which is leads the Knicks.
On these numbers alone, Lee should have made the squad over the Magic’s Rashard Lewis. Other than scoring almost 20 points a game, Lewis does not bring a variety of abilities to the table. He is an offensive player, and nothing else. He doesn’t kill you on the boards and does not use his 6’10” stature to his advantage in areas other than scoring.
Then Lee had a second chance at redemption when Orlando Guard Jameer Nelson went down with a shoulder injury. Alas, Ray Allen of the Boston Celtics was selected.
As all hope, for the honor he deserves, disappears Lee had another opportunity at making the All-Star roster, when Toronto Center Chris Bosh went down. Once again, Lee was passed up for Cleveland’s Mo Williams.
I respect both Allen and Williams, but they have excellent, Hall of Fame players complementing them. Allen has Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to take some of the load off of him, and Williams is blessed with having LeBron James, the most dominant player in the NBA, by his side. Their stats are there, but are nowhere near as impressive as Lee’s when you take his responsibility to his team into consideration. The best player David Lee plays with is Nate Robinson, and he’s great, but can be hot and cold. Lee carries the Knicks by himself.
Lee has a desire for the basketball on every possession and omnipresence; thus the creation of his outstanding rebounding statistics and love & respect from the New York fan base. But it’s kind of strange that he doesn’t receive that recognition on a national scale.
This is the best player on one of the worst franchises in sports, and he is single-handedly maintaining the Knicks’ respectability.
--Max Caster
The disregard for David Lee’s heroism is sickening to behold.
Going into All-Star Weekend, David Lee had a streak of 16 straight double-doubles, 21 in his last 22 games. That would help him amass 41 double-doubles; enough for a share of the lead with All-Star Starter Dwight Howard. Lee was in third in the NBA in rebounds per game, with 11.8, not to mention his 16.4 points per game, which is leads the Knicks.
On these numbers alone, Lee should have made the squad over the Magic’s Rashard Lewis. Other than scoring almost 20 points a game, Lewis does not bring a variety of abilities to the table. He is an offensive player, and nothing else. He doesn’t kill you on the boards and does not use his 6’10” stature to his advantage in areas other than scoring.
Then Lee had a second chance at redemption when Orlando Guard Jameer Nelson went down with a shoulder injury. Alas, Ray Allen of the Boston Celtics was selected.
As all hope, for the honor he deserves, disappears Lee had another opportunity at making the All-Star roster, when Toronto Center Chris Bosh went down. Once again, Lee was passed up for Cleveland’s Mo Williams.
I respect both Allen and Williams, but they have excellent, Hall of Fame players complementing them. Allen has Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to take some of the load off of him, and Williams is blessed with having LeBron James, the most dominant player in the NBA, by his side. Their stats are there, but are nowhere near as impressive as Lee’s when you take his responsibility to his team into consideration. The best player David Lee plays with is Nate Robinson, and he’s great, but can be hot and cold. Lee carries the Knicks by himself.
Lee has a desire for the basketball on every possession and omnipresence; thus the creation of his outstanding rebounding statistics and love & respect from the New York fan base. But it’s kind of strange that he doesn’t receive that recognition on a national scale.
This is the best player on one of the worst franchises in sports, and he is single-handedly maintaining the Knicks’ respectability.
--Max Caster
People we have a new Slam Dunk Champion, and he'sa person acquainted. New York Knicks guard Nate Robinson, who won the competition in 2006 won the competition again last night during a helmet Sprite Dunk Contest.
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