Chaska, Minn -- Duval United general manager Matthew Fairburn could not meet eyes with anyone in the room, as reporters peppered him with questions after his team's second straight heartbreaking playoff loss.
His face flushed, he struggled to explain what it's like to barely miss out on the COMO Finals two seasons in a row. "I have poured my heart and soul into it FTB," he said, fighting back tears. "All for nothing." Not nothing, though. After beginning the season as a high-octane offensive threat, the Bold City Brigade was slowed by long-term injuries to stars Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant. Few thought that the remaining players could carry the load, but they nearly found a way to upset regular season behemoth Chaska in the semifinals. Led by recent point guard acquisition Reggie Jackson, Duval was a dozen bones away from reaching the pinnacle basketball series of the year. "I don't know how the [Buffalo] Bills of the '90s did it," Fairburn said. "We have a tough offseason ahead of us. Big decisions need to be made. Research needs to be done. I just need to #logoff for a while." Asked about Jackson's performance, Fairburn finally looked up and locked eyes with the room. "Reggie is still my god damn hero for what he did," he said. "He put on for the city when nobody else was man enough to do it. That will not be forgotten by this regime. I lost hope in this season when [Shorewood GM] Alex [Smith] traded for LeBron. But Duval pulled me back in. I gave up when Durant went out for the year, but Reggie pulled me in. The fluctuation of emotions was a lot to handle." After a short offseason break, Duval will have a lot of questions to answer. A likely Top-7 pick awaits them in the Rookie Draft, but DeAndre Jordan has already expressed discontent with his cheap contract, and Kobe's cap figure is still hanging over the team's budget. The two will not be able to stay together thanks to Durant's titanic deal, and many other familiar faces (Rajon Rondo, Derrick Favors, Andrew Bogut) might also be jettisoned. Chaska and Shorewood also eliminated the Minnesnowta Chill, a hapless group that fell off the championship radar at least a week ago. The COMO Finals will run from tonight, March 30, to April 15.
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The commissioner's office announced the 2014-2015 All-COMO teams on Wednesday afternoon. • Shorewood and Hollywood led all teams with three selections, while Shorewood became the first COMO franchise to have three first-team All-COMO selections. • Kansas City was the only team with two selections this year, while Rio and Newport Beach failed to place any players (Note: Russell Westbrook and John Wall would've easily been second-team selections if Newport actually played them). • Stephen Curry, James Harden, LeBron James and Anthony Davis all repeated as first-teamers. Chris Paul moved up from second team in 2013-2014 to first team this season. • DeMarcus Cousins repeated as a second-teamer, while the six remaining players made an All-COMO team for the first time. Here are the official teams: FIRST TEAMPG — Stephen Curry (Golden State), Shorewood Show [60 starts // 28.32 average] SG — James Harden (Houston), Colorado Hilltoppers [61 starts // 30.26 average] SF — LeBron James (Cleveland), Minneapolis Player Haterzz/Shorewood Show [52 starts // 27.08 average] PF — Pau Gasol (Chicago), Shorewood Show [60 starts // 27.53 average] C — Anthony Davis (New Orleans), Hollywood Hornets [47 starts // 34.28 average] 6TH — Chris Paul (L.A. Clippers), Hollywood Hornets [62 starts // 26.98 average] SECOND TEAMPG — Eric Bledsoe (Phoenix), Minnesnowta Chill [60 starts // 21.65 average]
SG — Damian Lillard (Portland), Kansas City Monarchs [55 starts // 22.29 average] SF — Jimmy Butler (Chicago), Hollywood Hornets [43 starts // 24.98 average] PF — DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento), Chaska Moose [41 starts // 29.59 average] C — DeAndre Jordan (L.A. Clippers), Duval United [63 starts // 26.57 average] 6TH — Marc Gasol (Memphis), Kansas City [60 starts // 24.85 average] HOLLYWOOD -- The 2014-2015 season was full of injuries and doubts after Anthony Davis tore COMO a new one in November. But he appears to be back in full form now.
The Hornets big man only started 47 regular season games in Hollywood, but his crazy production (34.28 average) allowed him to easily outrun all other MVP challengers. It doesn't appear as if he'll slow up at all during the playoffs, either. He just posted a 53-bone night to open the postseason on Monday. Here are the final MVP voting results: 1. Anthony Davis, Hollywood 2. James Harden, Colorado 3. Stephen Curry, Shorewood 4. Pau Gasol, Shorewood 5. Chris Paul, Hollywood 6. DeAndre Jordan, Duval United 7. LeBron James, Minneapolis/Shorewood 8. DeMarcus Cousins, Chaska 9. Marc Gasol, Kansas City 10. LaMarcus Aldridge, Shorewood The All-COMO teams will be announced tomorrow (Wednesday). HOLLYWOOD, Calif. -- The talent supply is never-ending on the Sunset Strip.
With Hornets general manager Curt Clauss facing a tough offseason in which star point guard Chris Paul is likely to be released, the GM can take solace in the fact that Andrew Wiggins will be returning at a cheap price. Selected No. 2 overall in this summer's inaugural COMO Rookie Draft, Wiggins contributed 15 starts and a 14.93 average to the Hornets. Monday, the league office named him COMO Rookie of the Year. Clauss could not be reached for comment. NASHVILLE -- The commissioner's office released the retroactive winners of the Player of the Month/Rookie of the Month awards on Monday morning.
Here are the results: COMO Player of the Month (October/November): Anthony Davis, Hollywood (15 starts, 37.53 average) COMO Player of the Month (December): James Harden, Colorado (14 starts, 33.43 average) COMO Player of the Month (January): Anthony Davis, Hollywood (10 starts, 34.70 average) COMO Player of the Month (February/March): James Harden, Colorado (14 starts, 30.79 average) COMO Rookie of the Month (October/November): Jabari Parker, Rio (7 starts, 15.86 average) COMO Rookie of the Month (December): Jabari Parker, Rio (3 starts, 14.67 average) COMO Rookie of the Month (January): Andrew Wiggins, Hollywood (7 starts, 16.71 average) COMO Rookie of the Month (February/March): Langston Galloway, Newport Beach (8 starts, 13.75 average) The league will announce the MVP and Rookie of the Year on Tuesday, with All-COMO teams coming Wednesday. |
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