NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A career-best stretch of basketball for DeMarcus Cousins has earned him his first COMO Player of the Month award. Chaska's versatile big man averaged 34.00 bones over 15 starts in January. The Moose (47-21) are currently four games behind Duval United in their quest for a third straight regular season championship. Up in Minneapolis, Karl-Anthony Towns is doing his best to keep the Player Haterzz in the playoff field. Currently tied for the No. 7 seed at 28-40, Minneapolis has received a big boost from Towns, who put up 25.88 bones per game over 16 starts in January.
0 Comments
MINNEAPOLIS — Forgive Birdie Sheppard for not understanding coach-player relationships in today's game. The Minneapolis Player Haterzz boss cut his teeth in the '90s, when players were constantly dunking on 9-foot rims and pulling out handguns in postgame handshake lines. A scene from the first month of the COMO season illustrated how out of touch he can be. "Check this out," he told rookie post Karl-Anthony Towns after a loss. "You ain't goin to college or any f---in where if the Bird Man don't win." Towns has already been to college; the Haterzz drafted him No. 1 overall out of Kentucky. But Sheppard is in his own world. "You ain't the motherf---in' man no more," he said to general manager Dan Renfro last week. "I'm the one! S--- has changed! It's a new day, bro. If you can't clean up your act, I suggest you raise the f--- up and get the hell out of Dodge... or get caught up." Clearly upset, Renfro told media that he — not Sheppard — would be the one presenting Towns (24.13 bones in 15 starts) with the COMO Rookie of the Month award for October and November. "KAT is a stud and finna get the job done," Renfro said, still visibly shaken. "Being the best rookie is no surprise. Only a matter of time before he's at the top of the league." Renfro went on to criticize point guard Chris Paul, who has not played up to his All-COMO standard this season. "If the Haterzz make the playoffs, it will be in large part due to (Towns)," Renfro said. "And not the horrible 'big name' signing from the summer." At 9-21, Minneapolis has clearly suffered from the obvious chain of emotional abuse. "That motherf---er ain't s---," Sheppard said of Renfro. "He don't care about me, you, nothing. Okay? Understand?" Loud and clear. 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. ST. PAUL, Minn. — After hanging on for dear life in the playoff race, Minnesnowta owner Matthew Taylor has had enough. Effective today, the Chill will begin planning for next season.
"Bring on the trade offers," Taylor encouraged his fellow league members. "I'm looking for young talent to build around. Anyone can be had at the right price." The Chill are currently 9.5 standings points out of the fourth and final playoff spot, a margin that has grown larger and larger since Minnesnowta's free fall began roughly a month and a half ago. Once the top team in the league, the Chill have had to lean more and more on young players like Michael Carter-Williams, who just picked up his third straight COMO Rookie of the Month award. "The kid is an absolute freak," Taylor said. "In a season filled with disappointment for the Chill, MCW has definitely been a bright spot. Rumor has it that MCW just bought a cabin in Duluth, so one can assume he'll be in Minnesnowta for a long time." The Chill's pending trade(s) effectively take them out of the playoff race, which means there are now five dogs left for four spots. Fourth place Minneapolis (70.5 points) and Newport Beach (66) are separated by 4.5 standings points with four weeks to go in the regular season. ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesnowta's Michael Carter-Williams didn't have much competition for the inaugural COMO Rookie of the Month award, but he still impressed during his first five weeks of play.
The first-year guard from Syracuse averaged 17.78 COMO points in nine starts for the Chill during October and November. The next-closest rookie was Chaska's Victor Oladipo, who only started twice in the same span. Snowta general manager Matthew Taylor felt vindicated after learning of the honor. "The media crucified me for taking a chance on MCW," Taylor said. "But I always believed in his talent." Carter-Williams developed an infection in his right knee a couple weeks ago and has not played since. Before the setback, however, he was a regular contributor to the first-place Chill (38 standings points). Taylor vowed his star rookie will be back soon. "This won't be the last COMO Rookie of the Month award that MCW will win this year," he said. "The bandwagon is full now, but you guys can run beside it if you'd like." |
Archives
March 2024
Categories
All
|