Spurs Jazz Summary

Best Player: Tony Parker (Individual +31). Thankfully, enough people who follow the NBA are giving Tony credit for his awesome season. In my opinion, the most under-rated NBA player of the last decade. How many guys have started at point guard for a playoff team at 18? How many guys outplayed Gary Payton in their first playoff series, as a rookie? We'll probably look back on his career resume, and like most Spurs players, be shocked at how little credit we gave him.

Worst Player: Al Jefferson (Individual -51). There's very little to say about a guy in his first playoff series, you're not supposed to dominate. Al was supposed to be the classic numbers-over-winning player the last 5 years, but I like him too much to bag on him for not winning against the NBA's best regular season team.

Most Valuable Player: Derrick Favors (Net +38). Considering the physical tools, attitude, and work ethic at Favors' disposal, we probably don't talk enough about the upside he may possess. He manages to affect games positively despite a lack of refined skills or any veteran savvy. To wit... while Gordon Hayward posted a -61 in 123 minutes, Favors was -1 in 116 minutes. There is clearly something here that bears watching.

Least Valuable Player: Stephen Jackson (Net -20). Given the depth San Antonio displayed in this series, this doesn't concern me that much. I still remember Jackson keeping the 2003 Spurs in games with timely shooting and defense (check the tape on Game 6 of the Mavs series), so I know his time will come when the stakes are higher down the line.

Jerome James Award: Boris Diaw. Watching Boris is watching a player gifted with a variety of skills on offense and defense, and a player cursed with a demeanor almost completely unfit for any leadership role on a team. After quitting on the Bobcats, he's landed in a situation that combines high ego-massaging (somehow started all 4 games despite arriving in March) and low expectations (his contributions are basically a luxury). Watching him flip the switch on a new team only reinforces the idea that the "get bought out, join a contender" maneuver leaves a bitter taste for most fans of "have-not" organizations in the league.