Legacy Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/002/056/609/114500422_crop_650x440.jpg?1332488738 A good team in the National Basketball Association can have a pure point guard, a star shooting guard or a dominant center. However, a championship-winning team must also have at least a solid bench. Excellent bench play usually starts with a guy known as the sixth man. The sixth man can bring energy when their name is called after the first break of the game. He can be as clutch as a starter when given the opportunity, and yes, he can be starting on about half of the other teams in the league. The sixth man of the year award goes to the player who can fill all of the above qualities, and this year is no different. Here are five players who stand out more than the rest to have a shot at winning this award. 5. Mo WilliamsIf the depth chart was made according to positions all the time, Williams would be listed as the third string point guard on the Clippers. It is ironic how he can start on most teams in the league. He is scoring 13.7 points per game, hits a couple of threes per game and has an impressive PER of 15.66. Williams can score when needed to. Even with Chris Paul and Chauncey Billups on the team, Williams is still one of the more talented players for the Clippers. He brings energy into the game and is one of the better point guards to be coming off the bench in the league. 4. Al HarringtonAfter a disappointing 2010-11 campaign, Harrington has come back to Denver stronger than before. His aggression on the offensive end has led him to attempt 12 shots and earn a surprising field goal percentage of 45 after a couple years in the low 40s. Harrington has been a big part of the Nuggets success this season. He shoots only 66 percent on free throws; imagine if he got that to around 72 like his career. Harrington has nights where he is unstoppable and can’t be defended. On those nights, it seems a tad bit harder to beat Denver. 3. Jason TerryAge has not caught up with Terry like it has with a few other players on the Mavericks. He remains one of the backbones on the squad. Besides the field goal shooting, Terry can hit from beyond the arc and his free-throw game has been as solid as ever. Clutchness is the Jet’s game. When Dirk needs someone to call late in games when he’s off, you know Terry will have his back. Terry has more playoff experience than anyone else on this list. That will be a huge factor in the postseason with this aging Dallas team. 2. Lou WilliamsNormally the leading scorer of a team is a scoring two-guard or a ball dominant starter, but that’s not the case in the city of brotherly love. Williams ranks among the top tier of bench players in the whole league. He leads his team in scoring, and he sits on the bench while the opening tipoff is set. That might be one of the more impressive stats in the league. He scores nearly 16 points a game while averaging 3.6 assists off the bench, too. Williams attempts around four three-pointers per game, but we can't blame him when he averages 39 percent from back there. 1. James HardenWhen a team has Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook leading the franchise, can it really ask for more? The Thunder did, and they got more. Harden is one of the better shooting guards in the NBA, and he comes off the bench. Harden is a lefty who comes off the bench on a championship contender, and he can be compared to a younger Manu Ginobili in some ways. Not only does he average 17 points off the bench, but the efficiency for Harden has been incredible—48 percent from the field, 39 on threes and 84 at the charity stripe. Don’t think Harden is all about the scoring, though. He also racks up four boards a game and nearly four assists. He will definitely be the x-factor for Oklahoma City come playoff time. He will be the 2012 NBA sixth man of the year. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1116454-nbas-best-of-the-bench-top-five-6th-man-candidates Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smitty Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 As much as he irritates me with some plays...I'm glad to see Lou Will getting some love. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish7718 Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 I'd say you have to give it to Lou Williams, I feel like he's the only person on the 6ers who can consistently create his own shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentch Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 I think it should go to Mo Williams, the guy is having a great year off the bench and would be a solid starter on just about any other team Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DunkinDerozan Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 Williams is a bit under appreciated in the league. I've got him in fantasy, and he has been a great late round pick up for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sħãlïq™ Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 Williams is a bit under appreciated in the league. I've got him in fantasy, and he has been a great late round pick up for me.Which one - Mo or Lou? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Built Ford Tough Posted March 24, 2012 Report Share Posted March 24, 2012 Just nitpicking here but: He is scoring 13.7 points per game, hits a couple of threes per game and has an impressive PER of 15.66. That isn't exactly impressive. It is slightly above average. An average PER is 15. Can't really complain about any of the players listed, though. Maybe throw a mention to Thad Young but that is about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChosenOne Posted March 24, 2012 Report Share Posted March 24, 2012 When i think of a 6th man i think of consistent greatness off the bench and Harden is exactly that, his consistent production for the Thunder night in and night out wins him this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DunkinDerozan Posted March 24, 2012 Report Share Posted March 24, 2012 Which one - Mo or Lou? Sorry, i meant lou. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JYD Posted March 24, 2012 Report Share Posted March 24, 2012 As much as he irritates me with some plays...I'm glad to see Lou Will getting some love. I'd say you have to give it to Lou Williams, I feel like he's the only person on the 6ers who can consistently create his own shot. I've only seen Lou Williams a handful of times this year, I can tell he's sometimes streaky, but the boy can play, let's be honest. Without him, the Sixers would have no consistent scoring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Check my Stats Posted March 25, 2012 Report Share Posted March 25, 2012 James Harden is a 22-5-5 player on any team where he has a role. Kid is a straight stud. That team is going to have to make some difficult decisions next year... he is going to get max money or near it, and they can't give him max money to be a 6th man. Just another reason why trading Westbrook makes so much sense, Harden can be a 2nd banana in this league for sure, especially when you consider the return for Westbrook would probably be amazing. That CP3-Westbrook swap would have been amazing for both sides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owner Real Deal Posted March 25, 2012 Owner Report Share Posted March 25, 2012 James Harden is a 22-5-5 player on any team where he has a role. Kid is a straight stud. That team is going to have to make some difficult decisions next year... he is going to get max money or near it, and they can't give him max money to be a 6th man. Just another reason why trading Westbrook makes so much sense, Harden can be a 2nd banana in this league for sure, especially when you consider the return for Westbrook would probably be amazing. That CP3-Westbrook swap would have been amazing for both sides.Agreed. Harden has star potential. It's hard to say he'll ever be an all-star, but it would only be due to a limited role OR the fact that there are way too many all-star level guards in the NBA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legacy Posted March 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2012 Holy shit, I have 10 thousand views on Bleacher Report for this article. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DunkinDerozan Posted March 26, 2012 Report Share Posted March 26, 2012 Did you put a link to OTR in it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sħãlïq™ Posted March 26, 2012 Report Share Posted March 26, 2012 Holy shit, I have 10 thousand views on Bleacher Report for this article.WoW! Grats, bro!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legacy Posted March 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2012 Did you put a link to OTR in it?Yessir always do. Should have brought in more members. -_- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DunkinDerozan Posted March 26, 2012 Report Share Posted March 26, 2012 Yessir always do. Should have brought in more members. -_- I'm surprsied i haven't seen any. I would think with 10,000+ views that atleast 10-20 new members would sign up, probably more. Maybe Brandon could tell us if he's atleast seen an increase in traffic on the website. I don't know if he's got a thing where he can see how many people have visited the website or anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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