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NBA's All-Disappointment teams


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http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/2010/writers/mark_montieth/01/15/disappointment.team/mehmet-okur-jazz.jpg

 

Each season, disappointment infiltrates the NBA and attacks players like an angry virus. The frenzied 82-game schedule limits preparation time. The constant roster turnover hinders team chemistry. The lucrative guaranteed contracts challenge motivation.

 

But while it's perfectly understandable that some aging players take slow rides on southbound trains, it's also true that others simply fail to measure up -- to the expectations of their team, themselves or their contract.

 

So isn't it about time they be properly recognized? Here are our All-Disappointment teams, made up of players who haven't done what was expected of them for reasons other than getting old or hurt. Players who are paid extravagantly for previous success and/or are employed by teams that have grand expectations merited added consideration.

First Team

 

G: Gilbert Arenas, Wizards. Who else? Arenas' goofball tendencies finally got the best of him, and now he's put his career in jeopardy by bringing four unloaded guns to the Wizards' locker room. He pleaded guilty to felony gun possession Friday and will be sentenced in March. He could face jail time, and the team might try to void his contract. But even if he hadn't touched a gun, his performance would rate as at least a minor disappointment for the listless Wizards. Although before his suspension he had team highs of 22.6 points and 7.2 assists, Arenas also was shooting only 41.1 percent from the field, averaging 3.7 turnovers and getting his share of blame for Washington's porous defense.

 

G: Vince Carter, Magic. The Magic's offseason decision to trade for Carter and let Hedo Turkoglu seek his free-agent millions elsewhere set off a chain reaction of disappointment that has spread across two continents. Carter has always been the classic great player who doesn't help his team win, and that hasn't changed in Orlando. Although Carter is averaging 17.4 points in 30.9 minutes, he is shooting a career-low 39.2 percent from the field and 30.9 percent from three-point range. But that hasn't stopped him from attempting 131 more shots than any of his teammates. Orlando has won two of three since he was sidelined with a separated shoulder, and there's been talk that Carter could come off the bench when he returns as the Magic seek a better mix.

 

F: Caron Butler, Wizards. Washington has far bigger problems than Butler, but he still has underachieved. His scoring (16.5) is down more than four points from last season, and his assist, field-goal and three-point percentages have decreased as well. An All-Star selection in 2007 and '08, and a viable candidate last season, he can make vacation plans for this year's break. You can't blame him if he's frustrated amid the (basketball) mess in Washington, but he's capable of more than he's giving. His name is swirling in trade rumors and he might make a timely acquisition for another team. With just one season left on his contract after this one, he's likely to have the opportunity to revive himself elsewhere.

 

CONTINUE READING

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Carter has always been the classic great player who doesn't help his team win

 

Such a dumb and ignorant statement. VC carried mediocre Raptor teams to the playoffs and a single shot away from the ECF, and always played fantastic in the playoffs. Was the best player on all 3 Net playoff teams. Carter affects the game in so many ways it is impossible for him to not help his team, he can shoot (albeit rather streaky), slash, pass, handle the ball up top, find his teammates. If VC doesn't help his team win then I don't know anyone who does.

 

He is being utilized as a jump shooter in Orlando, that is why he is playing so poorly. You don't go from putting up all-star numbers in NJ on decent percentages to this garbage in one season, the Magic have yet to figure out how to efficiently implement VC into their offense.

 

I think Dwight misses Hedo on the pick and roll.

Edited by travesy3
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