LeBron MVP – McDyess weighing options
Sat, Nov 22, 2008 By GFO
The Detroit Free press provides some insight into Michael Curry, Pistons head coach, thoughts on LeBron James and Antonio McDyess
MVP LEBRON: If the NBA handed out the MVP award in November, Pistons coach Michael Curry let everyone know who would get his support — Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James.
And while many wonder where James is headed in the summer of 2010 when he can opt out of his deal, Curry is just concerned with how his team can top James’ Cavs for Central Division supremacy.
“Watching everybody play, he’s playing better than anybody in the league,” Curry said before Wednesday night’s 96-89 victory over the Cavaliers at the Palace. “I’m sure if there was MVP voting right now, he would win hands down.”
James has started the season as if he’s going to do everything in his power to bring the Cavs an NBA championship.
James is averaging 29.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6.9 assists. While you can point to new point guard Mo Williams as making a major difference, Curry thinks the reason the Cavs took a 9-2 record into Wednesday is that James has somehow become better.
“I don’t know if it’s because he played Olympics this summer — he’s much sharper to start the basketball season,” Curry said. “He seems to have a big-time focus going on right now to dominate games.”
McDYESS UPDATE: SI.com reports that free-agent forward Antonio McDyess is being courted by Cleveland, San Antonio and Boston, and that his return to the Pistons is no sure thing.
McDyess was a part of the trade that sent Chauncey Billups to Denver for Iverson. McDyess didn’t want to play for the Nuggets so he negotiated a buyout and is a free agent.
Speculation started immediately after the trade that McDyess, 34, would return to Detroit.
However, because of league rules, the earliest he could return to the Pistons is Dec. 7.
The Pistons are still adjusting without McDyess.
“I always thought that the biggest reason early we were able to play a lot of guys a lot of minutes is that we had (McDyess) coming off the bench,” Curry said.
When the team had McDyess, it could play McDyess, guard Rodney Stuckey, one starter and two backups the entire second quarter and still have plenty of scoring punch.
“We can’t do that right now,” Curry said. “In trying to move guys around to make sure we can keep guys in a position where they can be successful. … It’s kind of tough.
“Hopefully over time if we can get Dice back whenever he makes his decision about what he’s going to do, we’re going to have to figure out a way within this group to get some more scoring off the bench.”
LeBron is MVP!