CBA MVP this year? Any predictions?

[RonnieFan]

I didn't watch enough games this year to have any idea...

What are your thoughts?

[WIZ Kid]

It is probably easier to pick the MVP of all the teams right now, because the League MVP usually ( Not always ) is on the Championship team.


Dakota : At the Beggining of the season it would have been Kaniel Dickens. But right now,.......... It's Chris Porter or Ben Ebong

Gary : Jamiel Rich

Great Lakes : Jimmy King or Ray Weathers

Rockford : Jimmie Hunter

Idaho : Randy Livingston

Sioux Falls : Darrick Martin

Yakima : Anthony Goldwire is still the man That makes that team run. And he absolutely fun to watch.

Now, some of the rest of you may say other players for your respective teams, but these are the one's that perform the best for those teams when they are in Bismarck. ( Except Ronnie Fields. He plays great when he come to Bismarck. Problem is, he does not let anyone else on his team play at all. )

[hoosierboy]

Candidates from each team:

Dakota : I would've given the award to Eddie Gill on the spot if he had not recieved the call up. Now our best bet is Mo Carter, and that's stretching it. Dickens is a mental midget who only shows up one out of every three games. He's not even starting anymore. Porter hasn't played enough games to warrant consideration.

Gary : Jamiel Rich
Great Lakes : Ray Weathers
Rockford : Ronnie Fields
Idaho : Josh Davis
Sioux Falls : Leonard White
Yakima : Anthony Goldwire

My best guess -- Fields or Goldwire

On another note, a huge congrats to Coach Joerger on being awarded Coach of the Year. You truly deserve it Dave, and hopefully someone will be smart enough to give you your shot someday.

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

Dakota: Chris Porter
Gary: Jamiel Rich
Great Lakes: Leon Smith
Idaho: DeSean Hadley
Rockford: Ronnie Fields
Sioux Falls: Leonard White
Yakima: Anthony Goldwire

If Gary advances, then I choose Jamiel Rich to take it all...and that's not just Homer talk.

[RonnieFan]

Well, Ronnie's been hurt a bit this year and Rockford didn't do quite as good as last year. I personally think he was BIG TIME hosed last year. Panko... bah!!!!

This year, I don't know. Missing a few games and Rockford just not clicking together could hurt him. Regardless, there isn't a better player in the league. As far as Ronnie not letting the rest of his team play... Rockford's offense is designed to get guard's shots and Ronnie shots as needed, period. He's the team.

Thanks for the replies guys, I just haven't seen that many games to put a valid opinion forth really.

If I had a guess, I'd Rich has it... maybe Ronnie... who knows...

Coach of the Year should ALWAYS be Chris Daleo, even if the Lightning doesn't win a game!!! LOL...

GO RONNIE, GO LIGHTNING IN THE PLAYOFFS!!!!!!!

[not so fast]

The best player I've seen this season was Kaniel Dickens, and my other choices would be Ronnie Fields, Snap Hunter, and Jemeil Rich.

Daleo has changed his style of coaching and is still winning, and he seems to get a lot out of his players.

Is there any word on who is coaching the Muskegan team next year?

[hoosierboy]

Let me tell you something about Dickens. He could get on a plane today and take his ass back home and I don't think 90% of Wizards fans would care. What a waste of physical talent. And Mo Carter has gone in the tank since coming back from the Lakers. I'm sick of seeing those two mope around like they're too good to be in the CBA.

Congrats to Rockford on a huge win last night. They definitely wanted it more and deserved to win it. Now they are in the driver's seat. What a pathetic showing by the Wiz.

Glad to see Daleo take my advice and scrap the press. : ) Just kidding. But they are much better in a half-court set.

Here's hoping Ronnie gets better soon and his injury isn't serious. I didn't see it and if he was hurt, he didn't show it. He drained a pair of 3's in the last minute of game one.

[RonnieFan]

I think your right, Coach Daleo has had a lot of changes as far as personnel this year. These are his players and this is his team... don't know if it took a bit longer to gel and get the right mix, but they seem to be getting on the same page at the right time. Wish I could have seen them play more but work has had me doing crazy things.

[not so fast]

Thats too bad about Dickens, he played so well when I saw him but I haven't seen him play but twice this season but he was sensational both times.

In the case of Mo Carter, I would think it would be hard for anyone to adjust to one day playing with shaq, then next you are playing with CBA players. But I had a chance to talk to Maurice while he was in Rockford a couple of weeks ago, and he seemed ready to play for Dakota, and was enthused about playing. He had a ankle injury but tried to play on it anyway, which is a sign of a player ready to play, and not looking for excuses.

This series Rockford/Dakota looks like it may go 5 games and go down to game 5, fourth quarter to decide, because these teams are very equally matched.

[Wizard57]

I would have to agree with Hoosierboy's assessment of Dickens. If you can't BRING IT every night then please TAKE IT somewhere else. Give me guys that have that FIRE IN THEIR EYES (Chris Porter, Ben Ebong, Willie Murdaugh, Ray Weathers, Kevin Rice). Even if they have no chance at playing in the NBA, I'll take guys like that anyday!

[hoosierboy]

NSF - That's the thing with Dickens, is that there's no reason why he shouldn't play that well every night. Physically, there's no one like him in the league (a good thing). Mentally, there's also no one like him in the league (not a good thing). Last night he had 2 points, and looked disinterested again. That's the thing that upsets the fans. At least play hard or look like you give a damn. Usually when someone comes out of the game, they get a nice ovation from the fans. Dickens gets nothing. It's that obvious.

I agree with Wizard57, give me Porter, Ebong, Murdaugh and Oliver any time.

It will be an interesting series, that's for sure.

[lightning fan]

Daleo has proven again he can win in different places, with different players, and even different systems. He has proven now he can coach a winning low post game which many fans on this board said he could not do.

As for MVP. It is Ronnies turn now. Last year he was first cba player ever to lead cba in points and steals in same season. Then he does it again this year playing with numerous injuries including tendinitis in both knees. Only missing a few games. Fields also left off defensive player of year ballot. He may not have been defensive player of the year, however, leading in steals should be worth a few votes.

Add it all up and all arrows point to Ronnie Fields as MVP. Thanks to a great effort in Dakota tues night and the usual screw job on schedule by our rockford metrocentre, I may be able to see Ronnie presented with the MVP trophy wed night before game 4 of Dakota series.

Life is good, I purchased Ronnies road uniform he is wearing right now in Bismarck. The one he was also wearing in Gary when he set Lightning carreer scoring record last sat. Now I could be able to say it was also the year Ronnie was cba MVP!

And memo to Wizard fan yelling to Fields asking how many assists he has....he has more assists than most shooting guards, leading the lightning in total assists. Why don't we hear any bashing of other players that take 18 to 24 shots a game?? He makes 45 percent of his shots and many times has to create a tough shot at the end of a 24 sec clock because he is better at it than most.

You want to rip on someone who shoots too much? Go home, turn on your tv, if you have one, and pick on NBA Iverson's 39 percent shooting on 30 or whatever attempts per game. Or LeBron James 41 percent or Carmelo Anthonys 42 percent from field.

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

Jameil Rich in last night's playoff game: 30 points, 13 assists, and 8 steals

CBA's Most Valuable Player without a doubt.

[RonnieFan]

When Ronnie drops 40 in a playoff win Sunday, then I'll be back... :)

maybe.............

[RonnieFan]

well... there you go... Josh Davis... most of you didn't even have him as MVP of his team....

I can't comment, but crazy... no votes for Fields? he must just suck... lol...

Can the Lightning come back?

GO RONNIE, GO LIGHTNING!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

quote="Ken, Steelheads fan"]

If Gary advances, then I choose Jameil Rich to take it all...and that's not just Homer talk.[/quote]

...well, Gary didn't advance in the play-offs. So that settles that. Funny thing is that Josh Davis wasn't around for the play-offs to make his mark. Maybe the criteria for MVP is for the player to have at least one NBA call-up.

I was WAY off with choosing DeSean Hadley as Idaho's MVP though.

[WIZ Kid]

quote="Ken, Steelheads fan"]

If Gary advances, then I choose Jameil Rich to take it all...and that's not just Homer talk.

...well, Gary didn't advance in the play-offs. So that settles that. Funny thing is that Josh Davis wasn't around for the play-offs to make his mark. Maybe the criteria for MVP is for the player to have at least one NBA call-up.

I was WAY off with choosing DeSean Hadley as Idaho's MVP though.[/quote]

I think This was a Farce !!!!
Not saying that Josh is'nt a great player. But there were more deserving players than him!!!
Yes , Much more deserving ! Ronnie Fields, ( Though I think of him as more of a Ball hawk) was more deserving. He is the reason the Lightning are in the playoffs.
Chris Porter. Is more deserving. Davis has not been in any more games than Porter has. Davis spent more time in the NBA camps due to call ups than he did on the CBA courts. Same with Kaniel Dickens.
Hell even " Snap" Hunter was more deserving than Davis.
Sorry if I offend any Idaho fans, but lets get real !!!!
I can think of at least 5 players in this league that were more insturmental to the game than Davis.

1.) Ronnie Fields
2.) Ray Weathers
3.) Anthony Goldwire
4.) Derrick Martin
5.) Dean Oliver or Chris Porter.
Don't believe me ? Look at the stats of each player for games played average Vs. Davis. And If you wanna use NBA Call up's
Than Martin and Goldwire Have more contract time with one team, than Davis has spent in practice with all of his NBA Call up's combined.
Hell if we are giving it to the player with the most NBA Call up time under his belt,............................. Than let's give it To OLIVER MILLER !!!!!
He is by far the most influential player in the CBA today !

[Wizard57]

In my opinion, Leonard White got the shaft. He average more points 20.2 compared to 18.7; more rebounds 10.2 compared to 9.6; had more blocked shots 43 compared to 28; and more steels 97 compared to 58, than Davis.

I also think that Idaho is a much deeper team than Sioux Falls, meaning that losing Davis would not affect Idaho nearly as bad as losing White would have impacted Sioux Falls.

It is quite obvious as to what is going on here! I don't know who will play Idaho in the Finals but only a Fool would bet against the Stampede. If you know what I mean.

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

Well Geezo Pete! Not only did Rich NOT get CBA MVP, but he didn't even make CBA first team. I'm officially out of the Predicting business after this one.

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

I couldn't find a link to this article on OSC at the time of this post, so I pasted the article here...by the way. Shouldn't Anthony Goldwire at least lead his team out of the cellar before being selected to the all CBA first team?

Selection to second team annoys Rich
March 17, 2004

By Michael Osipoff / Post-Tribune staff writer



GARY — Jemeil Rich averaged a double-double, leading the CBA in assists at 10.6 per game to go along with 15.5 points.

He was second in the league in steals at 2.7. The point guard was the catalyst as the Steelheads made their first playoff appearance in their four-year history.

It wasn’t good enough for him to make the All-League first team, instead having to settle for second team. Although he appreciated the honor and recognition, he was less than happy on Tuesday.

“I think it was a joke,” Rich said. “The guys that made both teams are pretty talented players, but of the guys who made the first team, only one of them averaged a double-double (Sioux Falls forward Leonard White). A couple of them didn’t even make it to the playoffs. Give them credit, I’m not taking anything away from them. But me, myself, I felt I should’ve been on first team.”

Steelheads coach Duane Ticknor was peeved at Rich’s situation, but was more upset about the snub of guard Immanuel McElroy, who he believed should have been afforded second-team honors. McElroy averaged a team-high 16.6 points, 12th in the league; was second in the league in field goal percentage at 64.6 percent; and was named to the All-Defensive Team — some would argue he should have been Defensive Player of the Year.

“I’m disappointed Mac didn’t make it, what he brings every night, his all-around game,” Ticknor said.

The all-league teams were selected by the head coaches. To be eligible, players must have played in at least half of the 48 games and be in good standing with the CBA. Coaches could not vote for their own players.

In order of votes received, Idaho forward and CBA Most Valuable Player Josh Davis, White, Yakima guard Anthony Goldwire, Dakota forward Kaniel Dickens and Rockford guard Ronnie Fields made first team, and Idaho guard DeSean Hadley, Sioux Falls guard David Jackson, Rich, Dakota guard and former Steelhead Maurice Carter and Idaho guard Randy Livingston made second team.

Rich was a CBA All-Star and an All-Defensive Team selection, both for the second straight season.

He had a franchise-record 23 assists, the most in the CBA this season, in a victory at Sioux Falls on March 2. He scored a career-high 30 points twice in the regular season — in the second- and third-to-last games — and did it again in Game 3 of the playoffs.

In four postseason games, Rich averaged 22.0 points, 10.5 assists and 4.3 steals. His 16 assists in Game 1 and eight steals in Game 3 both were single-game CBA playoff highs this season through Tuesday.

Rich is the franchise’s career leader in assists (856) and steals (250). His 498 assists and 127 steals this season are Steelheads single-season records. He also was the CBA Player of the Week for Feb. 29 to March 7.

Last season, guard Bryant Notree became the first Steelhead to make the all-league first team.

Reporter Michael Osipoff can be reached at 648-3137 or by e-mail at mosipoff@post-trib.com.