The Mailman's season: a complete package

Sporting News, The, April 21, 1997 by Shaun Powell

Although the next month and a half will determine Michael Jordan's biggest threat for the championship, the contender for his MVP trophy has already surfaced: Karl Malone.

Both had tremendous seasons, both will lead their teams to the best record in their conferences, both compiled big stats.

Basically, they did everything an MVP is supposed to do.

In 1996-97, Jordan stretched his legacy again, maybe beyond reach. Another scoring title is in the books. That's nine in 11 years and remember, in the two years Jordan didn't win, he was mostly busy dropping fly balls.

Once again, Jordan was almost impossible to check. His weapon is no longer the drive. He's a thinking man's scorer, a jump shooter now, and the defense must cover more real estate to stop him. His baseline turnaround shot is the skyhook of the '90s.

The Bulls entered the week in position for 70 wins again, further proof of Jordan's brilliance. Regardless of anyone's definition of MVP, the candidate on the best team always gets an extra nod. In that sense there's Jordan, and then there's everyone else.

In Jordan's heyday, rarely has another player compiled credentials impressive enough to make MVP voters pause.

Malone is that rare player.

The Jazz entered the week with 60 wins. They're not staring Chicago in the eye, but at least they're looking the Bulls in the nostrils. The disparity in the records won't be big enough to greatly influence the voting.

Jordan has a two-point advantage in scoring. Malone will finish in second; again, a marginal difference.

Let's get straight to the point: Malone had a better and more complete year than Jordan.

Jordan's 48.5 shooting percentage is his lowest over a complete season since 1986-87 (48.2), and he could finish with career lows in assists and steals. Malone averages 27.6 points, 10.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists and offensively has dominated just as much, if not more, than Jordan.

Malone set a blistering post-All-Star break pace that no one could match. That includes Jordan. Malone has averaged 30 points, shot 58 percent and scored 35 or more points seven times since the break.

Of course, you expect Malone to average almost twice as many rebounds as Jordan, given the position he plays. But how can you explain Malone getting more assists? Here's how: Malone improved his passing from the low post. His assist total is made more remarkable by the presence of John Stockton who'll finish No. 2 in the league.

Here's another revelation: Malone's defense. He has held his man scoreless three times this season, four if you consider that the three points Anthony Mason mustered against the Jazz came against Malone's back-up, Greg Foster.

Malone locked up the best power forwards. He outscored Charles Oakley, 33-2. He outscored Joe Smith, 41-14. He outscored Christian Laettner, 24-12. He outscored Kevin Garnett, 36-10. He outscored Dale Davis, 38-2.

And before it became vogue, Malone outscored Shawn Kemp, 32-3.

Consistency is also in Malone's favor. Jordan admitted to "hitting a wall" during a subpar March. He shot 43 percent, his worst month since the beginning of last season, and three times he failed to score more than 16 points.

Malone's scoring average rose after January, his rebound average never fell below nine in any month, and his assists remained constant.

He is probably more important to his team, too. Jordan does have Pippen and Dennis Rodman. Malone has Stockton and mostly filler material as teammates.

Although the Bulls are indeed the superior team, the Jazz played only four home games in March, and yet went 14-1, when Malone averaged 32 points a game.

There isn't much debate about the greater player. Go ahead, engrave Jordan's name on the playoff MVP trophy right now. In May and June, we know how high he's capable of rising, and how hard Malone and Utah are capable of crashing.

Yet, as far as the regular-season MVP the choice is clear: Deliver it to the Mailman.

Soon, TSN will be announcing its official awards (including player of the year), as voted on by players, coaches and executives. Here are my picks for this year's best:

Coach of the Year.1. Pat Riley, Heat, 2. Doug Collins, Pistons; 3. Danny Ainge, Suns.

Comment: This might have been Riley's best job yet. No one has done more with less. It's not even close. He lost Juwan Howard before the season, then Dan Majerle for 45 games, then Alonzo Mourning for 15, end yet the Heat last week were headed for 60 wins. They'll also go down as one of the best road teams in history, another sign of their Riley-inspired mental toughness.

Rookie of the Year. 1. Allen Iverson, 76ers; 2. Stephon Marbury, Timberwolves; 3. Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Grizzlies.

Comment: Iverson's many pluses out-weigh his many minuses. Even when he's bad, he's exciting to watch. It's a close call, but Iverson gets it over Marbury, who had a big impact on the T-Wolves' chemistry. Ironic note: Many knocked Iverson for taking bad shots, but his shooting percentage (41 percent) is about the same as Marbury's (40.4).

Defensive Player of the Year. 1. Dikembe Mutombo, Hawks, 2. Mookie Blaylock, Hawks; 3. Gary Payton, Sonics.