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"Others suggest the ROY winner should be given to someone on a winning team"

That sounds more like having an award for being on a good team then being the best rookie... I guess with that logic Andrea Bargnani should have won ROY because the Raptors had a winning record while the Trailblazers did not.

Personally I don't think Scola has a chance. Horford will get some votes but I believe Durant will win ROY. I still would rather have Kevin Durant over Horford.

Anyway for all you Blazers fans, don't worry Oden can compete for ROY next season.

I Like Turtles | 03/27/08, 10:53 AM

I disagree that Durant is the ONLY ROY pick. He certainly should be considered, but there are rookies that had larger impacts in the turn around of their team... I dont think its all about winning records or not, but should be about the impact. Clearly durant has had the numbers, but I question the impact those numbers have on the success of the team. Certainly they would be worse off without him, but realize they let Allen AND Lewis go, probably not going to happen if they dont grab someone like Durant... so he was counted on replacing those numbers. With time he will get there though!

biminator | 03/27/08, 11:01 AM

Durant is going to win. Is he going to get all the votes? No, he won't. But he'll win it..

jj730 | 03/27/08, 11:15 AM

I haven't paid any attention to rookies. All I've heard about is Kidd, Shaq, Webber, Gasol, and Garnett.

conman33 | 03/27/08, 11:17 AM

I think it's bull **** to take in consideration one's team's record for an award like MVP or ROY.

LYNCHisOTGY* BS MS JC PT CL | 03/27/08, 11:18 AM

Impact on a team is more important than throwing up 20 shots a game. Horford has helped the Hawks go from a basement team to a playoff team. That's more than Durant has been able to do with the Sonics. I still think he's gonna win, but I think it's been propagated by the media more than by actual NBA insiders. imo

Luckedout | 03/27/08, 11:37 AM

I think it's bull **** to take in consideration one's team's record for an award like MVP or ROY.

LYNCHisOUTtoGETyou* 2179 | 03/27/08, 11:18 AM

I think that award should be called the congrats on having good teammates award. Whenever I argue something like a player A is better than B, the response is sometimes "the team sucks though"... yes the team sucks, not that player. All of a sudden KG is an MVP candidate but he really did nothing different, he just had Taylor and McHale screwing his team up.

I Like Turtles | 03/27/08, 11:37 AM

Impact on a team is more important than throwing up 20 shots a game. Horford has helped the Hawks go from a basement team to a playoff team. That's more than Durant has been able to do with the Sonics. I still think he's gonna win, but I think it's been propagated by the media more than by actual NBA insiders. imo

Luckedout | 03/27/08, 11:37 AM

Who does Durant even have Jeff Green? It is their first year rebuilding of course they won't be good that is their intentions, thats what happens when you trade Allen and get rid of Lewis. Plus, Horford has Bibby, Johnson, Smith, Williams, and Childress. Plus the only reason the Hawks have a chance at making the playoffs is because they are in the East, they would have the 12th best record in the West.

I Like Turtles | 03/27/08, 11:44 AM

@ Luckedout ...

Horford came in a talented young team who has played at least one or two years together.

Durant came in a young team who has seen it's two all-stars leave, have a hostile takeover, a new GM and a new head coach.

If Durant came in a year or two, the team would have the same effect the Hawks have right now.

I don't deny that Horford is a great talent. I'm simply impressed by the way he played.

A lot of youngsters have played well through the season and deserve the ROY award. I just hope the deciders will use common sense and really think about the choise they are going to make.

Mr. Sonic | 03/27/08, 11:58 AM

I seem to recall LeBron James (King James) winning the ROY title back in the 2002-2003 season. If you remember, they did not have a winning record then, so how can you possibly factor in a winning record as part of the criteria. SHUT UP!!!

Kevin Durant WILL win the title

Black_Mamba24 | 03/27/08, 12:00 PM

"I haven't paid any attention to rookies. All I've heard about is Kidd, Shaq, Webber, Gasol, and Garnett"

That is because those are the only people espn feels they should talk about

The Waiting Game | 03/27/08, 12:06 PM

How's about "Big Baby" in Boston - MVP !!!

Kaycee1 | 03/27/08, 12:14 PM

Ill say Horford he is already starting to dominate. Durant is just a shooter, nothng special.

BigSkinBrawler | 03/27/08, 12:43 PM

This isn't a MVR award, the teams record should not be reflective on the ROY award. What if a rookie throws up 50 points a game, but everyone else on the roster is atrocious, and they have a losing record? See how ridiculous that is? 30ppg with a good percentage?

jdang307 | 03/27/08, 12:53 PM

Durant is a pig. No concept of how to play offense
He has more T.O (3) than assts (2) per game &
shoots 42% (under 30% from 3's)

- stop shooting, start EATING & learning how to be a teammate.

Horford should be ROY- he makes his team BETTER

jgb | 03/27/08, 01:33 PM

I will let Durant take ROY this year. Next year, I want it back.

Regards,

Greg Oden

Odenator...I'll be baack! | 03/27/08, 01:59 PM

Kevin Durant has really learned how to score properly this last month. He's shooting over 50% and is taking way fewer 3-pointers than before. I knew eventually he would improve his shot selection, but I am surprised to see that he's already making progress in his rookie season. Still, his rebounding, assists, and defensive stats are weaksauce, and his turnovers are way too high. Al Horford has made a bigger individual impact with his hustle, rebounding, and defense. He should get it. But back to the original topic, if I were PJ Carlesimo, I'd be making crazy statements like that, too. This is your guy for the next decade; you stand by him no matter what.

Chendaddy | 03/27/08, 03:41 PM

Kevin Durant will win rookie of the year, because of his point production. But if we compare points with his minutes per game is it really any better then the other rookies. It easy for a coach to say that no one has put up comparable numbers, but no other rookie in the league plays as many minutes a game. Not to mention very few rookies are starters in this leaque. So Durant seems like the best, thats not saying much. Lets look a 27 year old rookie in Toronto who not even picked in the Draft, Jamario Moon has proved his worth in the league this year, an he is contributing to a playoff contennder. Can you say the same for Durant.

Benr | 03/27/08, 04:07 PM

I don't understand why no one is talking about Scola. He is way more effecient than Durant. Rebounds, plays D, gets steals and is a huge part of why the Rockets went on such a tear. Look at Houston's record with him as a starting PF. It's something like 25-4. I think it has more to do with him being foreign and not black than anything else.

grega | 03/27/08, 04:15 PM

Horford should be up for debate but Durant will win. Its about the player not the team. The only team award i believe is the Champion. As well as the division and conference. All the other awards are individual.

Joe drinks the Dew | 03/27/08, 04:45 PM