Luol Deng and Each NBA Team's Top Unsung Star of 2010-11
When looking at teams in the NBA, we tend to focus on big names and guys that score a lot of points.
It is easy to overlook guys that move the ball, play defense, or make their teammates better.
Whereas you might see Dwight Howard scored 25 points in a game, for example, there are many factors that would have inevitably gone into Howard being in position to score those points.
With a select group of NBA players receiving the majority of the media attention, we take a look at the top unsung star on each team.
Atlanta Hawks: Al Horford
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The Atlanta Hawks are once again in the thick of the playoff race in the Eastern Conference, and Joe Johnson and Josh Smith are not the only reasons.
Al Horford has been arguably Atlanta's best overall player this season, averaging 16.1 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.
Since being drafted in 2007, Horford's points and field goal percentage have increased every season, while Atlanta' winning percentage has improved at a similar rate.
Boston Celtics: Glen Davis
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When Glen Davis was drafted by Boston, many people around the league were stunned that the Celtics would draft an overweight, undersized center with little jumping ability.
Well, Glen "Big Baby" Davis has made the most of his opportunity. He is having an effective season for Boston, averaging 11.7 points and 5.3 rebounds this season off the bench.
A sixth man of the year candidate, Davis is sure to see his minutes increase with the departure of starting center Kendrick Perkins.
Charlotte Bobcats: D.J. Augustin
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D.J. Augustin has done a very nice job in his first season as the starting point guard for Charlotte.
The pride of the University of Texas, Augustin has helped keep the Bobcats team together in a disappointing year that includes fan favorite Gerald Wallace being traded.
For the season, Augustin is averaging a career-high 14.2 points and 6.1 assists.
Chicago Bulls: Luol Deng
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As the only top-notch Eastern conference team with only one All-Star, the Chicago Bulls have received a lot of help from their unsung forward Luol Deng to go along with Derek Rose's dominant season.
Deng has been very good on both sides of the floor, and he is a key reason why Chicago has remained in contention for home court advantage, despite Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah each missing extended time.
Cleveland Cavaliers: J.J. Hickson
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For a Cleveland Cavaliers team with a noticeable lack of stars, J.J. Hickson has quietly had a very nice season.
Hickson has filled in rather well as the starting center for Cleveland after Anderson Varejao went down with a season-ending torn right ankle tendon.
In 26 minutes per game, Hickson is averaging over 12 points and 7.7 rebounds.
Dallas Mavericks: Shawn Marion
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No longer on an offensive-minded team in Phoenix, Shawn Marion has been an important asset for Dallas all season long.
Marion has done a little bit of everything, averaging 11.7 points and 6.6 rebounds, as well as playing good defense.
Denver Nuggets: Aaron Afflalo
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Aaron Afflalo has consistently improved each season. He has now established himself as one of the better all around players in the league.
Not only does Afflalo play great defense, but he is averaging 13 points a game, while shooting an impressive 50 percent from the floor, including 43 percent on three-pointers.
This season, Afflalo has regularly started at shooting guard ahead of J.R. Smith, and for Denver to remain in playoff contention without Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups, he will have to keep up his level of play.
Detroit Pistons: Charlie Villanueva
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The Detroit Pistons have been almost completely unrecognizable since their recent run of six consecutive Eastern Conference finals appearances.
This past week, Detroit had an issue in which several players missed the team's shoot around. All seven of these players were benched for Friday nights' game.
Charlie Villanueva was the only Pistons starter that was not among those suspended. For the season, Villanueva is having a solid season, averaging 11.3 points and 4.1 rebounds.
Golden State Warriors: Andres Biedrins
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The Golden State Warriors have been one of the more exciting teams in the NBA this season; the only problem is that they don't play much defense.
While guards Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry have received the bulk of the media attention for the Warriors, Andres Biedrins has been the only reliable defender on the team.
Biedrins has done the dirty work up front, averaging eight rebounds and one block per game on 55 percent shooting.
Houston Rockets: Chuck Hayes
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Prior to the NBA trade deadline, this honor may have gone to Shane Battier.
However, Chuck Hayes, who is very undersized for the center position, has been extremely valuable to a Houston team that has missed Yao Ming for almost the entire season.
In 25 minutes a game, Hayes is averaging seven rebounds and is shooting 56.8 percent from the field.
Indiana Pacers: Roy Hibbert
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Now in his third year in the NBA, the 7'2" Hibbert is having a breakout season for Indiana.
Playing a career-high 27 minutes per game, Hibbert is averaging 13.2 points to go along with close to eight rebounds and two blocks.
The Pacers are currently tied with Charlotte for the final playoff spot in the East, and they will likely need more production from Hibbert in order to sneak into the postseason for the first time since 2006.
Los Anglees Clippers: DeAndre Jordan
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2010 All-Star center Chris Kaman went down with an ankle injury in November, leaving the Clippers short up front. However, DeAndre Jordan has done an excellent job filling in at starting center.
While Blake Griffin has been incredible at power forward, Jordan has done an underrated job at center, averaging 1.7 blocks per game to go along with a mind-boggling 67.6 percent shooting from the floor.
Los Angeles Lakers: Lamar Odom
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In case you haven't noticed, Lamar Odom, now 31-years-old, is enjoying his best NBA season.
Odom is averaging 14.7 points per game on a career-high 54.7 percent shooting. Those numbers are way up from last season when he averaged 10.8 points on 46.3 percent shooting.
One of the most skilled 6'10" guys around, Odom has provided a much needed spark off the Laker bench all season long.
Memphis Grizzlies: Marc Gasol
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Playing alongside Zach Randolph, Rudy Gay, Mike Conley and OJ Mayo, Marc Gasol does not always get the credit he deserves.
However, Gasol has quietly put up 11.7 points and 6.9 rebounds for Memphis this season.
The Grizzlies are currently tied with Utah as the No. 8 seed in the West, and they will likely need a strong finish from Gasol in order to make the playoffs for the first time since 2006.
Miami Heat: Zydrunas Ilgauskas
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On a team with many heroes, Ilgauskas has been under the radar, yet extremely valuable.
With Udonis Haslem going down with a leg injury early in the season, Ilgauskas has been one of the only true big men for the Heat. It is tough to win games without a defender in the paint, so Ilgauskas is certainly one reason that Miami finds itself 43-16 on the year.
Milwaukee Bucks: Ersan Ilyasova
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Milwaukee has been one of the most disappointing teams this season, but don't blame Ersan Ilyasova for that.
Ilyasova has played great defense all year, and has been one of the few reliable Bucks this season, along with center Andrew Bogut and forward Corey Maggette.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Luke Ridnour
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For a Timberwolves team that does not have many stars to begin with, when you factor in that Kevin Love and Michael Beasley have each received a fair amount of national attention, Luke Ridnour is the only real unsung hero imaginable.
One of the more reliable point guards in the league, Ridnour is averaging 11.9 points 5.4 assists, and three steals for Minnesota this season.
As a franchise, Minnesota is having its fourth consecutive miserable season since losing Kevin Garnett during the summer of 2007.
New Jersey Nets: Anthony Morrow
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In his first year as a Net, Morrow is enjoying a very nice season for New Jersey.
Not exactly a house hold name, Anthony Morrow is one of the better three-point shooters in the league, averaging an impressive 1.9 three-point makes per game on 44.3 percent shooting, the fourth highest in the NBA.
New Jersey has struggled mightily over the last season and a half, but might be turning things around after acquiring star point guard Deron Williams last week.
New Orleans Hornets: Emeka Okafor
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After being drafted second overall in the 2004 draft, Emeka Okafor had extremely high expectations. While Okafor has always played very well, he has not been great.
Previously thought of as overrated, Okafor has been criticized over his career to the point that he is now underrated.
Okafor, the big center, has been a vital part of the Hornets team this season, averaging 11.1 points on 58.8 percent shooting and playing great defense.
New York Knicks: Ronny Turiaf
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The New York Knicks just went through a significant make over this past week, losing almost all of their regulars with an exception of Amare Stoudemire, Landry Fields, Toney Douglas and Ronny Turiaf.
New York made sure to keep Turiaf for his size and defense. The Knicks are arguably the weakest defensive team of any playoff contender, so Turiaf is really the key to the Knicks stopping anybody this season.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Serge Ibaka
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While Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook have received most of the recognition for Oklahoma City's success, and deservedly so, Serge Ibaka has done an excellent job in the middle of the paint this season.
Ibaka, one of the most athletic big men in the game, plays great defense and is one of the reasons that the fourth seeded Oklahoma City is a dark horse to make it to the finals this season.
Orlando Magic: J.J. Redick
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Dwight Howard gets double and triple teamed so often that Orlando consistently has shooters wide open.
Redick, one of best pure shooters in the NBA, is averaging 1.6 three pointers made on 40.5 percent shooting. Playing a career-high 26 minutes per game, Redick is averaging 10.4 points per game, including 88.8 percent on free throws.
Philadelphia 76ers: Thaddeus Young
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The 76ers, currently the seventh seed, appear playoff bound for the first time in two seasons.
Philadelphia forward Thaddeus Young is having his most efficient season for an improved 76ers team. Playing with less pressure on him with Elton Brand back to his dominant form, Young is averaging 12.4 points per game on an impressive 55.1 percent shooting.
Phoenix Suns: Channing Frye
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Steve Nash, even at 37-years-old, is averaging 11.3 assists per game and has somehow carried the Suns into within one and a half games of a playoff spot.
One of the reasons that Nash is averaging so many assists is because of the great shooting of Channing Frye. Arguably the best three-point shooting big man in the game, Frye is averaging 2.2 three-pointers made per game, while being one of the few constants on a Suns' team that has changed players numerous times this season.
Portland Trail Blazers: Wesley Matthews
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Despite key injuries to Greg Oden, Marcus Camby and Brandon Roy, Portland has managed to stay in playoff contention, with Matthews being a major part of this.
In just his second NBA season, Matthews is averaging 16.6 points per game and shooting the ball well from all over the floor.
Sacramento Kings: Samuel Dalembert
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On a Sacramento team with a lot of young guys trying to figure out their roles, Samuel Dalembert has provided necessary veteran leadership.
This season Dalembert has played great defense for the Kings, averaging 4.6 defensive rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game off the bench.
San Antonio Spurs: DeJaun Blair
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Despite a roster with no current superstars, the San Antonio Spurs have by far the best record in the league at 49-10.
While Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker have all played very well, the Spurs have benefited greatly from a deep bench.
In just his second season in the league, Blair has played very well for San Antonio averaging nine points and eight rebounds, while allowing the aging, but still effective Tim Duncan, to play less minutes.
Toronto Raptors: Amir Johnson
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Amir Johnson has been one of the few nice surprises for a Toronto team playing without Chris Bosh for the first time in eight seasons.
While Andrea Bargnani scores a lot of points at the center position, he is not much of a defender. Power forward Amir Johnson has been of the only effective defenders for the Raptors, and has he quietly put up ten points and seven rebounds on 58 percent shooting.
Utah Jazz: Paul Millsap
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Since Carlos Boozer left via free agency last summer, Paul Millsap has finally pounced on the chance to prove how effective he can be when utilized.
This season, Millsap is averaging career-highs across the board, including 17.2 points and 8.0 rebounds on 53 percent shooting.
With Utah's star player Deron Williams having just been traded, Millsap figures to be even more of a factor down the stretch for the ninth seeded Jazz, as they try to make it back to the postseason.
Washington Wizzards: Javale McGee
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After getting a chance to start at center for the Wizards season, Javale McGee has shown the league what he is capable of.
McGee, an incredible athlete, plays great defense and should be a star within a year or two.
This season McGee has been very efficient in his 25 minutes per game, averaging 7.6 rebounds and shooting 54 percent from the floor.
