M-V-PACE
Tagged in: NBL
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In his first season with the Blue Chip Nelson Giants, American guard Josh Pace was pretty darn good – good enough for selection to the 2006 NBL All-Star Five – but this year, he returned even better and has walked away with the Dominion Finance NBLís ultimate individual honour .
After a process involving votes from league coaches, selected media and fans, Pace was an easy choice as the competitionís Most Valuable Player, averaging 22.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.3 steals through the regular season.
ìI think I have improved, but I can still do a lot more,î he observes. ìThe area I have improved the most is rebounding, but also my shooting. It really helps my team if I can make shots.î
Paceís great scoring strength is his ability going to the basket, but that can be closed down relatively easily if you know itís coming. To open up opportunities inside, he needed to show defenses he could also hit the three.
While his shooting style remains a little unorthodox, Pace has been both more accurate and more prolific from the arc this year.
The decision to return to Nelson was made very soon after the Giants were eliminated by the Hawks in the í06 semis.
ìI had the conversation with (coach Nenad Vucinic) and decided to come back, depending on when the season finished in Europe.
ìI felt we could win the championship Ö that was my only goal. Weíve come together as a team more this year, but it doesnít end here.î
Nelson have been particularly successful against finals oppnents Easy LPG Bay Hawks this year, winning both regular season encounters. Pace, too, has enjoyed the rivalry, averaging 28.5 points (50% FG, 41.7% 3pt), 8.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists.
ìBut those two wins go right out the window,î he says. ìItís a different atmosphere, theyíre defending champs and we have to come ready to play.î
Meanwhile, NBL awards voting proved just as close as the race for playoff spots.
Sure, Pace was a runaway winner of the guard titles, Youthtown Auckland Stars utility Charlie Piho was obviously top rookie and Appliance Shed Harbour Heatís John Dorge was comfortably best coach.
But other results were not so decisive and resulted in two shared awards. TET Taranaki Mountain Airs forward Link Abrams added both positional awards to his rebounding title, but had to share Kiwi MVP with Easy LPG Bay Hawks captain Paora Winitana.
In the Kiwi Guard race, Aucklandís Lindsay Tait and Harbour rival Hayden Allen finished neck-and-neck. The award was Taitís fourth in the past five years and fifth straight All-Star Five selection.
Dominion Finance NBL Award Winners
Most Valuable Player
Josh Pace (Blue Chip Nelson Giants)
Kiwi MVP
Link Abrams (TET Taranaki Mountain Airs) & Paora Winitana (Easy LPG Bay Hawks)
Outstanding Guard
Josh Pace (Blue Chip Nelson Giants)
Outstanding Forward
Link Abrams (TET Taranaki Mountain Airs)
Outstanding Kiwi Guard
Lindsay Tait (Youthtown Auckland Stars) & Hayden Allen (Appliance Shed Harbour Heat)
Outstanding Kiwi Forward
Link Abrams (TET Taranaki Mountain Airs)
Rookie of the Year
Charlie Piho (Youthtown Auckland Stars)
Coach of the Year
John Dorge (Appliance Shed Harbour Heat)
All-Star Five
Josh Pace (Blue Chip Nelson Giants)
Lindsay Tait (Youthtown Auckland Stars)
Link Abrams (TET Taranaki Mountain Airs)
Dillon Boucher (Youthtown Auckland Stars)
Oscar Forman (Appliance Shed Harbour Heat)
