Elite players are making their point in scoring column

The ball is juiced, right?

That has to be it. Or maybe commissioner David Stern and his cronies secretly widened the rims and shortened the three-point line in every NBA arena.

Yeah, that's it. There has got to be a conspiracy theory to explain the mind-boggling scoring explosion from a remarkable quartet that's reminiscent of the glory days of Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, Larry Bird and Charles Barkley.

Not since the 1987-88 season when each finished with an average of 28 points or better have we seen anything like what we're witnessing these days.

Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, LeBron James and Gilbert Arenas are lighting up the scoreboard each night as if it were a pinball machine.

The statistical anomaly that's being bandied about is the possibility of four players finishing with a 30-point-or-better average for the first time since the 1961-62 season. That's when Wilt Chamberlain averaged an eye-popping 50.4 points and five others — Elgin Baylor, Walt Bellamy, Bob Pettit, Oscar Robertson and Jerry West — averaged at least 30 points.

Arenas will need to step it up in the second half of the season and increase his 28.0 scoring average if he's going to remain a member of the Fantastic Four. Bryant (35.8) is going to win the scoring title, and Iverson (33.6) and James (30.9) aren't likely to move out of their positions.

Perhaps even more stunning is Bryant, Iverson, James and Arenas are not alone. Across the league, scoring is down from last season, but 15 players have tallied at least 40 points in 53 games this season.

"To me, what it feels like is the kids are growing up," said Iverson, who along with James and New Jersey's Vince Carter has scored at least 50 points this season. "Those days of Magic [Johnson], Larry and Michael are over and this next generation is taking over the game and making it their own.

"Every team has at least one or two players capable of putting up big numbers. Every team has an All-Star, guys who can win a game all by himself and make you sit up and take notice."

Whatever happens in the playoffs (and we all know how that's going to end, Detroit over San Antonio in seven) and barring the Pistons winning 73 games, this season will be remembered for Bryant's scoring exploits.

The Los Angeles Lakers star has tallied 81, 62, 52, 51 and 50 points this season, and in the words of Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal: "He might have solidified being the best offensive scoring player to ever play the game."

"With the new rules it's impossible [to stop him]," O'Neal said. "You can't touch now. Back then you could put your hands on him and take him where you want. Overall I don't think he's better than Jordan, but he has more offensive moves to put him at another level. He's at a whole different level than anybody else in this league."

The scoring explosion hasn't been all-inclusive, as the league's best post players have been left out in the cold. Not one power forward or center has topped the 40-point plateau, which would be a first in NBA history if the drought continues.

As O'Neal said, blame it on the rule changes, which negated hand checking before the 2004-05 season while rough play still goes unchecked beneath the rim.

Other contributing factors are the rise in salaries that's created a two-tier system in the NBA of All-Stars and role players, and expansion, which has added seven teams in the past 18 years and diluted the overall talent.

And don't discount the fact that Bryant, Iverson and Arenas play for average teams, which allows them to take as many shots as they want, while injuries have crippled the Cavaliers and pushed James to the forefront.

"I've got to admit, sometimes I'm watching the highlights or reading about what other guys did and I'm just saying to myself, 'Wow, I can't believe it,' " Arenas said. "It's really amazing. It makes you think that if this is happening in the first half [of the season], then what's the second half going to be like?"

As much as I marvel at Bryant's scoring exploits, my midseason MVP award goes to Phoenix's Steve Nash because he's having a better year than he did last season when he won the award and he's kept the Suns atop the Pacific Division without injured Amare Stoudemire. Detroit's Chauncey Billups is a close second, followed by Bryant.

Here are few other midseason awards and acknowledgments:

Coach of the Year: It has to be Flip Saunders, who has done an amazing job piloting Detroit to a league-best 36-5 record. Dallas' Avery Johnson is a close runner-up, followed by Phoenix's Mike D'Antoni.

Rookie of the Year: Hands down it's Chris Paul of the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets. No one else is even close.

Most Improved Player: Statistically, David West is the most deserving because he's increased his scoring average from 6.2 to 16.9.

Defensive Player of the Year: No one jumps out.

Sixth Man Award: If New York had a better record, I'd recommend Jamal Crawford. The Knicks, however, are lousy, so I'm going with Memphis' Mike Miller.

Comeback Player of the Year: Milwaukee's T.J. Ford in a landslide. He missed 26 games last season with a spinal injury and so far he's averaging 12.2 points and 6.3 assists.

Biggest surprise: We knew the Pistons would be good, but not this good.

Biggest disappointment: The Sonics, Houston, Sacramento, Washington and Chicago made the playoffs last season and each has a losing record. However, Sports Illustrated tabbed Indiana to win the NBA title, and the Pacers will be lucky to qualify for the postseason.

Best offseason move: Phoenix general manager Bryan Colangelo snookered Atlanta when he dealt Joe Johnson to the Hawks for Boris Diaw and two first-round draft picks.

Worst offseason move: Atlanta overpaid for Johnson, but at least he's contributing. Chicago acquired Tim Thomas and is paying him $14 million to sit at home in a deal that sent Eddy Curry and Antonio Davis to New York.

Best game of season: Forget those Christmas Day so-called showdowns. Nothing beats 301 points and double overtime. Sonics 152, Phoenix 149, 2OT.

Longest streaks: Detroit won 10 and Atlanta lost nine.

Milestones: New York's Larry Brown won his 1,000th game and referee Joey Crawford officiated his 2,000th game.

The All-Injured team: Carlos Boozer, Nene, Grant Hill, Corey Maggette and Marcus Camby. (Lifetime members: Shaquille O'Neal, Jermaine O'Neal and Carter.)

The All-Suspension team: Ron Artest, Ruben Patterson, Steve Francis, Danny Fortson, Davis and coach George Karl.

And finally, from the what-were-they-thinking file: Utah rookies Deron Williams and Robert Whaley were cited with misdemeanors for providing police with false identities after an incident at a bar in December.

However, the Bonehead Award goes to Davis, who must have forgotten about that little brawl in Detroit last year when he went charging into the United Center stands. He rushed to the aid of his wife, Kendra, after she'd gotten into an altercation with a Chicago Bulls fan.

Stern rewarded Davis' chivalrous act with a five-game suspension that cost him roughly $700,000 in pay.

Percy Allen: 206-464-2278 or pallen@seattletimes.com

The 40-point club
This season 14 players have scored at least 40 points, and no one has breached the barrier as frequently as Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant. He's done it 13 times, followed by Philadelphia's Allen Iverson, who has accomplished it 10 times. Here's the list:
Player	Team	40-point games	Most points in a game
Kobe Bryant	LA Lakers	13	81
Allen Iverson	Philadelphia	10	53
Glibert Arenas	Washington	5	47
Carmelo Anthony	Denver	4	43
LeBron James	Cleveland	4	52
Mike Bibby	Sacramento	3	44
Note: Five players with two games and four players with one.