Noah named the Bulls CDW/Blackberry Player of the Month for April

April 16th, 2009 by Andrew Wamboldt

# April 15, 2009 – Joakim Noah has been named the Bulls CDW/Blackberry Player of the Month for April. This marks the first time that Noah has received the CDW/Blackberry Player of the Month Award. He joins fellow Bulls Derrick Rose (Nov.), Ben Gordon (Dec. and Feb.), Luol Deng (Jan.), and John Salmons (March), as the final recipient of the monthly honor this season.

In five games this month, Noah averaged 9.2 ppg, 9.8 rpg (3.2 rpg on the offensive end), 2.8 apg, 1.20 spg, 1.00 bpg, .667 shooting from the field and .933 from the line in 31.6 mpg. Noah’s numbers led all Bulls in rebounds per game, field goal shooting and free throw shooting for the month of April.

Noah (6-11, 232 pounds) has started every game this month, and helped lead the Bulls to a 5-0 April record. On the year, he has posted averages of 6.6 ppg, 7.6 rpg (25th in the NBA), 1.39 bpg (15th) and 1.3 apg in 24.1 mpg. He has shot a team-best .551 from the field and .674 from the line. In April, he has recorded a team-high three double-doubles, and he has led the team in scoring three times and in assists once.

Here is a recap of Joakim Noah’s April highlights:

# In Chicago’s 103-94 win over New Jersey on April 4, he posted his seventh double-double of the year with 12 points (6-7 FT), a game-high10 boards, a career-high tying four steals and one block in 32:15 of play.
# In the Bulls’ 113-106 victory versus Charlotte on April 11, he recorded his eighth double-double of the season with 11 points (4-5 FG, 3-3 FT), 10 rebounds (four offensive), a career-high seven assists, two blocks and one steal in 39:00.
# In Chicago’s 91-88 road win at Detroit on April 13, Noah notched his second straight double-double, and ninth of the year, en route to 11 points (4-6 FG, 3-3 FT), a game-high 13 rebounds, four assists and one block in 35:42 of play.

No offense to Joakim Noah, but he did not deserve this award. Ben Gordon, who recently was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week, or Derrick Rose who had a tremendous April, should have been the Bulls Player of the Month. Awarding this award in this manner kind of discredits any validity that this award has.