Rookie of the Year has turned especially interesting even without the nepotism. The Warriors have mounted a late campaign that could turn the outcome in favor of Stephen Curry, much the way the public-relations staff helped deliver Most Improved Player to Monta Ellis in 2007 with a tireless phone and e-mail push. The final impact of the '10 Rookie blitz is not yet known. But of 14 writers and broadcasters polled the past few days, four said they are being at least slightly impacted by Golden State's first-hand pitch of statistics and reasoning to counter any argument that Evans or the Bucks' Brandon Jennings is more deserving. It's at least making them rethink Milwaukee's argument (and selling point) that Jennings is the only one of three with a starring role on a playoff team. Carry that out over 125 voters and the numbers really start to move.
• Interestingly, none of the 14 in the informal, unscientific sample from around the country -- nine based in Western Conference cities, five in the East -- sided with Jennings. Seven said they either have turned in or planned to turn in ballots for Evans, four were in the Curry camp before the Warriors began campaigning and three were undecided as the Thursday deadline approached. Of those swayed by convincing calls from Oakland campaign HQ, one is considering switching a planned first-place vote from Evans to Curry, another stayed with Evans but moved Curry ahead of Jennings for second in the 5-3-1 scoring system, one went from leaving Curry off his ballot to a third-place nod while dropping Darren Collison of the Hornets, and another said he will probably stay with Evans (but that the Warriors have given him pause).
http://www.nba.com/2010/news/features/scott_howard_cooper/04/15/and.one/index.html