Well, we are well past the halfway mark in this NBA season and we have a reasonable idea of what most of the playoff spots are going to look like. This seemed like an appropriate time to take a look at the outstanding candidates for the end of season awards.
The candidacy for Most Improved Player is outstanding this season with last year’s winner taking his game up a notch. Pascal Siakam has replaced most of Kahwi Leonard’s stats this season whilst making a mockery of the idea that Toronto would suddenly be a lottery team come the end of the season. The Pelican’s former Laker Brandon Ingram has started as many games this year as he did in the entirety of last season and this faith in his ability in a new system has paid dividends in a spectacular way with 24 points per game with 47/40/86 shooting splits. This rejuvenation, allied with the edition of a certain rookie who we will revisit later on, has helped New Orleans become a viable league pass team and playoff contender. In pole position for this Award is the big man busy redefining what a centre can be on a title contender over in Miami. It is of course the Heat’s Bam Adebayo whose resurgence has somewhat served as a microcosm for the transformation the league has undergone in recent years.
This year, we could see a radical shift from the norm in that Lou Williams might not actually win the Sixth Man of the Year Award. The Clippers guard has been putting up impressive numbers as we expect from him every year, averaging 19 points per game. This year however, the most obvious threat to his crown is Dennis Schrӧder. The German is putting up identical scoring numbers to Williams but is vastly ahead in overall impact for me, particularly within the interesting three-guard system over in OKC.
There are some strong candidates for the Defensive Player of the Year Award, but I really can’t see it being anyone other than one of two people. Winner of the last two seasons, Utah Jazz bigman Rudy Gobert is one of the most feared defenders in the league, affecting players willingness to attack him. This is shown by the fact that the Utah are 12 points better off with Gobert on the floor than they are without this season, second only to Lebron. The Jazz go from one of the worst teams in the league on defence to one of the best when he plays. His length and blocking prowess stick clearly in the minds of any player brave enough to drive into the lane against the towering Frenchman. The second contender I can see challenging for Gobert’s dynasty is the reigning MVP and possibly the best player in the world, Giannis Antetokounmpo. Giannis possesses a wingspan of 7 foot 3 inches and this, combined with freakish athleticism, help in making him a threatening force close to the basket, making him virtually impossible to go toe-to-toe within the paint. For me if Gobert can get better at guarding more quirky smaller teams like the Rockets with the tallest player being 6’5 then the award is as good as his.
The Rookie of the Year Award is always exciting as it gives an indication towards the future stars of the league. This year is no different as the two clear front-runners really have a chance of making the league their own along with last year’s nominees. The Memphis Grizzlies have struck gold with their acquisition of Ja Morant as the second overall pick. Former Murray state guard Morant has been a revelation in the Birthplace of Rock ‘n Roll, dragging the Grizzlies to the 8th seed in the West. Averaging 17 and 7, Morant has been an injection of lightning pace and youthful exuberance, perfect for a team coming off a rather poor showing in the previous season. For me, Ja edges the vote as he will have a better sample size than our next pick. The next pick for me is as exciting and as touted a prospect as we’ve seen enter the league since Lebron James, and with good reason, Zion Williamson has shot to the summit of most people’s league pass viewing whilst scoring with historical impact for a rookie. The only shortcoming as mentioned earlier is that to surpass Morant, he would have to keep this historical scoring impact up for every remaining game of the season. I think it’s safe to say the future is very bright.
As always, we save the best, most contentious, most coveted and most prestigious award for last. For me there is one clear winner this season for the MVP. The Greek Freak Giannis Antetokounmpo, has been historical on both ends of the floor, averaging 30 points per game with 13 rebounds for good measure and being a strong DPOTY candidate to boot. Doing all of this whilst playing 30 minutes per game on average, leading his team to the best record in the league (currently) and a potential 70-win season, I really can’t see another man raising that trophy. Statistics-wise, Giannis’ closest competition comes from Houston guard James Harden, a player putting up all-time great scoring numbers in Mike D’Antoni’s small (seriously, tiny) ball system designed specifically around his isolation scoring. I don’t see Harden having enough effect on putting his team in a top-top seed come the end of the season to warrant the accolades but in any other season Harden would be in with an almost un-ignorable case. I personally do not see Kawhi Leonard playing enough regular season games to justify a case for the award. That being said there can’t be too many players in history you would want in the dying minutes of a close game and if the Clippers are to have any success in the playoffs you best believe he will be central to that. It would be foolish to consider an award given to the best player in the league without mentioning Lebron James who has been performing many age defining stunts for the last few years and once again is in the conversation. His passing and assist making this season is unparalleled in his new Point Guard role. I think that having a generational talent alongside him averaging mid 20’s along with double figures in rebounds and 3 blocks a game in Anthony Davis may devalue his claim to most valuable player however. Whilst I believe that no one outside of this group (well, outside of Giannis really) has a chance, it is interesting to consider some fun options such as Damian Lillard (recent 6 game stretch averaging over 48 points), Nikola Jokic and Luka Dončić who have all at times put their respective teams on their backs with record performances.
By Michael Vince
Photo credit: 24/7 Wall st