Here's a quick look at my predictions for the 2013-14 NBA Awards
Rookie Of The Year - Victor Oladipo
Oladipo was the second overall pick in this years draft and has the one trait that translates the easiest from college to pro ball...defense. Unless you were a prolific scorer in college it usually takes a year or two to be able to put up numbers in the NBA, but defense is all about effort. And every coach will always leave a guy on the court if he plays good D. Also, remember this is a guy that shot 60% from the field and 44% from three-point range his last year at Indiana so he has the ability to score. With him being on a bad Orlando Magic team he will find a spot in the starting lineup early and continue to produce throughout the season.
Second Place: Michael Carter-Williams
Most Improved - Kawhi Leonard
We knew Leonard was a key part of the San Antonio Spurs but it wasn't until the playoffs, particularly the NBA Finals, when we saw how important he actually is to this team. In the Finals, he put up 14 points and 11 boards all while trying to contain LeBron James. With the Spurs "Big Three" getting older, especially Manu Ginobili, Leonard will be asked to continue to produce more often. He is the obvious predecessor to take over the reins of a well-rounded Spurs team. Just like Paul George transformed into a superstar a year ago for the Pacers, we will see the same from Kawhi this year.
Second Place: Andre Drummond
Sixth Man - Jamal Crawford
Is there a better pure scorer that comes off the bench than Jamal Crawford? No. It's amazing to watch this guy handle the ball and tear apart second units. He's 33 years old and in his 14th season but can still put up points with the best of them. He doesn't give you much on the defensive end and that has probably kept him from winning more sixth man awards, but this year he will add to his 2010 honors.
Second Place: J.R. Smith
Coach Of The Year - Kevin McHale
If Kevin McHale is able to control the emotions of Dwight Howard this team has the ability to challenge for the Western Conference title. Houston has all the tools in their starting lineup to produce and it's all up to the coach to harness those efforts. McHale had the Rockets scoring 106 points per game a season ago, good for second in the NBA. With the presence of Howard they have the potential to be a good defensive team as well.
Second Place: Mark Jackson
Defensive Player Of The Year - Roy Hibbert
One of the few true center's in the NBA showed his growth in the 2012-13 playoffs and will turn into a dominant force for the 2013-14 campaign. His blocks have gone up every year as pro and he finished with 2.6 last season. I expect his numbers to rise in all aspects of his game and if he gets to 12 boards and three blocks per game he'll be a lock for this award.
Second Place: Dwight Howard
Most Valuable Player - LeBron James
It's hard to pick anybody else. LeBron James has won the last two MVP awards because his game is still improving. In three years with the Heat his shooting percentages, rebounds and assists have increased while his turnovers have decreased. Kevin Durant is right on his heels after posting the elusive 50-40-90 (FG%, 3P%, FT%) season but still has a little work to do to surpass James. LBJ tries to improve a different aspect of his game each offseason and it will be interesting to see what he has in store for us in the 2013-14 season.
Second Place: Kevin Durant
Showing posts with label NBA MVP. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NBA MVP. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Thursday, April 18, 2013
2012-13 NBA Awards Picks
With the 2012-13 NBA season coming to an end it's time to hand out some hardware.
Rookie Of The Year
Damian Lillard - This was one of the easier awards to hand out as Damian Lillard was consistent throughout the season and played more minutes than anybody in the league. Also, one of the few top rookies to actually play the entire year without an injury. On the season, the Weber State product averaged 19 points and 6.5 assists for a young Portland team. Lillard creates a great building block to go along with LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicholas Batum.
Second Place: Anthony Davis
Most Improved
Paul George - When Indiana Pacers all-star Danny Granger was going to start the season on the injured list, Paul George was looked at to try and fill his shoes. And he didn't disappoint. George led the Pacers in scoring at 17.4 and steals with 1.8 a game. He was also second on the team in rebounds (7.6) and assists (4.1). George has the Pacers as a 3-seed in the East with a 49-32 record.
Second Place: Nikola Vucevic
Sixth Man
J.R. Smith - Always the first guy off the bench, J.R. Smith put up the best numbers of his career while helping the New York Knicks secure the 2-seed in the East. Smith played his most minutes in any season and led all NBA reserves with 18.1 points per game, good for second on his team. He was an integral part of the Knicks and will need to continue his great play if they hope to challenge the Heat in the playoffs.
Second Place: Jamal Crawford
Coach Of The Year
George Karl - Nobody expected the Denver Nuggets to be as successful as they were this year but they managed to get the 3-seed in the West thanks to George Karl. With out a premier player, Karl has the Nuggets playing great team basketball with nine players averaging at least eight points a game. He lost Danilo Gallinari to a season ending ACL tear but are still a threat in the West as they lead the league in points with 106.1 a game and had the best home record at 38-3.
Second Place: Mike Woodson
Defensive Player Of The Year
Joakim Noah - This was a tough category but Joakim Noah was a defensive force for the Chicago Bulls helping them hold opponents to 92.9 points per game, good for third in the league. He posted career bests in rebounds (11.1), blocks (2.1), and steals (1.2). Noah also recorded a triple-double against Sixers on Feb. 28 with 23 points, 21 rebounds, and 11 blocks.
Second Place: Tony Allen
Most Valuable Player
LeBron James - In the middle of the season there was some debate to Kevin Durant being the MVP but once he lost his scoring title there is no question LeBron James will get his 4th MVP trophy. James is fourth in the league in scoring with 26.8 points and fifth in shooting percentage at .565 with also grabbing a career best 8.0 boards and dishing out 7.3 assists. He's led the Miami Heat to the best record in the NBA (66-16) and has them poised for another title run.
Second Place: Kevin Durant
Rookie Of The Year
Second Place: Anthony Davis
Most Improved
Paul George - When Indiana Pacers all-star Danny Granger was going to start the season on the injured list, Paul George was looked at to try and fill his shoes. And he didn't disappoint. George led the Pacers in scoring at 17.4 and steals with 1.8 a game. He was also second on the team in rebounds (7.6) and assists (4.1). George has the Pacers as a 3-seed in the East with a 49-32 record.
Second Place: Nikola Vucevic
Sixth Man
J.R. Smith - Always the first guy off the bench, J.R. Smith put up the best numbers of his career while helping the New York Knicks secure the 2-seed in the East. Smith played his most minutes in any season and led all NBA reserves with 18.1 points per game, good for second on his team. He was an integral part of the Knicks and will need to continue his great play if they hope to challenge the Heat in the playoffs.
Second Place: Jamal Crawford
Coach Of The Year
Second Place: Mike Woodson
Defensive Player Of The Year
Joakim Noah - This was a tough category but Joakim Noah was a defensive force for the Chicago Bulls helping them hold opponents to 92.9 points per game, good for third in the league. He posted career bests in rebounds (11.1), blocks (2.1), and steals (1.2). Noah also recorded a triple-double against Sixers on Feb. 28 with 23 points, 21 rebounds, and 11 blocks.
Second Place: Tony Allen
Most Valuable Player
LeBron James - In the middle of the season there was some debate to Kevin Durant being the MVP but once he lost his scoring title there is no question LeBron James will get his 4th MVP trophy. James is fourth in the league in scoring with 26.8 points and fifth in shooting percentage at .565 with also grabbing a career best 8.0 boards and dishing out 7.3 assists. He's led the Miami Heat to the best record in the NBA (66-16) and has them poised for another title run.
Second Place: Kevin Durant
Friday, February 8, 2013
Early NBA MVP Race
We are a little past the midway point in the NBA season and a
few weeks away from the All-Star break so it's time to take a look at
the MVP race. The last five years the debate has been dominated by
LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, with Derrick Rose winning two years ago and Kevin Durant's name coming into the mix last year.
Until a few weeks ago there were multiple guys that you could make an argument for to win the MVP. But injuries have taken Chris Paul and Tim Duncan out of the conversation. Paul has missed nine straight games and 12 out of the last 14 for the Clippers. Paul still ranks second in assists (9.7) and first in steals (2.56) but his Clippers have dropped six of the last nine he's been out. As for Duncan, he's missed six of the last eight for the Spurs due to a sore left knee and now a sprained ankle. Timmy has his best numbers over the past three seasons (17.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.7 blocks) but even with him out of the lineup the Spurs have been able to run their winning streak to eleven.
Let's first talk about Kobe and my question is where are all of his fans? The past five years, Kobe fans have been loud and proud saying that he is the best player in the league, but this year they've been quiet. That's mainly in part because his team is currently four games under .500 but his numbers are no different than any of the last five season. Actually you can make the argument that they are better because he has a higher field goal percentage at 46% and more assists at 5.3. But still nothing from the little mambas. And the argument about Kobe being better because he has more rings than other players is the worst argument to make. Rings don't make one player better than another. If that was the case here is a list of all the players better than Kobe (who has 5 rings) with how many rings they've won. Bill Russell (11), Sam Jones (10), John Havlicek (8), Tom Heinson (8), K.C. Jones (8), Tom Sanders (8), Robert Horry (7), Frank Ramsey (7), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar(6), Bob Cousy (6), Michael Jordan (6), Jim Loscutoff (6), Scottie Pippen (6).
Now on to the actual MVP candidates. Like I said earlier, Tim Duncan and Chris Paul have been playing great for title contending teams but their recent injuries have knocked them out of the top three. So, Carmelo Anthony has moved into that spot as he's guided the New York Knicks to a 31-16 record and second place in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks are one the surprise teams this year as they only managed to finish seventh in the East last season, Melo's first full season with the team. In the first game this year, NY smashed the defending champions Miami Heat 104-84 behind Anthony's 30 points and 10 boards. We weren't sure if it was a fluke but it became a trend as the Knicks have consistently won. Carmelo himself is having his best scoring season since 2006-07 with Denver as he is second in the league at 28.5. His field goal percentage is only at 45% but that is partly because he's taking 6.6 three pointers per game but he is shooting a career best 41.5% from distance.
Coming in at #2 is Kevin Durant. Durant is making the strongest case of his career for MVP as he's leading the league is scoring for the fourth straight season. He is undoubtedly the best scorer and offensive player in the league. This year he is on pace to be the only player ever to lead the league in scoring while shooting 50% from the field (51.7), 40% from three (42.2), and 90% from the free throw line (90.2). Aside from all that offense he's averaging 7.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and over a block and steal per game. All of this while leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to the second best record in the league at 37-12, only behind San Antonio. The fact of him putting up those offensive numbers and his team challenging for the best record in the league makes him a top candidate. By the end of the year, Durant could very well come out as the MVP and I would have no problem at all with it. His efficiency on the offensive end has been amazing to watch and he's improved his game every year he's been in the league. If he doesn't get it this year, he definitely will sometime in the near future.
My MVP right now though, is LeBron James. LeBron has won three of the last four MVP awards and if you thought his numbers were good in those years, this season they are even better. He's fourth in scoring at 26.8, pulling down a career best 8.2 rebounds, and dishing out 7.0 assists. He's also leading the league in Player Efficiency Rating while shooting 55.6% from the field and 40.8% from deep, both career highs. LeBron has steadily improved since joining the Heat but he does so many great things on the basketball court every night that we almost take it for granted. He's the only player in the league to lead his team in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals. He has the Heat in first place in the East at 32-14, positioned to make a run at a third straight NBA Finals appearance. One thing I know is that voters like to share the wealth, they don't like voting for the same guy every year. It's even less likely when Durant might do something for the first time in the history of the NBA. But a good question to ask your self, if we are voting for the Most Valuable Player, which team would still be contending if these players were taken off their respective squads? I would have to say OKC is more likely to still be in the mix. I'll definitely take Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, and Kevin Martin over Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and Ray Allen. It's really hard for me to make this call because Durant is my favorite player to watch and I'll never be a fan of LeBron after what he did to the Pistons in the 2007 playoffs. It's kind of like Michael Jordan, I'll never cheer for the guy but I totally respect his game. And ultimately, right now my vote goes to LBJ.
Until a few weeks ago there were multiple guys that you could make an argument for to win the MVP. But injuries have taken Chris Paul and Tim Duncan out of the conversation. Paul has missed nine straight games and 12 out of the last 14 for the Clippers. Paul still ranks second in assists (9.7) and first in steals (2.56) but his Clippers have dropped six of the last nine he's been out. As for Duncan, he's missed six of the last eight for the Spurs due to a sore left knee and now a sprained ankle. Timmy has his best numbers over the past three seasons (17.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.7 blocks) but even with him out of the lineup the Spurs have been able to run their winning streak to eleven.
Let's first talk about Kobe and my question is where are all of his fans? The past five years, Kobe fans have been loud and proud saying that he is the best player in the league, but this year they've been quiet. That's mainly in part because his team is currently four games under .500 but his numbers are no different than any of the last five season. Actually you can make the argument that they are better because he has a higher field goal percentage at 46% and more assists at 5.3. But still nothing from the little mambas. And the argument about Kobe being better because he has more rings than other players is the worst argument to make. Rings don't make one player better than another. If that was the case here is a list of all the players better than Kobe (who has 5 rings) with how many rings they've won. Bill Russell (11), Sam Jones (10), John Havlicek (8), Tom Heinson (8), K.C. Jones (8), Tom Sanders (8), Robert Horry (7), Frank Ramsey (7), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar(6), Bob Cousy (6), Michael Jordan (6), Jim Loscutoff (6), Scottie Pippen (6).
Now on to the actual MVP candidates. Like I said earlier, Tim Duncan and Chris Paul have been playing great for title contending teams but their recent injuries have knocked them out of the top three. So, Carmelo Anthony has moved into that spot as he's guided the New York Knicks to a 31-16 record and second place in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks are one the surprise teams this year as they only managed to finish seventh in the East last season, Melo's first full season with the team. In the first game this year, NY smashed the defending champions Miami Heat 104-84 behind Anthony's 30 points and 10 boards. We weren't sure if it was a fluke but it became a trend as the Knicks have consistently won. Carmelo himself is having his best scoring season since 2006-07 with Denver as he is second in the league at 28.5. His field goal percentage is only at 45% but that is partly because he's taking 6.6 three pointers per game but he is shooting a career best 41.5% from distance.
Coming in at #2 is Kevin Durant. Durant is making the strongest case of his career for MVP as he's leading the league is scoring for the fourth straight season. He is undoubtedly the best scorer and offensive player in the league. This year he is on pace to be the only player ever to lead the league in scoring while shooting 50% from the field (51.7), 40% from three (42.2), and 90% from the free throw line (90.2). Aside from all that offense he's averaging 7.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and over a block and steal per game. All of this while leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to the second best record in the league at 37-12, only behind San Antonio. The fact of him putting up those offensive numbers and his team challenging for the best record in the league makes him a top candidate. By the end of the year, Durant could very well come out as the MVP and I would have no problem at all with it. His efficiency on the offensive end has been amazing to watch and he's improved his game every year he's been in the league. If he doesn't get it this year, he definitely will sometime in the near future.
My MVP right now though, is LeBron James. LeBron has won three of the last four MVP awards and if you thought his numbers were good in those years, this season they are even better. He's fourth in scoring at 26.8, pulling down a career best 8.2 rebounds, and dishing out 7.0 assists. He's also leading the league in Player Efficiency Rating while shooting 55.6% from the field and 40.8% from deep, both career highs. LeBron has steadily improved since joining the Heat but he does so many great things on the basketball court every night that we almost take it for granted. He's the only player in the league to lead his team in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals. He has the Heat in first place in the East at 32-14, positioned to make a run at a third straight NBA Finals appearance. One thing I know is that voters like to share the wealth, they don't like voting for the same guy every year. It's even less likely when Durant might do something for the first time in the history of the NBA. But a good question to ask your self, if we are voting for the Most Valuable Player, which team would still be contending if these players were taken off their respective squads? I would have to say OKC is more likely to still be in the mix. I'll definitely take Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, and Kevin Martin over Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and Ray Allen. It's really hard for me to make this call because Durant is my favorite player to watch and I'll never be a fan of LeBron after what he did to the Pistons in the 2007 playoffs. It's kind of like Michael Jordan, I'll never cheer for the guy but I totally respect his game. And ultimately, right now my vote goes to LBJ.
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