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Mid-Season NBA Awards

Recently, the NBA announced that they renamed the majority of the awards for individual players in honor of different legends. With the NBA season months underway, it’s time to crown the players who I believe have played up to the standards of these awards.

Michael Jordan MVP Award: Nikola Jokic

While Jokic, the reigning back-to-back MVP, will likely not receive the award no matter what due to the media’s tendency to look for a new recipient, he certainly has played like the MVP so far. With his second and third options Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. returning, Jokic has decreased the scoring volume in favor of record-breaking efficiency and outstanding assist numbers. This year, he’s averaging 25.2 PPG, 10.9 RPG, and 9.0 APG, all on an unbelievable 69.2 TS% (11.7% above league average, to give an idea of how efficient he has been). Giving the award to the same player three years in a row may be boring, but Jokic has clearly played like an MVP. On top of all of that, he has led the Nuggets to the third seed in the West, an impressive feat considering the depth and talent of the Western Conference.

Hakeem Olajuwon Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony Davis

Davis has been the Lakers’ best player this year, and much of that is due to his defense. Coming into this season, doubts on the ability of Davis were at an all-time high, but AD has silenced the critics with his play this year. On defense, he looks reminiscent of the New Orleans and 2020 Los Angeles versions of himself that dominated the defensive side of the ball because of his generational combination of versatility, help defense, and rim protection. Davis will likely not be the runaway winner of this award, as he has just suffered an injury that has slated him to miss at least a month of basketball. Still, up to this point, he has looked like the clear best defender in the sport. Averaging 1.3 steals and 2.1 blocks per contest, Davis boasts an impressive defensive rating of 105.8. This stat highlights his defensive ability even more when looking at the context of it, as defensive rating is largely influenced by a player’s team, and the Lakers were not built for defense as evidenced by their collective 112.5 defensive rating.

Wilt Chamberlain Rookie of the Year: Paolo Banchero

Not much needs to be said about this pick. With Chet Holmgren, the #2 pick, suffering a season-ending injury before the season even started in an already weak class, Banchero was the ROTY favorite from day one. However, that statement is not meant to take away from Banchero’s excellence this year. The Duke product is averaging a nice 22.0 PPG, 6.8 RPG, and 3.9 APG this year on 55.9 TS%. While the stats themselves are enough to crown Paolo already, I encourage every NBA fan to catch a Magic game so that they can see just how good Paolo is. When watching him and how he plays, there is a clear comparison: LeBron James. Banchero has not only established himself as the runaway Rookie of the Year, but he has also made a case to be a fringe All-Star. With that being said, the NBA could just give him the award right now and face little criticism from the rest of the league.

John Havlicek Sixth Man of the Year: Malcolm Brogdon

Brogdon went from a high-caliber starting point guard on the Pacers to the offensive engine of the Celtics’ bench, and the transition has been seamless for him. This year, Brogdon is averaging a respectable 13.7 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 3.8 APG, all on an efficient 61.9 TS%. More importantly, Brogdon has filled an important hole on this Celtics team, which is his role as an extra ball handler and playmaker that can pressure opposing defenses. Brogdon’s contributions have helped the Celtics steamroll the NBA on their way to a league best 23-10 record, and for that, he has more than earned the Sixth Man of the Year title.

George Mikan Most Improved Player: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

SGA is currently the runaway favorite on virtually all betting platforms to win this award, and it’s for good reason. Last year, Shai was a fringe All-Star candidate averaging 24.5 PPG, 5.9 APG, and 5.0 RPG on 55.7 TS%. This year, the Kentucky product has been playing like a top ten player, averaging 31.6 PPG, 5.7 APG, and 4.8 RPG on a much improved 62.0 TS%. And although Shai is on a rebuilding Thunder squad, he’s playing at such a high-level to the point where OKC can’t lose all their games even if they were trying. For a team that many “experts” thought were going to be at the bottom of the standings, the Thunder have managed a respectable 14-19 record, and that’s mostly due to the play of SGA. He’s improved in all facets of his game, most notably his scoring, efficiency, and defense. The Most Improved Player would be the cherry on top for the season Shai has had, as he will surely receive an All-Star nod as well as an All-NBA selection.

Jerry West Clutch Player of the Year: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

On top of being the Most Improved Player, I have Shai taking home more hardware as this year’s Clutch Player of the Year. Honestly, I think the award itself is pointless and will just be given to a player who has a good reputation in the media as a “clutch player.” However, if I did have to award it to someone, it would be SGA. Shai is currently the league’s leader in total clutch points, and sixth in clutch points per game. He also has hit two game-winning buzzer-beating shots so far, which in my opinion puts him ahead of other competitors. DeMar Derozan is also a strong candidate for the award, averaging more clutch points per game than Shai, and likely has a better shot at winning it due to his reputation.

Concluding Thoughts

The league is at an all-time high level of talent, and picking winners for these awards was not easy. In reality, most of the candidates I picked will likely not win their respective awards at the end of the year; however, every player listed here is deserving in their own way.

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Rankings

Who is the Third Best Point Guard in the NBA?

Stephen Curry and Luka Doncic have solidifed themseslves as the top two point guards in the NBA with their stellar play over the last few years. However, there seems to not be this same consensus over who the third best point guard is. With a week of the NBA season underway, I’ll be going over five players who I believe to be strong candidates for this title.

Damian Lillard

Stats as of 11/5: 31.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 4.6 apg, 67.1% ts

Lillard disappointed many fans last season as he only played half the season due to a lingering abdominal injury and looked mediocre in those games. This year, Lillard looks like the previous version of himself that was viewed as the consensus second best point guard in the league. He’s gotten off to a firey start, leading the Blazers to a 4-1 record (they were undefeated before he left their last game early due to injury.) While the efficiency will likely drop, Lillard has proven that his time dominating the league isn’t close to being over. He remains one of the league’s best scorers and playmakers and will likely find himself in MVP conversations if he can muster a respectable record with this Blazers roster.

James Harden

stats as of 11/5: 22.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 10.0 apg, 59.1% ts

Similar to Dame, Harden is another veteran superstar who is returning to his standards of play after an injury-riddled season. Harden is not the 35 PPG scorer he was in Houston, but he’s looking like the elite playmaker he was in his first year in Brooklyn. After having a full offseason to heal his hamstring, there’s a night and day difference between his quickness this season and last season. Harden’s also added the mid-range shot to his arsenal this season, an element that he lost in Houston. Harden plays with so much control and poise, and it feels like every time he has the ball, he creates a good look. This year, Harden has proven to be an efficient secondary scoring option while looking like one of the best guards when it comes to actually running an offense.

Trae Young

Stats as of 11/5: 28.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 9.4 apg, 52.6% ts

There’s not much to be said about Trae Young that hasn’t already been said. Trae’s stats are down across the board this year, most notably in efficiency, but it is to be expected as he adjusts to playing alongisde Dejounte Murray, another lead guard. By himself, he can make a team into an elite offensive team, being one of the best scorers and playmakers in the league. The question with Trae, however, has always been his defense. While bad guard defense can be hidden, Trae’s defense is such a detriment to the point where it drags down his team signficantly, and that has not changed much this year. If Trae can take the leap on defense and become a normal below-average defender, this spot may comfortably be his.

Ja Morant

stats as of 11/5: 29.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 7.0 apg, 63.2 ts%

Ja has picked up where he left off last season, continuing to play at an MVP level for this Grizzlies team that’s without arguably their second-best player. Ja has also made noticeable improvements in many of the weak areas of his game, most noticeably his three-point shooting. Ja is shooting a blazing 50.0% from three this year. That’s obviously going to come back to earth, but if Ja can shoot above 37% this year, he becomes even more deadly. Ja is one of the best scorers in the league, getting into the paint whenever he wants and finishing at an absurdly high rate. He combines this rim-pressure with an amazing ability to pass the ball, making him both one of the best scorers in the league as well as one of the best playmakers. Don’t be surprised to see him in the running for MVP if the Grizzlies can replicate their regular-season success from last year.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

stats as of 11/5: 30.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 5.9 APG, 62.5% ts

Shai being on this list may be a surprise to some, but to those that have watched him over the past two years, this is just the caliber of player he is. Similar to Ja, Shai is one of the best scorers in the league who can get to the paint whenever he wants. Shai has also constantly been improving his passing and decision-making ability, which he uses to supplement the defensive attention he gets, making him one of the best playmakers in the league as well. What makes Shai’s statline even more impressive is his situation, as this young Thunder team that struggles in shooting the ball is not exactly built for his needs. Even with this, Shai is far from a “good stats, bad team” player that some people make him out to be. He’s lead this young Thunder team to a .500 record while other tanking teams are at the bottom of their conferences. Shai’s also taken a huge leap on the defensive end this year, being laser-focused and finally using his long wingspan to become a borderline lockdown defender. Shai has been playing at an MVP level so far, and he should add some accolades under his belt this year.

Conclusion

The huge number of players in the second tier of point guards this season is truly astounding. All five of these players each have a solid argument for being the third best point guard in the league, and while I didn’t rank them, I truly believe there is no wrong way to rank them and that I myself couldn’t come to a conclusion on how to go about that.

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Outlooks

The “Almost Contender” Tier of NBA Teams

The 2022-2023 NBA season will commence in a week, and at this point most teams have solidifed their core roster that they’ll roll into the season with.

Although this year will be a race to the bottom for many teams, as Victor Wembanyama continues to be touted as one of the greatest prospects we’ve ever seen, the upper echelon of the NBA will still look to capitalize on their championship window.

Today I’ll be looking at the teams I believe to be second-tier NBA teams. Every team on this list will have a great year, however, I don’t believe any team on this list has a real shot of winning the championship.

Honorable Mention: Memphis Grizzlies

Ja Morant and the Grizzlies shocked the world last year, and they will have the same roster minus DeAnthony Melton going into this season. I don’t believe they’ll be in this tier of teams, however, due to the absence of Jaren Jackson Jr. combined with the fact that many similar caliber teams have made massive upgrades.

New Orleans Pelicans

Jeff Haynes-Getty Images

The Pelicans gave the Phoenix Suns, the best team in the league last year record-wise, a real run for their money in the first round last year. Brandon Ingram cemented himself as a top-25 player, C.J. McCollum proved to be a great veteran addition and secondary star, Jonas Valanciunis played at an All-Star level for a bit, and Herb Jones proved to be the steal of the draft. This year, the Pelicans will add their best player, Zion Williamson to that group of guys.

The Pelicans are a force to be reckoned with that can give any contender a scare in a Playoff series, but I don’t think they have enough experience as a unit. In addition, their PG position seems to be in the air, and I don’t think a rookie Dyson Daniels can be the guy just yet.

Cleveland Cavaliers

NBA

The Cavaliers made one of the biggest splashes this offseason, trading for three-time All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell. Cleveland has one of, if not the best backcourt in the league with Mitchell slotting in next to All-Star Darius Garland. The Cavs also have one of the best defensive front courts in the league, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, to cover the defensive weaknesses of their backcourt.

Cleveland may fall short this season due to the age and inexperience of their core, but they have built a team they can be confident in for the future.

Phoenix Suns

Christian Petersen-Getty Images

Everything that could go wrong for the Phoenix Suns in the last year has gone wrong. Going into the playoffs with the best record in the NBA, they lost in an embarrassing blowout at home in the second round. Their owner, Robert Sarver, was involved in a massive scandal over racist and sexist behavior. On top of all of that, their 2018 number one pick, Deandre Ayton, returns as a less-than-satisfied employee following multiple trade rumors.

Regardless of that, this Suns team finished with the best record last year and made the NBA Finals the year before. They will likely drop off, but still have stars Devin Booker and Chris Paul along with a deep supporting cast coached by one of the best coaches in the game, Monty Williams.

Brooklyn Nets

Sports Illustrated

Brooklyn is another team that has had a bumpy past year. James Harden, who they mortgaged their entire future for, requested a trade out after a year in Brooklyn; the player Brooklyn got in return, Ben Simmons, has not touched an NBA court in over a year. Kyrie Irving sat the majority of the season out over his protests against vaccine mandates, causing major strife within the locker room. Kevin Durant, their best player, returns to the team after a dud in the playoffs and a dramatic trade saga.

Although Brooklyn is obviously not the most conventional team, they deserve a spot on this list purely due to their sheer starpower. Kevin Durant is still in his glory days and one of the best players in the league, and Kyrie remains a top 15 player in the game. Ben Simmons, although a controversial player, is one of the league’s best defenders and offers strong tertiary creation for the squad.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Gary A. Vasquez-USA Today

My full thoughts on the Timberwolves can be found here. I might be too high on them, but I view them as a well-oiled machine that will have three stars next year.

I expect the Wolves to fall short in the Playoffs due to their youth, but they’ve built a team that I think will dominate the regular season.

Conclusion

Although I said that I don’t expect any team on here to win it all this year, surprises happen all the time, and a team here may just shock the world.

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Outlooks

Minnesota Timberwolves: Contenders or Pretenders?

The Minnesota Timberwolves made one of the most controversial offseason moves, trading a haul of draft capital and rotational pieces for the perennial Defensive Player of the Year, Rudy Gobert. I’ll be going over some key factors for their success this season and giving my overall outlook on the Timberwolves.

How Does Rudy Gobert Impact the Team?

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

By himself, Gobert consistently elevated a poor defensive Jazz team to a top ten defense through his generational rim protecting. With a Gobert-anchored defense surrounded by defensive specialists like Jaden McDaniels and Kyle Anderson, the Timberwolves should finish with a top five defense. The presence of Gobert will also pay dividends for Minnesota’s original star, Karl-Anthony Towns. With Gobert’s rim protection covering many of Towns defensive mistakes, KAT can exert more of his energy on offense, where he excels. On offense, Gobert adds an elite rim-rolling threat that should pair nicely with the playmaking of D’Angelo Russell in the pick-and-roll. The Russell-Gobert pick-and-roll as a supplement to the offensive superstardom of KAT and Anthony Edwards leads me to believe that the Timberwolves should also be one of the best offensive teams in the league.

An Anthony Edwards Breakout?

Nick Wosika-USA Today Sports

Anthony Edwards has been a budding star since the second half of his rookie season, and he may be the x-factor in the Timberwolves championship hunt. In his first two years, Ant has already proven why analysts were enamored by his potential and why the Timberwolves took him number one. Edwards has an incredible combination of scoring skill, measurements, and athleticism that makes me confident he will be leading this teams offense, whether next year or the year after. Going into his third year, the time where many talented guards make the superstar leap, Ant is expected to fully unlock his potential, putting all his valuable traits together and shedding off some of his inefficiencies and inconsistencies. Ant may have given the world a preview of next year in the Timberwolves first round series against Memphis, as he led the Timberwolves with 25.2 PPG, 4.2 RPG, and 3.0 APG on 46/40/82 splits wihle also playing lockdown defense on Ja Morant. If Ant takes a third year leap similar to the likes of Ja, another young athletic guard, he will become the leader and best player on the Timberwolves, an impressive feat considering that two perennial All-Stars are on the roster. An improved Anthony Edwards combined with the offensive brilliance of Karl-Anthony Towns may just be too much for opposing defenses to handle.

The Rest of the Team

Logan Riely-Getty Images

Not much more needs to be said about Karl-Anthony Towns that isn’t already known. KAT is one of the best offensive players in the league, a 7-foot sniper who can create for himself and hit step-back threes. While KAT does struggle on defense, the addition of Gobert will take so much defensive burden off an offensive specialist like him. D’Angelo Russell is another core player for this Timberwolves team who will be one of the best tertiary creators in the NBA and should reap the benefits of Rudy Gobert in the pick-in-roll, and possibly could be running some old-school Clippers style horns sets with KAT and Gobert. Jaden McDaniels will also be key to this team, as the teams best point-of-attack defender who can legitimately defend 1-4. As for the bench, Minnesota has one of the better second units in the league. Naz Reid is one of the best backup bigs in the league and will provide productive minutes when Gobert is off the court. Kyle Anderson was a great offseason addition, and adds much needed perimeter defense to the team. Newly added Austin Rivers will also fulfill this need off the bench when needed. I’m hoping that more minutes will come for Jaylen Nowell and Jordan McLaughlin as well; both players are solid rotational pieces. And even with the questionable decisions he made these playoffs, I still believe Chris Finch is a great coach who will maximize his roster this upcoming season.

Outlook and Predictions

I’m very bullish on this Timberwolves team, especially compared to the average NBA fan. I believe they will be on the high end of 50 wins this year, even possibly getting the top seed in the difficult Western Conference. In the playoffs, I’m expecting the Timberwolves to fall short in the later rounds due to the battle-tested teams like the Warriors and Clippers having more experience. All in all, I think that Minnesota will have no regrets trading for Gobert and can expect to enjoy loads of success the next four or so years, as they have favorable team control over their new big three.