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There remain only three months more to the end of the grinding 82 game NBA regular season and despite the dog fights we are going to witness in the coming weeks for the final few spots in the Playoffs, now is a safe time to start making predictions and debating on who deserves which season-ending honor the most.
These predictions are not going to be about only the MVP race, the most anticipated end of season award, but also the not so much talked about Coach of the Year and Most Improved Player of the Year awards.
So here are the set of players who are my picks and who I feel deserve recognition for their productive performances this season.
Most Valuable Player (MVP): – Kevin Durant
According to Laker legend Magic Johnson, the race for the MVP crown is over after Durant’s ridiculous performance of 51 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists including a game winning 3 in a double overtime victory over the Toronto Raptors.
The period Oklahoma City Thunder were without Russell Westbrook helped Durant develop his playmaking and passing game, the biggest gap considered between him and LeBron James, to become a better all-round player. Consistently over this period of games we have witnessed Durant taking lesser shots in quarters on either side of the halftime break, trying to get his teammates involved, before putting on his superman cape in the final 12 minutes.
A key aspect to this MVP race being one of the best we have seen in recent times apart from Durant’s passing game has been his better show on the defensive end of the floor. Silently, on PER rankings, his defensive numbers on small forwards (8.9 to 12.1) and power forwards (9.2 to 12.6) are better than those of James.
The reason behind Magic’s statement has a lot more to do than just Durant filling up the box score. LeBron James’ recent slump in form which has seen the defending champions Miami Heat drop 7 of their last 11 games has been a huge factor in the growing lead Durant has over the reigning 2-time MVP.
Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY): – Joakim Noah
Joakim Noah
The Bulls defense relies heavily on fundamentals such as playing ice or drop on screen and roll, denying middle penetration and allowing their opponents the least efficient shot in the game – the midrange jump shot. Noah has adopted all these defensive philosophies of Coach Thibodeau’s into his game, and now seems to be a perfect fit in the system.
His post play is another aspect of the game which gives Noah the upper hand over his opponents on most nights. He can shut down the opposing centers by fronting the post on most occasions or standing his ground when the opponents go to work.
For a 6 foot 11 inch forward, Noah is very athletic and possesses the unique skill of keeping smaller guards in front of him during a switch, making him one of the best, if not the best, pick and roll defender in the league when the Bulls play ice. His help defense, not given much credit, is often the reason for the opponents running back without scoring a bucket.
Most Improved Player of the Year (MIP): – Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis’ age is what helps him beat fellow contestants Lance Stephenson and Eric Bledsoe for the award. When his stat sheet from this season is compared to that of the previous one the scale of improvement in every category for the 20-year-old deserves the fame that presenting this award to him would give. There are obviously other factors which weigh in into Davis receiving the award.
While Roy Hibbert mans the paint and Paul George attracts all the MVP talk, its Stephenson who makes the Pacers click with his all-round performances. His sensational play has seen him rack up the most number of triple doubles this season with 4 while shooting a career high percentage of 49.2 and 35 from the field and beyond the arc respectively.
Davis became a frontrunner for this award with a surge late in this season, post the All-Star break. However, a player who seemed to be the favorite in the initial weeks of the season was Eric Bledsoe and if it wasn’t for his knee injury mid-way through the season he would still be the front runner for the Most Improved Player honors this season.
Part 2 will consist of the analysis for my picks for Sixth Man of the Year, Rookie of the Year and the Coach of the Year.
