It’s about mid-season in the NBA. Let’s take some stock of the awards races.
Best Player
Davis has regressed recently, but earlier in the year he was putting up a higher PER than anyone in NBA history. He’s dropped way down that list to 8th but he is still destroying the league and, Jesus Tapdancing Christ, he is only 21.
His Per 36: 24.2P, 10.5R, 2.9B, 1.7A, 1.5S.
MVP
As usual, we will do our silly little exercise where we remove the team’s MVP by WS -and not replace him! – and see what happens:
- The Warriors without Curry: 24-14, they would get the 8th seed.
- The Hawks without Teague: 28-18, they would be fine.
- The Blazers without Lillard: 23-18, they would be fighting for the 8th seed but might get it depending on the breaks.
- The Grizzlies without Gasol: 24-16, again fighting for that 8th seed.
- The Mavs without Chandler: 22-19, wouldn’t make it as it stands.
- The Rockets without Harden: 20-21, not only would they not make it but they would have a losing record. I think we have a winner!
- Per 36: 26.5P, 6.7A, 1.9S, 5.7R, .8B
- 26.6 PER (4th), .602 TS% (16th), 8.4 WS (1st)
Defensive Player of the Year – Big
Tim Duncan! At 38! Duncan is tied for first in defensive box plus minus – I can’t explain it, so just go here – and he is second in defensive rating.
Defensive Player of the Year – Guard
Tony Allen, as always.
(11th in defensive rating, behind 9 forwards and centres and two guards who are up there because of their strong team defense; 4th in DBPM behind centres and forwards).
Rookie of the Year
Nikolai Mirotic:
- Per 36: 15.8P, 9.7R, 1.4B, 2.2A, 1.2S
- 17.2 PER, .568 TS%, 2.8 WS
Sixth Man