The NBA’s 75th anniversary season starts with a delicious doubleheader Tuesday night: Nets at Bucks followed by Warriors at Lakers.
To make the wait move a little faster, let’s open the floor for some discussion about the major award races. Before I share a slew of big-picture predictions in my Tuesday newsletter extravaganza, here are my picks for this season’s six primary pieces of individual hardware to get the discussion flowing.
Please remember to subscribe to my newsletter if you haven’t already (we offer both paid and free versions) and let me know in the thread if you agree or disagree with my choices for …
Based on Cerebro's RAM (overall performance metric) and the team's winning percentage, here are some of the top MVP candidates through the first week+ of the season!
Hi Marc! Any reason you seem lower on OG for most improved than some here? Seems like a decent shot, especially with usage bump to start the year with no Siakam and no Lowry now.
I can't see Rudy winning DPOY again. It will be similar to Giannis this past year where it almost doesn't matter what you do - the narrative trumps all. If Giannis doesn't win MVP he most likely wins DPOY. Durant has a great shot at MVP if he stays healthy.
My concern with Giannis is that he'll miss a bunch of games due to "load management," coming off the knee injury and a Finals run that ended just 3 months ago.
Based on Cerebro's RAM (overall performance metric) and the team's winning percentage, here are some of the top MVP candidates through the first week+ of the season!
Player - RAM
1. Joker - 1053.3
2. Jimmy Butler - 937.9
3. Steph Curry - 917.0
https://twitter.com/CerebroSports
MVP: Giannis
ROY: Giddey
COY: Snyder
6th man: Herro
MIP: JJJ
DPOY: Giannis
MVP - KD
ROTY - Jalen Green
DPOY - Gobert
6 man - Jordan Clarkson
MIP - Kevin Porter Jr.
COY - Rick Carlisle
MVP - Luka
ROTY - Cade
DPOTY - Embid
6 MOTY - Lou Will
MIP - Mo Bamba
Coach - Nash
Mvp - Luka
ROTY- Jalen Green
DPOTY- Anthony Davis
6MOTY-Derrick Rose
MIP- Talen Horton Tucker
Coach - Nate Mcmillin
MVP- Steph
ROTY- Green
DPOY- Bam
6MOY- Ingles
MIP: KPJ
Coach: Bud
Mvp: Doncic
Roty: Jalen Suggs
Coach: Nash
Sixth: Ingles
Mip: Kevin Porter Jr.
Dpoy: Giannis
MVP- Steph
ROTY- Cade
DPOY- Giannis
6MOY- Clarkson
MIP- Poole
COTY- Nate McMillin
MVP- Joel Embiid
ROTY- Jalen Green
DPOY- Draymond Green
6MOY- Jalen Brunson
MIP- Jordan Poole
COTY- Doc Rivers
MVP - Giannis Antetokounmpo
DPOY - Rudy Gobert
6MOY - Jordan Clarkson
MIP - Michael Porter Jr.
ROY - Cade Cunningham
COY - Erik Spoelstra
MVP- Giannis ROTY- Josh Giddy MIP- Poole DPOY- Bam COTY - Jason Kidd
I VERY much agree about Patty being 6th man. He had a great Olympics and I think that'll continue through the NBA season. Really excited for him.
MVP: Durant
Rookie: Evan Mobley
Coach: Quin Snyder (finally)
6th man: Jordan Clarkson
MIP: Ayton
DPOY: Jrue Holiday
MVP: James Harden
Rookie of the Year: Jalen Green
Coach of the Year: Steve Nash
Sixth Man Award: Jalen Brunson
Most Improved Player: Mo Bamba
Defensive Player of the Year: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Hi Marc! Any reason you seem lower on OG for most improved than some here? Seems like a decent shot, especially with usage bump to start the year with no Siakam and no Lowry now.
Yep! Your picks a very feasibles!!
Doubt Giannis is going to win another mvp unless he averages close to 35 and has the number 1 seed. Can’t just average his usual 28
MVP: K.Durant (Brooklyn)
Rookie of the Year: J.Green (Houston)
Coach of the Year: N.McMillan (Atlanta)
Sixth Man Award: P.Mills (Brooklyn)
Most Improved Player: L.Ball (Chicago)
Defensive Player of the Year: G.Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee)
MVP: Giannis
DPOY: Bam
MIP: Kevin Porter Jr
ROY: Evan Mobley
COY: Nash
6man: Jordan Clarkson
MVP Giannis
ROY Cade
COY Chris Finch
6MOY Clarkson
MIP OG Anunoby
DPOY AD
MVP: Luka Doncic (DAL)
Rookie of the Year: Jalen Green (HOU)
Coach of the Year: Steve Nash (BKN)
Sixth Man: Dennis Schroder (BOS)
Most Improved Player: Darius Garland (CLE)
Defensive Player of the Year: Jrue Holiday (MIL)
MVP: Kevin Durant (BKN)
ROTY: Jalen Green (HOU)
COTY: James Borrego (CHO)
6MOY: Tyler Herro (MIA)
MIP: Michael Porter, Jr. (DEN)
DPOY: Matisse Thybulle (PHI)
MVP Dame
ROY Green
COY Nate
6MOY Caruso
MIP Poole
DPOY Dray
MVP: Luka Doncic (DAL)
ROY: Evan Mobley (CLE)
COTY: Nate McMillan (ATL)
6MOY: Miles Bridges (CHO)
MIP: Terance Mann (LAC)
DPOY: Mattise Thybulle (PHI)
MVP: James Harden (Brooklyn)
Rookie of the Year: Jalen Suggs (Orlando)
Coach of the Year: Nate McMillan (Atlanta)
Sixth Man Award: Dennis Schroder (Boston)
Most Improved Player: MPJ (Denver)
Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony Davis (Lakers)
MVP Doncic
ROY Giddey
COY Nash
6M Herro
MIP Poole
DPoY Bam
MVP - Curry
ROTY-Green
COTY-Snyder
6MOY-Herro
MIP-Sexton
DPOY-Gobert
MVP: Steph
ROY: Jalen Green
COY: Spolstra
6MOY: DRose if he comes off the bench otherwise Clarkson
MIP: Anunoby
DPOY: Gobert
MVP - Giannis
ROTY - Cade
COTY - Billy Donovan
6MOY: Tyler Herro
MIP - OG Anunoby
DPOY - Giannis/Bam Adebayo (In my opinion Gobert will have voter fatigue)
MVP: Doncic
ROY: Sengun
COY: Donovan
6MOY: Herro
MIP: JJJ
DPOY: Bam
MVP - Doncic
ROTY - Barnes
COTY - Udoka
6M - Patty Mills
MIP - Keldon Johnson
DPOY - Thybulle (contingent on Simmons being traded I guess)
MVP: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee)
Rookie of the Year: Jalen Green (Houston)
Coach of the Year: Tyrone Lue(Los Angeles)
Sixth Man Award: Coby White (Chicago)
Most Improved Player: Jordan Poole (Golden State)
Defensive Player of the Year: Bam Adebayo (Miami)
MVP: Embiid
ROY: Cade
COY: McMillan
6MOY: Rose
MIP: MPJ
DPOY: Giannis
MVP: Durant
ROY: Jalen Green
Coach: Udoka
6th Man: Clarkson
MIP: Quickley
DPOTY: Anthony Davis
For some longshot picks, I like Tatum for MVP and either Zach LaVine or OG Anunoby for MIP.
I can't see Rudy winning DPOY again. It will be similar to Giannis this past year where it almost doesn't matter what you do - the narrative trumps all. If Giannis doesn't win MVP he most likely wins DPOY. Durant has a great shot at MVP if he stays healthy.
MVP: Kevin Durant
ROY: Jalen Green
COTY: Ime Udoka
Sixth Man: Patty Mills
MIP: Michael Porter Jr
DPOY: Rudy Gobert
MVP Steph
ROY Mobley
COY Ime Udoka
6th Man award Dennis Schroeder
Most Improved Jarren Jackson Jr
DPOY Anthony Davis
My concern with Giannis is that he'll miss a bunch of games due to "load management," coming off the knee injury and a Finals run that ended just 3 months ago.