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!
I think that's the big question. I'll not be shocked if the Heat somehow exceed all expectations, especially with all the drama in Philly and the Kyrie situation. So, let me say a top3 seed? Would that be enouph for Spoelstra? I'm not sure, but's that my bet.
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.
Huge OG fan. Should have made it cleared in my previous comment that I was referring to Tatum for MVP and LaVine for MIP as the longshots. LaVine is already too accomplished for MIP contention.
I like Green, but I think Sengun is going to dominate. Also think Porter is going to be too much of an alpha that it might take some of the Green usage
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.
MPJ was late in the lottery, but still a lottery pick. I try to avoid considering recent former lottery picks for MIP. They're supposed to develop into stars.
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.
My rationale is that, if the Bucks post a better regular-season record than the Nets, it will help Giannis' campaign tremendously. He's also gonna push to play more than some of his MVP rivals.
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
LouWill will NOT win another Sixth Man crown. He'll have to settle for the three he has already won.
Mvp - Luka
ROTY- Jalen Green
DPOTY- Anthony Davis
6MOTY-Derrick Rose
MIP- Talen Horton Tucker
Coach - Nate Mcmillin
You guys got me thinking about AD for DPOY ...
MVP- Steph
ROTY- Green
DPOY- Bam
6MOY- Ingles
MIP: KPJ
Coach: Bud
Bam is another increasingly popular DPOY nominee. Gobert will face more comp than usual.
Mvp: Doncic
Roty: Jalen Suggs
Coach: Nash
Sixth: Ingles
Mip: Kevin Porter Jr.
Dpoy: Giannis
I think Nash will have a decent COY shot if the Nets win the East given how much he has to manage on a daily basis.
MVP- Steph
ROTY- Cade
DPOY- Giannis
6MOY- Clarkson
MIP- Poole
COTY- Nate McMillin
Poole for MIP ... I actually expected more of us to pick him.
MVP- Joel Embiid
ROTY- Jalen Green
DPOY- Draymond Green
6MOY- Jalen Brunson
MIP- Jordan Poole
COTY- Doc Rivers
Ben Simmons?
MVP - Giannis Antetokounmpo
DPOY - Rudy Gobert
6MOY - Jordan Clarkson
MIP - Michael Porter Jr.
ROY - Cade Cunningham
COY - Erik Spoelstra
Where does Miami have to finish in the East for Spo to win COY?
I think that's the big question. I'll not be shocked if the Heat somehow exceed all expectations, especially with all the drama in Philly and the Kyrie situation. So, let me say a top3 seed? Would that be enouph for Spoelstra? I'm not sure, but's that my bet.
MVP- Giannis ROTY- Josh Giddy MIP- Poole DPOY- Bam COTY - Jason Kidd
6MOTY- Rose
Was tempted to be bolder and echo your Giddey pick for ROY ... but OKC's projected last-place finish in the West stopped me.
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.
Of course, as you can see by scrolling through the thread, there is lots of competition for the Sixth Man Award.
MVP: Durant
Rookie: Evan Mobley
Coach: Quin Snyder (finally)
6th man: Jordan Clarkson
MIP: Ayton
DPOY: Jrue Holiday
If the Jazz win the West again ... you just might be right on Quin.
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
Brunson! As a fellow lefty who resides in Dallas, I enjoy being able to watch him play so often.
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.
Huge OG fan. Should have made it cleared in my previous comment that I was referring to Tatum for MVP and LaVine for MIP as the longshots. LaVine is already too accomplished for MIP contention.
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
I repeat: If Milwaukee wins the East over Brooklyn, he will have a STRONG case.
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)
Closest agreement to my picks? I think your Lonzo tout for MIP is the only difference.
MVP: Giannis
DPOY: Bam
MIP: Kevin Porter Jr
ROY: Evan Mobley
COY: Nash
6man: Jordan Clarkson
Jalen Green, Sengun and now Kevin Porter Jr. ... Houston getting many shoutouts in this thread.
MVP Giannis
ROY Cade
COY Chris Finch
6MOY Clarkson
MIP OG Anunoby
DPOY AD
A Finch nomination for COY! Bold and original ...
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)
What a redemption story it would be if Schroder could mount a serious Sixth Man campaign.
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)
Borrego and Thybulle ... excellent long-shot nominees.
MVP Dame
ROY Green
COY Nate
6MOY Caruso
MIP Poole
DPOY Dray
The Blazers gonna win 50+ games? Dame is BOLD for MVP.
I wanted to go a little outside the box for mvp and 6moy but the rest i think are actually possible
MVP: Luka Doncic (DAL)
ROY: Evan Mobley (CLE)
COTY: Nate McMillan (ATL)
6MOY: Miles Bridges (CHO)
MIP: Terance Mann (LAC)
DPOY: Mattise Thybulle (PHI)
Mobley might end up being the best player in his class. Not sure he can win ROY, though.
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)
Harden and Durant are both top candidates. Both it's also unclear how much they will encroach on each other's MVP campaigns.
MVP Doncic
ROY Giddey
COY Nash
6M Herro
MIP Poole
DPoY Bam
If the Mavs crack the 50-win club, Luka's MVP odds skyrocket. We know he will have the numbers.
MVP - Curry
ROTY-Green
COTY-Snyder
6MOY-Herro
MIP-Sexton
DPOY-Gobert
Steph will for sure be an MVP factor ...
Thought about Herro for Sixth Man, too. Thought about a lot of candidates there, clearly.
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)
You might be right on Rudy. He's just such a standout defensively that I couldn't decide who else to vote for.
Think Bam could leap into the conversation? He was 4th last year right behind Draymond.
MVP: Doncic
ROY: Sengun
COY: Donovan
6MOY: Herro
MIP: JJJ
DPOY: Bam
Sengun! Over his teammate Jalen Green?
I like Green, but I think Sengun is going to dominate. Also think Porter is going to be too much of an alpha that it might take some of the Green usage
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)
Coby White was another enticing Sixth Man choice.
No worries about the shoulder?
MVP: Embiid
ROY: Cade
COY: McMillan
6MOY: Rose
MIP: MPJ
DPOY: Giannis
Thought about Rose for Sixth Man as well. Cade and Jalen Green ... ROY coinflip.
MVP: Durant
ROY: Jalen Green
Coach: Udoka
6th Man: Clarkson
MIP: Quickley
DPOTY: Anthony Davis
Knicks fan? Or just a Quickley fan?
For some longshot picks, I like Tatum for MVP and either Zach LaVine or OG Anunoby for MIP.
Longshots indeed. Anunoby best shot of the three ...
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.
People are down on the Jazz. So that will help Rudy's DPOY cause if Utah continues to play top-flight D.
MVP: Kevin Durant
ROY: Jalen Green
COTY: Ime Udoka
Sixth Man: Patty Mills
MIP: Michael Porter Jr
DPOY: Rudy Gobert
MPJ was late in the lottery, but still a lottery pick. I try to avoid considering recent former lottery picks for MIP. They're supposed to develop into stars.
MVP Steph
ROY Mobley
COY Ime Udoka
6th Man award Dennis Schroeder
Most Improved Jarren Jackson Jr
DPOY Anthony Davis
AD will stay healthy enough to win DPOY? JJJ was drafted WAY too high to be a MIP contender.
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.
My rationale is that, if the Bucks post a better regular-season record than the Nets, it will help Giannis' campaign tremendously. He's also gonna push to play more than some of his MVP rivals.