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NBA Award Watch: Fiz is rocking in Memphis

By John Buhler

Nov 14, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Memphis Grizzlies head coach David Fizdale attempts to get a referee
Nov 14, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Memphis Grizzlies head coach David Fizdale attempts to get a referee /
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It’s Thanksgiving weekend in the United States of America. Here are the front-runners for the NBA end of season awards at Thanksgiving.

The 2016-17 NBA season is roughly a month in the books. We’ve seen some things that validate the things we thought we knew. Then there have been some things we still can’t quite get our heads around. These sort of conundrums have more to do with teams rather than individuals.

That is in part because we have seen some players and coaches elevate their teams to new heights in the early part of the season. Entering Thanksgiving, here are the front-runners for the six major NBA awards on the week’s NBA Award Watch.

November 21, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) controls the ball against the Toronto Raptors during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
November 21, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) controls the ball against the Toronto Raptors during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

Most Valuable Player: Chris Paul

The Los Angeles Clippers have the best record in the NBA at 13-2. They also have the best player of the 2016-17 NBA season in perennial All-NBA point guard Chris Paul. He’s been elite for a long time, but we are seeing the best that Paul has to offer with the 2016-17 Clippers.

He is averaging 18.4 points per game, 8.8 assists per game, and a league-best 2.9 steals per game. Paul is shooting .465 from the field, .436 from three, and .875 from the charity stripe.

He is leading in the NBA in Win Shares (3.5) and Win Shares per 48 (.360). Paul’s Offensive Box Plus-Minus of 10.1 is ridiculous and so is his Defensive Box Plus/Minus of 3.6, giving him a Box Plus/Minus of 13.7 and a Value Over Replacement Player of 1.8.

In short, Paul is the floor general on the team in the NBA with the best record at Thanksgiving. The Golden State Warriors’ stars will likely split their votes. Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and Anthony Davis won’t win 50 games this season to honestly enter the MVP conversation.

Giving it to LeBron James is too easy. Paul is earning his chance to be an NBA MVP for the first time with his ply during the first month of the NBA season.

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