NBA Awards Watch: The Budenholzer-Kerr conundrum

6th Man of the Year

1. Lou Williams, Toronto Raptors – The Raptors have been struggling a bit in recent weeks, but Williams continues to provide enough to keep him firmly in the mix. The 28-year-old has been durable, playing in 66 of 67 games, and with a 24-point night on Monday, Williams is averaging 15.2 points per game with a PER near 20 for the season. It is fair to say that Lou Williams is a one-dimensional player at times, but his dimension is sorely needed for Toronto and this is a year-long award. He fits the bill.
2. Isaiah Thomas, Boston Celtics – Thomas may have the best resume of any sixth man in the league, but his team transition and recent inactivity hurt his case. Thomas has been lights-out since arriving in Boston, but a back issue has cost him the past four games, allowing Williams to take control of the race. The 5-foot-9 point guard is one of the most efficient scorers in the NBA, averaging 16.3 points per game in only 26.0 minutes, and he’ll undoubtedly make a run when he’s back and healthy.
3. Tristan Thompson, Cleveland Cavaliers – For me, this is a two-man race right now, but Thompson has earned some fringe consideration. The 6-foot-9 big man is averaging 8.8 points and 8.0 rebounds per game on the season, and while that may not seem like much, it is very solid given his playing time (27.6 minutes per game) and highly limited offensive role. Thompson isn’t the rim protector that you would love to pair with Kevin Love, but he is a high-end rebounder (10.5 per 36 minutes) and the ability to close possessions on the glass is a valuable skill.

Next: Defensive Player of the Year