NBA Awards: Fifth Man of the Year
The NBA Fifth Man of the Year Finalists
DeMarre Carroll, SF, Atlanta Hawks
Harrison Barnes, SF, Golden State Warriors
And so it comes down to the top two players in the race for the NBA Fifth Man of the Year Award. With a honorable mentions to Mike Dunleavy, Robin Lopez, Courtney Lee and Timofey Mozgov, the race comes down to the Warriors’ Harrison Barnes and the Hawks’ DeMarre Carroll. Both of these players were mentioned as proud and capable fifth men earlier, and again it is no surprise that these players’ respective teams are the two best in the NBA.
The first candidate is a journeyman who landed into a starting role in an emerging franchise.
As mentioned multiple times before, Carroll fits into the role of the Handyman in Atlanta. Despite being the only non-All Star member of the cast in Atlanta, Carroll’s presence in the lineup provides balance and energy. He shoots both from long range and at the basket, shooting .487 from the field and a very strong .395 from beyond the arc. He creates defensive interference, he sets good screens, and he provides solid rebounding from the small forward position.
The Atlanta Hawks more than any other team are built on offensive timing and communication, running less on designated offensive plays and more so on reading and reacting to the defense that they face. Because they have such a varied offensive arsenal, defenses attack them in myriad ways. The rest of the Hawks teammates need to rely on someone like Carroll to maintain the rhythm they create, and when it comes down to crunch time, Carroll is a part of the singular amoeba of the Hawks core team concept.
The other candidate is a former high draft pick who has blossomed in an offense that caters to his strengths.
Harrison Barnes was formerly an afterthought for the Golden State Warriors, a player who struggled to produce because he couldn’t create his own shot and wasn’t given the opportunity to perform from his teammates. He was stuck behind the struggling (but energizing) Andre Iguodala on the Dubs’ depth chart.
Under Steve Kerr, Barnes has emerged as a valuable offensive threat, and although he is reliant on the production of perimeter threats Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, when he does get room to produce he becomes a third offensive cog in the machine and the Warriors become unstoppable to guard.
One of the major ways the Warriors have won this season is by using the threat of one thing to exploit the defensive deficiencies in another area. Barnes is more often than not the beneficiary of the opportunities created by those deficiencies. His continued ability to take advantage of holes on rolls to the basket, or on pick-and-pop plays has helped the Warriors to the best record in the NBA.
The decision will be tough, but in the end, there can only be one NBA Fifth Man of the Year.
The NBA Fifth Man of the Year
DeMarre Carroll, SF, Atlanta Hawks
Whereas Barnes’ contributions to the Warriors act as a fantastic added bonus, the play of Carroll is essential to the continued success of the Atlanta Hawks. Carroll does things for Atlanta that doesn’t show up in the box score, and he remains fully committed to the team concept of the Hawks.
For that, the NBA Fifth Man of the Year Award shall come in the form of a DeMarre Carroll Chia Pet. While this award is designed to reward humble greatness in the regular season, the true postseason contenders will have their fates determined by their fifth men.
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