2016-2017 NBA Mid-Season Awards
Now that we’ve reached a little over the mid-way point of the 2017 NBA season, we’re going to be handing out the NBA Mid-Season Awards as if the season officially ended today.
Tell us who you think deserves these honors and who we missed on twitter!
Site Twitter: @FantasyCPR
Author: @BWrightSports
This season has been great for basketball fans. We have the Russell Westbrook/Kevin Durant feud. One of the most talented teams in NBA history with the Warriors. So much young studs emerging with Nikola Jokic, Andrew Wiggins, KAT, Devin Booker, Kristaps Porzingis, Giannis Antetokounmpo, the list goes on and on. Also, we still have the King, Lebron James, doing things only he can do.
This NBA season has been exciting so far and we haven’t even rounded the corner yet. Kyrie Irving hit a game winner over Klay Thompson already this season! We’ve seen historic amounts of triple-doubles and that leads right into Brodie.
The man above. Russell Westbrook has been carrying the whole Thunder squad on his back, and is doing things many of us haven’t seen in our lifetime. His 27 triple-doubles are the second most before the All-Star break in NBA History.
However, even with him averaging a triple-double, Oklahoma City has not been producing well as a unit. They are 32-25, which sits them at seventh in the west as we head into the all-star break. Even though they’d be nowhere without Russ, I still believe someone else has a supplied a more impressive first half to earn the MVP…
NBA Mid-Season Awards: MVP
James Harden (Houston Rockets)
The 27-year-old is most definitely “cooking” more than normal this season and has proven that at this moment, he is the most valuable player in the NBA. He’s heading into the all-star break averaging over 29 points, 11 assists , and 8 rebounds a game.
James Harden is the first player ever to put up two 50-point triple-doubles in the same season, while also becoming the first player to post a 50-15-15 stat line. Harden is doing outstanding things for himself and his team, and that’s why the rockets are in third in the Western Conference.
Might I add that Harden is doing this without another legit super-star. Sure, Trevor Ariza and Patrick Beverley are good defenders and Eric Gordon is a good scorer, but that’s all that these guys are, role players. The loss of Dwight Howard has fueled this team to new level, and Harden is the glue that pieces them all together!
Which leads us right into Coach of the Year…
NBA Mid-Season Awards: Coach of the Year
Mike D’Antoni (Houston Rockets)
Former 2005-2006 Coach of the Year, Mike D’Antoni has been recreating the greatness that he once had with Steve Nash. He’s help turn James Harden into one of the most complete, all around stars in this league and helped surround him the right players at the right time.
Honestly, there’s not really a case to be made for anyone else. Coming into the season, people questioned how a team that desperately need defense would survive with an offensive coach like D’Antoni, but it’s worked perfectly.
Mike has overpowered every other team with his offensive mindset. The Rockets led the league in three-pointers per game while also coming in second for team assists per game. Without making major team upgrades and loosing Dwight Howard, the Rockets are a surprising Western Conference contender.
NBA Mid-Season Awards: Defensive Player of the Year
Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz)
Rudy Gobert has been a prevalent force down-low in the NBA all season. He’s first in the NBA with close to two and a half blocks, while also coming in fifth in overall rebounds per game.
The 7’1 24 year-old out of France has helped lead the Utah Jazz to first in least opponent points allowed per game with 95.8. Also, as I’m writing this, the Jazz are third in team defensive efficiency.
Rudy Gobert leads the NBA in defensive win shares with 4.3, per basketball-reference, while also leading the NBA in true shooting percentage with 67%.
NBA Mid-Season Awards: Rookie of the Year
Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)
Do you “trust the process” yet?
There is no question who will be bringing home the Rookie of the year honors this season. Joel Embiid has been playing like a boarder-line all-star so far, and even on his 28 minutes a game limit, he’s help lead the 76ers to a 21-34 record.
I know that may not seem great but coming from a 10-72 season in 2015-2016, this is definitely a step up.
Embiid is averaging 20 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.5 blocks a game, which doesn’t just set him up to be the rookie of the year, it’s helped turn heads in his direction as one of the best big men on the floor right now.
We’ve heard lots of things that Demarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis want to bring back the importance of a Center in basketball. Young guys like Joel Embiid and Karl Anthony Towns are helping that become a reality. Biggest concern for Joel is his high probability of injury to re-occur.
NBA Mid-Season Awards: 6th Man of the Year
Eric Gordon (Houston Rockets)
I didn’t want to flood you with Rockets right off the bat, but Eric Gordon, to me, is the Sixth Man of the Year. Coming off the bench averaging 17.3 points per game is pretty impressive.
More impressive, however, is the fact that 16.7 points per game is his career average for point per game. When I said Mike D’Antoni has turned Gordon into an elite scorer, I meant it.
Gordon has been plagued by Injuries his whole career. He was thought to be the next big thing, and that was partly because coming out of high school he was number two recruit on ESPN’s top 100, and the number one guard in the nation in 2007. Unfortunately, due to injuries, he didn’t live up to those expectations.
He’s finally playing in the sixth man role and maybe we wouldn’t have seen this rejuvenation in his career without the position the Rockets have put him in. Even with Gordon’s eight starts this season, I still think he’ll take home this award.
NBA Mid-Season Awards: Most Improved Player
Most Improved Player is the hardest to make a solid call compared to the other NBA Mid-Season Awards, so I’m going to make a case for two athletes and want you to help with the decision.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
Giannis has been turning heads ever since he entered the NBA. He’s a lengthy player at 6’11, can run the point, and is a legit threat to take it cost-to-cost at any moment.
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Antetokounmpo is coming off of the best season of his career in 2015-2016, but somehow has raised his game to an elite level in only a year. In 2015-2016, Giannis averaged 16.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.1 steals per game.
This season, impressively, he’s increased every single stat averaging 23.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.7 steals. Now that’s the most improved NBA player if I have a say in the matter.
Isaiah Thomas (Boston Celtics)
I know, I know, Isaiah Thomas was good last year, and you’re right, but this season, he’s been doing things we haven’t seen in quite some time.
His assists per game are right around the same as last season with 6.3-6.4 a game, but his points per game are what jump off the stat sheet. Thomas averaged 22.2 points per game in 2015-2016, however this season he’s averaging 29.8!
Also, he’s helping the Boston Celtics lead the league in 4th quarter points with his 10.6 fourth quarter points per game. He’s been a scoring machine, and I know the Isaiah Thomas, Allen Iverson comparisons are getting old, but the shoe fits.
For me, Isaiah was already at all-star quality last season, so my vote would go towards Giannis Antetokounmpo for Most Improved Player.
However, we want to know what you think!