NBA Awards
With just three weeks remaining in the 2017-2018 NBA season, here is who I think will take home each prominent award.
Most Valuable Player: James Harden, Houston Rockets. The Beard has this award on ice. He has guided the Rockets to the best record in the NBA while also leading the league in scoring by a substantial margin. Honorable mention: Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans; LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers; Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers; Giannis Antetekounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks.
Defensive Player of the Year: Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz. This was very challenging to parcel. Gobert has missed 26 games this season, but when he has been on the court the Jazz have had the best defensive unit in the league. His effectiveness paired with the lack of feasible alternatives, allows Gobert to be crowned defensive king.
Rookie of the Year: Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers. I have gone back and forth between Simmons and Donovan Mitchell, but at this moment I have to side with Ben Simmons. The 76ers de facto point guard has nine triple doubles and is averaging 16.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 7.9 assists per game.
Coach of the Year: Brad Steven, Boston Celtics. The Celtics lost one of their best players in the first quarter of the first game of the season and didn’t crumble. In fact, they rose above it, catapulting themselves to the second seed in the Eastern Conference and Brad Stevens deserves he lion’s share of the credit. Honorable mention: Quin Snyder, Utah Jazz; Nate McMillan, Indiana Pacers; Terry Stotts, Portland Trail Blazers.
Most Improved Player: Victor Oladipo, Indiana Pacers. The Pacers traded for Oladipo hoping to just get something of value in return for the departure of Paul George. Not only did they get a solid return, they acquired an All-Star in the process. Oladipo has been sensational this year in helping to guide Indiana to the upper portion of the Eastern Conference. Honorable mention: Brandon Ingram, Los Angeles Lakers; Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets.
Sixth Man of the Year: Lou Williams, Los Angeles Clippers. This award is not particularly close. Lou Will is dropping 23 points per game coming off of the bench as he helps the Clippers survive in the hunt for the postseason.
Executive of the Year: Danny Ainge, Boston Celtics. Ainge signed Gordon Hayward via free agency, traded for Kyrie Irving, and drafted Jayson Tatum. Is there much more to say? Honorable mention: Daryl Morey, Houston Rockets.
