We’re past the midpoint of the 2021-22 season and now we have a clear understanding of who’s who in the NBA.
The contenders have distanced themselves from the pretenders, while several teams that have fallen into the pits early are looking desperately to salvage their respective seasons before it’s too late.
The same goes for individuals in the tournament.
Sporting News has released the season-end awards Predictions ahead of the 2021-22 season and through the first quarter of the game play. Based on what we’ve seen through the first 20 action games. Now that players have submitted about 40 games, the vision becomes even clearer.
Around this time, several members of TSN’s staff submitted their winners for each of the six major end-of-season awards, some explaining their selections by give an explanation below.
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| Scott Rafferty | Gilbert McGregor | Nick Metallinos | Micah Adams | Yash Matange | |
| MVP | Nikola Jokic | Joel Embiid | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Nikola Jokic |
| DPOY | Draymond Green | Draymond Green | Draymond Green | Draymond Green | Draymond Green |
| 6MOY | Tyler Herro | Tyler Herro | Tyler Herro | Tyler Herro | Tyler Herro |
| MIP | Darius Garland | Mile Bridge | Mile Bridge | Ja Morant | Darius Garland |
| ROY | Evan Mobley | Evan Mobley | Evan Mobley | Evan Mobley | Evan Mobley |
| COY | Taylor Jenkins | Taylor Jenkins | Taylor Jenkins | Billy Donovan | Taylor Jenkins |
Most Valuable Player
McGregor: Somehow, Embiid, a finalist for MVP for the 2020-21 season, has gotten better this season.
Despite the drama surrounding him due to the Ben Simmons story in Philadelphia, Embiid had the Sixers in the three-game round of the Eastern No 1 seed 26-18. To take it a step further, the Sixers are 23-10 with Embiid in the suit and 3-8 without him.
While endurance has been an issue for Embiid over the years, the amount of time he’s missed this season has been due to a rough match with COVID-19, making his return to MVP level a bit of a stretch. should be more impressive.
With an average of 28.0 points, 10.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists in effective splits, Embiid screams MVP for me.
Metallinos : As great as Embiid and Jokic have been throughout this season, and both have wonderful, I just don’t see Denver or Philadelphia finishing in the top 4 of their respective conventions.
Aside from a historic season like Westbrook’s season three MVP, I can’t see this award being given to anyone outside the top four.
Giannis is having 28.6 points, 11.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists in just over 32 minutes per night.
The Bucks have not been healthy in the better part of this season, and it is a testament to Greek Freak that they are still among the championship contenders.
Defensive Player of the Year
Mating: This is not difficult. Draymond Green is the best defensive player on best defense of the league .
Yes, the Warriors have plenty of rotation players that have a positive impact on the defence, especially the likes of Gary Payton II and Andrew Wiggins but there’s certainly no question that Green is the leader and mainstay of the team. at the back of the field.
Metallinos : Me and Yash here. This is easy. Draymond is the best defensive player – and most versatile – on the best defensive team in the league.
He really is the straw that stirs that drink. Enough said.
Friday Man of the Year
Mating: It’s tough to beat Tyler Herro for this award midway through. In 28 games from the bench, he averaged leading the league 20.8 points while shooting 45.2/42.7/88.2 in just 31.5 minutes of action. All four of his 30-point games this season, as of January 20, have been substitutes.
Unlike previous seasons, the 6-foot-5 keeper seems to have really mastered his role as a starter for The Heat. And so far, he is doing it perfectly.
Most Improved Player
McGregor: The Hornets look like a legit playoff team this year, and much of that has to do with Bridges’ play.
After averaging 12.7 points last season, Bridges has increased his scoring average by 20.0 points per game, and while his 3-point performance has dropped, he’s still spinning at a low. almost like when he did from within the arc. Bridges have never been just a petty thief, but he shows it now nightly, using his athletic ability to complete deft finishes around the rims with either hand.
Adams : The hardest jump to make is from good to big. Even more difficult? From great to worth the MVP.
That’s the leap Ja Morant is making in his third season. Though he did tease us with another performance in the final month of last season, which included a magic performance in a first-round loss to the top seed Jazz. Morant’s power game had brought the Grizzlies into the thick of the Western Conference contention much earlier than anyone had anticipated. His score-per-game gain is more than double that of Garland, and unlike Bridges whose improvement coincides with a significantly heavier load, Morant is essentially playing with the same amount as he did a year ago. .
Morant joined this year as an All-Star for the first time that was likely to happen. But a potential MVP? Ready? No one sees this happening in 2022.
Rookie of the Year
McGregor: What was once a three-man race is Mobley’s prize to lose. What the 20-year-old does nightly goes beyond the usual stats, but the youngster is also making his presence the score.
Averaging 15.0 points and 7.8 rebounds per game is definitely a worthy Rookie of the Year, and his 1.7 blocks per game shows that it didn’t take long for him to become a defender. loyalty belt.
Coach of the Year
McGregor: The Grizzlies are having fun playing basketball and much of the credit goes to their head coach.
Jenkins’ use of newcomer Steven Adams and reliance on draft gem Desmond Bane cleared the way for Ja Morant to make the leap to becoming an All-Star, budding superstar and MVP candidate. As it grew under Jenkins’ management each year, Memphis built an identity of its own that it lives on.
Adams: Like the Grizzlies, the Bulls are breaking pre-season expectations and they’re doing it while extra minutes due to COVID than any other team. After overdelivering in Oklahoma City following the departures of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, Donovan is now doing the same in Chicago.
THAN: Lonzo Ball injury update
He was trying to find the perfect balance between DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine. He regularly deploys a 4-guard formation. He has produced a respectable defensive unit despite not having a good half-time rim protector, injuries last all season with mainline keeper Patrick Williams just five games of the season, and an extended absence. for both Alex Caruso and Lonzo Ball, the latter of which was out for 6-8 weeks with a torn meniscus. Donovan is trying bit by bit from every corner of his roster and his Bulls are still clinging to first place in an equally competitive Eastern Conference.
