Post by Miege22 on Jan 12, 2018 2:26:54 GMT -5
Since we only have a quarter of the season left to play, I figured it would be a good idea to check in on the various awards races. We'll start with the MVP...
MVP RACE
LeBron James, Brooklyn Nets - 27.2 pts, 9 asts, 8.2 rebs, 1.7 stls, 1.1 blks, 1.9 threes, 55.8% FG, 77.7% FT
Despite a couple of un-LeBron like games recently, the 15-year vet has turned in, quite arguably, his best fantasy season. He's helped lead the Nets to a tie for first in the East with four weeks left to play, and was instrumental in wins over Toronto and Washington. He ranks fourth in scoring, fifth in assists, 13th in steals, 22nd in rebounds and 25th in blocks.
James Harden, Brooklyn Nets - 32.3 pts, 9.1 asts, 5 rebs, 1.8 stls, 0.5 blks, 4.1 threes, 45.1% FG, 86.7% FT
The league's leading scorer by almost four full points, Harden appears to be his teammate's best competition for the award. He's also the league leader in threes per game and is third in assists. The issue for Harden will be his recent hamstring injury which has knocked him out of his second week. If he misses another week or two, it will be hard to give the award to a player who missed nearly a quarter of the season.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Washington Wizards - 28.7 pts, 10 rebs, 4.6 asts, 1.6 stls, 1.3 blks, 55.5% FG, 77.5% FT
It's not often that a player gets serious MVP buzz before the season, having never been in the conversation before, and comes out and lives up to that hype. Well, Giannis has done just that. While Giannis has been a better scorer and rebounder than LeBron, he hasn't created as much as James. At this point, assists and three-point shooting are the only things separating the two.
Victor Oladipo, Memphis Grizzlies - 24.6 pts, 5.3 rebs, 4.1 asts, 1.9 stls, 0.9 blks, 2.6 threes, 49.1% FG, 78.8% FT
It's hard to really pick an MVP candidate from the Grizzlies because they're such a balanced team. At first glance, one would think it has to be Paul George or Karl-Anthony Towns. Or maybe Joel Embiid is that guy. Bradley Beal has made a nice leap. But then you look at the numbers, and the choice becomes a little clearer. It's none of them. That guy is Victor Oladipo, the do-everything guard that seems to have become the player everyone wanted him to be.
ROY RACE
Ben Simmons, Atlanta Hawks - 16.9 pts, 8.4 rebs, 7.5 asts, 1.9 stls, 0.9 blks, 51% FG, 55.7% FT
There are some holes, he doesn't shoot threes and his free throw percentage needs to improve, but it appears that this is his to lose. Simmons has quickly shown an ability to impact the game in 6 categories. As a rookie, that's pretty special.
Donovan Mitchell, Chicago Bulls - 18.4 pts, 3.4 asts, 3.3 rebs, 1.5 stls, 0.5 blks, 2.2 threes, 43.6% FG, 84.8% FT
The rookie from Louisville has burst onto the scene via some pretty big scoring games. He's also shown an ability to create for others, which serves the Bulls well moving forward. It'll be tough to beat out Simmons without some big weeks down the stretch, but if anyone can do it, it's Mitchell.
Lonzo Ball, Atlanta Hawks - 10 pts, 7.1 rebs, 7.1 asts, 1.5 stls, 0.9 blks, 1.6 threes, 34.9% FG, 48% FT
The shooting is really, REALLY ugly, but a point guard that contributes in blocks, rebounds, steals, threes, and assists in super valuable. One has to expect the shooting to improve, and he's already showing signs the last couple of weeks. A strong final quarter might just give him a shot.
MIP RACE
Victor Oladipo, Memphis Grizzlies
See above
Lou Williams, Utah Jazz - 22.9 pts, 4.9 asts, 2.6 rebs, 2.9 threes, 45% FG, 90.7% FT
I don't necessarily think Lou is "better" than he's been in the past, but he is getting an increased role. And he's producing in that role. That is typically half the battle when it comes to this award.
Khris Middleton, Houston Rockets - 20.3 pts, 5.1 rebs, 4.3 asts, 2 threes, 46.5% FG, 88.9% FT
Probably not a guy many people were thinking of for this award, but Khris has stepped it up. He's vastly increased his scoring, rebounding and assists, only the three main categories in fantasy. His defensive stats are down slightly, but he's averaging more free throws per game, improved his FG % by 1.5 points, and is knocking down more threes.
Aaron Gordon, OKC Thunder - 18.9 pts, 7.9 rebs, 1.9 asts, 2.1 threes, 0.8 blks, 0.9 stls, 47.1% FG, 73.8% FT
This might be our winner right here. Gordon missed some time with an injury, but he's scoring more, shooting better, and grabbing more boards. He's also turned into a viable three-point shooter, something he simply was not before this year.
DPOY RACE
Anthony Davis, Colorado Swannies - 2.1 blks, 1.1 stls, 10.3 rebs
Just another stellar year for Anthony Davis on the defensive end. If his team were a little better, he'd almost certainly be in the MVP race.
DeMarcus Cousins, Toronto Raptors - 1.6 blks, 1.5 stls, 12.4 rebs
Perhaps Cousins should be in the MVP conversation (actually, he absolutely should. Don't take his absence from the list to mean he's not in the race.). He's been a monster on both ends of the floor from a fantasy perspective. He's really doing everything out there.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Washington Wizards
See above
Andre Drummond, Chicago Bulls - 1.4 stls, 1.2 blks, 15 rebs
He's second only to DeAndre Jordan in rebounds (by 0.1 rebound), and the only reason he doesn't get more buzz as a DPOY player is because you'd expect to see a big like him block a few more shots. But he's right there.
MVP RACE
LeBron James, Brooklyn Nets - 27.2 pts, 9 asts, 8.2 rebs, 1.7 stls, 1.1 blks, 1.9 threes, 55.8% FG, 77.7% FT
Despite a couple of un-LeBron like games recently, the 15-year vet has turned in, quite arguably, his best fantasy season. He's helped lead the Nets to a tie for first in the East with four weeks left to play, and was instrumental in wins over Toronto and Washington. He ranks fourth in scoring, fifth in assists, 13th in steals, 22nd in rebounds and 25th in blocks.
James Harden, Brooklyn Nets - 32.3 pts, 9.1 asts, 5 rebs, 1.8 stls, 0.5 blks, 4.1 threes, 45.1% FG, 86.7% FT
The league's leading scorer by almost four full points, Harden appears to be his teammate's best competition for the award. He's also the league leader in threes per game and is third in assists. The issue for Harden will be his recent hamstring injury which has knocked him out of his second week. If he misses another week or two, it will be hard to give the award to a player who missed nearly a quarter of the season.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Washington Wizards - 28.7 pts, 10 rebs, 4.6 asts, 1.6 stls, 1.3 blks, 55.5% FG, 77.5% FT
It's not often that a player gets serious MVP buzz before the season, having never been in the conversation before, and comes out and lives up to that hype. Well, Giannis has done just that. While Giannis has been a better scorer and rebounder than LeBron, he hasn't created as much as James. At this point, assists and three-point shooting are the only things separating the two.
Victor Oladipo, Memphis Grizzlies - 24.6 pts, 5.3 rebs, 4.1 asts, 1.9 stls, 0.9 blks, 2.6 threes, 49.1% FG, 78.8% FT
It's hard to really pick an MVP candidate from the Grizzlies because they're such a balanced team. At first glance, one would think it has to be Paul George or Karl-Anthony Towns. Or maybe Joel Embiid is that guy. Bradley Beal has made a nice leap. But then you look at the numbers, and the choice becomes a little clearer. It's none of them. That guy is Victor Oladipo, the do-everything guard that seems to have become the player everyone wanted him to be.
ROY RACE
Ben Simmons, Atlanta Hawks - 16.9 pts, 8.4 rebs, 7.5 asts, 1.9 stls, 0.9 blks, 51% FG, 55.7% FT
There are some holes, he doesn't shoot threes and his free throw percentage needs to improve, but it appears that this is his to lose. Simmons has quickly shown an ability to impact the game in 6 categories. As a rookie, that's pretty special.
Donovan Mitchell, Chicago Bulls - 18.4 pts, 3.4 asts, 3.3 rebs, 1.5 stls, 0.5 blks, 2.2 threes, 43.6% FG, 84.8% FT
The rookie from Louisville has burst onto the scene via some pretty big scoring games. He's also shown an ability to create for others, which serves the Bulls well moving forward. It'll be tough to beat out Simmons without some big weeks down the stretch, but if anyone can do it, it's Mitchell.
Lonzo Ball, Atlanta Hawks - 10 pts, 7.1 rebs, 7.1 asts, 1.5 stls, 0.9 blks, 1.6 threes, 34.9% FG, 48% FT
The shooting is really, REALLY ugly, but a point guard that contributes in blocks, rebounds, steals, threes, and assists in super valuable. One has to expect the shooting to improve, and he's already showing signs the last couple of weeks. A strong final quarter might just give him a shot.
MIP RACE
Victor Oladipo, Memphis Grizzlies
See above
Lou Williams, Utah Jazz - 22.9 pts, 4.9 asts, 2.6 rebs, 2.9 threes, 45% FG, 90.7% FT
I don't necessarily think Lou is "better" than he's been in the past, but he is getting an increased role. And he's producing in that role. That is typically half the battle when it comes to this award.
Khris Middleton, Houston Rockets - 20.3 pts, 5.1 rebs, 4.3 asts, 2 threes, 46.5% FG, 88.9% FT
Probably not a guy many people were thinking of for this award, but Khris has stepped it up. He's vastly increased his scoring, rebounding and assists, only the three main categories in fantasy. His defensive stats are down slightly, but he's averaging more free throws per game, improved his FG % by 1.5 points, and is knocking down more threes.
Aaron Gordon, OKC Thunder - 18.9 pts, 7.9 rebs, 1.9 asts, 2.1 threes, 0.8 blks, 0.9 stls, 47.1% FG, 73.8% FT
This might be our winner right here. Gordon missed some time with an injury, but he's scoring more, shooting better, and grabbing more boards. He's also turned into a viable three-point shooter, something he simply was not before this year.
DPOY RACE
Anthony Davis, Colorado Swannies - 2.1 blks, 1.1 stls, 10.3 rebs
Just another stellar year for Anthony Davis on the defensive end. If his team were a little better, he'd almost certainly be in the MVP race.
DeMarcus Cousins, Toronto Raptors - 1.6 blks, 1.5 stls, 12.4 rebs
Perhaps Cousins should be in the MVP conversation (actually, he absolutely should. Don't take his absence from the list to mean he's not in the race.). He's been a monster on both ends of the floor from a fantasy perspective. He's really doing everything out there.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Washington Wizards
See above
Andre Drummond, Chicago Bulls - 1.4 stls, 1.2 blks, 15 rebs
He's second only to DeAndre Jordan in rebounds (by 0.1 rebound), and the only reason he doesn't get more buzz as a DPOY player is because you'd expect to see a big like him block a few more shots. But he's right there.