Most Valuable Player: Giannas Antetokounmpo
The Milwaukee Bucks are 1st in the eastern conference and on pace to win 70 games. They are the favorite to make it to the NBA finals by a wide margin. They are lead by Giannas who is averaging 30 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game. He has improved on his MVP averages from last year by shooting and making more threes. His player efficiency rating in his first 43 games is the best ever. Yes, the best of ALL-TIME! He truly is a freak and cannot be stopped. I don’t see anyone competing for this as long as he continues to dominate in the second half of the season. Other candidates include: Lebron James and Anthony Davis of the Lakers who are 1st in the west and having great seasons. I believe that it would be difficult to give an MVP award to one or the other because they are both equally dominant for their team. Other candidates include: Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks, James Harden of the Houston Rockets and Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers. All of these guys are playing great especially Lillard of late who was averaging 40 points per game and willing the Blazers to wins before the All-Star break. Unfortunately, his team is in 10th place in the west and on the outside looking in come playoff time. It would be the second time an MVP was given to a player who’s team didn’t make the playoffs. Of the 61 MVP’s from 1955, 39 played for the team with that year’s best regular season record and 23 of them won the championship. Expect Giannas to come away with the MVP two years in a row.
Rookie of the Year: Ja Morant
At the beginning of the year, everyone had Zion Williamson of New Orleans winning the rookie of the year. But Ja Morant, the second overall pick in the 2019 draft, is averaging 18 points, 6.9 assists and shooting 40.7% from three point range. Morant has the Memphis Grizzlies in the playoffs and must watch TV right now. They are one of the youngest teams in the league and are exceeding expectations. Before the season they were projected no where near the playoffs. They are lead by the rookie Ja Morant and need to be taken seriously in years to come. Other rookies who are behind Morant include: Kendrick Nunn and Tyler Herro of the Miami Heat, R.J. Barrett of the Knicks, and Zion Williamson of the Pelicans. If Zion can stay healthy and Memphis crumbles out of the playoffs, he may be the only one to take it from Morant.
Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony Davis
The LA Lakers are 1st in the West and are lead by Anthony Davis defensively. He is averaging 2.6 blocks a game and dominating the paint. The Lakers are allowing 100.4 points a game on 100 possessions. His dominance defensively has him in the MVP race along with his 26.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists. Other candidates include: Giannas Antetokunmpo, Jimmy Butler, and Rudy Gobert.
Predictions:
Who will win the West?
The LA Clippers win the western conference and advance to the NBA Finals over the LA Lakers in the Western Conference Final. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George will lead them to win there first Larry O’Brien Trophy in organizations history. The Clippers traded for Marcus Morris, a certified bucket, and picked up Reggie Jackson at the trade deadline. They are very experienced under coaches Doc Rivers and Ty Lue who have won championships in the past. They also have Kawhi who is quietly still the best player in the league. He solidified his dominance last year beating the Bucks, Sixers and Warriors in his championship run with the Raptors. He can guard anyone, hit the biggest shots, and has lead two different teams to championships. They most likely will have to beat the Lakers who are lead by Lebron James and Anthony Davis. The problem the Lakers have is there depth and lack of a steady second play maker off their bench. Rajon Rondo and Kyle Kuzma won’t be enough to handle Montrezl Harrell, Lou Williams and Marcus Morris off the Clippers bench. Unless James and Davis are unstoppable, which they have been this year, it will be tough to beat the clippers. I expect the Clippers to win in 6 or 7 games and beat the 76ers in the Championship.
Who will win the East?
Yes, I said the Sixers will win the East. I believe it will be between the Bucks and Sixers. Lets not forget this team was a Kawhi Leonard miss away from probably winning the championship vs. the Warriors. The Warriors were crippled with injuries including Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant. The Sixers will long remember that as their best chance to win with their powerful duo of Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. I know, Jimmy Butler left, J.J. Redick left, and their bench hasn’t been productive this year but what have the Bucks done in the playoffs? This is a team that choked against the raptors. last year. After being up 2-0 in the series, they lost 4 straight. Giannas and the Bucks have been incredible the past two years in the regular season, but in the playoffs, not so much. They swept the Pistons and beat the Celtics in 5 games last year. This could be there year but I expect the Sixers to win because of their size inside against Giannas. They signed Al Horford and have the best center in the league in Joel Embiid. They also signed Tobias Harris to a max contract and traded for Josh Richardson who is a great wing defender. They will have a great second half of the year and head into the playoffs as a two or three seed. Their defense will be too much for the Bucks and will play the Clippers in the Finals.
Who will win the NBA Championship?
The LA Clippers will beat the Philadelphia 76ers in the finals. Kawhi will haunt the Sixers once more and will be too much for Philly. Ben Simmons will be guarded by many tough and gritty defenders like Kawhi, Marcus Morris and Paul George. The Sixers will have to dominate in the paint to win and definitely have an advantage there. Joel Embiid will challenge the Clippers. I just believe they don’t have enough depth or three point shooting to combat the Clippers. Expect the Clippers to win in 5 games.
Tom Doyle Blog 