NBA Mid Season Awards and Trade Deadline Subplots

          Welcome back to the blog, I can't tell you how happy I am to be writing again and while it was a busy week of marking exams at school, I'm excited to get another entry published. I really do appreciate the support so far! I should have one about movies coming out real soon. I've been trying to get the Oscar nominees watched, and I'll be weighing in on some of my selections in that regard!

         However, today is going to be back to my first love, the roundball. It's the midway point of the NBA regular season which means, All Star game chatter and a chance to reflect on the season so far. I've actually been asked to join a friend of mine, David Tingley, on his basketball podcast, On Guard For Three next week to discuss our all star selections for this year. (Which I'm greatly looking forward to!) So instead of writing about that, I decided to give out some mid season awards as a way of doing some research on the year so far, as a way of getting my thoughts in order for that upcoming podcast. The All Star game itself has become a bit of no defense snooze fest. So much so that the acclaim and intrigue of being selected or snubbed for the game has become in many ways more of an exciting follow than the game itself!

With over half the games in the books for the 2019-2020 season, here are my mid season awards.

NBA Defensive Player of the Year: Rudy Gobert - Rudy has been the heart and soul of the Jazz for years now, he is among the league leaders in defensive rating, defensive win shares, and defense rebounding percentage. Currently 2nd in the league in rebounds, Gobert anchors one of the leagues best defenses and deserves a ton of credit for the Jazz's ability to keep opponents from scoring in the paint. 

Honourable (I'm Canadian, this we like out U's) Mentions: Anthony Davis, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid

NBA Rookie of the Year: Ja Morant - The Memphis guard has been a revelation for the Grizz so far this year. While most of the league penciled in Zion Williamson, the odds on favourite for rookie of the year before the season started. Zion's preseason injury was a loss for the Pelicans, and league as a whole, but it's been Morant's gain. Morant leads all rookies in scoring and assists, as well as efficiency and usage. So the metrics check out, but even more important, Ja has proven himself a winner! The Grizz have been the surprise of the season, sitting a half game out of the playoffs! He doesn't make them all, but he has the athleticism and confidence to try, as Kevin Love found out in the clip below!

Honourable Mentions: No One Else Close

NBA Sixth Man of the Year: Derrick Rose - Derrick Rose has been experiencing a career resurgence in Detroit. He's settled into the role of sixth man perfectly for the Pistons. Accepting that he can no longer log the same volume of minutes at his ultra aggressive pace, Rose has dialed back the minutes but his game hasn't changed. He looks like the Rose of old, blowing past defenders with routine. His pull up is one of the best in the league, where the pull up has become a bit of a lost art. He's also added a nifty push floater that he can unleash without taking the pounding at the rim like he used to. (See clip below!) With a surprisingly low contract given his stature, and a Pistons team that isn't going anywhere, Detroit would be doing themselves, and Rose a favour by moving him to a contender. I hope this happens and we get to see Rose playing some meaningful playoff basketball for the first time in nearly a decade!

Honourable Mentions: Lou Williams, Montrezz Harrell 

Most Improved Player: Bam Adebayo - This award is a bit tricky in my opinion, do you give it to a player who is great but has elevated to superstar status (Luka, Siakam), or do you look for a middling player who has become an essential part of his team's success? I've decided the latter as those superstars will get there recognition regardless. Bam Adebayo's growth in his third season has been nothing short of spectacular. He is a terrific defensive big, who can step out in the pick and roll and stay with smaller guards. He can also protect the rim and clear the glass. In addition, his offensive game has really developed and he's shown a great ability to pass the ball out of the high post as well. Throw in the fact that the Miami Heat are one of the better teams in the East and he along with Jimmy Butler have been their best players and he gets my vote in a very competitive field of candidates.

Honourable Mentions: Pascal Siakam, Luka Doncic, Devonte Graham, Brandon Ingram

NBA Most Valuable Player: Giannis Antetokounmpo - It's been a pretty incredible rise to the top for Giannis Antetokoumpo, despite winning last season's MVP, he still has a perceived hole in his game (lack of shooting) While that may have appeared to be a good thing for rest of the league in the short term, that has to be scary as hell long term. Especially when you consider how hard the guy is willing to work on his craft! Already a monster on both ends of the court, despite a below average ability to do one of the most important things in the game! An while this weakness may still rear it's ugly head now and again, Giannis has continued to show improvement on this aspect of his game. He's a one man fast break, a match up nightmare, constantly putting pressure on the defense as an evolving play-maker. His ability to get down hill is reminiscent of LeBron's ascension to best player in the game a few years into his career. Not to mention that Giannis currently has the highest rated defensive rating among players who have played at least 20 games and average over 25 minutes.  He's a two way player in ways the other candidates simply are not. He gives the Milwaukee Bucks nearly unlimited versatility with his ability to handle the ball offensively, while simultaneously guarding the oppositions big at times and providing rim protection. Consider that his team is on pace to win 70 games and they likely won't have a second all star?! How can he not be the MVP?!

Honourable Mentions: LeBron James, Luka Doncic, James Harden

NBA First Team All NBA:

G Luka Doncic - Dallas Mavericks - He wasn't supposed to be this good, this fast, yet here is!

G James Harden - Houston Rockets - Harden is leading the league in scoring by nearly 7 points a game. Walking bucket doesn't even begin to describe his ability to points up in bunches.
F Lebron James - Los Angeles Lakers - The fact he leads the league in assists is just another feather in his cap. He can be the best at pretty much whatever he puts his mind to.

F Giannis Antetokounmpo - Milwaukee Bucks - Giannis as been superlative all season long, a menace on both ends of the floor and still getting better!

C Nicola Jokic - Denver Nuggets - After a slow start, Jokic has come on of late! He's a triple double threat nightly and is one of the niftiest passers in the game, no "for a center assertion" necessary.

NBA Second Team All NBA

G Damian Lillard - Portland Trailblazers - In a season that's had plenty to go wrong, Dame continues to be as steady as ever, remaining one of the best guards in the league

G Kemba Walker - Boston Celtics - I need a Boston representative! Kemba's play and demeanor has been the breathe of fresh air the Celtics needed after Kyrie failed to 'lead' this young group of talented C's! Kemba has shown up nightly!

F Kawhi Leonard - San Antonio - Kawhi still plays the regular season as if he's in 4th gear. You just know he has that next level talent. His mid range game is still unstoppable.

F Anthony Davis - Los Angeles - Davis has proven to be a perfect complement to LeBron and if he played center, I'd have him first team, but a shot at the title will have to do!

C Rudy Gobert - Utah Jazz - Gobert has been a stalwart defensively and is a contributor offensively, I'd expect Embiid to overtake him for this spot. But avail'ability' is an important ability.

NBA Third Team All NBA

G Donovan Mitchell - Utah Jazz - Mitchell took over when Conley Jr. went down and the Jazz haven't looked back. 

G Ben Simmons - Philadelphia Sixers - Simmons is an impact player on the defensive end and makes a lot of plays out of nothing for the Sixers offensively. This last guard spot was the toughest.

F Pascal Siakam -Toronto Raptors - Siakam has propelled himself into conversations that were unheard of this time last year. His improved shooting and willingness to be 'the guy' has impressed!

F Jimmy Butler - Miami Heat - Felt I needed a Heat representative and Jimmy Butler has provided enough play making and set the tone for the Heat's rugged tough play style. He epitomizes the way Miami goes about there business.

C Joel Embiid - Philadelphia Sixers - Embiid is capable of being on the first team, he's a strong defensive player when he's motivated and can be an unstoppable force offensively.

Honourable Mentions: Paul George, Kyle Lowry, Chris Paul, Jason Tatum, Brandon Ingram, Trae Young, Bam Adebayo, Karl Anthony Towns

NBA First Team All Defense

G Eric Bledsoe

G Jaylen Brown

F Anthony Davis

F Giannis Antetokounmpo

C Rudy Gobert

NBA Second Team All Defense

G Patrick Beverley

G Ben Simmons/

F Jason Tatum

F Kawhi Leonard

C Joel Embiid

Honourable Mentions:

4 Trade Deadline Subplots/Questions

1. Buyers or Sellers? So many teams (Grizzlies, Raptors, Oklahoma City, Pelicans, Suns, Spurs)  have either out performed their expectations, or are in the thick of a playoff race. Will this change their expectations from being teams that were looking to move aging vets (Lowry, Gasol, Crowder, Paul, Gallinari, Holiday, Favors, DeRozen, Aldridge) to teams that are looking to add an extra piece? Time will tell!

2. Does anyone value the NBA big man anymore? Much has been made about Kevin Love and where he will end up, though no one seems willing to make the Cavs the asset laden offer they're looking for. Tristan Thompson seems like a guy that could be useful to a team like the Clippers at far less a price but what are they willing to give up? A young shooter like Shamet? Hassan Whiteside leads the league blocks )and most likely being out of position while his player and getting a rebound put back)  is likely available but it would seem no one is interested? Is Derrick Favors moveable with Zion back? Andre Drummond seems to have become the basketball equivalent of a high msg Chinese dinner, while it appears tasty on the surface, you'll soon realize it wasn't as substantial as you'd hoped.

3. Where does Andre Igoudala end up? It would seem everyone needs a wing defender who can also hit the open 3, selflessly move the ball and quickly understand team defensive rotations and concepts. Abilities that are not as common as you might think, at least not all in the same player! Igoudala has been sitting out all year, but I think the intention is to come back with less wear on his body and a chance to play meaningful minutes in the playoffs. This could be interesting!

4. Will the Denver Nuggets shed some of their depth? The Nuggets are undeniably a great TEAM. If the NBA title was played in a series of 1 on 1 matchups at 12 different hoops, they may very well win the whole thing. They only recently have been getting Michael Porter Jr. and Jeremi Grant increased minutes, the result of a slew of injuries, and they've been killing it. All of this is to say the Nuggets have a number of assets and while their depth is certainly a strength in the regular season, it would be wise to add another impact player in time for the shorter rotations of May and June. Harris, Beasley, Morris, Plumlee, Barton I'd even be willing to move Millsap with Grant already outplaying him some nights.

Oh, Check out this block! Bye for now!