Goat Talk Mid Season NBA Awards

 Goat Talk Mid Season NBA Awards 

  

  Games kick off tonight in the NBA after four days without any. The league's first game between the Wizards and Grizzlies. Then the Mavericks go up against the Spurs. It’s been a very interesting year after a covid bubble. There have been some good and bad. However before the season starts let’s give out our Goat Talk mid season awards. 

MVP-Lebron James  Los Angeles Lakers 

Oh no he didn’t say Joel Embiid let’s all lose it, and say the most causal opinions ever. Are we done? Okay not let's get back to basketball. Yes Joel Embiid has had a phenomenal year. He’s on pace to be the first center to average 30 PPG since Moses Malone did in the 1981-1982 season. His team is 1-5 when he’s not in the lineup but has a 23-7 record when he is. Embiid is clearly valuable. The 76ers are first in the East, his great defense in the center of the floor has guided the 76ers to the fifth best defensive rating in the league, and leads the league in free throw attempts at 11.6. He is having the best year since he’s been in Philly with career highs in points, field goal percentage, and 3-point percentage while also averaging 11.6 rebounds a game. Embiid is second in scoring and fifth in rebounding in the league which is super impressive. Yes you can’t deny the year Embiid is having is a great one. MVP caliber some would say. However he isn’t the most valuable player. Lebron James is still the league's Most Valuable Player at 36. How could someone who’s team is third in his conference be more valuable than a guy who’s team is first in his? Well that's a simple look at the records. The Lakers are 24-13 3.5 games out of the top spot of the West. The 76ers are 24-12 the number one seed in the East. The 76ers are only one loss better than the Lakers, in a way less stacked eastern conference. The Lakers have a day to day grind in the West. The 76ers do not have that same grind playing in the East. Lebron James is also without his fellow All-Star Anthony Davis. He is 36 still playing like the best player in the world. Lebron James is leading the Lakers with a new lineup nearly every night with injuries in covid. James leads the Lakers in scoring, rebounding, assists, and minutes. James can’t take breaks. Embiid can take breaks knowing Simmons can hoop with anybody while being a lockdown defender. Lebron James is shooting 50.9% from the field and improving his three point shot by shooting 35.8% behind the arc. James has somehow gotten better at 36 by changing his game. James is leading the Lakers to a top seed in the West all without his fellow star. While still having the same record or better records as fellow MVP contenders. James is still the leagues MVP. 

Coach of the Year- Quinn Snyder Utah Jazz

There have been many great coaching performances in the 2020-2021 season no question. The work done by Monty Williams in Phoenix from a non playoff team to the second in the highly competitive West with just one acquisition of Chris Paul. Of course the expected San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich has been showing why he’s the best with no All Stars being top 5 in the West. New York has Steve Nash who’s figuring out how to make the league's best offense. While on the other side of town Tom Thibodeau is laying the brick in the Manhattan streets of a winning culture for the Knicks. Then of course Doc Rivers getting the 76ers to the talent we thought they had to actually play out on the court being first in the East. Nonetheless none of these coaching performances have been better than the sixth year head coach of the Utah Jazz Quinn Snyder. The Jazz were in an afterthought in the West coming into the season. Snyder has put all his players in the best positions to be their best. Utah has the best record in the league in the West. They are second in offensive and defensive rating in the league. Making them the only team in the league to be top five in both. Remember when the Warriors changed the league being the best third point team in the league? Well that change has come full circle now the Jazz are the beneficiary of that change. Throwing up the most threes a game with 42.8 while hitting 40% of them. Utah only averaged 35 threes a game last season. Snyder did what great coaches do and he adapted to the league. That’s what gets him the mid season coach of the year. 

Defensive Player of the Year- Rudy Gobert Utah Jazz

The defensive award has been less competitive the past few years. Leaving just a handful players competing for the award as the league has been more about offense. The defending winner of the award Giannis Antetokounmpo always has to be considered, Anthony Davis, Ben Simmons, and of course Rudy Gobert. Remember the award isn’t for good defense it’s for game changing defense. These guys in the past few years have had game changing defense. Myles Turner of the Pacers can be in that conversation in the 2020-2021 season leading the league in blocks. Even with Turner being the leader in blocks my pick is still Rudy Gobert. A big part of the Jazz success is through the defense of Gobert. He gives guards and forwards a security blanket knowing they have the best big man defender playing at the rim. That gives the Jazz more chances to take chances on defense knowing that the rim is protected well. In a three point driven league the Jazz are tied with Timberwolves with giving up the least amount of 3P attempts a game at 30.7. Against the Jazz teams average a league leading 14.3 mid range shots a game. That’s because they are afraid to go up against Gobert so they rather just take their chances on their jump shot then getting the points at the rim. See the definition of game changing defense. Gobert is a huge reason for the Jazz first half success and a Defensive Player of the Year mid season award is fitting here. 

Rookie of the Year- LaMelo Ball Charlotte Hornets 

To be honest with you the pick is harder for me than most. The 2020 rookie class is very deep. The Timberwolves first overall pick Anthony Edwards shows flashes of a younger Dwayne Wade. The Knicks Immanuel Quickley has maybe one of the best floaters in the league who has to be watched on the offensive end. The Kings finally got a pick right besides Fox with Tyrese Haliburton. The rookie class has been very exciting and fun to watch. However the contribution of Lamelo Ball can’t not be denied. It’s not just the name. Unlike other sports opinions my take isn’t off of a popularity contest. If that was the case this part would be  about Anthony Edwards considering he’s on my favorite team. That’s not the case Ball is the rookie of the mid season because he’s deserved it. Ball leads rookies in scoring , assists, and rebounds and is fourth in the league in steals. Many criticized Ball’s three point shot going into the draft. They should stop doing that Ball is shooting 37.8 percent from behind the arc on 5.3 attempts per game. He’s changed the culture down in Carolina. The fans finally have hope now being the 7th seed in the East. The future is bright down in Charlotte MJ got this pick right. 

Most Improved Player of the Year- Jerami Grant Detroit Pistons 

Yes it’s rare when the most improved player is also on the worst team in the NBA. The Pistons may not have the worst record in the league but the talent on the team would be the last team you’d pick in 2K against your friends. The Pistons signed Grant to a 3year / $60,007,500 dollar deal after Grant’s breakout performance for the Nuggets in the playoffs. Which would lead the Nuggets to a surprising Western Conference Finals exit. Yes Julius Randle has been great for the Knicks in the 2020-2021 season. We kind of already knew Randle was good though. He wasn’t an All Star but he wasn’t strides away. Grant was a role player to a good two or three. A one on the worst team in the league. Grant has improved from averaging 12 PPG to 23.4 PPG games. He’s improved his rebounding by two rebounds, he averages three more assists, and averages more blocks than last season. He’s improved his free throw shooting by 14% on four more free throw attempts. His field goal percentage has dropped but he also shoots twice as many shots as he did last season. Grant could be a great trade piece for a team at the deadline. Yes it’s hard to get attention over in the cold city of Detroit where it seems careers go to disappear but we see you Grant. He’s the mid season most improved player. 

Sixth Man of the Year- Jordan Clarkson Utah Jazz 

One of the only awards on the ballot where there is a clear winner is Jordan Clarkson of the Utah Jazz. Clarkson has been put in a position to succeed and succeed he has. He’s actually played a lot better than most have expected. His 17.4 PPG off the bench is the best in the league. He changes the game for the Utah Jazz making the games less about motion but more about isolation. You don’t want to play fast when your stars Mitchell or Gobert are off the court Clarkson gives the Jazz that opportunity. The team has a plus 4.7 when Clarkson is on the court. He’s been great on the pick in roll scoring 96% of his shots off of pick and rolls. He has been great on defense while having his best offensively efficient year. The Jazz are starting to look like they stole Clarkson from Cleveland. The Jazz have been getting a lot of Goat Talk mid season awards as they should be; they are the best team in the league. 

New Face in a New Place- Chris Paul Phoenix Suns

There have been many new faces in new places that could be deserving of this award mid way through the season. Doc Rivers has brought the 76ers to the number one seed, Tom Thibodeau has made the Knicks relevant which is a feat in itself, James Harden taking over as a true point guard is pole vaulting the Nets to the best offensive team in the league and Finals favorites. However to me Chris Paul has been the most impactful player in his new place. Paul has changed the Sun's culture. They didn’t make the playoffs last season and after extending Devin Booker they needed to make a move. Either trade Booker forcing them to rebuild again or take a chance. Suns General Manager James Jones took a chance on getting Chris Paul. Which has panned out great thus far. The Suns are the second seed in the West after missing the playoffs last season. They rank fourth in assist rate making them a top 10 offense in the league. Paul has elevated star shooting guard Devin Booker averaging 120.8 points per 100 possessions when both of them are on the court which is the league's best. Paul has made players around him much better for years this just another case. He’s changed the culture and hope in Phoenix. Chris Paul is the best new face in a new place.  

Most Surprising Team- New York Knicks 

How are the Knicks not the most surprising team thus far? Going into the season the Knicks looked like a joke of an organization. We had the Knicks buried for years. That’s not the case at all. THE KNICKS ARE ALIVE JUU HERD? Tom Thibodeau has been mentioned a couple times in this piece. It's time he’s honored for his work. They are playing great defense with keeping high intensity all game. The Knicks are first in points allowed a game and field-goal percentage allowed. The development of RJ Barrett was much needed considering many thought he could be the next big bust. Giving Julius Randle the most opportunities to succeed. That has gone great as Randle was in the All Star Game. The Knicks are fifth in the East with above .500 record at 19-18. The draft pick of Immanuel Quickley looks to be a steal in the draft. The Knicks have been the most surprising team thus far if a Knicks fan hasn’t already told you. 

Most Disappointing Team- Celtics 

Many would argue the Mavericks are in this conversation to me it’s not close it’s without a doubt the Boston Celtics. The Mavericks going into the All Star break went 9 for the last 11. Having their four best offensive performances in that stretch. While Doncic is playing like a mad man average 31.7 PPG, 8APG, and 7.6 TRB. That run saved the Mavericks for me. The Celtics having been supposed to be in the Finals for years haven’t been yet. Boston has been most disappointing. They ended the first of the season on a four game winning streak. The argument could be made that was their best four games of the season. They are fourth in the East with a 19-17 record. Yes they are competing with the Knicks not the Nets or 76ers as they should be. They lost 11 out of 16 at one point during the season where some were calling for head coach Brad Stevens' job. Which is crazy but it still happened. Marcus Smart and Kemba Walker have been playing injured. Jayson Tatum was injured at points. It hasn’t all been easy for the Celtics. Nonetheless they have two stars and a lot of good role players. They should be better. Expect them to turn this around but up to the mid way point they have been disappointing. 

Most Surprising Player-Julius Randle New York Knicks 

There have been many surprise performances in the 2021 season but no one has taken the league by storm more than Julius Randle. The veteran seems to be finally developing what he was drafted to do by the Lakers seven years ago. Now he’s doing it for the Knicks on a one year contract. Randle is averaging 23.2 PPG, 11.1 RBPG, 5.5 APG, while shooting 48.3 from the field. Earning him his first All Star Game appearance. The Knicks are placing themselves to be a top 6 seed in the East when many thought they wouldn’t even make it. New York is finally above .500 again it has a lot to do with the play of Julius Randle. 

Most Disappointing Player- Trae Young Atlanta Hawks 

Haven’t heard much from Trae Young so far this basketball season. Well that’s because he hasn’t played as great as he could. It’s not all Young obviously he still averages 26 points a game it’s how disappointing how the Hawks have been as well. Young has been very inconsistent in the 2020-2021 season. In his first four games he averaged 33 PPG, 8.3 assists, and 15.5 free throw attempts. That play just disappeared. During the month of January Young averaged 18.3 points, 8.8 assists and 6.4 free-throw attempts while shooting just 22.2 percent from three. That’s not very Trae Young at all. His poor play lead to Hawks winning less than five games in January. They are currently 11th in East with a 16-20 record. The Hawks were looked at as the next Golden State at some points over the last couple years. They haven’t lived up to that and Young is the leader so he takes the blame.

By Matthew Doherty