With the NBA season just weeks away, many are wondering who will stand out this year. Here are the selections:
Most Improved Player – Steven Adams
Steven Adams is no longer just another player for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Because of the loss of Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka, Adams will have to become part of the Thunder’s new Big 3, with Russell Westbrook and Victor Oladipo. He will have to assume a bigger role, but this should not be a problem since Adams already showed his skills at the end of last year and throughout the playoffs. Due to his bigger role, the Aussie will finally be able to show his full potential and excel to win NBA’s Most Improved Player.
Defensive Player of The Year – Kawhi Leonard
They may as well rename this award to the Kawhi Leonard Award. Leonard, the new face of the San Antonio Spurs, won this award the past two years, 2015 and 2016, and is the favorite to be the first player to three-peat in NBA history. Last year Kawhi won by a landside, gaining nearly 500 more points than the second place contestant. Leonard will continue to thrive this year defensively in part due to the excellent defensive schemes of Coach Gregg Popovich.
Rookie of the Year- Joel Embiid
After favorite Ben Simmons, also on the 76ers, broke his foot in September, and is expected to be out until December, the race for Rookie of the Year is wide open. With players like Buddy Hield, Kris Dunn, Jaylen Brown, Brandon Ingram, and Joel Embiid all entering their freshman year in the NBA, it definitely wasn’t an easy decision. Embiid was drafted 2 years ago by Philadelphia, but injuries have kept him out until now. He has become bigger and stronger during the rehab process, a necessary quality to be a NBA center. Embiid is in a situation with the 76ers where he will play a lot, giving him the opportunity to work on his game and allow him to produce the stats making him Rookie of the Year.
Most Valuable Player – Russell Westbrook
After Kevin Durant left in the offseason, Westbrook is without a question the face of the Thunder organization. Even with Durant taking up a big chunk of the offense last year, Westbrook still put up a statline of 23.5 points, 10.4 assists and 7.8 rebounds, and 18 triple doubles. Without Durant, Westbrook will surely have the ball more and therefore score more which will open up opportunities. Plus, him and Durant didn’t leave on the best of terms, so Westbrook will be a little more pumped up this year to prove that he isn’t just a sidekick.
Surprise Team – Minnesota Timberwolves
After years of top draft picks, the Minnesota Timberwolves are finally legitimate. They have future all-stars, both Rookie of the Year Award winners, in Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns. They are supplemented by experienced point guard Ricky Rubio and Dunk Contest champion Zach LaVine, making them poised for success. Add that with coach Tom Thibodeau, who took the Bulls to five straight playoff appearances during his tenure as head coach. The Timberwolves have the talent to shock the West and become a true threat this year.
Biggest Bust- New York Knicks
Derrick Rose proclaimed this a “super team,” but the Knicks will far from that. Rose is not the same player anymore after his well documented knee injuries. President of Basketball Operations, Phil Jackson, gave Joakim Noah a 4 year, $72 million contract. Noah is 31 years old, injury prone, and is coming off of the worst year of his career in his career. The face of the team, Carmelo Anthony, needs the ball in his hands for the team to have a chance of being successful. Even with emerging star Kristaps Porzingis, the Knicks won’t be in the playoffs.
NBA Finals Matchup: Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
They are both the best teams in their conferences, plain and simple. Cleveland is bringing back their entire core from last year’s team which broke the city’s 53 year championship drought. Lebron James has proven to flip the switch to full gear in the postseason. The Warriors shocked the NBA universe when the brought in Kevin Durant this offseason. Their offense, on paper at least, looks unstoppable. With a projected starting lineup of back-to-back MVP Steph Curry, one of best shooters in the game, Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala, Durant, and Draymond Green, as well as a fantastic bench, they appear to be unstoppable. This will be another great matchup and hopefully, for all of our entertainment, goes to game seven again.
NBA champion – Golden State Warriors
They are just too good. The Golden State Warriors have arguably the best player in the league in 4 out of 5 positions and a bench that can beat many other teams. With Steph Curry and the addition of Kevin Durant, a top 5 player, in the offseason the Warriors seem unbeatable. They will be challenged by a strong Western Conference and potentially the Cleveland Cavaliers in the championship, but the Warriors will once again reign as NBA champions and raise the Larry O’Brien Trophy.