2021 NBA Awards (1st half of the season)

MVP: Giannis Antetokounpo (Bucks)

Yeah, not the popular pick of the day but, man, his numbers are still stupidly better than pretty much everyone else. Yeah, he's the two-time MVP and his team is slipping, but perhaps being the underdog is exactly what this team needs. I understand no one else agrees with me and that's fine but he's actually having another great season and I thought I'd go ahead and zig here while everyone else be zagging. 

The rest of my top 7 (in no particular order): Steph Curry (Warriors), Damian Lillard (Blazers), Lebron James (Lakers), Nikola Jokic (Nuggets), Julius Randle (Knicks), Joel Embiid (Sixers). 

My criteria: I start by picking out the top 100 in Minutes Played and top 100 in Games Played (145 players). I then look at the top 20 in FGA, 3PA, 2PA, FTA, Total Rebounds, Assists, (Turnovers), Steals, Blocks, Points (77 players). Look, if you're not in the top 145 of usage and the top 20 of at least one of those stats, then how can you be MVP? Some guys that got completely left out: Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, Jamal Murray, Tobias Harris, Paul George, Gordon Hayward. Sure, they're great players but none of them are the MVP of the league right now IMHO. Also, I intentionally removed James Harden (Nets): his numbers are great with the Nets but he spent the early part of the season sand bagging the Rockets and that just ain't MVP material, man. 

Rookie: LaMelo Ball (Hornets)/Tyrese Halliburton (Kings) 

I couldn't choose because they're putting up similar numbers in similar roles. Also, as a night owl I end up watching more Kings than Hornets, so even though Ball is perhaps the more exciting player, I see more of Halliburton and I like what I see. This is good--not great--rookie class and these two are clear rotation guys right away. 

I also like Immanuel Quickley (Knicks), Patrick Butler (Bulls), James Wiseman (Warriors), Anthony Edwards (Wolves), Precious Achiuwa (Heat). And in the 2nd half of the season I can see Onkgwu (Hawks), Deni Avidija (Wizards), and Devin Vassell (Spurs) shining out, too. (Is Tyrese Maxey (Sixers) on the trade block? His minutes have fallen off and I'm not sure why) Fun fact: the top 20 rookies in Minutes Played are the same 20 (though not in the same order) in Points, as well. The top of the class is already producing on the court. 

6th Man: Jordan Clarkson (Jazz)

Microwave off the bench, creates his own shots without being (too much of) a ball hog, pretty good rebounder at his position, and is giving valuable reliable minutes off the bench. (Has anyone noticed that he's 58 of 60 at the free throw line so far? Damn, man!)

LaMelo Ball (Hornets), Tyrese Halliburton (Kings) are both shooting well, keeping the offense going off the bench and feature impressive asst:to rates. (When was the last time a rook won 6th Man of the Year?) Monte Morris (Nuggets) is flying under the radar but playing well with the second unit, which will likely get bolstered at the all-star break. 

Coach: Quin Snyder (Jazz)

The Jazz have been killing it all year long, though I can't help feeling they're peaking too early. But Snyder doesn't quit and neither does Donovan Mitchell, if that rotation can stay healthy I do believe they can be dangerous in the post-season. 

Doc Rivers (Sixers) has unlocked Embiid and that is Coach of the Year stuff; Tom Thibodeau (Knicks) irritates the shit out of me and I can't help thinking they've gotten lucky with reclamation players (Randall, Peyton, Burks) and a sneaky great draft pick (Quickley), and my skepticism makes me feel like there's a better than average chance that Thibs blows that roster out by the end of the season, but so far...the Knicks are really good and a fun watch; Monty Williams (Suns) is the coach and having a hell of a season but Chris Paul is really running the team, right?

GM: Sean Marks (Nets)

Brought in Steve Nash to coach, James Harden to anchor and picked up Bruce Brown for a song without giving up Joe Harris. And (so far) those moves have worked brilliantly. Still very possible that one or the other blows up but even giving away Jarrett Allen doesn't seemed poised to be heartbreaker looking back.

Scott Perry (Knicks) seems to have chosen wisely with this year's recelamation projects. Mitch Kupchak (Hornets) drafted the best rookie, hung in on Gordon Hayward (who is looking great) and is making that Terry Rozier-Kemba Walker swap look like the right move (when it sure didn't at the time) and the Hornets are genuinely fun to watch for the first time in ages.