Zach Lowe NBA Awards Ballot..

[spursistan]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/15186679/nba-awards-ballot-part-1

* Expected Kawhi lack of signature performance in the Warriors matchups and last poor game was going to lose him few votes in DPOY and MVP :sleep. Hopefully he is saving monster ones for the Playoffs :toast...

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER


1. Stephen Curry
2. Kawhi Leonard
3. LeBron James
4. Kevin Durant
5. Chris Paul


ROOKIE OF THE YEAR


1. Karl-Anthony Towns
2. Kristaps Porzingis
3. Nikola Jokic

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR


1. Draymond Green
2. Kawhi Leonard *
3. Paul Millsap

COACH OF THE YEAR


1. Steve Kerr
2. Gregg Popovich
3. Terry Stotts



SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR


1. Andre Iguodala
2. Will Barton
3. Ed Davis

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER


1. C.J. McCollum
2. Kemba Walker
3. Ian Mahinmi

[UZER]

I don't remember him on Curry too much in the last game. How is Curry going off his fault if Pop didn't put him on him.

[BillMc]

Cheers for posting. :bobo

You know I think it was the games against Golden State last year that gave Kawhi his narrow DOPY win. This year, as you say, the lack of a signature game against them may cost him the award. Hope he gets it, we'll see.

Anyone with Insider willing to tell us what Kevin Pelton said with his awards? Thanks.

[apalisoc_9]

Green is not going to win DPOY. Kawhi has that baby locked up.

100% agree with the MVP race. Paul has been a monster this year.

[will_spurs]

As I mentioned in another thread I'm afraid that the Warriors getting 72 or 73 wins means they will get all the awards (except MIP and ROY where they have nobody to put forward).

Apart from unanimous MVP and COY, I'm afraid Kawhi is going to lose the DPOY to Draymond Green, even if in my opinion he shouldn't. The Spurs have had an historically good defense this year due mostly to Kawhi, but the race for DPOY was really close last year so I'm thinking most voters would rather split it than give it twice to Kawhi.

Loew puts Kawhi as #2 in the MVP race, which would be a nice acknowledgement of his level of play, but the end of the season tends to weigh heavily and I could Westbrook and possibly Lebron passing him. He should finish no lower than #4 though. Hopefully Westbrook and Durant share too many votes and Kawhi finishes #2.

[spursistan]

Green is not going to win DPOY. Kawhi has that baby locked up.

100% agree with the MVP race. Paul has been a monster this year.
Lowe not buying Westbrook Triple doubles whoring bullshit :lmao

[baseline bum]

As I mentioned in another thread I'm afraid that the Warriors getting 72 or 73 wins means they will get all the awards (except MIP and ROY where they have nobody to put forward).


Honestly, Curry should get Most Improved Player.

[Obstructed_View]

I don't really understand how one team can have the MVP, the DPOY, the COY, the 6MOY, and only clinch HCA in the last week of the season over a team that has none of those.

[HarlemHeat37]

Lowe has more of a "new-age" mentality, though, he doesn't represent the old media that relies heavily on narrative and antiquated methods of evaluating players(they are the majority for voting)..he had Danny Green and Gobert on his all-D teams, last year, for example, while the voters predictably had DeAndre Jordan on the 1st team:lol

[SpursFan86]

- I'd put LeBron at #2 for MVP and put Kawhi at #3

- Jokic at #2 in ROTY ahead of Porzingis

- DPOTY is tough...Draymond has Kawhi beat in both DRPM + opponents' FG% (has also played noticeably more minutes than Kawhi) but I feel like you have to reward the Spurs for being the clear-cut best defensive team in the league. And it's not like Kawhi has a ton more help, Bogut is on Duncan's level defensively and Iggy is as good as Green defensively. My vote goes to Kawhi but I don't think it'd be robbery if they gave it to Green.

- I still strongly disagree with Kerr winning COTY after missing half the season...Popovich, Stotts, or Clifford would all be better choices

- Feel like there should be a better 6MOTY candidate considering Iggy missed 15+ games but no one else has really stood out. Manu has probably been better on a per-minute basis but he's missed even more games than Iggy and also averages under 20 mpg.

[HarlemHeat37]

- I'd put LeBron at #2 for MVP and put Kawhi at #3

- Jokic at #2 in ROTY ahead of Porzingis

- DPOTY is tough...Draymond has Kawhi beat in both DRPM + opponents' FG% (has also played noticeably more minutes than Kawhi) but I feel like you have to reward the Spurs for being the clear-cut best defensive team in the league. And it's not like Kawhi has a ton more help, Bogut is on Duncan's level defensively and Iggy is as good as Green defensively. My vote goes to Kawhi but I don't think it'd be robbery if they gave it to Green.

- I still strongly disagree with Kerr winning COTY after missing half the season...Popovich, Stotts, or Clifford would all be better choices

- Feel like there should be a better 6MOTY candidate considering Iggy missed 15+ games but no one else has really stood out. Manu has probably been better on a per-minute basis but he's missed even more games than Iggy and also averages under 20 mpg.

The other legit 6th man options play for shitty teams, which probably eliminates them from consideration IMO..Teletovic has probably been the best the past 2 months, but he plays for an atrocious Suns team..

Will Barton was on pace to win it, but he has been horrible the past 2 months, in addition to playing on a bad team..

[FromWayDowntown]

Good for Ian Mahinmi to get some Most Improved love from Lowe.

It's a reminder of just how good Spurs' eye for spotting real NBA players late in the First Round of the draft (and developing those players) has been.

It used to be a thing to question whether the Spurs were actually finding guys late in first rounds, but with the lone exception of James Anderson (and maybe Jean-Charles, though we'll see), the first round picks the Spurs have made for themselves (and not immediately traded) since 2001 have all proven to be long-term NBA guys who can actually play in the league:

2001 - Parker
2004 - Udrih (792 games over 12 NBA seasons)
2005 - Mahinmi (437 games over 8 NBA seasons)
2007 - Splitter (347 games over 6 NBA seasons)
2008 - Hill (549 games over 8 NBA seasons)
2011 - Joseph (283 games over 5 NBA seasons)
2013 - K. Anderson

Obviously, if you count Kawhi as a pick, the prowess is all the better.

Relatedly, and I didn't know this previously, of all 62 players who've ever been picked #28 in any NBA draft, Parker is #1 in career WS (105.8), but Splitter is 10th (25.2), and Mahinmi is 11th (19.9). Of all players ever picked #26, Hill is #4 in career WS (47.8) behind only Vlade Divac, Kevin Martin, and Sam Dalembert.

[HarlemHeat37]

Ya, I made a thread about Mahinmi, last month..he has probably been the 2nd best player on a playoff team, pretty impressive(albeit a shitty playoff team:lol)

[spursistan]

Tom Haberstroh picks..

719912450515214336

[HarlemHeat37]

Haberstroh seems to strongly dislike Aldridge, tbh:lol.

He left him off all 3 all-NBA teams, and he was on ESPN radio yesterday saying Aldridge's numbers against the Warriors have been mostly empty..

[will_spurs]

Tom Haberstroh picks..

719912450515214336

Much love for Kawhi (#2 MVP, DPOY, All-NBA 1st, All-D 1st) and Pop. This is going to be interesting.

[apalisoc_9]

Haberstroh seems to strongly dislike Aldridge, tbh:lol.

He left him off all 3 all-NBA teams, and he was on ESPN radio yesterday saying Aldridge's numbers against the Warriors have been mostly empty..

Check his previous years selection.

[loveforthegame]

Small sample size with ballots released but Leonard on most of the first team all-NBA lists. :tu

[spursistan]

Haberstroh seems to strongly dislike Aldridge, tbh:lol.

He left him off all 3 all-NBA teams, and he was on ESPN radio yesterday saying Aldridge's numbers against the Warriors have been mostly empty..

593809361094447104

yeah, last season he called him Big man Iverson few times :lol

[MB3//]

I'm surprised there isn't more consideration for Kawhi to win MIP.
To go from a non all star season to #2 in MVP votes is unheard of.

[HarlemHeat37]

593809361094447104

yeah, last season he called him Big man Iverson few times :lol

Ya, I guess that confirms it:lol

He's been defending the Spurs on ESPN since Sunday, too, saying it's stupid that people are writing them off when they were playing without their best weapon in the matchup(Diaw)..I guess he just hates Aldridge's game, though..

[will_spurs]

To go from a non all star season to #2 in MVP votes is unheard of.

The fact that Kawhi wasn't an All-Star last year was a snub of epic proportions and everybody knows it.

[BillMc]

593809361094447104

yeah, last season he called him Big man Iverson few times :lol

LMA shooting a career high in fg%, ft%, blocks per minute, and vastly improved over-all defense. Oh, and his team is winning 65+ games. Since December I'd say he's been as much a part of that success as Kawhi. He deserves 3rd team, tbh. Well over Love whose D is still highly suspect.

[BillMc]

I'm surprised there isn't more consideration for Kawhi to win MIP.
To go from a non all star season to #2 in MVP votes is unheard of.

Agreed. And how many defending DPOY's spend half the season leading the league in 3 point percentage?

[resistanze]

Green is not going to win DPOY. Kawhi has that baby locked up.


Why do you think this tbh? All the rumblings I've seen/read seem to have mouthbreather slightly ahead.

[Kawhitstorm]

Tom Haberstroh picks..

719912450515214336

-Klay is making the 3rd team over HarDone
-No way Love makes 3rd team over LMA:lol
-Millsap/Bogut are making All-NBA D 2nd team over George/Horford

Anthony Davis:cry

[apalisoc_9]

Tom would make a great spurstalk poster tbh.

[apalisoc_9]

Why do you think this tbh? All the rumblings I've seen/read seem to have mouthbreather slightly ahead.

Looked about done a week ago. We will see...kawhi wasnt even in the convo last year till maybe tge last week :lol

[resistanze]

I also see voters making Kerr COY....I can't see him leaving empty handed after going 140-24 in two seasons, even if he missed 1/2 the season.

[resistanze]

Looked about done a week ago. We will see...kawhi wasnt even in the convo last year till maybe tge last week :lol

In the last week the Spurs lost twice to GSW...as irrelevant as that is the average pundit is a moron and probably somehow weighs into the voting:lol

Not that mouthbreather isn't a legitimate candidate, he has a strong case on its own.

[apalisoc_9]

Woukd be dissapointing to not see lowry in any of the all nba teams. He should be 2nd team

[spursistan]

How fuckin sweet if the Warriors sweep the awards and 73 in the bag but get beat by dem Spurs :lol

[HarlemHeat37]

DPOY is going to be interesting..Spurs have the best defense of any team since 2004, don't they? Haven't checked in a minute, maybe they fell off..

Spurs have the #1-ranked player in DRPM at the SG, SF and C positions:lol..Warriors defenders have a higher profile, though, as the casual fan/voter probably doesn't give too much credit to this version of Duncan IMO..

[Kawhitstorm]

The other legit 6th man options play for shitty teams, which probably eliminates them from consideration IMO..Teletovic has probably been the best the past 2 months, but he plays for an atrocious Suns team..

Will Barton was on pace to win it, but he has been horrible the past 2 months, in addition to playing on a bad team..

Kanter has the highest PER of any bench player, FG%, WS/48, rebounds, & is the only player averaging 12/8 in 20 minutes. (He devoured Ed Davis)

You also have Crawford who balled out when Blake was out (19.5 PPG) & leads the Cripples in 4th quarter scoring. (Better than Barton)

Jeremy Lin has been inconsistent but he has had a couple of big games, Turner has also been solid for the Celtics.

[HarlemHeat37]

Kanter has the highest PER of any bench player, FG%, WS/48, rebounds, & is the only player averaging 12/8 in 20 minutes. (He devoured Ed Davis)

You also have Crawford who balled out when Blake was out (19.5 PPG) & leads the Cripples in 4th quarter scoring. (Better than Barton)

Jeremy Lin has been inconsistent but he has had a couple of big games, Turner has also been solid for the Celtics.

I don't think Kanter has a chance, although he should be considered..he has a poor reputation and OKC has the "2-man team" narrative..

Crawford is always a legit choice, I forgot about him..seems like Iguodala is going to win it, though, based on the media ballots I've seen, so far..

[Kawhitstorm]

DPOY is going to be interesting..Spurs have the best defense of any team since 2004, don't they? Haven't checked in a minute, maybe they fell off..

Spurs have the #1-ranked player in DRPM at the SG, SF and C positions:lol..Warriors defenders have a higher profile, though, as the casual fan/voter probably doesn't give too much credit to this version of Duncan IMO..

Last season, the Worriers had the top 2 OVERALL DRPM leaders (Draymond/Bogut) to go along w/ Iggy & Klay(who made All-NBA 2nd team D despite having a NEGATIVE DRPM:lol)

[cjw]

-Klay is making the 3rd team over HarDone
-No way Love makes 3rd team over LMA:lol
-Millsap/Bogut are making All-NBA D 2nd team over George/Horford

Anthony Davis:cry

Klay certainly benefits from the open looks he gets being on the Ws. I think McCollom and Redick have had very similar seasons to Klay's (Klay is better and more versatile defensively), while Harden absolutely deserves an All NBA spot over any of them. Could argue that Klay is the fifth most important player on the team (Curry, Green, Iguodala, Bogut).

[Kawhitstorm]

I don't think Kanter has a chance, although he should be considered..he has a poor reputation and OKC has the "2-man team" narrative..

Crawford is always a legit choice, I forgot about him..seems like Iguodala is going to win it, though, based on the media ballots I've seen, so far..

Stein picked Crawford & his recent scoring outburst against OKC/Jazz when the starters were out seems to have given him a push. Meanwhile, Iggy missed a bunch of game which could hurt him or help him b/c some folks pointed to his absence for their recent losses.

[HarlemHeat37]

Klay certainly benefits from the open looks he gets being on the Ws. I think McCollom and Redick have had very similar seasons to Klay's (Klay is better and more versatile defensively), while Harden absolutely deserves an All NBA spot over any of them. Could argue that Klay is the fifth most important player on the team (Curry, Green, Iguodala, Bogut).

He's definitely one of the most overrated players in the league IMO, although I've noticed more people have realized how limited he is after watching him struggle in last year's playoffs..

Harden is a lock for all-NBA if the Rockets make the playoffs..he started off the year poorly, but has been a monster in the 2nd half..his poor conditioning and lack of off-season preparation got a coach fired, though:lol

[SpursFan86]

Kanter has the highest PER of any bench player, FG%, WS/48, rebounds, & is the only player averaging 12/8 in 20 minutes. (He devoured Ed Davis)

You also have Crawford who balled out when Blake was out (19.5 PPG) & leads the Cripples in 4th quarter scoring. (Better than Barton)

Jeremy Lin has been inconsistent but he has had a couple of big games, Turner has also been solid for the Celtics.

Kanter is also one of the worst defenders in the league and has a negative RPM (not even top 50 among centers) :lol I mean I guess I could see the argument for him being 3rd or something, but no way should he get it over Iguodala.

Crawford is horrible, tbh...gives you decent volume scoring with below average efficiency, and that's it. He's absolutely terrible defensively. Below average PER, negative RPM (73rd among SGs), negative BPM/VORP...list goes on. Would be an absolute crime if he won it.

Lin/Turner are decent I guess but I'd still say they're nowhere close to Iguodala.

[Kawhitstorm]

Crawford is horrible, tbh...gives you decent volume scoring with below average efficiency, and that's it. He's absolutely terrible defensively. Below average PER, negative RPM (73rd among SGs), negative BPM/VORP...list goes on. Would be an absolute crime if he won it.

Crawford is an all or nothing type player, he has won it twice over Manu doing what he has been doing this season.:lol

[Kawhitstorm]

Harden is a lock for all-NBA if the Rockets make the playoffs..he started off the year poorly, but has been a monster in the 2nd half..his poor conditioning and lack of off-season preparation got a coach fired, though:lol

There is NO WAY Klay is being left off the All-NBA team, it was going to be b/w Lillard & HarDone...I think we know who's going to win that battle. Hopefully, Lowry doesn't get thrown under the bus b/c he's an afterthought for most casual fans.:lol

[will_spurs]

It's going to be really awkward if Curry wins both MVP and MIP.

[SpursFan86]

Crawford is an all or nothing type player, he has won it twice over Manu doing what he has been doing this season.:lol

Well are you arguing that he should win/be in consideration for 6MOTY, or that he will be? If it's the latter, then yeah, I'm sure he's going to get some votes like he always does. He shouldn't though, because he's not even a net positive player at this point. At least in the other years he won 6MOTY he had respectable efficiency (57.3 TS% in 2010 and 55.6 TS% in 2014, compared to 52.9 TS% this year), although he still didn't deserve it over Manu in either of those years...especially not 2010.

[Kawhitstorm]

Well are you arguing that he should win/be in consideration for 6MOTY, or that he will be? If it's the latter, then yeah, I'm sure he's going to get some votes like he always does. He shouldn't though, because he's not even a net positive player at this point. At least in the other years he won 6MOTY he had respectable efficiency (57.3 TS% in 2010 and 55.6 TS% in 2014, compared to 52.9 TS% this year), although he still didn't deserve it over Manu in either of those years...especially not 2010.

I believe the debate is about who is GOING to win/be nominated for the awards by the VOTERS. (There was an ST award ballot when folks were debating whether Anthony Davis will make it: the media said he will but seem like they have changed their tunes like I predicted:lol)

[steeledl]

Not a lot to complain about here. I'd like to see Kawhi go back to back DPOY though. Also feel like Stotts should get coach of the year.... His team has exceeded expectations. If Kerr doesn't ring his season is a disappointment .

[midnightpulp]

It's going to piss me off if Raymond wins DPOY.

One of the problems some of the new media writers have is that they look at metrics and nothing but, so they'll see Raymond's higher DRPM vs. Kawhi and might call it a day.

But I'll go on record and say Raymond is one of the most overrated defenders in the league.

- The Warriors have a mediocre points-in-the paint defense. I know Raymond isn't a traditional paint anchor, but still.

- Raymond typically can't guard bigs 1-on-1 for long stretches, and (contrary to even my perception), the Warriors have been getting killed by 4-5s all season. It's not until they start swarming that opposing bigs begin to have trouble. Yet the metrics will disproportionally "credit" Raymond in these instances.

- The wing positions are much, much deeper in talent than the big positions. As a result of that, Kawhi will naturally be tasked with much more of a defensive load any given night.

- The Warriors offense. Their offense is arguably the most exhausting offense to defend in NBA history. You constantly have to switch. Chase Curry and Klay through a barrage of (illegal) screens. Constantly rotate to cover shooters and secondary action. By virtue of that, players will have less energy to expend on offense themselves, making defending other teams easier. It's like in the NFL. A best offense can also be your best defense. The Spurs offense these days, while relatively hard to defend, isn't necessarily "tiring."

- When Kawhi was out, the defense was on the level of the Lakers. Granted, it wasn't a huge sample size, but the team was giving up huge offensive games to the Suns and Lakers during that stretch.

I don't think it's an argument, but the "metrics."

[apalisoc_9]

He's definitely one of the most overrated players in the league IMO, although I've noticed more people have realized how limited he is after watching him struggle in last year's playoffs..

Harden is a lock for all-NBA if the Rockets make the playoffs..he started off the year poorly, but has been a monster in the 2nd half..his poor conditioning and lack of off-season preparation got a coach fired, though:lol

Harden is not a lock imo because most have made tgeir decisions a few days ago :lol

[apalisoc_9]

It's going to piss me off if Raymond wins DPOY.

One of the problems some of the new media writers have is that they look at metrics and nothing but, so they'll see Raymond's higher DRPM vs. Kawhi and might call it a day.

But I'll go on record and say Raymond is one of the most overrated defenders in the league.

- The Warriors have a mediocre points-in-the paint defense. I know Raymond isn't a traditional paint anchor, but still.

- Raymond typically can't guard bigs 1-on-1 for long stretches, and (contrary to even my perception), the Warriors have been getting killed by 4-5s all season. It's not until they start swarming that opposing bigs begin to have trouble. Yet the metrics will disproportionally "credit" Raymond in these instances.

- The wing positions are much, much deeper in talent than the big positions. As a result of that, Kawhi will naturally be tasked with much more of a defensive load any given night.

- The Warriors offense. Their offense is arguably the most exhausting offense to defend in NBA history. You constantly have to switch. Chase Curry and Klay through a barrage of (illegal) screens. Constantly rotate to cover shooters and secondary action. By virtue of that, players will have less energy to expend on offense themselves, making defending other teams easier. It's like in the NFL. A best offense can also be your best defense. The Spurs offense these days, while relatively hard to defend, isn't necessarily "tiring."

- When Kawhi was out, the defense was on the level of the Lakers. Granted, it wasn't a huge sample size, but the team was giving up huge offensive games to the Suns and Lakers during that stretch.

I don't think it's an argument, but the "metrics."

He will win it.

The bigger question is if he makes first team over established superstars like durant and Lebron.

[Kawhitstorm]

It's going to piss me off if Raymond wins DPOY.

Who cares about DPOY when Dwert is the ONLY player in HISTORY to win it 3 consecutive time but has NOTHING to show for it.:lol

Once you win it once for the sake of legacy it becomes a watered down achievement thereafter.

[apalisoc_9]

Who cares about DPOY when Dwert is the ONLY player in HISTORY to win it 3 consecutive time but has NOTHING to show for it.:lol

Once you win it once for the sake of legacy it becomes a watered down achievement thereafter.

I am more concerened about fist team myself.

[Kawhitstorm]

He deserves 3rd team, tbh. Well over Love whose D is still highly suspect.

The Cavs have only won ONE game that LeBron has missed & that was against a beatup Mavs squad.

Love's advanced stats are VERY deceiving, he's a guy that screams EYE-TEST. (Same w/ LMA)

[Kawhitstorm]

Harden is not a lock imo because most have made tgeir decisions a few days ago :lol

Melo's 2013-14 season happened, Harden isn't a lock even as the 8th seed. (Not saying much when the Grizz are a HIGHER seed:lol)

[Keepin' it real]

How fuckin sweet if the Warriors sweep the awards and 73 in the bag but get beat by dem Spurs :lol

Would be reminiscent of 2005 Spurs-Suns.

[GSH]

Kind of illogical to have Kawhi in second place for MVP, and not first for DPOY. The offensive gap between Kawhi and some other guys is fairly big. The only thing that could make up for that is what he does on the defensive side. If his defense is good enough to bring him to #2 on an MVP ballot, he would need to be defending well enough to be MVP.

That says to me that Zach is picking DPOY without really thinking about what he's saying. I guess that shouldn't be surprising.

[cjw]

There is NO WAY Klay is being left off the All-NBA team, it was going to be b/w Lillard & HarDone...I think we know who's going to win that battle. Hopefully, Lowry doesn't get thrown under the bus b/c he's an afterthought for most casual fans.:lol

Agree, but his argument and mine were that he has no business being on an All NBA team over those guys. But 72/73 wins will get you there.

[SPURt]

I don't understand how the Dub games are influencing people to pick Dbag Queen over Kawhi? The Spurs held the Warriors to 104.6 offensive efficiency ratings way below their average of 112.3. That includes the turd of a blowout in game 1. Kawhi is the best defender on the best defensive team in the league by far. These last two games had no bearing on the season. Also, the Warriors actually played their full group, Pop is being cautious with Diaw. If it was the playoffs Diaw would be playing. Kawhi should win DPOY.

[Obstructed_View]

Good for Ian Mahinmi to get some Most Improved love from Lowe.

It's a reminder of just how good Spurs' eye for spotting real NBA players late in the First Round of the draft (and developing those players) has been.


Not sure that I'd give Pop a lot of credit for playing him 6 minutes a game then letting him go to Dallas as a free agent.

[RD2191]

Green is an overrated defender. Tugging and grabbing jerseys to keep bigger players from scoring.

[Obstructed_View]

I don't understand how the Dub games are influencing people to pick Dbag Queen over Kawhi? The Spurs held the Warriors to 104.6 offensive efficiency ratings way below their average of 112.3. That includes the turd of a blowout in game 1. Kawhi is the best defender on the best defensive team in the league by far.

Good take. If someone's going to give Green the DPOY then Leonard and Duncan should be 2 and 3.

[coachmac87]

MVP-Curry
COY-Brad Stevens
ROY-Towns
MIP-Draymond Green
6th Man-Iggy

[Spurtacular]

Lowry became a superstar

:lmao

[Spurtacular]

LeBron can be the fastest all-court defender in the league when he wishes

Is Zachy living in a fantasy world?

[Spurtacular]

Gaymond will win DPOY. The media doesn't like giving back to back awards when they don't have to.

[DenialTwist]

Kawhi should get it over Draymond, the warriors are fifth in defense. They were #1 last year so it's a drop off and he anchors their defense.

[YGWHI]

Green is not going to win DPOY. Kawhi has that baby locked up.

Not sure, CBS and SI.com show some love to Kawhi, but most reporters from the big guys like ESPN and USAToday pick Dray over Kawhi. Stein and Amick are voting for Warriors in every award-spot, MVP, COY, DPOY, 6th man...

[TD 21]

Kanter is also one of the worst defenders in the league and has a negative RPM (not even top 50 among centers) :lol I mean I guess I could see the argument for him being 3rd or something, but no way should he get it over Iguodala.

Crawford is horrible, tbh...gives you decent volume scoring with below average efficiency, and that's it. He's absolutely terrible defensively. Below average PER, negative RPM (73rd among SGs), negative BPM/VORP...list goes on. Would be an absolute crime if he won it.

Lin/Turner are decent I guess but I'd still say they're nowhere close to Iguodala.

Iguodala is going to win it, but based on the way they media always votes (the guard version of him is synonymous with this award) on this, Kanter should and only won't because of big man bias.


Obviously, I hope Leonard wins DPOY, but the fact that he won it last season, when many thought Green should have and the fact that he can't seem to go more than a few weeks without missing a game(s) despite being young and only having had one minor injury, isn't going to help.

What is going to help, is that the narrative is this team is all Pop and him and that he doesn't have nearly the defensive assistance Green does.

[Keepin' it real]

National media wet for Draymond

[MultiTroll]

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
LeBron James
The final week screwed the pooch for Kwa.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Porzingis

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Kawhi Leonard

COACH OF THE YEAR
Bostons coach

SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR
Andre Iguodala

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER
Tony Parker. His strong 1st half enough to carry his weak finish.

[loveforthegame]

Do Reggie Miller (I think he did last year) and Walt Frazier have official votes? If so, they both picked Leonard as DPOY.

[PopTheGOAT]

Curry will win MVP, obviously. Think Kawhi gets 3rd behind Westbrook.

I think Kawhi deserves DPOY but Green will get it. Don't think they're quite finished sucking Dub dick yet

[Mark in Austin]

Honestly, Curry should get Most Improved Player.

yup.

[spursistan]

¨PART 2

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/15198958/nba-awards-ballot-part-2


ALL-NBA

1st team

G: Russell Westbrook
G: Stephen Curry
F: LeBron James
F: Kawhi Leonard
C: DeAndre Jordan

2nd team

G: Kyle Lowry
G: Chris Paul
F: Draymond Green
F: Kevin Durant
C: Al Horford

3rd team

G: Klay Thompson
G: Damian Lillard
F: Paul George
F: Paul Millsap
C: Karl-Anthony Towns

ALL-DEFENSE

1st team

G: Chris Paul
G: Jimmy Butler
F: Kawhi Leonard
F: Draymond Green
C: Rudy Gobert


2nd team

G: Ricky Rubio
G: Avery Bradley
F: Paul George
F: Paul Millsap
C: DeAndre Jordan

* Reasons for no Aldridge or Duncan in AL NBA/ALL defense team:


Next step: Maybe I could move Aldridge into the last center spot! He has played about 45 percent of his minutes there, a much larger share than Green, and logged almost exactly half his minutes without Tim Duncan -- the Spurs' only "true" center, aside from the Boban Monster. But even in those "center" minutes, David West or Boris Diaw might guard the opposing low-post brute, leaving Aldridge on the nominal power forward.

Aldridge and Diaw might flip-flop those assignments within a possession. Who is the center then?


The center position has a strong historic legacy, and despite paranoia about its disappearance, there are a ton of good centers -- including many young guys -- in the league today. But the positional categories for All-NBA don't jibe with the game's evolution.


Sliding Aldridge to center didn't feel right, especially after refusing Green the same benefit.


Tim Duncan is still the gold standard by some advanced numbers, but he looked creakier than usual in a career-low 1,500-plus minutes. :depressed

[spursistan]

not sure what Jimmy Butler is doing in 1st All D team :lol

[SPURt]

¨PART 2

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/15198958/nba-awards-ballot-part-2


ALL-NBA

1st team

G: Russell Westbrook
G: Stephen Curry
F: LeBron James
F: Kawhi Leonard
C: DeAndre Jordan

2nd team

G: Kyle Lowry
G: Chris Paul
F: Draymond Green
F: Kevin Durant
C: Al Horford

3rd team

G: Klay Thompson
G: Damian Lillard
F: Paul George
F: Paul Millsap
C: Karl-Anthony Towns

ALL-DEFENSE

1st team

G: Chris Paul
G: Jimmy Butler
F: Kawhi Leonard
F: Draymond Green
C: Rudy Gobert


2nd team

G: Ricky Rubio
G: Avery Bradley
F: Paul George
F: Paul Millsap
C: DeAndre Jordan

* Reasons for no Aldridge or Duncan in AL NBA/ALL defense team:
Gross Zach! DeAndre a first team all-NBA selection? Where have all the good bigs gone? Maybe the human population is shrinking? Zach Lowe has been really disappointing this awards season. At least Bill Simmons put Draymond in the first team and LMA at center on the 2nd. Simmons said he couldn't in good conscious reward the horribleness that is the center position in the NBA. He wouldn't even put Boogie in because he is such a locker room cancer and I think Bill Simmons has a tramp stamp tattoo of Boogie's face.

[BillMc]

¨PART 2

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/15198958/nba-awards-ballot-part-2


ALL-NBA

1st team

G: Russell Westbrook
G: Stephen Curry
F: LeBron James
F: Kawhi Leonard
C: DeAndre Jordan

2nd team

G: Kyle Lowry
G: Chris Paul
F: Draymond Green
F: Kevin Durant
C: Al Horford

3rd team

G: Klay Thompson
G: Damian Lillard
F: Paul George
F: Paul Millsap
C: Karl-Anthony Towns

ALL-DEFENSE

1st team

G: Chris Paul
G: Jimmy Butler
F: Kawhi Leonard
F: Draymond Green
C: Rudy Gobert


2nd team

G: Ricky Rubio
G: Avery Bradley
F: Paul George
F: Paul Millsap
C: DeAndre Jordan

* Reasons for no Aldridge or Duncan in AL NBA/ALL defense team:

How do the 48 win Hawks have 2 players on the list and the 67 win spurs 1?????

[SPURt]

How do the 48 win Hawks have 2 players on the list and the 67 win spurs 1?????
+1 I didn't even notice that

[SPURt]

http://www.si.com/nba/2016/04/11/nba-awards-stephen-curry-lebron-james-karl-anthony-towns

Here's SI's writer's awards. Spoiler: They mostly pick Kawhi for DPOY and unanimously pick Kerr for COY

[UZER]

It's going to piss me off if Raymond wins DPOY.

One of the problems some of the new media writers have is that they look at metrics and nothing but, so they'll see Raymond's higher DRPM vs. Kawhi and might call it a day.

But I'll go on record and say Raymond is one of the most overrated defenders in the league.

- The Warriors have a mediocre points-in-the paint defense. I know Raymond isn't a traditional paint anchor, but still.

- Raymond typically can't guard bigs 1-on-1 for long stretches, and (contrary to even my perception), the Warriors have been getting killed by 4-5s all season. It's not until they start swarming that opposing bigs begin to have trouble. Yet the metrics will disproportionally "credit" Raymond in these instances.

- The wing positions are much, much deeper in talent than the big positions. As a result of that, Kawhi will naturally be tasked with much more of a defensive load any given night.

- The Warriors offense. Their offense is arguably the most exhausting offense to defend in NBA history. You constantly have to switch. Chase Curry and Klay through a barrage of (illegal) screens. Constantly rotate to cover shooters and secondary action. By virtue of that, players will have less energy to expend on offense themselves, making defending other teams easier. It's like in the NFL. A best offense can also be your best defense. The Spurs offense these days, while relatively hard to defend, isn't necessarily "tiring."

- When Kawhi was out, the defense was on the level of the Lakers. Granted, it wasn't a huge sample size, but the team was giving up huge offensive games to the Suns and Lakers during that stretch.

I don't think it's an argument, but the "metrics."

You also have to understand their tendencies and preventively snuff them out.

Example:

When curry is bringing up the ball on a break / semi break, you have to go find Draymond and put a body on him, get in his way, etc because he in running straight to the three point line to set the pick for curry. He does it every time. A lot of little things like that will help to disrupt there flow and prevent the quick runs they go on.

[spursistan]

most of these picks were expected only for Paul George nosedive which costs him on most ballots..

[exstatic]

Why do you think this tbh? All the rumblings I've seen/read seem to have mouthbreather slightly ahead.

The guys on NBC sports loathe the Spurs, but all gave Kawhi the nod.

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

Some terrible choices by Lowe. He's usually spot on but his All NBA teams are bad. Al H:lolrf:lolrd ffs!

Also, Gobert and Duncan have played the same number of games. Gobert plays like 5 more minutes and this makes him 1st team All-Defense but disqualifies a much better Duncan altogether? Jimmy Butler in the first All-Defense team? What year is this? Certainly not 2016.

[Tully365]

Kind of illogical to have Kawhi in second place for MVP, and not first for DPOY. The offensive gap between Kawhi and some other guys is fairly big. The only thing that could make up for that is what he does on the defensive side. If his defense is good enough to bring him to #2 on an MVP ballot, he would need to be defending well enough to be MVP.

That says to me that Zach is picking DPOY without really thinking about what he's saying. I guess that shouldn't be surprising.

Stranger things have happened-- in 2013, Marc Gasol won DPOY and then was named to the NBA's All defensive second team... Noah & Tyson Chandler made first team as centers...

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

Oh and Jordan WTF

[Tully365]

To think of all those years that Duncan didn't win DPOY! Losing out to the likes of Marcus Camby... If advanced stats were more readily available back then, Duncan would definitely not be retiring without a DPOY award or two on his mantle...

[apalisoc_9]

Oh and Jordan WTF
Jordan has been awesome this year

[timtonymanu]

DJ was key for the Clips when Blake was out. I guess I don't see that choice being extreme. Center position is pretty much non existent these days.

[GSH]

Stranger things have happened-- in 2013, Marc Gasol won DPOY and then was named to the NBA's All defensive second team...


Oh, man, I had forgotten about that. That's like winning a primary and still getting fewer delegates. :lol

[SAGirl]

How do the 48 win Hawks have 2 players on the list and the 67 win spurs 1?????
Wow good point! And we dominated them in our two matches, blowout territory.

[look_at_g_shred]

Rubio for an all defensive team????

[exstatic]

Stranger things have happened-- in 2013, Marc Gasol won DPOY and then was named to the NBA's All defensive second team... Noah & Tyson Chandler made first team as centers...

Gasol only won THAT because there was a tie and two Cs on the first team. Had one less person voted for either of them, he would have been bumped off the second team.

[exstatic]

Not sure that I'd give Pop a lot of credit for playing him 6 minutes a game then letting him go to Dallas as a free agent.

Lot more to development than game time.

[HarlemHeat37]

My all-NBA that will probably look completely different than the official selections :lol :

1st team

G: Russell Westbrook
G: Stephen Curry
F: LeBron James
F: Kawhi Leonard
C: Draymond Green

2nd team

G: Kyle Lowry
G: Chris Paul
F: Paul Millsap
F: Kevin Durant
C: DeAndre Jordan

3rd team

G: James Harden
G: Damian Lillard
F: Paul George
F: LaMarcus Aldridge
C: DeMarcus Cousins

[BillMc]

My all-NBA that will probably look completely different than the official selections :lol :

1st team

G: Russell Westbrook
G: Stephen Curry
F: LeBron James
F: Kawhi Leonard
C: Draymond Green

2nd team

G: Kyle Lowry
G: Chris Paul
F: Paul Millsap
F: Kevin Durant
C: DeAndre Jordan

3rd team

G: James Harden
G: Damian Lillard
F: Paul George
F: LaMarcus Aldridge
C: DeMarcus Cousins

Good list!:bobo

[apalisoc_9]

My all-NBA that will probably look completely different than the official selections :lol :

1st team

G: Russell Westbrook
G: Stephen Curry
F: LeBron James
F: Kawhi Leonard
C: Draymond Green

2nd team

G: Kyle Lowry
G: Chris Paul
F: Paul Millsap
F: Kevin Durant
C: DeAndre Jordan

3rd team

G: James Harden
G: Damian Lillard
F: Paul George
F: LaMarcus Aldridge
C: DeMarcus Cousins

I was wondering, what If Draymond didnt get enough Center votes to make the center spot and because of all the center votes, he didnt make the 2nd team of the forward spot.

I'm confused.

I know kawhi had the 12 most votes last year but a couple of guards and center wth less made it. He had a few guard botes.

[HarlemHeat37]

I was wondering, what If Draymond didnt get enough Center votes to make the center spot and because of all the center votes, he didnt make the 2nd team of the forward spot.

I'm confused.

I know kawhi had the 12 most votes last year but a couple of guards and center wth less made it. He had a few guard botes.

The media has been very vocal about Draymond being eligible for the C spot, I don't think it'll a problem, tbh..

I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but I really think the league wants to avoid having somebody like DeAndre Jordan or Al Horford on the 1st team:lol

[Obstructed_View]

Lot more to development than game time.

I guess it's time to list all the development that Pop did, because I saw Mahinmi get yanked for mistakes and get benched for days at a time. It's the same shit he did to Splitter his first year and the same shit he did to Rasho and Nazr in 2006.

[loveforthegame]

Lots of love from Jason Jones who covers the Kings.

http://www.sacbee.com/sports/nba/sacramento-kings/kings-blog/article72281702.html

Leonard 3rd MVP.
Leonard DPOY.
Leonard 1st all-NBA team.
Leonard and Green 1st defensive team.
LMA 2nd defensive team.

[Kawhitstorm]

-Klay is making the 3rd team over HarDone
-No way Love makes 3rd team over LMA:lol
-Millsap is making All-NBA D 2nd team over Horford

Anthony Davis:cry


Kanter has the highest PER of any bench player, FG%, WS/48, rebounds, & is the only player averaging 12/8 in 20 minutes. (He devoured Ed Davis)

Jeremy Lin has been inconsistent but he has had a couple of big games.


There is NO WAY Klay is being left off the All-NBA team, it was going to be b/w Lillard & HarDone...I think we know who's going to win that battle. Hopefully, Lowry doesn't get thrown under the bus b/c he's an afterthought for most casual fans.:lol


Melo's 2013-14 season happened, Harden isn't a lock even as the 8th seed. (Not saying much when the Grizz are a HIGHER seed:lol)

:wakeup