2021 individual hardware winners projection

[footey]

MVP - Nikola Jokic
ROTY- LaMelo Ball
DPOTY- Ben Simmons (I suspect there's going to be some 76ers animosity around here that keeps more folks from picking him .)
MIP- Julius Randle
6MOTY- Jordan Clarkson
COTY-  Thibs

I will admit I generally think Simmons gets a bit overrated on these boards at times (he is a great defensive player). But independent of that  I think it is tough to make an argument to give it to him over Gobert this season especially when he played 14 less games and the jazz have the best record in the league (partly cause Gobert basically didn't miss any time.

Gobert played more games than Embiid and Simmons, and he's also the key defensive player on his team by far.  The Sixers had the best defense in the league this season, but as often happens with the MVP race, the credit for that has to be shared somewhat between the two stars there, and there's also the fact that both Simmons and Embiid played fewer games.

I wonder if Gobert will be a victim of voter fatigue.  He's already won it twice.  Plus he is a lock be 3rd team All NBA.  Embiid is going to place 2nd in MVP vote, and 1st or 2nd All NBA team.  I could see voters giving the DPOY award to Simmons.   He has become an incredible defensive player.  And otherwise is likely to be shut out from any awards (except all defensive first team).   I am not saying he deserves it. I am making a prediction, and using these factors as considerations.

[Moranis]

MVP - Nikola Jokic
ROTY- LaMelo Ball
DPOTY- Ben Simmons (I suspect there's going to be some 76ers animosity around here that keeps more folks from picking him .)
MIP- Julius Randle
6MOTY- Jordan Clarkson
COTY-  Thibs

I will admit I generally think Simmons gets a bit overrated on these boards at times (he is a great defensive player). But independent of that  I think it is tough to make an argument to give it to him over Gobert this season especially when he played 14 less games and the jazz have the best record in the league (partly cause Gobert basically didn't miss any time.

Gobert played more games than Embiid and Simmons, and he's also the key defensive player on his team by far.  The Sixers had the best defense in the league this season, but as often happens with the MVP race, the credit for that has to be shared somewhat between the two stars there, and there's also the fact that both Simmons and Embiid played fewer games.

I wonder if Gobert will be a victim of voter fatigue.  He's already won it twice.  Plus he is a lock be 3rd team All NBA.  Embiid is going to place 2nd in MVP vote, and 1st or 2nd All NBA team.  I could see voters giving the DPOY award to Simmons.   He has become an incredible defensive player.  And otherwise is likely to be shut out from any awards (except all defensive first team).   I am not saying he deserves it. I am making a prediction, and using these factors as considerations.

Simmons is also the best defensive player on the best defensive team in the league and is a far more versatile defender able to defend all 5 positions against most teams.  Gobert is obviously fantastic and the engine of that great Utah defense as well.  He is very deserving, but I do think Simmons' versatility is what sets him apart. 

Also, the DPOY isn't about games played historically (unlike the MVP where games played matters a lot more).  In fact, in recent history the winner has almost always missed a lot of games.  I mean Gobert's first win in 18 he played in only 56 of the 82 games.  Kawhi won it with just 64 games and many winners have won it missing 10+ games.  So that fact that Gobert played more games, probably doesn't have much relevance.

[RJ87]

MVP - Nikola Jokic
ROTY- LaMelo Ball
DPOTY- Ben Simmons (I suspect there's going to be some 76ers animosity around here that keeps more folks from picking him .)
MIP- Julius Randle
6MOTY- Jordan Clarkson
COTY-  Thibs

I agree with all except maybe Ball as ROY..  he was out awhile & Edwards been playing good, so I may pick Edwards

I went back and forth on ROY myself, but with Charlotte surprising so many people and being more competitive and a ton of media guys hyping them up as a favorite league pass team, Ball has a slight edge.

[PhoSita]

Simmons is also the best defensive player on the best defensive team in the league and is a far more versatile defender able to defend all 5 positions against most teams.  Gobert is obviously fantastic and the engine of that great Utah defense as well.  He is very deserving, but I do think Simmons' versatility is what sets him apart. 

Also, the DPOY isn't about games played historically (unlike the MVP where games played matters a lot more).  In fact, in recent history the winner has almost always missed a lot of games.  I mean Gobert's first win in 18 he played in only 56 of the 82 games.  Kawhi won it with just 64 games and many winners have won it missing 10+ games.  So that fact that Gobert played more games, probably doesn't have much relevance.

How good would the Sixers be with an average defender at PF and Embiid at C?

I think that would still be an elite defensive team.

How good would the Jazz be on defense with an average defensive center instead of Gobert?

My guess is they'd be an average defensive team.


Games played may historically not have been the deciding factor.  It should be one way to distinguish between two worthy candidates, however.

[Moranis]

Simmons is also the best defensive player on the best defensive team in the league and is a far more versatile defender able to defend all 5 positions against most teams.  Gobert is obviously fantastic and the engine of that great Utah defense as well.  He is very deserving, but I do think Simmons' versatility is what sets him apart. 

Also, the DPOY isn't about games played historically (unlike the MVP where games played matters a lot more).  In fact, in recent history the winner has almost always missed a lot of games.  I mean Gobert's first win in 18 he played in only 56 of the 82 games.  Kawhi won it with just 64 games and many winners have won it missing 10+ games.  So that fact that Gobert played more games, probably doesn't have much relevance.

How good would the Sixers be with an average defender at PF and Embiid at C?

I think that would still be an elite defensive team.

How good would the Jazz be on defense with an average defensive center instead of Gobert?

My guess is they'd be an average defensive team.


Games played may historically not have been the deciding factor.  It should be one way to distinguish between two worthy candidates, however.

But that hasn't played out that way either.  Take Kawhi in 14-15, played in just 64 games.  Draymond finished 2nd and played in 79 games and Draymond actually had more 1st place votes than Kawhi.  So the guy that had less 1st place and played in 15 less games won the award. 

I just don't think the voters care about games played when it comes to DPOY.  I honestly wouldn't be surprised if any of the 3 finalists won it this year as they are all very deserving of winning.  They are all fantastic defenders that have a tremendous impact on the scoreboard because of their defense.  I'd personally go with Simmons if I was voting, but you can't go wrong with Gobert or Green.

[PhoSita]

But that hasn't played out that way either.  Take Kawhi in 14-15, played in just 64 games.  Draymond finished 2nd and played in 79 games and Draymond actually had more 1st place votes than Kawhi.  So the guy that had less 1st place and played in 15 less games won the award. 

I don't know why you're making an argument based on how "the voters" have voted in the past in a thread where people on this forum are picking who they think ought to win.

I'm not trying to predict who is going to win.  I'm stating why I think a particular person should win and explaining my criteria.


I guess the thread is titled "projection."  But the ask was "your picks?"  Anyway, If we're trying to predict who the voters will choose, your point is valid in that it seems the voters for some reason don't prioritize games played when it comes to DPOY, even though it is obviously a criteria applied to most of the other awards.

To me it's between Gobert and Embiid.  That's a close call, but Gobert has less defensive talent on his team and played more games.  That clinches it pretty conclusively for me.

[gouki88]

But that hasn't played out that way either.  Take Kawhi in 14-15, played in just 64 games.  Draymond finished 2nd and played in 79 games and Draymond actually had more 1st place votes than Kawhi.  So the guy that had less 1st place and played in 15 less games won the award. 

I don't know why you're making an argument based on how "the voters" have voted in the past in a thread where people on this forum are picking who they think ought to win.

I'm not trying to predict who is going to win.  I'm stating why I think a particular person should win and explaining my criteria.


I guess the thread is titled "projection."  But the ask was "your picks?"  Anyway, If we're trying to predict who the voters will choose, your point is valid in that it seems the voters for some reason don't prioritize games played when it comes to DPOY, even though it is obviously a criteria applied to most of the other awards.

To me it's between Gobert and Embiid.  That's a close call, but Gobert has less defensive talent on his team and played more games.  That clinches it pretty conclusively for me.

There is also the absolutely staggering difference in Utah's defence when Gobert is sitting on the bench

[colincb]

Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson was named the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year on Monday night, edging out teammate Joe Ingles and New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose for the award.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31505317/utah-jazz-jordan-clarkson-wins-nba-sixth-man-award-teammate-joe-ingles-2nd-voting

Clarkson won comfortably over Ingles. Rose was a very distant 3rd.

[Goldstar88]

Well deserved.

New York Knicks' Tom Thibodeau named Coach of the Year for second time.


https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31585938/new-york-knicks-tom-thibodeau-named-coach-year-second

[gouki88]

Well deserved.

New York Knicks' Tom Thibodeau named Coach of the Year for second time.


https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31585938/new-york-knicks-tom-thibodeau-named-coach-year-second

Should have been Monty Williams, but he was a close 2nd