With the NBA season upon us, it’s time to dish out awards and pick a champion. So myself, Brandon, Kevin, and Just have all given our choices on who we think is bringing home the hardware at the end of the season, as well as the team hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy in June. Without further ado, here are the first ever Sportsman Report Picks!
Rookie Of the Year
Brandon: Jahlil Okafor
He’s going to get the ball early and often. He’s the most skillful big men in this year’s rookie class and will have an enormous opportunity to take the struggling Philadelphia 76’ers into the right direction
Kevin: Emmanuel Mudiay
After saying goodbye to Ty Lawson in the offseason, Mudiay becomes the starting point guard. Mudiay may also be the best player on the Nuggets. If he’s even the number two option, expect him to still be better all year then the other rookies.
Justin: Jahil Okafor
There is a sort of calm before the storm feel with Okafor, and I would not be the least bit surprised to see him succeed greatly in his first season. With the Athletic ability and big league ready fundamentals this is your rookie of the year.
Jacob: Karl Anthony Towns
Karl Anthony Towns might be in the best position to win this award. He’s joining a nice young core and is going to be playing alongside one of the best to ever play the game in Kevin Garnett. Towns is going to come in starting right away and should contribute to this team really nicely.
6th Man of the Year
Brandon: Isaiah Thomas
He may be the best player on the Boston Celtics roster and will definitely have a high usage this season. He’ll have the ball in his hands during crunch time, and watch him create magic.
Kevin: Gerald Green
Gerald Green is the main scorer off the bench for the Miami Heat and will command shots. He had a strong start in preseason and I can’t see him letting up.
Justin: Isaiah Thomas
Guards tend to get the win here, and it should come to no surprise a young and hungry Celtics team has their 6th man of the year in Issiah Thomas. While playing behind young and budding PG Marcus Smart, look for Thomas to seize the opportunities given to him.
Jacob: Andre Iguodala
He’s coming off a great Finals showing and contributes extremely well for the defending champions. His defense is great and he’s an above average offensive player. He can play with the best of them and should come into the season with a lot of confidence.
Defensive Player of the Year
Brandon: Rudy Gobert
Gobert exploded onto the scene during the 2nd half of the season and he will only get better. Not only is he a great rim protector, and he’s long enough to create steals off the pick and roll.
Kevin: DeAndre Jordan
Off the court issues aside, Jordan is one of the best defensive players in the game. His 6’11” frame allows him to get a couple blocks a game and his ability to rebound is prolific, he has the talent to average over 13 rebounds a game.
Justin: Anthony Davis
I really don’t need to say anything here, except Anthony Davis is easily a top 5 player in the NBA. Say what you want, but you’re going to be searching hard to find a shot changer of his ability. Davis does not need to make contact with the ball to change shots, his length alone
Jacob: Rudy Gobert
I wanted to pick Anthony Davis, but it’s hard to pick against Rudy Gobert. He is a defensive monster. He averaged 2.3 blocks a season ago (2.8 as a starter) and held opponents to 40.4% at the rim. (Davis held opponents to 48.5% which was a factor for me) Gobert enters a full season as a starter and should help the Jazz make the playoffs with his defensive play.
Coach of the Year
Brandon: Billy Donovan
Much like Steve Kerr last season, Donovan has talent placed on his lap this season. He has two of the top 5 players in the league, a loaded bench, defensive minded players to go along with a healthy and HUNGRY roster.
Kevin: Scott Skiles
Skiles takes over an underrated Orlando Magic team with a chance to make the playoffs in just a season. The East isn’t challenging and a losing record could even get you into the playoffs, expect Orlando to make the playoffs and Skiles to get the credit.
Justin: Brad Stevens
There I said it! This man has done more with less. Last year he took a Starless Boston Celtics squad to the playoffs, what do you think he will do with the additions of the off season? What about his maturing young core? Look for Stevens to exploit the talent on the floor night in and night out.
Jacob: Randy Wittman
I think Washington can shock a lot of people and overtake the Bulls for 2nd place. Of course, I picked them to finish 4th, but Wittman can lead this team to 50+ wins. I see a lot of people counting them out. So don’t be surprised if you see Washington near the top of the East and Wittman being named Coach of the Year.
Most Improved Player of the Year
Brandon: CJ McCollum
He’s going to be the Robin to Batman Damian Lillard. Hopefully his injuries are behind him, because if he can continue his success from the last month of the 2015 and postseason, he and Lillard can become an electric backcourt.
Kevin: Enes Kanter
To begin last season, Kanter was unhappy with his role in Utah but was traded at the deadline to Oklahoma City. There, he thrived and a full season might help Kanter get over the hump and ultimately take home some hardware this season. Don’t expect offensive numbers with Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant though.
Justin: Rudy Gobert
With Trey Burke growing as a passer, look for the points totals to increase for Gobert. However it’s not his offense that get’s him here. It’s his ability to change a game in the post with his defense. Look for Gobert to become a presence down low, and change how the point guards out west attack this defense.
Jacob: Bradley Beal
We’re all waiting for that breakout season with Bradley Beal. This is the season. Paul Pierce is no longer in town so the Wizards need to find scoring from someone else. In comes Beal. Look for him to step up and be a 20 point scorer this season.
Most Valuable Player
English: Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunders at ARCO Arena. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Brandon: Stephen Curry
Many felt Curry didn’t deserve the award last season. This season, he silences his critics. No reason why he shouldn’t. He’s the best shooter in the league, improved his defense every year and has some of the best handles on the game.
Kevin: LeBron James
James will have to start the year carrying the Cavs, especially with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love hurt. Expect a quick start to the year and I can’t see him letting off.
Justin: Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant is on a comeback tour of sorts with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He is a man on a mission after spending his most of last season on the shelf, and watching his Thunder down without the league’s best scorer. To say he’s hungry is an understatement.
Jacob: James Harden
James Harden should have won this award a year ago. He led the Rockets to the second seed despite facing injuries all season. He’s the best offensive player in the game today, and his defense is improving. The Rockets were so close to the Finals last season, expect Harden to be hungry. He’s going to be your scoring champion, and your MVP come season’s end.
Western Conference Finals
Brandon: Oklahoma City defeats Golden State
Historically, Kevin Durant has torched the Golden State Warriors throughout his career. Durant is healthy and on a mission. The Warriors have a very good roster, but the Thunder may have the best roster in the league right now.
Kevin: San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs made the biggest splash in free agency, getting LaMarcus Aldridge and this will help them get over the hump. Expect the team to win out with maybe the best starting 5 in the league.
Justin: Thunder and Spurs
Shocker! No Clippers? No Houston? No Warriors? You have the Spurs with more finals experience than the entire Eastern Conference combined. Did I mention they have the best coach of the past decade? Your new look Thunder led by championship caliber Billy Donavan, and the healthy smash brothers ( Yes I nicknamed Durant and Westbrook as I felt it was appropriate to acknowledge their awesomeness
Jacob: Thunder vs Clippers
No team gained more talent this offseason than the Los Angeles Clippers. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin are one of the best duos in the game today, and Pierce has that championship experience. But, the Thunder are hungry for a championship after being so close. Kevin Durant is on a mission this season, and if the Thunder want to keep Durant, they may need to win a championship, otherwise they might be saying goodbye to Kevin Durant. The Thunder win in 6 games.
Eastern Conference Finals
Brandon: Cleveland defeats Chicago
The Bulls will continue to struggle against an LeBron-led team. Both teams brought back the same roster of players from the previous season, and I expect the same result.
Kevin: Miami Heat
The Miami Heat will get back Chris Bosh and will hope to see very similar production from Hassan Whiteside. The frontcourt alone could help the team get over the hill in a very weak Eastern conference.
Justin: Cav’s and Celtics
Sure I could have put the Wizards here, maybe even the Heat. However you can’t ignore the underdogs out east in the Celtics. What is a weaker conference should allow the Celtics to reach this, though it will be a fight. The Cav’s need no introduction.
Jacob: Wizards vs Heat
The Heat are back on track after a season with injuries. They have everyone healthy and are scary to look at. Miami has put together a great roster. Washington has one of the best backcourts in the game. After upsetting Cleveland in the second round, they’re going to have a lot of momentum on their side and they use that to move past the Heat in 7 games.
NBA Finals
Brandon: Oklahoma City defeats Cleveland
The time is now for Oklahoma City to win a title. With the dynamic duo of Russell Westbrook and Durant and the new offensive scheme of Billy Donovan, I don’t see how they won’t win it this season.
Kevin: Miami Heat
An underdog pick but not a shot in the dark. The Heat and Spurs are no strangers to Finals match-ups against each other and this season might be no different. The Finals will go to the wire with the underdogs coming out alive, but barely, say 7.
Justin: Thunder and Cavs
As much as we love to pick the underdogs to reach it all, the logical answer normally is the right answer. This will be a Finals that features some of the best talent in the NBA. Look for the Thunder to spoil another chance at LeBron glory. I have the Thunder in 7.
Jacob: Thunder vs Wizards
This is finally the Thunder’s year. After so many disappointing finishes, they finally win the big one. We get to see John Wall vs Russell Westbrook, which is an exciting matchup. Ultimately, Kevin Durant proves to be too much for Otto Porter and Kelly Oubre. The Thunder win in 6.
