Sep 1, 2013
October is a little over a month away now but it didn’t stop our basketball crazed team of giving their predictions of the 2013-14 award winners in the categories of Most Valuable Player (MVP), Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY), Sixth Man of the Year and Rookie of the Year. Sports Writers Everick Davis Jr., Felicia Mitchell, and Alexander Skydel give their predictions on what is anticipated to be a great year in basketball.
Most Valuable Player (MVP)
Davis: MVP: Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
It’s finally time for Kevin Durant to win this thing. He looked like perfect candidate for the award a few years ago but then Derrick Rose happened. Then LeBron regained his popular. Durant and the Thunder will be right near the top of the West as always even with a weaker supporting cast, Kevin Durant will step up big this year and hopefully not come in 2nd place.
Alternate: LeBron James, Miami Heat
If Durant doesn’t win then people aren’t tired of voting LeBron, I can’t blame them, he’s that damn good.
Mitchell: Kevin Durant, Forward, Oklahoma City Thunder
We all know that this is LeBron James’ league but my since he got the MVP award the last 2 seasons, it would be a conspiracy for him to take the award this year. My choice for MVP of the 2013-14 season is Kevin Durant. Russell Westbrook will be back from injury and the OKC Thunder will back to prove that they are the leaders of the West.
Alternate MVP: Chris Paul. I believe that Doc Rivers will have Paul an even better point guard and team leader. He is able to take over ball games as well as facilitate, he will be more focus in 2013-14.
Skydel: Lebron James, F, Miami Heat
Can Lebron win his fifth MVP Trophy before he turns 30? In my opinion, yes he can. James is clearly the best overall player in the game and I believe this upcoming season will be one of his toughest yet. With Dwyane Wade’s game declining due to plenty of injuries throughout his career, who will step up and be able to compliment James? They are still small up front and are not a great rebounding team so that means that James will have to be even better all around, if that’s even possible, for them to be able to three-peat. As much as I wanted to pick someone else to win this award, it is James’s award to lose and I just don’t see him losing it.
Alternate: Kevin Durant. Kevin Durant is second to Lebron only because he is the second best player in the NBA on the best team in the Western Conference when they are all healthy.
Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY)
Davis: DPOY: Roy Hibbert, Indiana Pacers
The people aren’t voting for Dwight Howard any more. Two years ago this was Tyson Chandler, last year it was Marc Gasol, I’m calling Roy Hibbert this year. Hibbert is really big and good at protecting the rim. During last years playoffs, Hibbert said people don’t watch the Pacers, this year they will. People will pay attention to the Pacers this year and see how much of an impact Hibbert has on the defensive end of the floor.
Alternate: Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls
Joakim Noah doesn’t just protect the rim, he plays amazing defense, the Bulls are one of the top defensive teams in the NBA and Noah is a huge reason why.
Mitchell: LeBron James.
LeBron has been lobbying for the DPOY award for a couple of seasons now, he stated that this is a goal of his this year, to win the award and I believe that he will do just that. Look out for more come-from-behind-fast-break-block-shots by King James.
Alternate DPOY: Roy Hibbert. Hibbert is proving to be a monster at the rim. He is one of the few, real centers of the league and if you watched the Eastern Conference Playoffs last season, you saw just how good he is.
Skydel: Dwight Howard, C, Houston Rockets
Dwight Howard has something to prove. He has to prove something to the fans, to the players, and to himself, which gives him a chip on his shoulder coming in to this season. Make no mistake, if Dwight Howard doesn’t come back with the fire, the energy, and the dominance that he once showed in Orlando not too long ago, than he will absolutely lose respect from everyone in the league if he hasn’t done so already. Injuries are one thing but when you are being paid millions of dollars to play a game, your effort should never be put into question. That is why I believe that Dwight Howard will accept this fresh start in Houston and return to being the player he was when he was with the Orlando Magic, before all of the drama, because if we ever do see that Dwight Howard again, watch out.
Alternate: Joakim Noah. The reason why Noah is regarded as one of the best players in the league is because of his play on the defensive end. He is tough, energetic, and he knows how to get in the heads of opponents.
Sixth Man of the Year
Davis: 6MOY: Jarrett Jack, Cleveland Cavaliers
If my boy JR Smith wasn’t so unpredictable I would give him this spot but I’m going with Jarret Jack. Jack was key coming off the bench for the Warriors last year and should be for the Cavs as well. Jack can come in and run the offense and play with Kyrie Irving as well. I can see this is going to work out nicely.
Alternate: Danny Granger, Indiana Pacers
Danny Granger gets buckets, if the Pacers decide to bring him off the bench he’ll be a super 6th man.
Mitchell: Jarrett Jack. After losing out on the award last season, Jack will be will be hungry. The Cleveland Cavaliers have improved their roster this offseason and I believe with winning a few more games this year, possibly making the playoffs the team will be more exciting and Jack will benefit from the adrenaline rush from the Cavs fans.
Alternate Sixth Man: Might surprise you but my choice is Harrison Barnes. With the addition of Andre Iguodala, Barnes will probably move to the Warriors sixth man role. If Barnes comes in next season where he left off last season, he makes a strong case for the Sixth Man Award.
Skydel: Jamal Crawford, G, Los Angeles Clippers
Last season, Crawford came in second place in the sixth man of the year ballot behind J.R. Smith of the New York Knicks and it just seems like every year, Crawford is one of top vote getters for this award. Crawford has done a great job accepting and mastering his role of coming off of the bench after he spent many seasons starting for the Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks. During the 2012-13 season, Crawford averaged 16.5 PPG while shooting 43.8% from the field and 37.6% from 3pt range. In my opinion, he is the definition of a sixth man, a guy who can come off the bench and give your team a spark with instant offense and exciting plays.
Alternate: Jarrett Jack, G, Cleveland Cavaliers
Jack is a great playmaker coming off the bench, which will allow the Cavaliers to rest the injury-prone Kyrie Irving more than they normally would.
Rookie of the Year (ROY)
Davis: ROY: Kelly Olynyk, Boston Celtics
My boy Kelly Olynix gets buckets. He’s the only center ok the Celtics. The Celtics are rebuilding. He’s going to get minutes. He’s going to get buckets.
Alternate: Trey Burke, Utah Jazz
Trey Burke will get a lot of run in Utah which should lead to pretty good numbers, plus the last few ROYs were point guards in similar situations.
Mitchell: Victor Oladipo. The Orlando Magic were quite horrible last season, with drafting Oladipo the Magic will be a much more improved team. We saw a little of how good he is going to be for the Magic with his NBA’s Summer League performance. I believe that he will be the one that will make to big impact on his team this year.
Alternate ROY: Can we have a tie for second place? Kelly Olynyk (Boston Celtics), Trey Burke (Utah Jazz). I believe Trey Burke will be strong for the Jazz and that he will prove to be a leader for his team although they lost key pieces this offseason with the loss of Millsap and Jefferson. He will be good for building around in the future.
Skydel: Trey Burke, G, Utah Jazz
In his last season at the University of Michigan, Burke averaged 18.6 PPG and 6.7 APG while shooting 38.4% from 3pt range and 46.3% from the field. Burke is a perfect fit for a Jazz team that is transition but certainly have the talent to compete. They just need to put in all together in a span of 82 games. With Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter finally getting to start this upcoming season, those are two big weapons that can make Burke’s job much easier. With Favors and Kanter along with Gordon Hayward, Burke has the chance to impact this team and possibly help them compete for a Playoff spot.
Alternate: Victor Oladipo
Clearly this crop of rookies isn’t all that great but I do believe that Oladipo will eventually be a nice contributor in the NBA, possibly even this season. Unfortunately, he will be playing on a very bad Orlando Magic team that won’t have any meaningful games left before Christmas. That’s what will keep Oladipo from winning this award.
