https://www.theringer.com/nba/2021/5/10/22428481/nba-awards-mvp-nikola-jokic-joel-embiidQuote
This year’s jumbled MVP race may finally be settled, but there are still plenty of awards without a clear winner. Here are my picks (as of now!) as the regular season winds down.
By Kevin O'Connor
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Most Valuable Player
1. Nikola Jokic
2. Joel Embiid
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo
4. Steph Curry
5. Luka Doncic
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Defensive Player of the Year
1. Rudy Gobert
2. Ben Simmons
3. Bam Adebayo
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Most Improved Player of the Year
1. Julius Randle
2. Christian Wood
3. Jerami Grant
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Sixth Man of the Year
1. Joe Ingles
2. Jordan Clarkson
3. Jalen Brunson
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Coach of the Year
1. Monty Williams
2. Tom Thibodeau
3. Michael Malone
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All-NBA
First Team
C: Nikola Jokic
F: Giannis Antetokounmpo
F: Kawhi Leonard
G: Steph Curry
G: Luka Doncic
Second Team
C: Joel Embiid
F: Julius Randle
F: LeBron James
G: Damian Lillard
G: Chris Paul
Third Team
C: Rudy Gobert
F: Paul George
F: Jayson Tatum
G: James Harden
G: Bradley Beal
Embiid and Jokic are eligible at both F and C positions, so I expect them both to be on the first team as they deserve.
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All-Defense
First Team
C: Rudy Gobert
F: Bam Adebayo
F: Draymond Green
G: Ben Simmons
G: Jrue Holiday
Second Team
C: Clint Capela
F: Joel Embiid
F: Giannis Antetokounmpo
G: Mikal Bridges
G: Matisse Thybulle
Sooo as expected, we're probably getting fucked and will end up with the 2nd place MVP and 2nd place DPOY.
3 players on All-Defense teams, that's cool.
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Embiid probably would’ve made the first team had he not missed so many games, but he slides to a forward spot on the second team to open space for Capela at center. Capela plays a role similar to Gobert, dropping to the paint and allowing his teammates to stay closer to their assignments. He’s fourth in blocks per game, and third in defensive rebounds per game. He’s been integral to the Hawks’ turnaround this season.
Thybulle getting tons of love now:
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Thybulle averages only 20 minutes per game, yet in that time he logs 1.6 steals, 1.1 blocks, and 3.1 deflections per game. No defender has blocked more jump shots than him, per Second Spectrum. There is no one better at recovering off-ball to get back into a play. He has outlier-level instincts and reaction time. He is one of the best defenders I’ve ever watched in my life and if he someday becomes a 30-minute-per-game player, he’ll be in the conversation to win Defensive Player of the Year. I’ll have more on Thybulle this Thursday on The Void.
This post was edited by Sixers on May 12 2021 09:10am