NBA Season 2014-2015

[Toga]

Knicks and Magic combine for 15 points in the 2nd quarter...

[Holz]

Knicks and Magic combine for 15 points in the 2nd quarter...

wow thats some elite defense :P

[valkorum]

Knicks and Magic combine for 15 points in the 2nd quarter...

wow thats some elite defense :P

I'll go with shower offense ;)

[Jay]

With our win over Cleveland (again), we just need one of the following to occur for Boston to make the playoffs:

a) Celtics win one more game
b) Nets or Indiana lose a game

[Jay]

I'm bored so going to do my opinion on the awards for this season while the regular season winds down. Hopefully a good read, and generates some discussion. Lets wait and see how wrong I am ;)

Jay's 2014-15 NBA Season Awards Ballot

6th man of the year

3rd place: Tristan Thompson
Has played 79 games for the #2 seed in the east, coming off the bench in all but 14. He's 4th in the league for offensive rebounds and per 36 minutes, he's averaging 11 points on only 8 shots a game. The Cavs average 113 points per 100 possessions when he's on the court, a mark which would rank only behind the Clippers.

2nd place: Lou Williams
The most popular pick for 6th man of the year, due to his high scoring numbers - he's scored more than 30 five times this season. The Toronto offense is elite when Williams is on the court and he's competent enough defensively to not burn them on that end of the court. Per 36 minutes, he's averaging 22 points and rarely turns the ball over. He's a quality shoot first guard to have coming off the bench and is likely to have an impact in the coming playoffs.

1st place: Isaiah Thomas
In the 19 games he's played as a Celtic, they've gone 12-7. I know that's a small sample size but before he got there, they had a record of 20-31. In contrast, Phoenix had a record of 26-20 with Isaiah and since they let him go, they have gone 10-17. Coincidence? I'm not sure, but I know he's a darn good player, averaging 16.5 points a game on only 11.9 shot attempts. JJ Redick is the only other player to hit those marks and he doesn't even come close to Thomas' season PER of 20.6. His play got some recognition receiving a player of the week award but I think it deserves even more.

[Jay]

Jay's 2014-15 NBA Season Awards Ballot

Rookie Of The Year

This is a tough one, but I think there's a clear top 3. That top 3 though are all completely different and hard to rank. Mirotic has had the best single season of rookies but I don't feel right giving it to a 24 year old when Wiggins and Nerlens are also having solid seasons and are at least 3 years younger with no professional playing experience.

3rd place: Nikola Mirotic
I couldn't leave him off my list, he is leading all rookies in win shares and PER despite being 14th in minutes per game. He has earned valuable playing time on one of the best teams in the east. Per 36 minutes, he's averaging 18 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal and a block. He's had 10 twenty point games and 8 double doubles. If I wanted to have one rookie for this upcoming playoffs, it'd be Mirotic but he's not the rookie of the year.

2nd place: Andrew Wiggins
He makes those plays every game which make you realise while he was rated almost as highly as LeBron coming out of high school. But realistically, he's just been a "good stats, bad team" guy this year. 17 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal and a block are impressive numbers though - especially at the age of 19. And he's shooting a respectable 44% from the field. If he can get to the FT line more and improves his 3pt shooting, I can see him averaging over 20 next season. He'll probably win the award, and I won't act like he hasn't impressed at stages but as far as a consistent efficient player goes, he still has a fair way to go.

1st place: Nerlens Noel
He's having one of the best defensive seasons ever for a rookie. He's top 10 in blocks, steals, defensive win shares, defensive rating and defensive box plus minus. The only other rookie to average over 8 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks as a rookie? David Robinson, and he was 24 years old at the time. He's 7th among all centres in Defensive RPM and again, 7th in opponent FG% at the rim. Philly's defense is top 7 when he's on the court - a truly amazing difference a rookie can make. He has had the most impressive season out of all the rookies for me and deserves to give Philly their 2nd ROY in as many years.

[Holz]

Jay is TT beter than whoever that Celtic guy you liked?

[Jay]

Jay is TT beter than whoever that Celtic guy you liked?

Better season, yes. Better player/as high of a ceiling, no. ;)

[My Chumps]

Jay is TT beter than whoever that Celtic guy you liked?

Better season, yes. Better player/as high of a ceiling, no. ;)

At least the Wall vs Irving battle has swayed your way recently Jay.

[Jay]

Jay is TT beter than whoever that Celtic guy you liked?

Better season, yes. Better player/as high of a ceiling, no. ;)

At least the Wall vs Irving battle has swayed your way recently Jay.

It swayed my way but is slowly swaying back the other way recently :o

I'll still take Wall though. Scary to think what he'd be like if he got to play with LeBron.

[AFEV]

Good to see your love affair with IT is going strong Jay. :P
Agree strongly with Nerlens, be interesting to see what happens with he and Embiid in the future.

[Jay]

Good to see your love affair with IT is going strong Jay. :P
Agree strongly with Nerlens, be interesting to see what happens with he and Embiid in the future.

Him or Lou Williams was a toss up for me. Either would be totally deserving :)

[Holz]

Jay is TT beter than whoever that Celtic guy you liked?

Better season, yes. Better player/as high of a ceiling, no. ;)

At least the Wall vs Irving battle has swayed your way recently Jay.

It swayed my way but is slowly swaying back the other way recently :o

I'll still take Wall though. Scary to think what he'd be like if he got to play with LeBron.

Still would go uncle drew, wizards falling apart abit

[Jay]

WE'RE GOING TO THE POST SEASON! ;D

[valkorum]

WE'RE GOING TO THE POST SEASON! ;D

WE'RE GOING TO THE LOTTERY

Kings cant finish worse than 6th.  I think we can still go to 5th if Magic win last remaining games and we lose all remaining (which is possible with DMC, Gay and Collison all out injured)