GAH progress VII: MVP ranking
Mar 25, 2017 17:10:36 GMT
Post by mgtr81 on Mar 25, 2017 17:10:36 GMT
We continue with our series of weekly reviews about what is happening around the league. This weekend we take a look at who could win the Most Valuable Player award this season. We take into account both player stats and teams records. Only players who have played in at least 50 games and average at least 30.0 minutes per game qualify.
1. 25.2
When you are on your way to back-to-back 70-plus win seasons, it is very likely one of your players ends up holding the MVP trophy. The Bulls are 10-games ahead of the next best team, and Jordan's season is amazing: 31.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 2.4 steals and 1.1 blocks per game, shooting 53.6 % from the field. At age 30, Jordan wants a third ring.
2. 23.3
The defending champions are having a great season at 59-19, being the second best team in the league. Everyone is predicting the Pacers to meet the Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals, and most consider that would be like the true championship series. While we do not agree with that statement, as there are many other talented teams who could win it all, these Pacers sport probably the best inside game in the league's 18 years of history. Robinson gets the nod as Indiana's best player, averaging 25.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.4 blocks, 1.6 assists and 1.0 steals per contest, while converting 54.2 % of his field goal attempts.
3. 21.8
Back-to-back candidates for the Pacers. Olajuwon ranks right behind his teammate with averages of 21.7 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.0 blocks, 1.6 assists and 1.1 steals per game, shooting 52.4 % from the field. You sure do not want to meet these Pacers in the playoffs.
4. 17.7
After two Pacers we get a second Bull. What a great offseason addition Payton was for Chicago. What the Pacers are in the paint, the Bulls are in the perimeter. Payton averages 18.0 points, 7.4 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 2.0 steals per contest, shooting 46.0 % from the field ... in 32.7 minutes per game. At age 25, he may be able to become the face of the franchise in the next decade ... but we are where we are right now, and he forms a sensational tandem with Jordan.
5. 17.5
What about the West? Despite not having the best record in the conference, the Warriors have their franchise player at the fifth spot on this list. Ewing has played throughout some minor injuries this season, but his production has not been affected: 21.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.2 blocks and 2.6 assists per game for the 49-29 Warriors. His 53.3 % from the field is his worst since the 1987-88 season, but still elite. At age 31, Ewing is looking for his first GAH title. It will not be an easy task.
6. 15.0
Back-to-back Warriors here, and this one may come as a surprise. But looking at numbers, Barros is having an excellent season: 24.5 points, 7.3 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals per contest, shooting 49.1 % from the field, 45.4 % from three-point range and 88.8 % from the free throw line. He may benefit from playing next to Ewing, but he is making the most out of it.
7. 14.0
It is rare to see a rookie in the Top 10 for the MVP award, but O'Neal has brought the Kings back to the playoffs, and the only way to stop him is sending him to the free throw line. His stats: 23.8 points, 11.3 rebounds, 2.1 blocks and 1.3 assists in 33.2 minutes per contest. This may be the beginning of a great career.
8. 13.8
For many the Sixers are the surprise team of the season. While injuries have hit them lately, they still lead the Atlantic Division. Ellison, who is hitting the market this summer, is the team's representative in this list, averaging 13.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.0 blocks in 30.6 minutes per game, while shooting 49.3 % from the field. He may be taking advantage of his production per 36 minutes, which weighs one third in the overall rating, but it is what it is.
9. 13.3
He started the season demanding a trade, but after the 43-34 Hawks secured a playoff spot, Barkley is happy again in Atlanta. Despite the Hawks bringing in some scoring help in the offseason, Barkley is still the go-to guy: 20.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.2 steals per game, while shooting an elite 57.5 % from the field. However, Barkley has a huge task ahead: getting the Hawks past the Bulls and the Pacers. His three previous seasons in Atlanta finished the same way: losing a playoff series against Chicago.
10. 12.9
The Nuggets are always there. Despite a slow start, Denver is 47-31. And the Nuggets have made a smooth transition from the Bernard King titles era to the present, with Smits as the new focal point of the offense. The 7'4" center is averaging 18.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 1.9 assists per game, converting 47.8 % of his field goal attempts. Nuggets fans may be happy yo see him put those numbers in his first season after coming back form an ACL.
The rest of the Top 30:
11. Tim Hardway (MIA) 12.9
12. Karl Malone (PHO) 12.7
13. Larry Nance (GSW) 12.7
14. Toni Kukoc (IND) 12.7
15. Rod Strickland (PHI) 12.6
16. Terry Mills (SAS) 12.4
17. Jerome Kersey (POR) 12.0
18. Rony Seikaly (DEN) 11.8
19. Clark Kellogg (PHI) 11.8
20. Clyde Drexler (BOS) 11.5
21. Bernard King (DEN) 11.1
22. Roy Tarpley (CLE) 11.1
23. Clifford Robinson (POR) 10.9
24. Eric Murdock (PHO) 10.8
25. Mahmoud Abdul Rauf (PHI) 10.3
26. Derrick Coleman (NYK) 10.1
27. Alonzo Mourning (NOJ) 10.0
28. Lester Conner (SAS) 9.8
29. Sam Bowie (BOS) 9.4
30. Shawn Kemp (CHA) 9.4
That is all for this week. We will be back next weekend to bring you more information on the GAH.
1. 25.2
When you are on your way to back-to-back 70-plus win seasons, it is very likely one of your players ends up holding the MVP trophy. The Bulls are 10-games ahead of the next best team, and Jordan's season is amazing: 31.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 2.4 steals and 1.1 blocks per game, shooting 53.6 % from the field. At age 30, Jordan wants a third ring.
2. 23.3
The defending champions are having a great season at 59-19, being the second best team in the league. Everyone is predicting the Pacers to meet the Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals, and most consider that would be like the true championship series. While we do not agree with that statement, as there are many other talented teams who could win it all, these Pacers sport probably the best inside game in the league's 18 years of history. Robinson gets the nod as Indiana's best player, averaging 25.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.4 blocks, 1.6 assists and 1.0 steals per contest, while converting 54.2 % of his field goal attempts.
3. 21.8
Back-to-back candidates for the Pacers. Olajuwon ranks right behind his teammate with averages of 21.7 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.0 blocks, 1.6 assists and 1.1 steals per game, shooting 52.4 % from the field. You sure do not want to meet these Pacers in the playoffs.
4. 17.7
After two Pacers we get a second Bull. What a great offseason addition Payton was for Chicago. What the Pacers are in the paint, the Bulls are in the perimeter. Payton averages 18.0 points, 7.4 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 2.0 steals per contest, shooting 46.0 % from the field ... in 32.7 minutes per game. At age 25, he may be able to become the face of the franchise in the next decade ... but we are where we are right now, and he forms a sensational tandem with Jordan.
5. 17.5
What about the West? Despite not having the best record in the conference, the Warriors have their franchise player at the fifth spot on this list. Ewing has played throughout some minor injuries this season, but his production has not been affected: 21.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.2 blocks and 2.6 assists per game for the 49-29 Warriors. His 53.3 % from the field is his worst since the 1987-88 season, but still elite. At age 31, Ewing is looking for his first GAH title. It will not be an easy task.
6. 15.0
Back-to-back Warriors here, and this one may come as a surprise. But looking at numbers, Barros is having an excellent season: 24.5 points, 7.3 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals per contest, shooting 49.1 % from the field, 45.4 % from three-point range and 88.8 % from the free throw line. He may benefit from playing next to Ewing, but he is making the most out of it.
7. 14.0
It is rare to see a rookie in the Top 10 for the MVP award, but O'Neal has brought the Kings back to the playoffs, and the only way to stop him is sending him to the free throw line. His stats: 23.8 points, 11.3 rebounds, 2.1 blocks and 1.3 assists in 33.2 minutes per contest. This may be the beginning of a great career.
8. 13.8
For many the Sixers are the surprise team of the season. While injuries have hit them lately, they still lead the Atlantic Division. Ellison, who is hitting the market this summer, is the team's representative in this list, averaging 13.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.0 blocks in 30.6 minutes per game, while shooting 49.3 % from the field. He may be taking advantage of his production per 36 minutes, which weighs one third in the overall rating, but it is what it is.
9. 13.3
He started the season demanding a trade, but after the 43-34 Hawks secured a playoff spot, Barkley is happy again in Atlanta. Despite the Hawks bringing in some scoring help in the offseason, Barkley is still the go-to guy: 20.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.2 steals per game, while shooting an elite 57.5 % from the field. However, Barkley has a huge task ahead: getting the Hawks past the Bulls and the Pacers. His three previous seasons in Atlanta finished the same way: losing a playoff series against Chicago.
10. 12.9
The Nuggets are always there. Despite a slow start, Denver is 47-31. And the Nuggets have made a smooth transition from the Bernard King titles era to the present, with Smits as the new focal point of the offense. The 7'4" center is averaging 18.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 1.9 assists per game, converting 47.8 % of his field goal attempts. Nuggets fans may be happy yo see him put those numbers in his first season after coming back form an ACL.
The rest of the Top 30:
11. Tim Hardway (MIA) 12.9
12. Karl Malone (PHO) 12.7
13. Larry Nance (GSW) 12.7
14. Toni Kukoc (IND) 12.7
15. Rod Strickland (PHI) 12.6
16. Terry Mills (SAS) 12.4
17. Jerome Kersey (POR) 12.0
18. Rony Seikaly (DEN) 11.8
19. Clark Kellogg (PHI) 11.8
20. Clyde Drexler (BOS) 11.5
21. Bernard King (DEN) 11.1
22. Roy Tarpley (CLE) 11.1
23. Clifford Robinson (POR) 10.9
24. Eric Murdock (PHO) 10.8
25. Mahmoud Abdul Rauf (PHI) 10.3
26. Derrick Coleman (NYK) 10.1
27. Alonzo Mourning (NOJ) 10.0
28. Lester Conner (SAS) 9.8
29. Sam Bowie (BOS) 9.4
30. Shawn Kemp (CHA) 9.4
That is all for this week. We will be back next weekend to bring you more information on the GAH.