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NBA Roundtable: 2017-18 award predictions, superlatives

By Nicholas Gonzalez

GREENBURGH, NY - AUGUST 11: (EDITOR'S NOTE: This image was converted to black and white) Dennis Smith Jr. of the Dallas Mavericks poses for a portrait during the 2017 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at MSG Training Center on August 11, 2017 in Greenburgh, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
GREENBURGH, NY - AUGUST 11: (EDITOR'S NOTE: This image was converted to black and white) Dennis Smith Jr. of the Dallas Mavericks poses for a portrait during the 2017 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at MSG Training Center on August 11, 2017 in Greenburgh, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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KANSAS CITY, MO – OCTOBER 13: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers is introduced prior to the game against the Miami Heat at Sprint Center on October 13, 2017 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO – OCTOBER 13: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers is introduced prior to the game against the Miami Heat at Sprint Center on October 13, 2017 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Picking NBA award winners and discussing a couple superlatives for the 2017-18 season

It is that time of year. The 2017-18 NBA season is finally here.

Before the games begin, though, a few writers from SCIC collaborated to select a few player awards and entertain a few superlatives.

Rookie of the Year award pick…

Nick Gonzalez: Dennis Smith Jr. –  He was the 9th pick in this most recent draft, but many thought he easily deserved to be picked in the top seven, let alone the top five. Smith is now on a team with a really, really bad backcourt. On top of that, one of his main competitors for minutes, Seth Curry, is done for the year. Smith has shown his explosiveness so far as well, and he is very exciting to watch. The combination of his skill set, the playing time he will receive, and the short leash he will have, Smith, should win ROY.

Morgan Dunn: Ben Simmons – Lonzo Ball is the popular pick, and he could use the Los Angeles stage to win the award, but Simmons is the better player right now. After missing the entirety of the 2016-17 season due to injury, Simmons still qualifies as a rookie, and he’s set to be the central ball handler for an upstart Philadelphia squad. Simmons has incredible size and athleticism for a player with his court vision, and he’ll quickly establish himself as a regular on highlight reels with crafty passes and thunderous dunks.

This year he’ll look like a bigger version of Lonzo in a lot of ways, which will help him eke out ROY honors in what should be a tight race.

Jonathan Macri: Someone better than last year’s winner. The NBA has to be giddy over a cohort that’s generating more buzz than any since 2003. Lonzo, DSJ and Fox are already the most entertaining players on their teams, and the Sixers duo will provide turnover filled nights of inefficient fun. As for a winner, picking against Ball or Smith is a fool’s errand, but give me Donovan Mitchell at 14-1. He’ll play 25 minutes a game worth of killer D for a playoff team.

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