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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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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 27: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks celebrates his basket in the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at Madison Square Garden on March 27, 2017 in New York City. 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)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 27: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks celebrates his basket in the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at Madison Square Garden on March 27, 2017 in New York City. 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) /

Most Improved Player of the Year award pick…

Gonzalez: D’Angelo Russell – Most Improved Player isn’t exactly an award that’s measured by improved skillset most of the time. Most of the time it is about opportunity. You don’t go from 10 MPG and 8PPG to 25 MPG and 16 PPG because you double your ability as a player in an offseason. Sure you got better, but maybe the person or person(s) in front of you have moved to new teams, which means you have shoes to fill.

This goes for D’Russ. He is put in a place where he is now the sole best player on his team. Last year he averaged 16 PPG, on 41% in 30 MPG. I think he see’s his minutes go up to about 32-33 a night, as well as him be better overall as a player, he should hit that 20 PPG margin. That should be good enough for him to win Most Improve. A dark horse I would say though is Russell’s teammate, Allen Crabbe.

Dunn: Kristaps Porzingis. I wrote about this last month, so I’ve got to stick with my pick of Porzingis. The Knicks preseason struggles have me a bit worried about this prediction, and Rodney Hood could make a real push for the award now that Gordon Hayward no longer calls Utah home. Still, Porzginis looks ready to take a Giannis-sized leap now that Carmelo Anthony and Derrick Rose are no longer in New York to ignore him on offense.

Macri: Otherwise known as “the guy who did the most with a massive uptick in playing time and usage rate,” the winner has averaged above 16 ppg all but once since 2000. It hasn’t gone to a former high lottery selection since Kevin Love in 2011, but I’ll still take D’Angelo Russell. The Nets will be better than expected, and they have every incentive to force feed him on a nightly basis.

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