Individual Awards

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Rookie of the Year:  Jaren Jackson, Jr., Grizzlies – Doncic will be the best player from this draft, but if Conley, Jr. and M. Gasol are healthy, the Grit’n’Grind Grizz have a decent shot at the playoffs

Sixth Man:  Eric Gordon, Rockets – I didn’t want to make a seemingly obvious choice, but…

• Nobody knows who the Sixth Man for the Celtics is actually going to be, and I think Jaylen Brown will force his way into the starting lineup by the trade deadline
• I think JJ Redick will wind up starting too much to really qualify.
• I hope it’s Tyreke Evans, but I’m not sure he’ll be the first man off the bench by the end of the year (Sabonis or Thad Young seems more likely).
• Nobody has repeated as SMOY since Detlef Schrempf, so I lean Gordon over Lou Williams.

Most Improved:  Julius Randle, Pelicans – I always thought he was the most talented of the recent Lakers draft picks, and he’s never played with anyone like the Brow.  A lot of people are going Brandon Ingram, but he’s going to have to share the LeBron-related improvement with Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma.

Defensive Player of the Year:  Kawhi Leonard, Raptors – Even when they were beating everyone but the Cavs, the Drakes never played great defense.  Kawhi will be eager to show teams that he’s still the best two-way player in the NBA .

Coach of the Year: Quin Snyder, Jazz.

MVP: Anthony Davis, Pelicans – It’s a lifetime achievement award, which means it’s either AD (7th season) or Kawhi (8th), and it honestly comes down a coin flip.  Can both stay healthy?  Will their supporting casts hold up?  I’m more bullish on the Pels than most, so I give the slight edge to the Brow.

Playoffs

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ECF:  Celtics over Sixers in 7

WCF:  Warriors over Jazz in 5

Finals:  Warriors over Celtics in 6