Analysis: The 2022 NBA awards all belong to the next generation of stars
dug himself too deep of a hole by coming into the season out of shape, though his play since the all-star break has been impressive enough to cast the Dallas Mavericks guard as the early 2023 MVP favorite.
is a clear cut below the league’s A-listers when it comes to statistical production, but he deserves some ballot love as the leading scorer on the NBA’s lone juggernaut.Story continues below advertisement Draymond Green appeared destined to win defensive player of the year before he was shelved for months with a back injury. The ensuing void presented an unusual dynamic: Boston and Phoenix, the two best team defenses, were led by perimeter standouts, while prominent big men such as Antetokounmpo, Embiid and Gobert all played for teams with defenses that had slipped down the charts.
Bridges has been a perimeter workhorse for the Suns, Marcus Smart has helped key the Celtics’ midseason turnaround with his tenacity, and Gobert remains an elite paint-controlling presence. Yet none of the players can match Antetokounmpo’s combination of strength, quickness, versatility, timing and feel on the defensive end. The 27-year-old, who
, has helped Milwaukee survive with an undersized front line during center Brook Lopez’s extended absence.By going from fringe all-star candidate to certified franchise player, made the NBA version of a quantum leap during his age-22 season. His progress as a scorer, three-point shooter, game manager and leader was immediately evident during opening week, and the hype built to a fever pitch as the Memphis Grizzlies blew away preseason forecasts by claiming the West’s second seed.
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