Analysis: the Top Performers as NBA Reaches Midway Point

Miami Heat's Tyler Herro (14) drives around Phoenix Suns' Cameron Payne during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Phoenix, on Jan. 8, 2022. Darryl Webb/AP Photo

The NBA season has reached the midway point, with a record number of players already having gotten minutes. Virus-related issues have forced every team to scramble on some nights to find players with plenty of surprises and, yes, plenty of disappointments.

With basically 50 percent of the games played, there’s enough of a body of work to start making some informed looks at the league’s awards.

MVP

The contenders: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee; Kevin Durant, Brooklyn; Nikola Jokic, Denver; Stephen Curry, Golden State; DeMar DeRozan, Chicago; LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers.

There is still a second half of the season. Right now, anyone from this group of six players—and probably a few other names, too—has a valid case for the award.

Antetokounmpo is on his way to averaging at least 28 points and 11 rebounds for a third consecutive season, something nobody has done since Karl Malone from 1989–92. Jokic’s numbers are just as good, and maybe even a little better, than they were last year when he was the runaway winner. Curry has the Warriors right back in title contention and now he’s got Klay Thompson next to him again. DeRozan has led the Bulls into the role as official NBA surprise of the first half. James is carrying the Lakers out of necessity and somehow isn’t losing a step in Year 19. And Durant, well, he’s just unguardable.

The midway pick: Durant. The Nets have had plenty of things not going according to plan, yet they’re still near the top of the East because quite simply Durant is just that good.

Portland Trail Blazers forward Trendon Watford guards Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., on Jan. 7, 2022. Amanda Loman/AP Photo

Defensive Player of  the Year

The contenders: Draymond Green, Golden State; Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee; Rudy Gobert, Utah; Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee; Matisse Thybulle, Philadelphia.

Gobert, Antetokounmpo, and Green have combined to win the last five awards. And it’s deserved, though it’s not uncommon for NBA players to question the methodology voters have when picking the award. (Note: it should be about more than steals and blocks stats.)

The midway pick: Green. Everyone talks about Golden State’s offense and Curry’s shooting, and rightly so. The Warriors are a nightmare because of the way they defend, and Green is the leader.

Sixth Man of the Year

The contenders: Tyler Herro, Miami; Carmelo Anthony, Los Angeles Lakers; Kelly Oubre Jr., Charlotte; Buddy Hield, Sacramento; Jordan Clarkson, Utah.

It’s a pretty simple rule. If a team has someone have a big game off the bench, that team usually wins; the teams with a reserve that scores 25 points have won about 70 percent of their games this season. And Herro—who would probably be a frontrunner for Most Improved Player right now, too—has 11 games of 25 or more points off the Heat bench this season.