NBA Awards Watch: Week 5

Sixth Man of the Year

1. Ryan Anderson, New Orleans Pelicans (Last Week: –, Up 3)
Disclaimer: I have no idea what’s going on in this category anymore. At some point, somebody is going to run away with this award and just make things so much easier for me. Until then, we’re going to double-down on my original hot take by saying Ryan Anderson is back, baby! Now, we ask questions like: is Ryan Anderson the greatest basketball player that ever lived?

Or, even, is Ryan Anderson secretly Stephen Curry?

In the New Orleans Pelicans’ three games last week, they played the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, and Phoenix Suns, which, honestly, could’ve been an 0-3 week and nobody would’ve blinked. Instead, the Pelicans went 2-1 behind Anderson’s 30-, 30-, and 29-point outputs and a combined 14 three-pointers in the process.

I knew I wasn’t crazy in October — so keep it up, Ryan Anderson!

Anderson’s Line of the Week: 11/20 vs. SAS — 30 points, 7 rebounds, 2 TOs, 12-21 FG%, 6-11 3pt%
Week Grade: A

2. Alec Burks, Utah Jazz (Last Week: 1, Down 1)
Even after flying to the top of the list in just one week, Burks is on similar probation to Rudy Gobert. Burks has proven early on that when he catches fire, he’s a tough dude to guard; but when he’s off, boy, can it get bad. Over Burks’ three games this week, he shot just 11-for-35 from the field and was unable to provide much otherwise in a shaky 1-2 slate.

For shooters, however, (ahem, sorry, Ryan) we’ve been proven wrong already by axing one of the NBA’s best shooters early on, so we’re willing to give him another week to show up. Burks will likely be guarded by Eric Gordon, Lance Stephenson, and Klay Thompson this week, so he should have a decent opportunity to rebound in the points department.

Burks’ Line of the Week: 11/20 vs. DAL — 15 points, 5 rebounds, 1 block, 1 TO, 4-14 FG%
Week Grade: B-

3. Andre Iguodala, Golden State Warriors (Last Week: 3, –)
Honestly, the Golden State Warriors are 16-0, firing on all cylinders, and the reigning NBA MVP is somehow getting better, and yet, we’re still seeing some major Bay Area haters. At this point, the Warriors could go 82-0 and we’d still have people out there thinking: well, let’s wait and see before we crown them again!

Of course, you don’t even have your first crown without the efforts of Andre Iguodala and he’s been equally as important in this season’s hot start. Credit to Iguodala, who easily could’ve gone back on his agreement to come off the bench after his Finals MVP, but the veteran has stayed true to the strategy and it’s paying dividends for the juggernaut Warriors.

Iguodala’s Line of the Week: 11/22 vs. DEN — 12 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals, 1 block, 1 TO, 5-6 FG%
Week Grade: B

Bounced Out: Dwight Powell, Dallas Mavericks

Honorable Mentions: Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls; Tristan Thompson, Cleveland Cavaliers; Ty Lawson, Houston Rockets; Paul Pierce, Los Angeles Clippers; Jamal Crawford, Los Angeles Clippers; Lou Williams, Los Angeles Lakers; Kevin Martin, Minnesota Timberwolves.

Week 1: Ryan Anderson, New Orleans Pelicans
Week 2: Isaiah Thomas, Boston Celtics
Week 3: Isaiah Thomas, Boston Celtics
Week 4: Alec Burks, Utah Jazz
Week 5: Ryan Anderson, New Orleans Pelicans

Next: The Takeover Continues