NBA Awards Watch: Karl-Anthony Towns Blows The Competition Away

Dec 20, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) being defended by Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) in the 1st half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) being defended by Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) in the 1st half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 22, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Will Barton (5) reacts during the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 22, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Will Barton (5) reacts during the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /

Sixth Man of the Year

1. Will Barton, Denver Nuggets (Last Week: 1, –)

Ranking the reasons why you might watch the Denver Nuggets in 2015-2016:

3. Random Outbursts from Danilo Gallinari
2. Watching Emmanuel Mudiay‘s Progression
1. Will Barton

Yup, he may be the best reason to tune into this semi-mess of a basketball team on any given night, but, wow, Will Barton is out-of-this-world fun. He’s like a more well-rounded C.J. McCollum and I mean that in the best way possible. Yes, the Nuggets went 0-3 this week, but when you put up 73 points, 21 rebounds, and 10 assists in that period of time, you get a pass.

Barton’s Line of the Week: 12/20 vs. NOP — 32 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 turnover, 12-25 FG%
Week Grade: A-

2. Jeremy Lin, Charlotte Hornets (Last Week: –, Up 2)

Who is hotter right now than Jeremy Lin?

(Well, maybe his hair, but that was mostly a rhetorical question.)

For the briefest of moments there, Lin had helped the Hornets to the third-best record in the entire Eastern Conference rather unexpectedly. While one bad week can send you plummeting down the ladder in no time, it’s been really fun to watch Jeremy Lin and Kemba Walker battle for point guard supremacy. If the Hornets get home-court advantage in the first-round, this might be a tough one to take away from Lin.

Lin’s Line of the Week: 12/17 vs. TOR — 35 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, 3 turnovers, 13-22 FG%
Week Grade: A-

3. Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs (Last Week: 2, Down 1)

The Spurs haven’t needed to lean on Ginobili recently, but that doesn’t make him less of a contender in this category. In fact, the Argentinian magician hasn’t played more than 25 minutes since December 5th — but they’ll need him at some point and his resume speaks for itself.

Ginobili’s Line of the Week: 12/16 vs. WAS — 11 points, 3 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, 4-7 FG%
Week Grade: B

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
Week 6: Ryan Anderson, New Orleans Pelicans
Week 7: Ryan Anderson, New Orleans Pelicans
Week 8: Will Barton, Denver Nuggets
Week 9: Will Barton, Denver Nuggets

Next: The Takeover Continues