Brooklyn Nets: Best candidates for 2018-19 NBA awards
By Amaar Burton
Most Valuable Player: D’Angelo Russell
Sometimes, the term “balanced offense” is a nice way of saying that a team doesn’t have a legitimate go-to scorer who is capable of separating himself from the pack. That very well may have been the case with the Nets last season.
Russell was the team’s leading scorer, but his 15.5 points per game was only 3.4 points higher than the team’s sixth-leading scorer, reserve guard Caris LeVert.
By comparison, the Boston Celtics — a team that is described as balanced offensively in a good way — had a leading scorer in Kyrie Irving whose 24.4 points per game was 13.1 points higher than sixth-leading scorer Terry Rozier.
Either way, Russell is widely recognized as Brooklyn’s best player, No. 1 option and on-court leader.
Story: D'Angelo Russell is in the best shape of his career, motivated by Devin Booker and believes the "sky is the limit" for him this season. @Dloading discussed his extension deadline, motivation and his outlook for the Nets this year on @TheAthleticNYC. https://t.co/bjsrzsLFg3
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) August 31, 2018
To have even the slightest chance of winning MVP of the league, he would have to increase his scoring average by a whole 10 points per game and lead the Nets to the playoffs — probably a top-four seed in the East. The Nets went 28-54 last season.
Russell is a good player and the 22-year-old has a bright future in front of him, but scoring 25 points every night and making the playoffs won’t be happening this season.
Ranking all 30 starting NBA point guards for 2018-19. dark. Next
Odds: Slim to none