Most Valuable Player: Kyrie Irving, PG Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving had the most efficient scoring season of his career last season, despite adjusting on the fly to Gordon Hayward’s injury and dealing with a nagging injury of his own that ultimately sidelined him for the season.
After two knee surgeries, Irving is back healthy and happy and is oozing an inner calm and confidence as a person we haven’t seen from him before. He looked as explosive and controlled as ever in the short time we saw him in preseason and he seems to be reveling in a real leadership role.
When Gordon Hayward gets back to his former self, Irving will have the perfect complementary running mate who can stretch the defense with his shooting and free up Irving both with the attention he draws in pick-and-rolls and with off-ball action. Last season, Irving faced a ton of daring double teams that teams will be much more weary to try with Hayward on the court.
Early season vibes can be but distant memories when adversity hits during the winter, but this Boston Celtics team has a certain connectedness that you often see in great teams. When you like your teammates, it’s easier to give up your own selfish goals for the greater good of the team.
With all the offensive talent on the team, the Celtics players will all have to sacrifice shots and touches to keep everyone happy and involved. As the point guard and primary ball-handler, Irving will have a big responsibility to keep all his teammates involved in the offense, picking and choosing his spots to isolate and play one-on-one wisely.
Irving is one of the best individual scorers in the NBA, but if he hunts match ups too much in early offense, or without getting his teammates touches first, it will stunt the Celtics offense. In order for the Celtics offense to reach its full potential, Irving has to balance his scoring instincts with the disciple to stay within Stevens’ system better than he has before.
Last season, Irving showed flashes of understanding what Stevens wants from the point guard to reach his nearly limitless potential. With the freedom of a calm mind, and a healthy body, Irving looks set to guide his Celtics teammates to heights they’ve never reached before.
Irving may not be the best player in the league this season, but I think he’s going to have his best season as a professional on the best team in the Eastern Conference. Kawhi Leonard will compete for the award, but if Boston has the better record, Irving will have a leg up.
If Joel Embiid plays about 70 games, he’ll probably be in consideration for the award. LeBron James and Russell Westbrook will always be in the discussion. As hard as it is to repeat as MVP, Houston’s James Harden has the talent to do so. Anthony Davis is bound to win the award at some point.
Steph Curry will most likely deserve to win the award (I mean, he’s the best player), but voters won’t want to give it to him for whatever reason they choose. Curry and Durant will ‘split the vote’, as they say.
Nikola Jokic could be a dark horse candidate if he can lead Denver into the top 4 or 5 in the West.