Race for MVP | Our Midseason All NBA Teams

Basket USA has been serving you for over a decade Top 5 Candidates for the “Most Valuable Player” trophy (MVP)”. This week, with all teams now reaching the 41-game mark, synonymous with moving into the second half of the season, we chose to pick three of our top five from the first half.

Even if he’s more indecisive than ever Nikola Jokic seems to have dominated the competition for a few weeks, this fight for the new “Michael Jordan Trophy” has allowed us to clear the “All NBA First Team”. Ditto for the “All-NBA Second Team,” which is happy to accept candidates whose positions are still too short to reach higher goals. Compiling the “All-NBA Third Team” was often the most difficult, but eventually looking at a ranking and/or individual performances (or even status) made it easier.

Good to know: we decided to take into account the number of matches played to decide between some of them. This explains the absence of, say, Zion Williamson, James Harden, Anthony Davis, Damian Lillard or Devin Booker, whose individual and/or collective dominance was not clear and undisputed enough to make them the opposite of Stephen Curry. Joel Embiid or even LeBron James.

The unstoppable Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic

In “All NBA First Team” we find anyway (and without the slightest surprise). Luka Doncic in front Jason Tatum on the wing and Nikola Jokic None other than the three current leaders of our race for MVP 2023. The fourth of these, viz Kevin Durantalso available on the wing to form the most formidable and efficient quartet.

Clearly, getting past the East and West-leading Celtics winger and Nuggets center while playing the best basketball of their careers has been a challenge so far, as the Mavericks point guard is pushing beyond reason to keep his team on top. despite its relative weakness supporting cast. As for the Nets winger, he continues to display a rare knack for sublimating the New York collective.

He is with them Donovan Mitchell Ja Morant, Stephen Curry or even Jaylen Brown were preferred. On the one hand, we did not wait so soon for his individual, regular performances. On the other hand, due to his status as the leader of the winning team.

All-NBA First Team : Luka Doncic, Donovan Mitchell, Jayson Tatum, Kevin Durant, Nikola Jokic.

“Second Team” similar to “First Team” encore

As for the second top five, it consists exactly Ja Morant, Stephen Curry and Jaylen Brown. Seeing all three of them on the “All-NBA First Team” wouldn’t really be controversial given their performances with Memphis, Golden State and Boston.

Yeah, but here’s the thing: There’s Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum, and Kevin Durant, Donovan Mitchell rarely disappoints, and Curry doesn’t win enough, and Brown is just a luxury lieutenant. Only Morant could feel cheated, but the Grizzlies struggled to find their rhythm early on due to injuries and, overall, remained competitive without him (4-0 since December), unlike the Mitchell-less Cavaliers (2-3 on the season). ).

A “Weakness” observation may also apply Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiidsimply available right now on our “All NBA Second Team” because of that density front yard The Tatum – Durant – Jokic trio is as unstoppable as it gets.

All-NBA Second Team : Ja Morant, Stephen Curry, Jaylen Brown, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid.

The indomitable LeBron James and four new kids

Finally, the “All-NBA Third Team” includes the final regular in the field: LeBron James, the record holder for the number of picks (18) in those three top fives. Barring the Lakers’ collective woes, he’s unlikely to hit higher goals now at age 38, despite his still very impressive level of play.

Nevertheless, the Californian “grandfather” resists not a little, covering four newbies: Tyrese Haliburton, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lauri Markkanen as well as Domantas Sabonis. With Indiana, Oklahoma City, Utah and Sacramento on offer every night, four names that maybe don’t sound too loud, but we risk finding them in the All-Star game and can’t leave them out.

Thanks to them, these teams, which initially promised to take the last place in their conference, were in a good position in the fight for the playoffs. A complex scenario to imagine three months ago … and still!

All-NBA Third Team : Tyrese Haliburton, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, LeBron James, Lauri Markkanen, Domantas Sabonis.

Race for MVP 2023: Our Top 5

1 – Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)
Assessment: 30 wins, 13 losses – 1st in the West.
Matches: 39 out of a possible 43 are controversial.
Statistics: 24.7 pts, 10.9 reb, 9.8 pds, 1.4 int, 0.6 ctr and 3.4 pdb in 33 minutes.
Percentages: 62% shooting, 37% 3-pointers and 81% shooting.

2 – Jayson Tatum (Celtics)
Assessment: 33 wins, 12 losses – 1st in the East.
Matches: 43 out of a possible 45 argued.
Statistics: 31.1 pts, 8.3 reb, 4.3 pds, 1.0 int, 0.8 ctr and 2.6 pdb in 37 minutes.
Percentages: 47% on field goals, 35% on 3-pointers and 87% on field goals.

3 – Luka Doncic (Mavericks)
Assessment: 24 wins, 21 losses – 5th in the West.
Matches: 40 out of a possible 45 are controversial.
Statistics: 33.8 pts, 9.0 reb, 8.8 pds, 1.6 int, 0.6 ctr and 3.7 pdb in 37 min.
Percentages: 50% shooting, 35% 3-pointers and 73% shooting.

4 – Kevin Durant (Nets)
Assessment: 27 wins, 15 losses – 2nd in the East.
Matches: 39 out of a possible 42 are controversial.
Statistics: 29.7 pts, 6.7 reb, 5.3 pds, 0.8 int, 1.5 ctr and 3.5 pdb in 36 min.
Percentages: 56% on field goals, 38% on 3-pointers and 93% on field goals.

5a – Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)
Assessment: 28 wins, 16 losses – 3rd in the East.
Matches: 35 out of a possible 44 are controversial.
Statistics: 31.0 ppg, 11.9 reb, 5.3 ft, 0.8 int, 0.9 ktr and 4.0 ft in 34 minutes.
Percentages: 52% shooting, 25% 3-pt and 65% shooting.

5b – Joel Embiid (Six)
Assessment: 27 wins, 16 losses – 4th in the East.
Matches: 32 out of a possible 43 are controversial.
Statistics: 33.4 pts, 9.8 reb, 4.3 pds, 1.1 int, 1.7 ctr and 3.7 pdb per 35 min.
Percentages: 54% shooting, 35% 3-p and 86% shooting.

Notes : Ja Morant (Grizzlies), Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers), Domantas Sabonis (Kings)…

Vote for the top five mid-season