The race for MVP | The season of all scoring records?
For over a decade, Basket USA has been offering it to you Top 5 candidates for the “Most Valuable Player” trophy (MVP)”. This week, it is clearly impossible for us not to mention the various statistical cards that have occurred since the beginning of the season and, especially, in a few days.
In between 60 dots (with 21 rebounds and 10 assists) from Luka Doncic (also author of spikes in 51 and 50 units recently), the 47 dots (with 10 rebounds and 9 assists) from LeBron James, the 43 points (with 20 rebounds and 5 assists) from Giannis Antetokounmpo, the 42 points (with 10 rebounds and 5 assists) from DeMar DeRozan, or now is the 71 dots (with 8 rebounds and 11 assists) by Donovan Mitchell, as well as 54 dots by Klay Thompson, XXL performances rained down on the NBA for a week.
Shovel boxes
Let’s also not forget, the benefit to 58 dots of Devin Booker, one of the 55 dots (and 17 rebounds) from Anthony Davis, one of them 53 dots (and 12 rebounds) from Joel Embiid, one of them 52 dots (with 9 rebounds and 7 assists) from Pascal Siakam, those of 43/14/8/5, 41/15/15 and 40/27/10 from Nikola Jokic, or those of 44 then 41 points from Jayson Tatum, everything happened in December!
In these various heat strokes, we almost forget the 49 dots (and 8 assists) by Ja Morant and by 82 dots duo Donovan Mitchell – Caris LeVert in October, as well 47 dots (with 8 rebounds and 8 assists) by Stephen Curry, the 59 dots (with 11 rebounds, 8 assists and 7 blocks) from Joel Embiid, or the 45 dots by Kevin Durant in November…
Suffice it to say that NBA forwards have had a very hot hand since the start of this 2022/23 season and it hasn’t let up since the beginning of November.
The proof is: this historical month of December 2022, where the total is 45 against 40+ points was counted. This was at least a new record for any month, topping the total of 37 games of 40+ points in December 1961.
Party attacks
Remember that too 12 players had at least two games of 40+ points in December 2022 and this is, again, a new record for a month, prior to February 1962 (with “only” 7 players who played multiple games with 40+ points).
In general, we are currently referring to 87 games at 40+ points in 2022/23 (split to 33 players), while we haven’t even reached the halfway mark. The record of 142 games at 40+ points, established in 1961/62 (and shared between 13 players), is therefore more than achievable, as half the way is already done…
On the other hand, as for the record of 57 games with 50+ points in a season, which dates back to the fiscal year… 1961/62, it probably still has to wait, as there are currently only 13 in 2022/23 . On the other hand, the “modern era” record (since the 1976 ABA/NBA merger) is likely to be broken, as it stands since the 2019/20 campaign at 23 games at 50+ points.
Moreover, when we look at the individual scoring averages, we can see that 54 players are posting 20+ points per gamethat 20 players are posting 25+ points per game and 6 players are posting 30+ points per game. It’s a record every time, topping 2020/21’s 43+ 20+ point average and 2020/21’s 17 25+ point average (again), but tied with 6 30+ point average players from 1961/62.
Additionally, two players (Luka Doncic and Joel Embiid) are currently on tour 33+ points per game and, if they continue their momentum, it will be only the fifth time, after 1960/61, 1961/62, 1962/63 and 2005/06, that two players have posted such a points average in the same season .. .
No defenses… or more effective attacks?
To conclude confirming that we are witnessing a historic scoring exercise, we also note that there has never been such a high average “offensive rating” as in 2022/23: 113.5 points per 100 possessionstopping 112.3 in the 2020/21 campaign and 112.0 in the 2021/22 campaign.
The teams total address (or “effective field goal percentage”, which takes into account the fact that a 3-pt shot is worth 1.5 times more points than a 2-pt shot) is also nothing, no has ever been more important than this season : 54.1% eFG%up from 53.8% in 2020/21 and 53.2% in 2021/22.
Of course, the evolution of the league, where attacks are more easily prioritized than defenses, must have irritated those who loved the physical, gritty and defensive NBA of a few decades ago.
But aren’t we also facing a completely logical evolution, with players who are always better equipped technically, tactically and physically, compared to 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 or even 70 years ago, thanks to everything they have now. benefit from to improve and work on their game?
Race to the MVP 2023: our Top 5
1 – Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)
Assessment: 24 wins, 13 losses – 1st in the West.
Matches: 34 are disputed out of 37 possible.
Statistics: 25.6 pts, 10.8 reb, 9.5 ft, 1.4 int, 0.6 ctr and 3.4 ft in 34 min.
Percentages: 62% shooting, 35% 3-point and 81% throwing.
2 – Jayson Tatum (Celtics)
Assessment: 26 wins, 11 losses – 1st in the East.
Matches: 35 are disputed out of 37 possible.
Statistics: 30.9 pts, 8.1 reb, 4.1 pds, 1.2 int, 0.9 ctr and 2.7 pdb in 37 min.
Percentages: 47% in shots, 35% in 3-pts and 86% in throws.
3 – Luka Doncic (Mavericks)
Assessment: 22 wins, 16 losses – 4th in the West.
Matches: 35 are disputed out of 38 possible.
Statistics: 34.3 pts, 8.8 reb, 8.9 pds, 1.7 int, 0.6 ctr and 3.6 pdb in 37 min.
Percentages: 51% on shots, 36% on 3-pts and 74% on throws.
4 – Kevin Durant (Nets)
Assessment: 25 wins, 12 losses – 2nd in the East.
Matches: 36 are disputed out of 37 possible.
Statistics: 29.6 pts, 6.8 reb, 5.5 pds, 0.8 int, 1.5 ctr and 3.5 pdb in 36 min.
Percentages: 56% shooting, 36% 3-point and 93% throwing.
5 – Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)
Assessment: 23 wins, 13 losses – 3rd in the East.
Matches: 30 are disputed out of 36 possible.
Statistics: 32.1 pts, 11.8 reb, 5.2 ft, 0.9 int, 0.9 ctr and 3.8 ft in 34 min.
Percentages: 53% shooting, 25% 3-pt and 65% throwing.
Mentions : Joel Embiid (Sixers), Ja Morant (Grizzlies), Zion Williamson (Pelicans), Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers), Tyrese Haliburton (Pacers)…
