NBA midseason awards picks, Finals predictions: Joel Embiid is MVP if he performs sufficient, can Celtics win all of it?

The 2023-24 NBA season has reached the halfway level, which implies it is time to zoom out and take inventory of the league. A part of that course of is reassessing the award races and making predictions about which group will raise the trophy in June. All of our consultants have submitted their ballots, so let’s have a look. 

To little shock, there was a transparent chief within the MVP race, with Joel Embiid tabbed to go back-to-back. The Philadelphia 76ers large man — contemporary off a jaw-dropping 70-point efficiency on Monday night time — is averaging a league-leading and career-high 36.1 factors, 11.6 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.9 blocks. Because it stands, Embiid’s well being seems to be the one factor standing between him and one other MVP. He is on tempo to play 62 video games, which might fall wanting the brand new 65-game threshold. 

Coming into the season, No. 1 general decide Victor Wembanyama was the runaway Rookie of the Yr favourite. That is modified, because the San Antonio Spurs phenom has been matched by Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder middle Chet Holmgren, who’s now the slight betting favourite. Holmgren additionally acquired 5 of seven votes from our panel.  

Defensive Participant of the Yr was the one award {that a} participant swept. Minnesota Timberwolves middle Rudy Gobert has been the centerpiece of the league’s greatest protection, and our consultants totally count on him to take house that trophy for the fourth time in his profession. 

Listed below are our midseason award picks:

Off the court docket, there was far more debate about Coach of the Yr than Govt of the Yr. 

Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault and Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse every acquired three votes for Coach of the Yr, whereas Chris Finch of the Minnesota Timberwolves picked up one. 

Brad Stevens, in the meantime, was the unanimous alternative for Govt of the Yr after bringing Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Vacation to Boston for the league-leading Celtics. 

Lastly, it was time to gaze into the crystal ball and make picks for the Japanese Convention finals, Western Convention finals and NBA Finals. 

Each single knowledgeable picked the Celtics to win the East, although some thought it will be over the Milwaukee Bucks, whereas others had them toppling the 76ers. Out West, the Denver Nuggets had been the clear favourite, although the Los Angeles Clippers did obtain one vote. As for the Finals, the Celtics received 5 votes, whereas the defending champion Nuggets acquired two.