by Young Se Choi ’18, Sports Editor

As we’re turning the corner after the NBA All-Star Break, it’s time to look back at the 2017-2018 season.

MVP Race

Unlike last year’s two-player race between Russell Westbrook and James Harden, the 2017-2018 NBA MVP race is up for grabs for a variety of players. Firstly, Kevin Durant is having another outstanding season averaging 26 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists. But, what makes Durant’s MVP argument stronger is his improved defense. Averaging 2 blocks per game, Durant is third in the league in blocks despite playing the small forward position.

Another deserving MVP candidate is James Harden. Harden is currently leading the league in scoring, ranks third in assists per game, and continues to orchestrate a Houston Rockets’ offense that seems to be firing from all cylinders. Couple that with the fact that the Rockets are 45-13, Harden makes a strong case for MVP.  

Nicknamed “The Greek Freak” for his sheer athletic prowess and size, Giannis Antetokounmpo has established himself as a superstar in the NBA. Despite being only 23 years of age, Giannis is averaging 28 points per game along with 10 rebounds while proving himself to be a defensive threat with a block and a steal per game. His team’s 33-25 record may hurt his case for MVP this year, but there is no doubt that he should still be in the running.

Rookie of the Year Race

After last year’s disappointing rookie class led by Malcolm Brogdon, this year’s rookies offer no shortage of talent. Players such as Jayson Tatum, Ben Simmons, Lonzo Ball, and Donovan Mitchell have already become the faces of their franchises. And I didn’t even get to mentioning the underrated performances of Kyle Kuzma, Lauri Markannen, and Jordan Bell. Leading the rookie of the year race is Ben Simmons. Simmons had a blistering start to the season averaging near triple double numbers. Since then, however, Simmons has slowed down, averaging 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists per game in the month of January.

On the other hand, Lonzo Ball had a disappointing start to the season as many pundits categorized him as a “bust.” But after two months of passive play, Lonzo Ball, along with rookie Kyle Kuzma, has led the Lakers to wins averaging 7 assists per game and developing an effective three-point shot on the way.

But perhaps the most convincing candidate for rookie of the year has been Jayson Tatum. He’s only 19 years old but has established himself as the second or third best scoring option behind Kyrie Irving and Jaylen Brown. With a lethal three point shot, a strong mid-range game, and lock down defense, Tatum has been recognized as an integral part of the Celtics’ 42-19 record.

Biggest Surprises

The Western conference is shaping out as we expected. However, the Eastern conference has been filled with multiple surprises.

Sitting in second place in the Eastern Conference, behind the Toronto Raptors, are the Boston Celtics. Led by all stars Demar Derozan and Kyle Lowry, the Raptors have quietly marched their way to the top of the Eastern Conference standings. Before the start of the season, the Raptors weren’t even in the conversation for making a Finals appearance. But their meteoric rise and consistent string of winning games have had many people turn heads and pay attention to their play.

And of course, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ dysfunction has many Cavs fans on their heels. With what is likely to be Lebron James’ last season in Cleveland, the chemistry between players has been at an all-time low. Recently, the Cavs held a team meeting in which Kevin Love was grilled for leaving a game with an illness. Along with the Cavs’ attitude issues, the individual performances have been disappointing, with role players JR Smith, Tristan Thompson, and Jae Crowder underperforming. The big question now is whether the Cavs will be able to fix these problems come playoff time and whether the deadline-day trade which brought George Hill, Rodney Hood, Jordan Clarkson, and Larry Nance Jr. to Cleveland is enough to push them to the Finals.