The race for the prize MVPthe most prestigious individual award given by the NBA during his normal phase, it is one of the biggest and hardest battles to win. Not only do you have to perform at an excellent level and be consistent, you also have to be in a team that occupies relevant positions. After March, the 2022-2023 season is just a few days away from voting for the MVP. A battle that looks like a replica of the last three seasons, with Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid fighting for the prize.
With all of this in mind, the NBA’s newsroom Sports news He picked his five favorites to be MVP for the month of March. The grading system is very simple: 1st gets 5 points. the 2nd, 4; and so on.
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#5: Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings
- Statistics: 19.1 points, 12.4 rebounds and 7.2 assists
The first inclusion of Domantas Sabonis in this match could not be more timely. Without making much noise and without getting similar numbers to other stars, the Lithuanian placed the The Sacramento Kings in the Playoff positions.
What in any of the other 29 franchises could be something mundane, in the capital of California is quite a milestone. 17 seasons away seems to have been enough for some Kings who are on track to finish the regular season in Third Place from the West. To put in context, this franchise hasn’t finished here in 20 yearsin the 2002-2003 season.
Domantas Sabonis was the engine of this team along with De’Aaron Fox, a constant that supported Mike Brown’s men all the way. The former Unicaja player is the fourth player with the most passes per night, putting up a more than respectable figure 7.2 assists, during production approx 20 points. A performance that also places him as the second-most triple-doubles this campaign.
#4: Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
- Statistics: 30.3 points, 8.9 rebounds and 4.6 assists
The best season by a Celtics player in their entire history won’t be enough for Jayson Tatum to win his first MVP. However, his strong performance and continued excellence during the regular season will earn the forward a first-team All-NBA nomination.
Boston’s elimination at finals Passing has served as fuel for a Tatum that, at different times along the way, has been one of the three best in the entire league. The young man managed to leave behind the inconsistency that always accompanied him, even raising his level of competition and establishing himself as a constant threat at both ends of the pitch.
#3: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
- Statistics: 31.1 points, 11.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s numbers this season are shocking. Best record in scoring, close to tying the most in assists and rebounds… All of this makes the Milwaukee Bucks the clear leader in the Eastern Conference.
Such is the case of the Greek who is for many the real big candidate to win the MVP, the third in his case. A justification found in his old mantra “the best player of the best team”. Without going any further, Giannis broke the unanimity that characterized this ranking in recent months, to the point of reaching second place in the race for The Sporting News.
However, and as has been pointed out each month, Antetokounmpo’s data has a particular pitfall. Yes, he’s scoring more, but he’s also increased his shooting average, while his three-point and field goal percentages are down from previous years. It’s bloodier to take a look at his shooting from the foul line, where he sits below 65%. At 12.3 attempts per night, that’s the worst mark since Shaquille O’Neal in 2001 (51.3% on 13.1 shots).
#2: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
- Statistics: 33.0 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.7 blocks
Joel Embiid may have based his media MVP campaign on repeating that he’s not trying to make it, but his performances say otherwise. The leap made by the Cameroonian giant from mid-January to today makes clear his intention to win over voters.
There are many ways to earn MVP status, and one of them is to have an extremely attractive stat line. The 76ers player is on track to finish as the leading scorer again, something the same interior hasn’t done since 1972 at his hands Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. That’s the impact on Embiid’s offense piling up more games over 40 points (12) than under 20 (4).
Embiid may end up winning the hearts of some voters and getting his first MVP, but for now as of TSN’s writing he continues to take the second spot unanimously.
#1: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
- Statistics: 24.9 points, 11.9 rebounds, 9.9 assists
The Nuggets’ competitive slump in early March was seen as a sign of weakness in Nikola Jokic, which was used to boost his candidacy Joel Embiid. Despite this, the Serb continued at the same level as the rest of the season, that is pure excellence.
From his hands come two-time MVPs 49.4 points per game between the shots he makes and the ones the rest of his team makes thanks to his assists. In Embiid’s case the data is 44.2.
If the concept of MVP is nothing more than “most valuable player,” the best way to verify his redundancy-worthy value is to contrast him with his absences compared to other candidates. While the 76ers have a 56.2% winning percentage without Embiid (9-5), in Denver’s case the percentage drops to 37.5% (3-5). When both are available, the record also favors Jokic with 71.6% wins compared to 65.5% for the Cameroonian.
And if it goes to the game itself, the on-off pitch difference leads the Sombor native once again:
| Clear score on the field | Net score off the field | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nikola Jokic | +13.3 | -12.0 | 25.3 |
| Joel Embiid | +9.2 | -1.8 | eleven |
votes and positions
seats
| pos. | Player | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nikola Jokic | 18 |
| 2 | Joel Embiid | 16 |
| 3 | John Antetokounmpo | 14 |
| 4 | Jason Tatum | 8 |
| 5 | Domantas Sabonis | 3 |
| 6 | Luka Doncic | 1 |
voting
| pos. | Augustine Aboy (@AboyAgustin) | Sergio Rabinal (@S_Rabinal) | Juan Esteves (@JuanEstevez90) | Leandro Fernandez (@FernandezLea) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nikola Jokic | Nikola Jokic | John Antetokounmpo | Nikola Jokic |
| 2 | Joel Embiid | Joel Embiid | Joel Embiid | Joel Embiid |
| 3 | John Antetokounmpo | John Antetokounmpo | Nikola Jokic | John Antetokounmpo |
| 4 | Jason Tatum | Jason Tatum | Jason Tatum | Jason Tatum |
| 5 | Luka Doncic | Domantas Sabonis | Domantas Sabonis | Domantas Sabonis |
The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of the NBA or its organizations.
