2016-2017 NBA Quarter-Season Awards Watch

We're a little past the quarter mark on the NBA season, so we have a decent feel of how this year's teams work and who's been able to distinguish themselves from the pack. This is probably a pointless exercise, but when you have finals, fluff pieces like these are imperative. Let's take a look at the front runners for some of the league's most prestigious awards.

Most Valuable Player

1. Russell Westbrook
2. James Harden
3. Kevin Durant

Oh, if the top three finish out like this, the Thunder are going to be regretting their decisions. Westbrook's triple double average, Harden's renewed concentration for the game because of D'Antoni's offensive scheme, and Durant's efficiency have been documented ad nauseam. Imagine, if the Thunder had actually retained all three of these players and realized that Ibaka was nothing more than an above-average role player. The rationale behind the Harden trade was that they couldn't afford all four of Durant, Westbrook, Harden, and Ibaka (which is categorically false). But any supporting cast behind three of the best ten players in the league would contend against the best teams in the NBA, without a doubt.

Defensive Player of the Year

1. Draymond Green
2. Kawhi Leonard
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo

Draymond and Kawhi at the top of this list is no surprise. Green's embraced his role as the Rodman on their super-team and Kawhi is still making opposing wings and guards straight fear handling the ball against him. Counting stats for defense are usually a little misleading (just think about Hassan Whiteside's giant blocks per game average last year but his bad rim protection stats). But what Giannis is doing, averaging 2 blocks and 2 steals a game, is rare; in fact, only David Robinson, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Gerald Wallace (huh?) have done that for an entire season. Kidd often times closes games with Giannis as the Buck's defensive center, which is something we'll revisit in literally two seconds. Giannis has shown defensive versatility that's beyond his years.

Most Improved Player

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo
2. Kemba Walker
3. Jabari Parker

I said, two seconds, right? So, what's Giannis been doing differently this year? He's finally realized his athletic prowess and has been able to control it to aid his passing vision and ball-handling touch. Giannis's positional fluidity allows him to lead fast breaks much like Russell Westbrook and spark semi-transition opportunities, much like LeBron. Kemba should have been in the conversation last year, given his 3.6 point jump in scoring from the previous season. But he's improved his scoring another 2.5 points while being the only scoring threat on the third best team in the Eastern Conference. What's even more promising is his jump in efficiency, a whole 5% higher effective field goal percentage. Parker has also improved his efficiency to round into shape as a better scorer.

Rookie of the Year

1. Joel Embiid
2. Jamal Murray
3. Malcolm Brogdon

Embiid has been a revelation; we don't have to expound of him that much. Brandon Ingram has been above average on defense this year, but his frailty has been a deterrent on offense. He's definitely going to improve, especially in Luke Walton's system, but for the first 20 games of the season, he's been a rookie. Jamal Murray's scoring potential and combo guard instincts are promising. He's a better shooter than expected, and if the draft were held today again, he probably go much earlier in the draft. Brogdon is already a plus-role player in the NBA, even though he's probably never going to get better than that. He has impressive touch on the pick-and-roll, and defensively, he's been able to hold his own against bigger shooting guards and quicker points. Brogdon looks like a solid piece, moving forward for the Bucks.

Most Washed Up: Joakim Noah

I just wanted to write a blurb where I shit on the Knicks. Noah is literally unplayable right now: he can't finish, he can't keep up with opposing center, he doesn't rebound, and he doesn't protect the rim. But he's getting $18 million a year for...THREE MORE YEARS. THIS IS THE BIGGEST CON JOB IN NBA HISTORY. Consider this alternate reality - the Knicks, instead of trading for Derrick Rose (probably number two on the list of most washed up) and signing Noah, sign Mike Conley and Bismack Biyombo. Maybe they could have thrown some money at Eric Gordon and presented a starting lineup of Conley, Courtney Lee, Melo, Porzingis, and Biyombo, with an offense-first crunch time lineup of Conley, Gordon, Lee, Melo, and Porzingis. The payroll would be crazy, but the versatility of the roster would give the Cavs fits.

Newest Addition to the "Good Stats, Bad Team" Roster: Harrison Barnes

As much as this pains me to write, Harrison Barnes simply can't be your go-to-scorer. He proved himself to be a valiant third scorer on a championship team, and maybe that's not his ceiling. But Carlisle is running high pick-and-rolls for him and giving him elbow isolations, and lo and behold, the Mavs are the worst team in the league.

Let's close this out with my picks for the All-League teams:

All-NBA First Team
G: Russell Westbrook
G: James Harden
F: Kevin Durant
F: LeBron James
C: Anthony Davis

All-NBA Second Team
G: Stephen Curry
G: Chris Paul
F: Kawhi Leonard
F: Draymond Green
C: Marc Gasol

All-NBA Third Team
G: Kyle Lowry
G: Kemba Walker
F: Giannis Antetokounmpo
F: Blake Griffin
C: DeAndre Jordan

All-Defensive First Team
G: Chris Paul
G: Avery Bradley
F: Kawhi Leonard
F: Draymond Green
C: Rudy Gobert

All-Defensive Second Team
G: Patrick Beverley
G: Tony Allen
F: Jimmy Butler
F: Giannis Antetokounmpo
C: DeAndre Jordan