The 2014-15 season has drawn to a close and now it’s time to reflect. As we all get excited and prepared for the 2015 NBA Playoffs, we also want to take the time and recognize the best of the best from this season. Although we might not have an official vote for any of these awards, we still have to put our picks in here somewhere.
So check out the 2015 NBA Awards and let us know what you think!
We’ve gone over the Coach of the Year award, the Most Improved Player award and now it’s time for the 6th man of the year award.
Nominees:
Isaiah Thomas, Boston Celtics
Louis Williams, Toronto Raptors
Andre Iguodala, Golden State Warriors
Jamal Crawford, Los Angeles Clippers
Cameron
Winner: Isaiah Thomas, Boston Celtics
First off he’s leading scorer with 16.4 ppg out of all the potential candidates for this award. Going with the eye test he’s hit just as many big shots for his teams like Lou Williams, Andre Iguodala and Jamal Crawford. May I also add the Suns were a better team with Thomas even with all that drama and after he went to Boston, the Celtics have surged to the 7th seed to make the playoffs. He was a favorite going into the season and has lived up to expectations.
Martin
Winner: Isaiah Thomas, Boston Celtics
Thomas changed teams mid-season and only kicked up. He started his campaign for this award in Phoenix and has only been sensational for the Celtics since arriving. In 21 games since the All-Star break Thomas has averaged 19 points and 5 assists per game. From being a starter for the Kings last season, I feel Thomas has been the most electric individual bench presence this season.
Max
Winner: Isaiah Thomas, Boston Celtics
Thomas has carried the Celtics team into a playoff contending team. Since leaving Phoenix, he has averaged 19 PPG and 5 APG with just 26 minutes of playing time per game. Isaiah has lead the Celtics at the end of the season and made them a playoff team.
Kyle
Winner: Louis Williams, Toronto Raptors
Lou Williams deserves some award because he has two girlfriends right? Being serious though Lou Williams is the Raptors third leading scorer and can drop a 30 piece on a team on any given night. In games when he he leads the team in scoring, the Raptors are 14-3 this. He leads all NBA reserves in most major scoring categories, including total points, three-pointers made, free throws made, and 25+ point games (per RaptorsHQ). He is the best bench player in the league.
Es
Winner: Louis Williams, Toronto Raptors
Without Lou Williams, the Toronto Raptors would not be in the position they are in the standings. He is there 3rd option offensively, and he comes off the bench. After DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry, if the Raptors needed instant offense they went to Lou Williams. Surprisingly his defense hasn’t been bad either. Being implemented in Dwane Casey’s defense has helped him grow as a help defender and offensively the Raptors were top 5 in the NBA, because of Lou. Just like Drake said it, Lou is the 6th man of the year.
Rob
Winner: Isaiah Thomas, Boston Celtics
Don’t get me wrong, I love me a verse in a rap song about a bench player as much as the next guy but there’s no denying the value that IT4 has brought to the Celtics since he joined the team. I’m unsure even if the the Celtics brass knew what kind of player Thomas would be for them. It seemed like he was acquired to be a piece for next year’s team and beyond and in a matter of weeks. The Celtics were all but forgetting about and now, with Thomas leading them as well as he can on the bench, they’re in the playoffs, much to everyone’s surprise. Thomas has averaged 19 points per game in his 21 games with the Celtics and he’s without a doubt a big piece to their success as well as the Suns earlier this season.
David
Winner: Isaiah Thomas, Boston Celtics
In my opinion, Isaiah Thomas should be considered a lock for this award. He clearly fits the definition of 6th man, as he’s started in just one game this season. He’s putting up great numbers for the season, and those have just been climbing since his arrival in Boston. As a Celtic, Thomas has averaged 19.5 points and 5.4 assists per game. Since the All-Star break Thomas has averaged 27.1 points per 36 minutes. Only two players are ahead of him in that category: MVP candidates Russell Westbrook and Stephen Curry. He’s also eighth in the league in offensive box plus/minus. The seven players ahead of him were all All-Stars this season.
Stephen
Winner: Louis Williams, Toronto Raptors
I’d say the underrated signing of the off season was The Toronto Raptors signing veteran guard Lou Williams who in the past has shown his big time scoring ability in flashes, but this season he did it a lot more consistently reminded me of his time in Philadelphia. The only difference is Williams stayed healthy this year and the numbers show too. Williams averaged 15 points per game and 34% from beyond the arc while having a PER of 19.9. Williams helped elevate a Raptors team that had 49 wins and some nights needed his scoring ability desperately and he stepped it up for them.
