Pre-Sixth Sim Sixth Man of the Year Candidates
Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2017 3:51 pm
Six. It's perhaps the sexiest number. It sounds like someone saying "sex" in an Australian accent. It looks like an anatomically incorrect snake trying to fellate itself. It's the number of nipples in the average menage-a-trois. And with the 6th sim on the horizon, it's time to look at some of the bench leaders who could be vying for 6th man of the year. For the purposes of this article, to qualify as a candidate, I looked at the true 6th man...the bench player on each team who played the most minutes and started less than half of the games of the season so far. I threw out guys like Paul Millsap (players who will likely start more than half the games unless their GMs read this article and want to make a play at 6MOY). In any case, here is a rundown of the top 10 candidates, and why they could win the award.
HONORABLE MENTION: KENT BAZEMORE - NEW YORK KNICKS
KEY NUMBERS: 9.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.2 spg
The Knicks are off to a hot start, and that's thanks in part to the coordinated maturation of a lot of young talent, including Kent Bazemore. Bazemore brings some more bench scoring behind high scoring Wesley Matthews, but his defensive prowess can't be understated as well. He's a bit undersized for the small forward position, where he isn't a natural fit, but due to Matthews importance to the Knicks, we're guessing he has some minutes there, or his numbers would look even bigger. Also notable, John Henson's play helps balance the Knicks bench, and if there were a 7MOY award, Henson would definitely be a contender. The Knicks deep team is responsible for their spot atop the Atlantic.
10. HARLAND ELLINGER - ORLANDO MAGIC
KEY NUMBERS: 11.8 ppg, .542 TS%
Harland Ellinger looks to accomplish what Gary Harris did last year, winning 6MOY for a rookie. He's on the struggling Magic, so he should see plenty of playing time, but he's a defensive liability (as expected and projected). On the flip side, he is living up to the hype as a scoring machine. He's averaging almost 12 points in 27 minutes and is one of the few players on the Magic with a positive number in the EWA column.
9. ANDREW WIGGINS - MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
KEY NUMBERS: 11.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.3 apg
The Timberwolves are quickly watching their rebuilding efforts paying off, but they've packed their backcourt with enough seasoned talent in Kemba and Curry to play the 2nd year star off the bench. He's putting up almost 12 points a game for them and adding to the stat sheet consistently, if not spectacularly, in other areas. His athleticism along with the T-Wolves hot start will likely get Wiggins even more notice than his numbers will.
8. JEFF ADRIEN - WASHINGTON WIZARDS
KEY NUMBERS: 10.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.1 bpg
Washington acquired the agile big man, Jeff Adrien, from the Hawks via trade in the offseason, and it was a shrewd move on the Wizards' part. He's a strong contributor off the bench, averaging in double figures with some good numbers on the boards and in the paint to boot. Still, the Wizards find themselves 3rd in a tough division with a rough schedule so far as their roster has gone through a bit of change. If they start jelling a little more as more home games approach, expect Jeff's numbers to rise.
7. NERLENS NOEL - SACRAMENTO KINGS
KEY NUMBERS: 6.6 rpg, 1.5 bpg, .623 TS%
Nerlens Noel was an integral part of the Kings start this year, where they were able to turn their team around from being one of the worst in the league last year much faster than expected. Unfortunately, Nerlens is recovering from a broken arm, so his spot on my list might seem a little high unless he can keep up his advanced metrics. While his length and defense is a critical part of his game, he is an extremely efficient low post scorer with a high true shooting percentage. His work on the boards and in the paint really helped bolster the Kings' second line, and his versatility to play either 4 or 5 make him a really fantastic piece to have on your team. He's still very young, so I expect his recovery to go smoothly and his form to return in no time.
6. RONNIE BREWER - LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
KEY NUMBERS: 9.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.9 apg
While the Clippers are synonymous with Kevin Durant, they wouldn't be leading their division if he was surrounded by trash. Ronnie Brewer proves the Clippers have some depth. Despite his defensive focus, the wing is putting up almost 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists per game, and metrics show that those numbers don't even cover the full extent of his impact on the team. He's seeing the most playing time out of anyone on this list, and that's a testament to that importance.
5. MARCIN GORTAT - MILWAUKEE BUCKS
KEY NUMBERS: 6.1 rpg, 1.3 bpg, 15.3% rr
Marcin Gortat is another great example of how important a defensive-minded big man can be coming off the bench. At 22.4 minutes per game, he has the least playing time of anyone from this list, but his 15.3% rebound rate and 1.3 blocks per game show that he's well worth his contract. The Bucks have gone all in this year, and that'll land them a hefty tax bill. They've been shopping Gortat, so he could be a starter on a number of other teams. His absence, however, would probably hurt Milwaukee more than they might expect.
4. AL-FAROOQ AMINU - DENVER NUGGETS
KEY NUMBERS: 11.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.3 spg
Edging out Jrue Holiday in minutes played, Al-Farooq Aminu is one of the reasons the Nuggets have such a complete team. He's a complete player. Listed as a SF, Aminu can also play a quick stretch 4 with his height and ability from the 3 point line. He is a solid enough defender in the post and on the perimeter, and he can do pretty much everything at least sufficiently (except floor general, but that's Jrue's job on the 2nd unit anyway). With just over 11 points and just under 7 boards, Aminu is the type of player who fits right into the role of a 2nd unit impact player on a well-built, contending team.
3. D.J. WHITE - HOUSTON ROCKETS
KEY NUMBERS: 12 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 1.5 bpg, 15.8 PER, 66.8 VA, 2.2 EWA
Although he isn't starting, D.J. White is playing more minutes than the player he's backing up in Kenneth Faried, and his numbers justify those minutes. He's contributing on both ends and has 2.2 EWA for the Rockets thus far. That's a big number coming from a bench player, and he's a big reason the Rockets are holding onto the top spot in the newly minted Southwest division. Though he's third on this list according to a simple makeshift algorithm that I cannot defy, I expect he has a pretty reasonable chance to take home 6MOY unless the Rockets need to make a push and start him down the stretch.
2. RAMON SESSIONS - CHICAGO BULLS
KEY NUMBERS: 9 ppg, 5.3 apg, 16 PER, 67.7 VA, 2.3 EWA
This season, the Bulls are in a bit of flux. One of the changes they've made is opting to start Patrick Beverley over Ramon Sessions. Still, Ramon is leading the Bulls in assists (and currently is 25th in the league overall) at just 23.7 minutes per game. He's contributed quite a bit to wins (2nd highest among bench players behind the player I have 1st on this list), and he's even pulling down a few boards per game from the point guard position. While his future with the Bulls remains uncertain with trade rumors and a team option on his contract for next year, he's presently holding true to the solid form he's had over the past few years in terms of offensive production.
1. MARC GASOL - ATLANTA HAWKS
KEY NUMBERS: 10.2 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 2.8 apg, .613 TS%, 16.4 PER, 73.6 VA, 2.5 EWA
Just like everything else, I'm predicting a win for the Hawks here. If Marc Gasol hadn't played more minutes per game than Nate Robinson, you'd see Nate (16.1 ppg off the bench) here instead. But Gasol's numbers have been very good in 27.7 minutes. He's putting up 10.2 points on .613 TS% and a 16.4 PER. He's even averaging almost 3 assists, and for a big man coming off the bench, that's pretty insane. It doesn't hurt that he's on the Hawks, one of the most dominant franchises in PBSL history in a stretch of time where they look ultra fierce. Despite a lackluster TC in a system that whips guys like Bojan Bogdanovic and Aaron Gordon into starter-quality shape, Gasol has played nicely in Atlanta, where his play and the team around him reciprocally make each other better.
HONORABLE MENTION: KENT BAZEMORE - NEW YORK KNICKS
KEY NUMBERS: 9.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.2 spg
The Knicks are off to a hot start, and that's thanks in part to the coordinated maturation of a lot of young talent, including Kent Bazemore. Bazemore brings some more bench scoring behind high scoring Wesley Matthews, but his defensive prowess can't be understated as well. He's a bit undersized for the small forward position, where he isn't a natural fit, but due to Matthews importance to the Knicks, we're guessing he has some minutes there, or his numbers would look even bigger. Also notable, John Henson's play helps balance the Knicks bench, and if there were a 7MOY award, Henson would definitely be a contender. The Knicks deep team is responsible for their spot atop the Atlantic.
10. HARLAND ELLINGER - ORLANDO MAGIC
KEY NUMBERS: 11.8 ppg, .542 TS%
Harland Ellinger looks to accomplish what Gary Harris did last year, winning 6MOY for a rookie. He's on the struggling Magic, so he should see plenty of playing time, but he's a defensive liability (as expected and projected). On the flip side, he is living up to the hype as a scoring machine. He's averaging almost 12 points in 27 minutes and is one of the few players on the Magic with a positive number in the EWA column.
9. ANDREW WIGGINS - MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
KEY NUMBERS: 11.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.3 apg
The Timberwolves are quickly watching their rebuilding efforts paying off, but they've packed their backcourt with enough seasoned talent in Kemba and Curry to play the 2nd year star off the bench. He's putting up almost 12 points a game for them and adding to the stat sheet consistently, if not spectacularly, in other areas. His athleticism along with the T-Wolves hot start will likely get Wiggins even more notice than his numbers will.
8. JEFF ADRIEN - WASHINGTON WIZARDS
KEY NUMBERS: 10.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.1 bpg
Washington acquired the agile big man, Jeff Adrien, from the Hawks via trade in the offseason, and it was a shrewd move on the Wizards' part. He's a strong contributor off the bench, averaging in double figures with some good numbers on the boards and in the paint to boot. Still, the Wizards find themselves 3rd in a tough division with a rough schedule so far as their roster has gone through a bit of change. If they start jelling a little more as more home games approach, expect Jeff's numbers to rise.
7. NERLENS NOEL - SACRAMENTO KINGS
KEY NUMBERS: 6.6 rpg, 1.5 bpg, .623 TS%
Nerlens Noel was an integral part of the Kings start this year, where they were able to turn their team around from being one of the worst in the league last year much faster than expected. Unfortunately, Nerlens is recovering from a broken arm, so his spot on my list might seem a little high unless he can keep up his advanced metrics. While his length and defense is a critical part of his game, he is an extremely efficient low post scorer with a high true shooting percentage. His work on the boards and in the paint really helped bolster the Kings' second line, and his versatility to play either 4 or 5 make him a really fantastic piece to have on your team. He's still very young, so I expect his recovery to go smoothly and his form to return in no time.
6. RONNIE BREWER - LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
KEY NUMBERS: 9.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.9 apg
While the Clippers are synonymous with Kevin Durant, they wouldn't be leading their division if he was surrounded by trash. Ronnie Brewer proves the Clippers have some depth. Despite his defensive focus, the wing is putting up almost 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists per game, and metrics show that those numbers don't even cover the full extent of his impact on the team. He's seeing the most playing time out of anyone on this list, and that's a testament to that importance.
5. MARCIN GORTAT - MILWAUKEE BUCKS
KEY NUMBERS: 6.1 rpg, 1.3 bpg, 15.3% rr
Marcin Gortat is another great example of how important a defensive-minded big man can be coming off the bench. At 22.4 minutes per game, he has the least playing time of anyone from this list, but his 15.3% rebound rate and 1.3 blocks per game show that he's well worth his contract. The Bucks have gone all in this year, and that'll land them a hefty tax bill. They've been shopping Gortat, so he could be a starter on a number of other teams. His absence, however, would probably hurt Milwaukee more than they might expect.
4. AL-FAROOQ AMINU - DENVER NUGGETS
KEY NUMBERS: 11.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.3 spg
Edging out Jrue Holiday in minutes played, Al-Farooq Aminu is one of the reasons the Nuggets have such a complete team. He's a complete player. Listed as a SF, Aminu can also play a quick stretch 4 with his height and ability from the 3 point line. He is a solid enough defender in the post and on the perimeter, and he can do pretty much everything at least sufficiently (except floor general, but that's Jrue's job on the 2nd unit anyway). With just over 11 points and just under 7 boards, Aminu is the type of player who fits right into the role of a 2nd unit impact player on a well-built, contending team.
3. D.J. WHITE - HOUSTON ROCKETS
KEY NUMBERS: 12 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 1.5 bpg, 15.8 PER, 66.8 VA, 2.2 EWA
Although he isn't starting, D.J. White is playing more minutes than the player he's backing up in Kenneth Faried, and his numbers justify those minutes. He's contributing on both ends and has 2.2 EWA for the Rockets thus far. That's a big number coming from a bench player, and he's a big reason the Rockets are holding onto the top spot in the newly minted Southwest division. Though he's third on this list according to a simple makeshift algorithm that I cannot defy, I expect he has a pretty reasonable chance to take home 6MOY unless the Rockets need to make a push and start him down the stretch.
2. RAMON SESSIONS - CHICAGO BULLS
KEY NUMBERS: 9 ppg, 5.3 apg, 16 PER, 67.7 VA, 2.3 EWA
This season, the Bulls are in a bit of flux. One of the changes they've made is opting to start Patrick Beverley over Ramon Sessions. Still, Ramon is leading the Bulls in assists (and currently is 25th in the league overall) at just 23.7 minutes per game. He's contributed quite a bit to wins (2nd highest among bench players behind the player I have 1st on this list), and he's even pulling down a few boards per game from the point guard position. While his future with the Bulls remains uncertain with trade rumors and a team option on his contract for next year, he's presently holding true to the solid form he's had over the past few years in terms of offensive production.
1. MARC GASOL - ATLANTA HAWKS
KEY NUMBERS: 10.2 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 2.8 apg, .613 TS%, 16.4 PER, 73.6 VA, 2.5 EWA
Just like everything else, I'm predicting a win for the Hawks here. If Marc Gasol hadn't played more minutes per game than Nate Robinson, you'd see Nate (16.1 ppg off the bench) here instead. But Gasol's numbers have been very good in 27.7 minutes. He's putting up 10.2 points on .613 TS% and a 16.4 PER. He's even averaging almost 3 assists, and for a big man coming off the bench, that's pretty insane. It doesn't hurt that he's on the Hawks, one of the most dominant franchises in PBSL history in a stretch of time where they look ultra fierce. Despite a lackluster TC in a system that whips guys like Bojan Bogdanovic and Aaron Gordon into starter-quality shape, Gasol has played nicely in Atlanta, where his play and the team around him reciprocally make each other better.