Monthly NBA Awards: Handing out the Hardware Entering March
The NBA award races follow the same marathon-not-sprint style as the season at large.
A monthly surge, no matter how impressive, won't change the leaderboard on its own. Longevity is key to collecting hardware at the campaign's conclusion.
That's great news for the likes of Stephen Curry and James Harden, who may still have a head-to-head battle for MVP despite the efforts of the scorching hot Russell Westbrook and LeBron James. It's even better news for Andrew Wiggins, who could go on cruise control the rest of the way and still be honored as the league's top freshman.
But the month of February witnessed some brilliant individual efforts that deserve their moment in the spotlight.
That's what we'll do here in recognizing the month's greatest performances by naming the NBA's top sixth man, most improved player, defender, rookie, coach, executive and MVP for February.
Remember, our focus is on February alone. Some of the names listed here could factor into the end-of-season awards as well, but that's not what this is about. We don't know who will earn those honors.
But we can say with certainty who performed at the highest levels this month.
Sixth Man of the Month: Josh Smith, Houston Rockets
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February Per-Game Averages: 14.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.4 blocks
This season has been short on no-brainer candidates for this award. Volume scorers often do well in this category, and either Jamal Crawford or Louis Williams could continue that trend. But both have had brutal shooting months, with Crawford converting only 32.3 percent from deep and Williams hitting a woeful 32.9 percent from the field.
Those struggles have opened the door to some contenders, none more so than beleaguered Houston Rockets reserve Josh Smith.
The 6'9" forward has do-it-all ability, but that's not always a good thing. He gets himself in trouble when he tries to do too much, especially when he falls in love with a long ball that isn't falling.
But he has largely stayed in his lane since arriving Houston after his unceremonious divorce from the Detroit Pistons. He has centered his focus at the defensive end, where his disruptive play sparks countless transition opportunities for the Rockets.
"I just want to be a nuisance defensively," Smith said, per Jenny Dial Creech of the Houston Chronicle. “I think defense energizes everything else. Once you click in and lock in on the defensive end, the offense picks up."
He isn't forcing things offensively, as his February shooting marks of 46.2 percent from the field and 42.2 percent from deep indicate. If the right shot isn't there for him, he's spotting an open shooter or hitting a slasher on his way to the rim.
There have always been peaks and valleys in his production, but his good times can be very good. And his ability to impact all areas of the box score on both sides of the ball helps him edge out the high-scoring Crawford (20.2 points per game in February) and sweet-shooting Tony Snell (13.8 points on 62.7 percent shooting).
Runner-Up: Jamal Crawford, Los Angeles Clippers
Honorable Mention: Tony Snell, Chicago Bulls
Most Improved Player: Khris Middleton, Milwaukee Bucks
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February Per-Game Averages: 17.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.9 steals, 0.1 blocks
There are so many compelling players in this race, you won't even hear a mention of versatile Milwaukee Bucks swingman Khris Middleton. In fact, his scoring average is down from last season (11.8 points from 12.1), and his increase in player efficiency rating (16.2, up from 12.5) isn't as dramatic as the leaps made by front-runners Jimmy Butler (21.1 from 13.5) and Klay Thompson (20.9 from 14.3).
The first thing that comes to mind with Middleton—or the Bucks, for that matter—is suffocating defense. An athletic 6'8" wing with a 6'10.75" wingspan (per DraftExpress), he can handle multiple assignments and ace every one.
"On defense, Middleton is the ideal contemporary player," wrote Bleacher Report's Michael Pina. "He's long, he's quick and he can guard three or four positions. Bucks head coach Jason Kidd has taken advantage, unleashing Middleton in a switch-happy system that utilizes all he brings to the table."
With Middleton on the floor, Milwaukee allows just 94.7 points per 100 possessions. When he sits, that number balloons to 103.4 points per 100 possessions. That first number would easily be the NBA's best defense. The second would check in at 16th overall.
But Middleton can't be called a defensive specialist with the offensive statistics he's provided of late. He opened the month with back-to-back scoring efforts of at least 21 points and has cleared 17 points in four of his last six outings. He's shooting a sizzling 50.8 percent from the field and knocking down 96.6 percent of his free throws in February.
Butler, who's averaging 18.9 points, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals this month, didn't lose this award. Neither did Miami Heat surprise star Hassan Whiteside, who's gone for 13.6 points, 13.1 rebounds and 2.4 blocks a night in February.
Middleton simply captured the crown with two-way play a shade better than the rest.
Runner-Up: Hassan Whiteside, Miami Heat
Honorable Mention: Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls
Defensive Player of the Month: Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City Thunder
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February Per-Game Averages: 14.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.5 steals, 2.4 blocks
Good luck to those deciding this actual award.
You could argue on behalf of a handful of guys—Draymond Green, Anthony Davis, Andrew Bogut, Tim Duncan, Tony Allen—and present a convincing case for any one of them. Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka boasts a 2.4 blocks per game average and 101 defensive rating, and he's only slotted eighth in ESPN.com's defensive real plus-minus.
The field is that thick.
But Ibaka gets the nod here for a couple reasons.
He is the most important presence on one of the NBA's top-rated defenses. This month, the Thunder have allowed 8.5 points per 100 possessions fewer with Ibaka on the floor than when he isn't. For context, that's a bigger gap than the one separating the league-leading Golden Slate Warriors from the 27th-ranked Sacramento Kings.
Ibaka is pacing the NBA in total blocks, as he has in each of the last four seasons. And he alters more shots than he returns to sender. Among the 80 interior defenders who have faced at least five shots at the rim per game, Ibaka ranks third with a 40.8 field-goal percentage against.
"I think he's the best defensive player in the league," San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said of Ibaka last May, per Dan McCarney of the San Antonio Express-News.
With the Warriors looking human on the defensive end (15th in efficiency this month), Allen filling only a part-time role for the Memphis Grizzlies (25.9 minutes per game in February) and Davis suffering another shoulder injury, Ibaka has been able to hold off his top competitors.
Runner-Up: Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
Honorable Mention: Tony Allen, Memphis Grizzlies
Rookie of the Month: Andrew Wiggins, Minnesota Timberwolves
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February Per-Game Averages: 16.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.0 blocks
Should we change the Western Conference Rookie of the Month award's title to the Andrew Wiggins Award? He's already taken the trophy home each of the first three months of this season, and he'll soon be clearing room on his mantle for a fourth.
No, the 2014-15 NBA rookie class hasn't been as good as advertised. But even if it had, would Wiggins' prize collection be any smaller?
Just digest this nugget from the NBA.com/Stats' Twitter account for a moment: Only four players have ever appeared in at least 50 games and averaged 15-plus points before turning 20: James, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant and Wiggins.
The Minnesota Timberwolves swingman seems like he's on a collision course with stardom. While there are no guarantees he'll ever reach that level, hoop heads have to like what they've seen from the 20-year-old.
"It's far too early to say Wiggins will be a superstar and a legitimate MVP candidate by the time he's 21," wrote Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes. "But it's worth noting that his statistical achievements to date...and the arc he's on feel special."
Wiggins shows well on either end of the floor. His physical gifts and mental approach make him a walking roadblock defensively, and he's found success at the opposite side in every way imaginable: attacking the basket, taking aim from distance, getting to the charity stripe and setting up his teammates.
Philadelphia 76ers rookie Nerlens Noel has had a great defensive month (2.8 blocks, 1.7 steals), but his offense is still lagging well behind. Orlando Magic freshman Elfrid Payton has stuffed his February stat sheet with 8.2 points, 6.3 assists, 5.6 rebounds and 1.7 steals, but he's limited by the lack of a three-point shot.
Wiggins looks like the total package. No other first-year player can make that claim.
Runner-Up: Nerlens Noel, Philadelphia 76ers
Honorable Mention: Elfrid Payton, Orlando Magic
Coach of the Month: Frank Vogel, Indiana Pacers
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February Record: 6-2
The basic job description of an NBA coach is to make the most out of what he has.
There's plenty to be said for properly aligning great individual parts. Given the obstacles each team has faced this season, it's hard to overlook the work being done by Oklahoma City's Scott Brooks and Cleveland Cavaliers coach David Blatt.
But consider what each has at his disposal: Russell Westbrook and, when healthy, Kevin Durant for Brooks; James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love for Blatt. Now look at the roster Indiana Pacers coach Frank Vogel is working with. George Hill leads the team in scoring at 13.5 points per game, and David West is the high man on the glass with 7.2 rebounds. No one averages more than 4.1 assists.
Suddenly, Indiana's record in February looks a lot more impressive, doesn't it? Now, add in the fact that one of those victories came against the NBA's hottest team (Cleveland) and another came against its best group (Golden State). And despite not getting a single minute out of Paul George this season, the Pacers are only a game back of the Eastern Conference's eighth seed.
"They're within striking distance of the playoffs and Frank Vogel has done an exceptional job keeping this team together," wrote CBS Sports' Zach Harper.
Indiana has the third-best winning percentage this month and seventh-highest net efficiency rating.
Brooks and Blatt are getting greatness out of star-studded rosters. Vogel has a mediocre cast of characters performing at a borderline-elite level. You tell me which job is more impressive.
Runner-Up: Scott Brooks, Oklahoma City Thunder
Honorable Mention: David Blatt, Cleveland Cavaliers
Executive of the Month: Pat Riley, Miami Heat
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February Record: 5-5
No NBA executive had a worse summer than Miami Heat president Pat Riley. He lost the best player on the planet when LeBron went back home to Cleveland. While Riley helped the Heat land valuable free agents like Luol Deng and Josh McRoberts, nothing changed the fact that James' exit closed Miami's championship window and sealed it shut.
There is no recovery from a knockout blow like that.
Fast-forward a few months, though, and Riley again separated himself from his peers. Only this time, that separation came for a good reason. No NBA executive had a better trade deadline than him.
Despite being woefully short on trade chips, he somehow walked away with an All-NBA third-teamer from last season—who just so happened to play Miami's biggest position of need. Two future first-round picks and some roster flotsam transformed into Goran Dragic, an electric point guard who piled up 23 points and 10 assists during only his second game in South Beach.
In landing Dragic and pulling Whiteside off the NBA scrapheap, Riley had constructed one of the NBA's most formidable starting fives. As ESPN Stats & Info noted, Miami was the only team with five players inside the top 90 in player efficiency rating.
Sadly, the fruits of Riley's labor won't be seen this season, as All-Star forward Chris Bosh has been lost for the year to blood clots in his lungs. But if the Heat can get him back and re-sign Dragic, they could once again enjoy the perks of having Riley call the shots.
Other executives had good months—Sam Presti bulking up OKC's depth and Neil Olshey giving the Portland Trail Blazers the potent sixth man they were missing in Arron Afflalo—but Riley reeled in the biggest fish.
Runner-Up: Sam Presti, Oklahoma City Thunder
Honorable Mention: Neil Olshey, Portland Trail Blazers
MVP: Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
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February Per-Game Averages: 30.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, 10.2 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.2 blocks
This should be a lot tougher to call than it is.
James has tallied 24.4 points, 7.3 assists and 6.7 rebounds per game this month. For Harden, those numbers are 28.0, 7.1 and 6.6, respectively. Longtime MVP front-runner Curry has averaged 26.9 points and 6.8 assists while converting 45.1 percent of his field goals, 43.2 percent of his triples and 87.3 percent of his foul shots.
Those are all great numbers. But they aren't even on the same plane as the ones posted by video-game mode, cheat-code-activated Westbrook. OKC's explosive floor general has almost averaged a triple-double for the month and has triple-dipped each of his last two times out.
Reigning MVP Durant has been limited to only five of the team's 11 February games by a sprained toe and his twice-surgically repaired right foot. Yet the Thunder have won nine of those contests thanks to Westbrook's MVP-caliber efforts.
His floor presence alone has meant the difference of a staggering 22.6 points per 100 possessions. The super-charged athlete who has often been criticized for only playing in high gear is now letting the game come to him.
"I am taking what the defense gives me," Westbrook said, per ESPN.com's Royce Young. "There are different opportunities to take different shots and make different passes. My job is to come out and find a way to lead us."
It's hard to say where this torrid stretch should put Westbrook in the season-long MVP discussion. But it's painfully easy to declare his month of February—which also included a record-setting MVP performance at the All-Star Game—as the NBA's best.
Runner-Up: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honorable Mention: James Harden, Houston Rockets
Unless otherwise specified, all statistics are accurate as of Feb. 26 and used courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com and NBA.com.
