Top contenders for the NBA 2022-23 season MVP award
As the NBA regular season comes to an end, the race for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award is heating up. Several players have stood out with their extraordinary performances in the league, but some have emerged as top contenders for the coveted award.
Nikola Jokic is among the frontrunners after finishing the regular season as the only player to average at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists on at least 60% shooting. He also set several records for the Denver Nuggets and led them to a playoff spot despite missing key teammates due to injury.
Joel Embiid is another top contender after finishing the season as the league’s scoring title holder with an impressive 33.1 points per game. His maturation into an MVP candidate is a significant reason why the Philadelphia 76ers are favored to dispose of their first-round opponent, the Brooklyn Nets.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum, and Donovan Mitchell are other notable players in the conversation for the MVP award. Antetokounmpo continues to be a force for the league-leading Milwaukee Bucks and is averaging career highs in points and rebounds. Tatum is a strong two-way force for the Boston Celtics and finished the season as their all-time leader in regular-season 50-point games. Mitchell led the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first 50-win season since 2017-18 and tallied second-most 40-point games all-time for a player in his first season with a new team.
The likes of James Harden, Luka Doncic, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Jimmy Butler, Anthony Davis, De’Aaron Fox, and LeBron James cannot be ignored either, but some players have had overly impressive performances compared to others
Joel Embiid’s goals for the upcoming NBA playoffs
Joel Embiid might be a scoring champion and potential MVP, but his ultimate goal is to win an NBA championship. To achieve that goal, the Sixers’ star knows he needs to get better despite already being a scoring machine.
Embiid finished eighth in rebounding and seventh in blocks, in addition to leading the NBA in scoring. In the playoffs, he will face Nic Claxton, a young and inexperienced center tasked with containing him.
Claxton acknowledged that guarding Embiid is a group effort, and he had to avoid fouling to stay on the court. However, stopping or at least containing someone like Embiid takes a team effort.
The Nets will rely on different strategies to try to contain Embiid’s dominance, such as playing Claxton and reserve center Day’Ron Sharpe together to counter his length. If they can keep Embiid in check, the Nets’ chances of winning the series will improve significantly.
Nets center Nic Claxton’s task of guarding 76ers star Joel Embiid in his first playoff start
Nic Claxton faces one of the toughest challenges of his career in guarding Joel Embiid during his first playoff start. The Nets center must use his footwork, quickness, and offensive instincts to create an advantage against the bigger Embiid while avoiding fouling early on.
Jacque Vaughn emphasizes the importance of avoiding allowing Embiid shots without proper defense and limiting his free-throw attempts. Claxton will need to be vigilant of Embiid’s tactics throughout the game.
Although Dorian Finney-Smith’s right wrist is improving and won’t affect his availability for the series opener, many believe that stopping or at least containing someone with Embiid’s stats (33.1 points and 10.2 rebounds per game) takes a team effort.
The Nets must rally together to ensure that Claxton’s first playoff start does not end in disaster, and Embiid’s incredible scoring talent is kept in check.
Overall, this year’s MVP race includes an impressive group of players who have wowed fans and critics alike with their performances on the court. It remains uncertain who will win the award, but one thing is for sure – the playoffs will provide some of the most exciting basketball games of the year, especially as top contenders like Embiid and Jokic vie for the title.
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