NBA SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR RACE IS A GOOD ONE

1. Eric Gordon- Houston Rockets

17-18 Stats

18 ppg- 2.5 rpg- 2.2 apg
42.8% fg and 35.9% from 3

Advertisements

Eric Gordon is now the favorite to win the sixth man of the year back to back seasons. With Houston losing key players like Luc Mbah A Moute and Trevor Ariza they will need less of the scoring and more grit and grind defense from the bench. I predict Gordon will step up to a bigger defensive role and keep being the spark off the bench that he is for the Rockets. Mike D’Antoni now has the chance to beat the Golden State Warriors by outscoring them. Gordon will continue to be a top option for Rockets players to find open for the 3 ball. Unless the Rockets were to deal Gordon to the Timberwolves than no other player in the league holds greater value to a bench than Gordon holds. His ability to fit right into the system and continue to be in the right spots on the floor for his teammates makes him elite. As a top 10 shooting guard in the league Gordon is going to make it rain in Houston from 3 and IF they win a ring he will be a top 3 player on the squad in the finals.

2. Terry Rozier- Boston Celtics

17-18 Stats

11.3 ppg- 4.7 rpg- 2.9 apg
39.5% fg and 38.1% from 3

Heading into what i believe will be a year where Boston will raise another banner i see Terry Rozier rising to the occasion. As a starter in the playoffs he gave Boston hope and in his first series he outplayed Eric Bledsoe who at one point in the season was in high demand for a trade. Rozier averaged 16.5 ppg as a starter and i firmly believe we will see similar numbers like that as the 6th man for the very stacked Boston Celtics roster. I predict Rozier will improve as a playmaker and raise his assist numbers but he will bring more of a scoring impact. Scary Terry is about that life and is tough, he almost seems at times he has no regards for anyone in another jersey than him. This type of personality is what i believe will bring him over the top and makes him a contender for the award.

3. Dennis Schröder- Oklahoma City Thunder

19.4 ppg- 3.1 rpg- 6.2 apg
43.6% fg and 29% from 3

Schröder is already a starting caliber point guard and even coming off the bench in OKC i think he still has more help. He will now run the P&R with the likes of Nerlens Noel, Steven Adams and occasionally Jerami Grant. Not to mention the chances of coming off the bench and running the floor with Russell Westbrook or Paul George. Schröder should still be able to put up some good numbers along the lines of 17 ppg and 8 apg considering he has more pieces around him. He is good defensively and out of the 3 i have chosen for this award i would take
Schröder to lead my bench. The most offensively talented and mature player in this race will put up a big fight for the award.