The regular NBA season 2019-2020 lasts less than two weeks. Here is the forecast of individual prizes of major players:

The most valuable player





Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors: Before Kevin Durant arrived, Curry was an MVP. Now that K.D. disappeared and Klay Thompson (knee) was not until February, Curry could pick up his third trophy. Only eight players in league history have won at least three MVPs: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6), Bill Russell and Michael Jordan (5), Wilt Chamberlain and LeBron James (4), Moses Malone, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson (3)) .





Curry doesn't have to share photos with Durant, so its usage rate should increase. It was the peak of his career (32.6) when the Warriors set an NBA record in terms of winnings, reaching 73-9. In the same season, he also set personal records in shots (1598) and three-point trials (886). Curry is a good bet to win the title because you will have to commit a crime. Golden State no longer has any depth or talent. Because the margin of error for the Warriors is so small, look for Curry, which dominates the ball and minutes. No one will be more important to their team than Curry.



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Defensive player of the year





Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers: Joel Embiid has several high goals. He wants to win MVP, Defensive Player of the Year AND NBA Championship. Only Hakeem Olajuwon in 1993-94 achieved this ambitious triple crown. Heck only four players won both MVP and DPOY: Jordan, Olajuwon, David Robinson and Kevin Garnett.





According to Five Thirty Eight, from 2013-14, Embiid is the second best defensive player in the league. (tracking only Draymond Green). However, last season Rudy Gobert won DPOY, taking first place in the plus / minus defense (5.1) and second in defensive victory (5.7). What can help Embiid is to anchor the best defense team Philadelphia has ever had. The 76ers only took 15th position in the defensive ranking (110,97), but with the additions of Al Horford and Josh Richardson, who should improve. They will also have one of the highest teams in the league, the length of which can cause serious problems with duels.





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Most Improved Player

Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics: Jayson Tatum looked like a future star in 2017-18, finishing third in Rookie of the Year voting behind Ben Simmons and Donovan Mitchell. Last year, Tatum’s scoring improved (13.9 to 15.7), but he wasn’t a better player. His shooting dropped (47.5% to 45%), he got to the free throw line less (3.2 to 2.9), and his turnovers increased (1.4 to 1.5). The advanced metrics on Tatum were also worse- lower Player Efficiency Rating (15.3 to 15.1) and lower Win Shares (7.1 to 5.0). Overall, the Boston Celtics were a huge disappointment for a team that was supposed to be a title contender.





Kyrie Irving is gone and Kemba Walker is the point guard. That could help Tatum. Statistically at times the Celtics were a better team without Irving. Tatum is Boston’s leading returning scorer and is focused on improving his shot selection. He was particularly bad at mid-range jumpers from the right side, shooting a league-worst 22%.

Tatum said he wants to shoot more three-pointers and layups, and get to the line. If he does so, his efficiency will improve dramatically.





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Sixth Man of the Year

Lou Williams, L.A. Clippers: No player has ever won this award three straight years, and no one has ever won this award four times. There’s a good chance that Lou Williams will accomplish both feats. Williams and Jamal Crawford are the only three-time winners. Last season, Williams became the first player since Detlef Schrempf (1990-91, 1991-92) to go back-to-back.





Williams has played 936 games, while starting just 110. Over the past three seasons, he has started just 22 games. Last season, he started once, played just 26.6 minutes per game, and still averaged 20 points. Per 100 possessions, Williams (35.5) was almost as good a scorer as LeBron James (36.2). His play could be even more important if the Clippers use a load management plan to monitor the minutes of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. It seems unlikely that they will both start 75 games.





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Rookie of the Year

Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans: Since the 2010-11 season, the No.1 overall pick has won this award five times. Williamson has a chance to be efficient because he doesn’t have to carry the load night in and night out. New Orleans has veterans like Jrue Holiday and JJ Redick. Williamson is only 6-foot-6, but his 284-pound frame and explosiveness should allow him to be an impact player from the jump.





Williamson is the second heaviest player in the league, behind only seven-footer Boban Marjanovic (291 pounds). Do you want to take a charge from him? #Ouch. The biggest question: how effective can he be away from the basket? At Duke, Williamson shot just 33.8% from beyond the arc. But New Orleans probably won’t be asking him to take many long-range jumpers.





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