Has Trae Young done enough to beat Luka Doncic for NBA ROTY?

As far as the entire 2018-19 NB season is concerned, there’s no question that Mavericks rookie Luka Doncic is the more dominant and consistent player. The Slovenian star had already made his mark on the professional league within just the first month of the regular season, averaging a team-high 18.5 points. 6.5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game, notes sports buff Michael Volitich.

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By the time he logged in his first 10 games, Luka had chalked in 198 points, 66 rebounds, and 44 assists, the first teenager (he just turned 20 this past February) to do so in NBA history. Even that early, most NBA experts thought the 6’7” was the shoo-in Rookie of the Year winner. And this trend continued until the end of 2018.

But Trae Young, the player he was traded for by the Hawks during draft night, had other things in mind. The equally young point guard started to post monster numbers after the NBA All-Star break, averaging 25.8 points, 9 assists, and 4.4 rebounds since. He also became only the eighth rookie in league history to score at least 35 points and dish out 11 assists in a game.

As of this writing, there’s just a couple of games left per team in the regular season. And talks are now turning to whether Young has done enough to best Doncic for the coveted rookie award. But while the crafty Atlanta guard has been flashy and has led his team with few game-winners, Doncic still has the edge. For one, the larger rookie is less of a defensive liability than Young. Moreover, it’s not as though Doncic has slacked off in the second half of the season. In fact, he became just the fourth rookie in NBA history to record at least seven triple-doubles in a game against the Kings.

So, as the season ends, is it now Young over Doncic? It’s highly unlikely, says Michael Volitich. With Antetokounmpo also playing stellar basketball, the NBA might just be on the eve of crowning two foreign-born players as ROTY and MVP.

Michael Volitich is a University of Florida Creative Writing student, sports writer and fanatic, lit geek, film buff, and occasional traveler. More on Michael’s hobbies and interests here.

Jarrett Allen is key to the Brooklyn Nets’ postseason run

While the focus in this season’s success of the Nets are on its guards Spencer Dinwiddie, D’Angelo Russell, and Joe Harris (who topped Steph Curry in the All-Star three-point contest), a key cog that’s allowing the team’s resurgence is power forward Jarrett Allen. In this blog, sports enthusiast Michael Volitich looks at the importance of Allen in the Brooklyn basketball team.

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As of this writing, the Nets are on 7th spot in the East with an even 36-36 record. With just three wins ahead of number nine Orlando Magic and two from 8th spot Miami Heat, the season is still in peril for Brooklyn. It doesn’t help that the team’s remaining games are mostly against playoffs-bound franchises. The role 6’11” Allen’s plays on both sides of the floor are thus very crucial if the Nets are to return to the postseason.

Allen is already among the top big men in the NBA East, his renown bolstered by stellar defensive plays against some of the league’s all-stars including Giannis Antetokounmpo, James Harden, and the King himself, LeBron James, whom he blocked in a drive a few weeks back. Of course, this put him quickly on the radar, as very few NBA players have been able to swat a LeBron dunk.

But the real beauty of Jarrett Allen’s game is his commitment to hustle, rebounding, and overall role in the middle. The 22nd overall pick of the 2018 draft is an imposing presence in the paint, the recipient of multiple passes from the team’s guards, and a dunking highlight.

If the Nets are going to pass the daunting test of its remaining games this regular season and get into the playoffs, Allen needs to figure more into the offense. He is already a solid defender. Brooklyn would do well to run more plays through and for their rising sophomore, adds Michael Volitich.

Michael Volitich is a Creative Writing student at the University of Florida. He is into literature, films, and sports, particularly famous athletes and teams. More on his hobbies and interests here.

Are the Philadelphia Sixers now the team to beat in the East?

One of the most impactful developments coming out of the NBA trade deadline at the beginning of February was the Sixers’ acquisition of Tobias Harris from the Clippers. On paper, the new-look Philly team’s starting five is poised to rival the defending champs Warriors, with Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Jimmy Butler, Harris, and JJ Redick, says NBA enthusiast Michael Volitich.

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The Sixers, as of this writing, is sitting comfortably in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. Ahead of them are the Bucks, Raptors, and Pacers. It should be easier for the Sixers to catch up with Indiana soon, as many experts believe the Pacers will have a hard time maintaining its run because of the injury to Victor Oladipo.

The arrival of Harris is lauded by many pundits because it gives the Sixers even more shooting from the perimeter and outside the arc to aid Redick. Harris is also a solid defender who can complement the two-way game of Butler. One of the main criticisms of the Philly team is Simmons’ inability to shoot from the outside, and now the team has found the solution for it.

Though the Raptors and Bucks are still ahead in the standings, there’s no doubt that the conferences’ attention is now focused on the Sixers, as they now have the depth and the combination of talent to roar into the lead. And even the teams in the West understand that, barring any injury to its core players in the remainder of the season, the Sixers are now committed to getting to the finals this year, adds Michael Volitich.

Michael Volitich is a Creative Writing student at the University of Florida. He is a sports writer and fanatic, lit geek, film buff, and occasional traveler. More on his hobbies and interests here.

Can the Miami Heat make it to this season’s NBA playoffs?

The Heat has been in the middle of the pack of teams in the NBA’s East in the last few years, not helped by very few roster changes and the rise of other franchises in the conference. With LeBron having left for L.A., Miami should make the most of the situation and compete better. However, Boston, Milwaukee, Toronto, and Philadelphia are now the top favorites.

Nonetheless, Vegas odds-makers predict that the Heat has a nearly 45 percent chance of still making it to the postseason. While this was predicted before the season even started, it is arguably on point, with the team as of this writing currently sporting a 6-9 record. However, the resurgence of the Hornets and the Magic in recent games position them two slots below the top eight.

In any case, erratic and inconsistent play by its starters, including Dragic and Whiteside, is not helping the Heat’s case. And their leader Wade is due to miss another week as he celebrates the birth of his daughter. Winslow, Richardson, and Waiters must step up if the team is to get to a winning percentage.

All in all, the Heat will find it harder to ensure a playoff stint this year if it doesn’t get its act together soon. The Pistons, with new coach Dwane Casey and Griffin’s monster games of late, is doing much better. Orlando also seems set on making the top eight with stellar plays from Gordon, Vucevic, and Fournier. Perhaps focusing on developing its younger set of talents (and perhaps considering parting ways with Whiteside and Dragic) is the way to go for this “mid-tier” Heat team.

Hi, there. My name is Michael Volitich, and I’m a student at the University of Florida pursuing a degree in creative writing. I’m also an aspiring sports writer and fanatic, lit geek, film buff, and occasional traveler. For more on my hobbies and interests, follow me on Twitter.