It's that time of the season where we, at ESPN, pick who we believe are worthy recipients for the end-of-season gongs.
Before you get outraged, please be assured that we do indeed watch every game closely -- every player was considered. If you're a regular reader of our weekly player power rankings, you will know that we leave no stone unturned. Out of sight, out of mind does not enter into our vernacular.
All numbers are courtesy of Spatialjam.com and jordanmcnbl.com.
Most Valuable Player
1. Bryce Cotton (Perth Wildcats)
2. Scott Machado (Cairns Taipans)
3. Lamar Patterson (Brisbane Bullets)
How remarkable is Bryce Cotton?
Cotton has upped his scoring output (slightly), rebounding, assists and steals from a season ago, when I felt he was the MVP. His efficiency is better than ever. The turn of phrase, "leading your team to the playoffs", is often uttered in a reductive context, but this feels appropriate for Cotton.
The same can be said of Scott Machado.
Machado has guided the Taipans offence like a maestro. There is a joy to the game that his playmaking has promoted -- the right passes at the right time, the willingness to share the ball. That permeates throughout the team.
As the season progressed, he flipped into a more aggressive scorer, showcasing the ability to finish inside with contact, and a three-point shot that most of us did not see coming.
But whilst Machado works within an ecosystem that accentuates his strengths, Cotton has shouldered the scoring load for a Wildcats team that has accommodated the season-long malaise of Terrico White. The Wildcats offence is Bryce Cotton.
Cotton is a two-way workhorse who has played the most minutes in the league. If you argue that the offensive argument is awash with Machado (who combines lesser individual scoring with greater assist numbers), then Cotton still wins out because he is a far superior defender and rebounder.
Lamar Patterson barges his way into consideration on the back of a strong second half of the season in which he applied himself on both ends of the court.
Patterson out-bulled Mitch Creek as one of the league's best battering rams (no one is close to Jae'Sean Tate in this regard) and appeared galvanised right when the Bullets stumbled upon a set rotation, and an actual identity. Yet the first half of the season counts too.
Coach of the Year
1. Mike Kelly
2. Will Weaver
3. Trevor Gleeson
Trevor Gleeson might be taken for granted. Year-after-year, he shepherds the stunningly consistent Wildcats towards excellence, maintaining the standards set by their culture.
Will Weaver has been a breath of fresh air. He gives nothing away -- parse the language in his eloquent pressers and you will find he's tight-lipped - but what we do see on the court is a clear vision.
The Kings' offensive endgame can be icky, but the defence has been water-tight. He has steadfastly adhered to a formulaic substitution pattern that has undeniably worked. He has empowered every single player on the roster, building a collective spirit. And they are fresh heading into the playoffs.
But how can Mike Kelly be denied?
Kelly has guided the genuine, feel-good story of the year to the postseason after a disastrous start. The Taipans have leapt from bottom feeders who found ways to lose, to a team who could conceivably win the title.
He found a way during the season to ensure that both Scott Machado and D.J. Newbill have their own opportunities to dance.
Best Sixth Man
1. Eric Griffin
2. Shaun Bruce
3. Jason Cadee
Griffin should have locked up this award long ago. He is a pseudo-starter.
Yet the wildness to Griffin's game -- something he stymied for large stretches -- has returned at the tail-end of the season. That, combined with the 36ers' nosedive, has opened the door for other contenders.
You could argue that the Kings' bench is an entity all on its own, but the combination of Dan Kickert and Shaun Bruce deserve special mention.
Shaun Bruce is like a fly to the opposition, a pesky defensive presence who covers the opposition's best perimeter player when he's on the court.
On offence, he is constantly looking up for the hit-ahead pass, any opportunity to create something. But his shooting has plummeted after an unsustainably hot start to the season.
Dan Kickert's shooting has been lights-out. With one game to go, he is at 50.6 percent from deep. He contorts second unit defences with his ability to stretch the floor (like legitimately stretch it) whilst playing the five spot. His defence is not great, but he is no longer a traffic cone.
Jason Cadee is having a career year from beyond the arc in both volume and accuracy. Heading into the final round of the season, Cadee is shooting a scorching 40.9 percent for above-the-break triples. That comes from 137 attempts; Cadee trailed only Clint Steindl in accuracy from those looks for bench players who have flung at least 100 attempts, courtesy of data from jordanmcnbl.com.
He is a ludicrous 60 percent from the corners.
Cadee sports a plus-8.1 differential, per 36 minutes. He has been a flame-throwing difference-maker off the bench. Bruce is plus-9.9. Both Bruce and Cadee's impact surpassed that of Kickert.
Still, based on production alone, Griffin should hold on.
Honourable mentions to Brandon Ashley and Clint Steindl.
Best Defensive Player
1. Mitch McCarron
2. Andrew Bogut
3. DJ Newbill
There are a score of defensive players who are tenacious -- but just being a defensive player does not automatically make you a part of this discussion. It is about quality and impact.
McCarron has been consistently the most complete and versatile defender all season. He has been the guy holding up United's defence (which has ascended, by the way). Also, minutes matter.
Heading into the final round, McCarron tops United in minutes played. He always defends the opposition's most dangerous opponent, and he plugs whatever hole springs open (and trust me, there have been many holes).
McCarron rebounds like a power forward -- an incredible feat considering his size. His aptitude and weekly consistency have kept United afloat.
Bogut anchors the best defence in the league, and he is the league's most intimidating rim protector. He gobbles rebounds like the Cookie Monster gobbles cookies. But he plays half a game (not through any fault of his own). The Kings boast a cadre of quality defenders - Bogut is the tent-pole, but there are a lot of buttresses that support their defensive makeup.
It is telling that even though he only plays 20 minutes a night, the Kings still have by far and away the best team defence. They are stacked with instinctive, nasty defenders that permeates their collective identity: Jae'Sean Tate, Casper Ware, Shaun Bruce, Deshon Taylor, and now Xavier Cooks, just to name a few. It's an unfair group to flank you.
Still, Bogut has played roughly 340 minutes less than both of the other candidates here -- that's the equivalent of 10 games.
D.J. Newbill has had a stellar season. He embodies a lot of what we've mentioned about McCarron; he defends the best wing, and he diligently flies past screens. He is an absolute ball thief. But Newbill has a little more help on his team.
McCarron has a higher block rate, whilst Newbill's is basically negligible.
Newbill's steal rate is only slightly higher than McCarron's, yet nowhere near closing the rebounding gap -- McCarron is by far a superior rebounder. That is an added edge. You think Mitch Creek is an excellent rebounder? Well, McCarron has an even better defensive rebound rate.
Honourable mentions for Will Magnay and Thomas Abercrombie (who should have been nominated).
Most Improved Player
1. Dane Pineau
2. Shaun Bruce
3. Will Magnay
This is Dane Pineau's award.
He has transformed himself from someone who profiled as a journeyman with no standout skills -- except an exceptional foul magnet at the Kings -- to a walking double-digit rebound inhaler.
A part of John Roberson's early-season success was due to the quality of Pineau's screen-setting. He has found ways to contribute on the offensive end, either extending possessions with relentless o-board chasing, or as the roll man with his below-the-rim lefty finishes.
His defence, without fouling, has been a major development. He is amongst the select elite offensive rebounding bigs in this league. In short, he is the definition of quality role player.
Shaun Bruce was another who looked cooked as a non-descript bench scrub before the Kings snapped him up. He transformed into a reliable two-way force, shooting flames from the arc until the new year struck. He has cooled down significantly in the second half of the season, but his defence remains valuable.
He has locked down a role with the table-topping Kings, and is tasked with defending the opposition's most dangerous guy - a rotating role that includes Deshon Taylor and Didi Louzada.
The candidacy for both Sunday Dech and Will Magnay primarily stem from increased opportunity.
Magnay, in particular, was bound to "break out" as a young big with hops and impeccable shot-blocking timing. Is the Most Improved Player gong about awarding someone who is climbing up the trajectory of their development curve? It might be a personal choice.
Dech has garnered a reputation as a ball hawk with his tenacious brand of basketball. And it has been a genuine joy to watch him earn those minutes. Offensively, more opportunity has not equated to quality production.
Magnay, on the other hand, is having a real impact on a real NBL team.
Rookie of the Year
1. LaMelo Ball
2. Kouat Noi
3. RJ Hampton
Minutes might not be such a factor for this award - after all, they're rookies.
Based on this, Ball will win this easily. Sure, he's missed a substantial amount of time, and his exit from the league was telegraphed, but it is hard to ignore the highlights during his stint.
You could make a case for Kouat Noi, operating within a culture that has developed winning habits. Alas, the nine-game absence curtailed any momentum.
RJ Hampton has his warts -- shooting and finishing through contact -- but no other candidate comes close to nudging him from this list based on production.
All NBL First team
Outside:
• Bryce Cotton
• Scott Machado
• Lamar Patterson
Inside:
• Jae'Sean Tate
• Nick Kay
Jae'Sean Tate has had a remarkable season for the Kings. Whilst Casper Ware and Andrew Bogut garner the attention, Tate emerged during the season as the barometer for the Kings.
Kay's quiet excellence won't make mixtapes, but his game extends beyond simple highlights.
Amidst the seemingly constant churn of big men at the Wildcats, Kay has been the rock, the one who Trevor Gleeson can depend upon to hold the fort, while he has quietly upped his scoring. He never makes mistakes. He might be the most well-rounded big in the league.
All NBL Second team
Outside:
• Casper Ware
• DJ Newbill
• Scotty Hopson
Inside:
• Cam Oliver
• Mitch Creek
Creek's disappearance from awards discourse has been baffling considering his overall numbers are superior to someone like Scotty Hopson, who has surged behind a torrent of loudness.
Before the injury swoon, Creek was almost a lock for a top-three MVP finish. The league has confirmed that Creek can be considered an "inside" player, and let's face it, Creek does his best work as the power forward on this Phoenix team.
Scott Machado has received the plaudits for the success of Cairns, and Cam Oliver fills the highlights dossier, but DJ Newbill has been a two-way rock. He has blossomed into the most efficient scoring perimeter player in the league.
Despite his defensive limitations, Hopson nabs a spot. His offence is not as efficient as it seems, but his work as the Breakers' number one offensive option deserves merit.
Casper Ware beats out John Roberson on a coin flip. Roberson has had a historic season shooting from deep, but his defence has been a real weakness. Despite horrendous shooting numbers, Ware deserves a spot as the high-volume creator for the Kings.
Oliver, for all his high-flying exploits, was still prone to defensive lapses, but he was also the backline deterrent for one of the leading defensive teams in the competition.
He has been a stellar complement -- the perfect complement -- to Machado and Newbill as a diving big man who can extend the floor as well. He is the league's best overall finisher.
I feel queasy, but Bogut misses out here -- I just can't get past the minutes total. The Kings have bigger goals on their mind.