“Exceeded even the most optimistic expectations…” Reviewer praises Porzingis

Hughes nominated the winners of two classic awards (MVP, best defensive player, best reserve player, etc.) for each team, as well as the winner of one fictional award.

The reviewer names its leader Jason Tatum as the Celtics’ most valuable player or MVP. Hughes highlights Tatum’s willingness to sacrifice individual stats for team success.

“He realized he had a lot of talent around him and decided to limit his shots for the good of the team. Given that Boston will be the only team with 60 wins this season and that no team has even managed to threaten their tight grip on the Eastern Conference, Tatum’s small step will have paid back,” the reviewer writes.

The next award described was Defensive Player of the Year. There was no lack of contenders for this title in the ranks of the “Celtics”, considering that the Boston team can boast of the second best defense in the entire NBA (behind the Minnesota “Timberwolves”). Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday could certainly be singled out in this category, but Hughes deservedly gave Derrick White praise.

“Only five players have at least 80 blocks and 70 steals this season. White is the only defenseman among them,” Hughes writes.

The Celtics’ third award was dubbed the “Better Than Expected” award. Here he singles out Holiday and Porzingis.

“Porzingis became the best post player in the league. At the same time, opponents shot him with the second-lowest accuracy from underneath the basket. Did we mention that KP’s long-range shooting also shut down Boston’s unstoppable five-out offense, which is the best in the entire league? Everyone expected, that Porzingis and Holiday will raise the level of the Celtics, but they exceeded even the most optimistic expectations,” says the reviewer.

Porzingis averaged 20.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocked shots per game this season.