DBB Boredcast Part 1: The NBA awards

I love ESPN, especially in this time where we NBA fans are grasping at whatever news we can find. They have their Summer Forecast and now we have the DBB Boredcast.

In Part 1, which focuses on the NBA at large, eight of our writers contributed their view of which players, teams, coaches and executives would win awards come the end of the '17 season, which teams did well this offseason, which teams would get into the playoffs, and which team would go all the way and win that most coveted of prizes: the NBA finals championship.

Each writer was given three votes, #1 = 5 points, #2 = 3 points, #3 = 1 point. In the case of the top eight playoff teams #1 was awarded 8 points, #2 was awarded 7, and so on.

In Part 2 we will ask similar questions about the Pistons in particular, and in Part 3 we will get silly.

But for now, Part 1: the NBA.

(In parentheses is the number of #1 votes)

Most Improved Player:

#1 - Dennis Schroeder - 20 (4)

#2 - Devin Booker - 10 (2)

#3 - Jabari Parker - 6

Also: Isaiah Cannon 5 (1), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope 5 (1), Stanley Johnson 5, Thaddeus Young 3, Karl-Anthony Towns 3, Nikola Jokic 3, Solomon Hill 3, Zach LaVine 2, Kristaps Porzingis 2, Nikola Mirotic 1, Miles Turner 1

Shroeder will have every chance to be a candidate for Most Improved as he is emphatically being given the keys to the Hawks this season after they traded Jeff Teague to the rival Indiana Pacers. Booker is being hyped up by the league too as the Sun's new thing. And Parker, well, it's now or never seemingly as the number two pick in his draft after Wiggins has yet to break out. He is of course only 21 though.

Rookie of the Year:

#1 - Ben Simmons - 30 (6)

#2 - Brandon Ingram - 11

#3 - Kris Dunn - 10

Also: Buddy Hield 8 (1), Joel Embiid 6 (1), Jamal Murray 3, Marquesse Chriss 1

Simmons is going to be fun to watch. No real offensive wizard just yet but man can he pass the ball. It's been a while since anyone has been watchable based on passing alone (golden age Celtics Rondo was maybe the last). Ingram is another wildcard because of his slight frame, and Dunn, well a lot rides on if the Wolves stick with Rubio as their starting PG. If Ricky gets traded Dunn's chances at ROY improve dramatically.

6th Man of the Year:

#1 - Andre Iguodala - 15 (3)

#2 - Enes Kanter - 11 (2)

#3 - Stanley Johnson - 8

Also: Jamal Crawford 7, Marcus Smart 6 (1), Brandon Knight 5 (1), Shaun Livingston 5 (1), Joe Johnson 3, Zach LaVine 3, Avery Bradley 3, Cory Joseph 3, Mario Hezonja 1, Shabazz Muhammad 1,

In the previous iteration of the Warriors I love Andre's chances of 6th Man of the Year, but with Durant and a very real chance that Kerr will never completely put a bench unit out on the floor together we will see. Kanter, well again a lot rides on the new rotations Durant's absence will bring about. Will Kanter start at PF next to Adams? Stanley, yes I would love to see him in the running for this award, and if he takes a leap it could happen.

Defensive Player of the Year:

#1 - Kawhi Leonard - 34 (6)

#2 - Draymond Green - 17 (2)

#3 - Hassan Whiteside - 6

Also: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope 4, LeBron James 4, DeAndre Jordan 3, Anthony Davis 1, Bismack Biyombo 1, Andre Drummond 1

Kawhi could take multiple awards home now that this is in essence his team, no disrespect to LeMarcus. Green will absolutely be in the running for this if Snapchat doesn't get in the way. Whiteside will be an interesting one to watch. Now that he's being paid like a superstar will he play like one?

MVP:

#1 - Russell Westbrook - 25 (3)

#2 - LeBron James - 16 (2)

#3 - Kawhi Leonard - 11 (1)

Also: Kevin Durant 6 (1), Steph Curry 5 (1), Paul George 4, Damian Liilard 1

I love this pick here. I so want to see how Westbrook can possibly step up his game even more this season. Could he sniff at being the first NBA player since Oscar Robertson to average a triple double? Lebron is Lebron, always in contention for this. Kawhi is similar to Westbrook in that this is his team now. Does he step up his already formidable game?

Coach of the Year:

#1 - Brad Stevens - 15 (2)

#2 - Stan Van Gundy - 12 (1)

#3 - Quin Snyder - 9 (1)

Also: Tom Thibodeau 8 (1), Steve Kerr 7 (1), Dwayne Casey 5 (1), Greg Popovich 4, Frank Vogel 1

Stevens is the wonderkind, blessed by Ainge with all the time on the world to put this team together and he has produced. Will Horford get them to the next level? SVG, I am not sure he will get the respect he deserves until we are top 2 or three in the East. This could be the year. Snyder has quietly put together a very sneakily good team. This could be the year he gets recognized.

Executive of the Year:

#1 - Bob Meyers - 26 (5)

#2 - Dennis Lindsey - 15 (2)

#3 - Stan Van Gundy - 9

Also: Danny Ainge 7, Masai Ujiri 5 (1), Sam Presti 3, R.C. Buford 1

Meyers. Durant. Enough said. Lindsey is behind what I said above as being a very sneakily good team. As this team goes so does his possibility at recognition. SVG in the house, and pretty much what I just said about Lindsey applies to Stan.

Best New Addition:

#1 - Kevin Durant - 33 (6)

#2 - Al Horford - 20 (2)

#3 - Pau Gasol, Frank Vogel, Ben Simmons, Chandler Parsons - 3

Also: Thaddeus Young 1, Ish Smith 1, Serge Ibaka 1, Matthew Delladova 1, Al Jefferson 1, Brandon Jennings 1

Durant. Yep. Horford, yep. All the rest we will just have to see.

Worst New Addition:

#1 - Rajon Rondo - 16 (3)

#2 - Timofey Mozgov 9 (1), Evan Turner 9 (1)

#3 - Dwyane Wade 5 (1), Joakim Noah 5 (1), Roy Hibbert 5 (1)

Also: Jeff Green 4, Matt Barnes 3, Harrison Barnes 3, Jared Sullinger 1, Jeff Teague 1, Dion Waiters 1, Georgios Papagiannis 1

I was baffled by the Rondo signing. By trading Rose the Bulls seemed to give control of the team to Butler. Then they sign Rondo, and Wade? Mozgov, Turner, Noah, Hibbert, all most likely incredibly over paid and could do real damage to their teams' chances at relevancy.

Best Team Offseason:

#1 - Golden State - 42 (7)

#2 - Utah - 14 (1)

#3 - Boston - 11

Also: Detroit 8, Toronto 3, Indiana 3, Miami 1, New York 1

Golden State. Again Durant. Utah, well they did get some very good vet help. Boston, Horford.

Worst Team Offseason:

#1 - Chicago - 21 (4)

#2 - LA Lakers - 9 (1)

#3 - Orlando 8 (1)

Also: Sacramento 7 (1), New York 7, Oklahoma City 6 (1), Dallas 3, Brooklyn 3, Miami 1, Indiana 1

Chicago, like I said above made some really head scratching moves. We'll see. Lakers, Mozgov. Orlando, yeah I'm puzzled by them too but they do have Vogel. Good luck Frank!

Top Eight in the East:

#1 - Cleveland - 63 (7)

#2 - Boston - 48

#3 - Toronto - 47 (1)

#4 - Detroit - 43

#5 - Atlanta - 23

#6 - Charlotte - 17

# 6 - Indiana - 17

#8 - Miami - 8

#9 - Washington - 7

#10 - Milwaukee - 4

# 11 - Chicago - 2

This looks about right to me, how it actually shakes out will be fun to watch.

Top Eight in the West:

#1 - Golden State - 62 (7)

#2 - San Antonio - 46 (1)

#3 - LA Clippers - 41

#4 - Portland - 29

#5 - Oklahoma City - 21

#6 - Utah - 20

#7 - Memphis - 15

#8 - Houston - 11

#9 - Dallas - 5

#10 - Minnesota - 1

#10 - Denver - 1

Golden State absolutely have to be where they are. Anything less will be seen as a disaster, one I can actually see happening. Lots and lots of pressure here.

Eastern Conference Champs:

#1 - Cleveland - 7

#2 - Toronto - 1

Got to be the Cavs.

Western Conference Champs:

#1 - Golden State - 7

#2 - San Antonio - 1

I could almost see San Antonio here, it would be so Spurs of them. But yeah GS is the safe bet

NBA Finals Champs:

#1 - Golden State - 4

#2 - Cleveland - 2

#3 - San Antonio - 1

Also: Referees 1

Again it's Golden State's race to lose here...

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So, that's what we think. What do you think? Let us and every bored-ass person reading this know what you think.

It's not often we are encouraged to give in to our most selfish attention-seeking ways on social media but this is a special case, an exception if you will. Have at it, we're all so bored and need the mental exercise. Indulge in the comments below.