These are the official unofficial NBA Awards for the 2019-2020 season! (These awards are not officially sanctioned by Belly Up Sports and in no way convey the beliefs of our very rational NBA Department).
(Probably not true, but, you know?!)
Every year, Belly Up Sports seeks to recognize the best that athletic competition has to offer. No sport showcases athleticism, competitive fire, and, well, tallness, quite like the National Basketball Association. In recognition of the great accomplishments (and missteps) of the NBA, Belly Up Sports is proud to present (that is a very generous and loose interpretation of the word “proud”) the first annual Belly Up Sports NBA Awards; the Bellies!
The Bellies commemorate the excellence, and lack there of, that signifies NBA basketball.
Our first award…
The Donald T. Sterling “You Suck at Ownership” Belly Up Sports NBA Award
Winner: James Dolan of the New York Knicks
The futility that the New York Knicks have come to represent over the last two decades is nothing short of spectacular.
While players, coaches, and front office personnel have come and gone, James Dolan has been at the helm as owner of the Knicks. He consistently ensures that this ship heads toward every iceberg and does an incredible job of killing any opportunity for Knicks fans to gain hope that this team will turn it around.
Since 1999, Dolan has had control of the Knicks. His record includes:
- 7 playoff appearances in 21 seasons,
- 14 different head coaches in his tenure,
- Missing out on every significant free agent in the last 2+ decades,
- Alienating former players and life long fans.
James Dolan may be the worst owner in sports and deserves this prestigious Belly.
Runner Up: James Dolan – He is sooo bad. If the city can be named twice, then he can win the Belly AND be the runner up.
The “Get Fans Hopes Up Only to Let Them Down” Belly Up Sports NBA Award
Winner: Toronto Raptors
The defending NBA Champion Toronto Raptors deserve all of the accolades and awards that come with playoff success. Let’s just remember that, other than last season, the Toronto Raptors have never been known for playoff success. And, to paraphrase one Rick Pitino: “Kawhi Leonard ain’t walking through that door!”
Toronto is a franchise that shows tremendous ability to succeed in the regular season, making the playoffs in six consecutive seasons. They have won no fewer than 48 games, and as many as 59 games, in each of those seasons. The Raptors are well on their way to replicate this level of success this season as well, having recently completed a 15 game win streak.
The issue is that Toronto has been unable to replicate this level of success in the playoffs, only making it as far as the Eastern Conference Finals on two occasions and losing in the First Round just as often. The one exception was last season; the year of Kawhi! Well, Kawhi is in LA; which means Toronto goes back to being a post season disappointment. We the North- this Belly Up Sports NBA Award is for you!
Runner Up: Houston Rockets – They are just too little to beat teams with athletic, dominant big men. Unfortunately, the Western Conference is full of athletic, dominant big men. Heck, even the wings (Paul George, LeBron James) are big!
The “Team You Are Most Likely to Pick in 2K That Kinda Sucks in Real Life” Belly Up Sports NBA Award
Winner: Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers have not impressed with their regular-season performance. This underachieving squad sits with the sixth-best record at the All-Star break in the weaker Eastern Conference. Last season, these same Sixers took the Raptors further in the post season than any other squad.
The hopes were high!
The reality is low.
But hey, you can rock dudes in some NBA 2K20 with this squad! Joel Embiid is the 12th highest rated player in the game as he is one of only 15 players with at least a rating of 90. Ben Simmons is just outside of that with an 88 rating, good for the 21st best player in the game. Throw in Tobias Harris (85 rating) and Al Horford (83 rating) and the Sixers have four players rated in the top 60, overall. That means if you don’t come correct when playing against the Sixers, you’ll get run off the court by some 14-year-old talking crazy smack about your wife, your kids, and your momma!
Runner Up: Portland Trailblazers– The Blazers are struggling to make the playoffs this season, but that won’t stop some dude with the handle kick@$$69420 from dropping 40 on you with Damian Lillard (rating 94), getting 30 with C.J. McCollum (rating 85), and blocking 10 shots with Hassan Whiteside (rating 86).
The “You Better Get on the Bandwagon Now to Seem Hella Smart Next Season” Belly Up Sports NBA Award
Winner: Miami Heat
Jimmy Butler is the D.J. Khalid of the NBA…all he does is win!
The Miami Heat are surpassing the preseason predictions, as they continue to be one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. Bam Adebayo has emerged as an All-Star, one of the best bigs in the league, and a potential Most Improved Player Award recipient.
Throw in young stud Tyler Herro, the steady hand of veteran point guard Goran Dragic, and the new acquisition of former NBA Finals MVP Andre Iguodala, and this squad feels like it has staying power with the right mix of young talent, veteran presence, and a superstar to really tie it all together.
Oh, and do not forget championship coaching in the way of Erik Spoelstra and a hall of fame puppet master in Pat Riley pulling the strings. The Heat is on! And Miami will challenge for Eastern Conference and NBA championships for the next several years to come.
Runner Up- Memphis Grizzlies – Okay, you want to seem REALLY smart, start wearing your Memphis Grizzlies gear to the office. Ja Morant has the Grizz competing for the playoffs in his first year and he is an absolute killer whose name you better remember; just ask him! And Jaren Jackson, Dillon Brooks, and Jonas Valanciunas are as young, scrappy, and hungry as Alexander Hamilton in a musical.
The “Guy Who Would Win the MVP if it Didn’t Go to the Same Three or Four Dudes Every Year” Award
Winner: Jimmy Butler
Jimmy Butler is having an MVP type of season. He is leading the Heat to unexpected success and he gutted the, supposedly, up and coming 76ers with his free agency departure.
Butler’s numbers are staggering:
20.6 PPG
6.8 RPG
6.1 APG
Most importantly, Miami has 35 wins at the All-Star break and is firmly entrenched in the top half of the Eastern Conference with a likely First Round playoff series that will be hosted by the boys on South Beach.
Remember when people questioned Jimmy Butler going to Miami without the guarantee of another superstar joining him in the off season?
Yeah, people are stupid!
Runner Up: Nikola Jokic – You do not watch enough Denver Nuggets games! You know it’s true. That’s why you are surprised to see Nikola Jokic in the runner up position for this Belly Up Sports NBA Award. He’s only averaging a double-double and getting you 20, 10, and 7 a night. He’s the best big man in the league, and he has Denver positioned to make a run in the Western Conference.
The “Guy Who is Gonna Win the MVP Because, Well, We Give it to the Same Three or Four Dudes Every Year” Award
Winner: Giannis Antetokounmpo
The Greek Freak is ready to run back that MVP award from last season. And the numbers back it up!
Giannis Antetokounmpo is having another monster season. Check the line, ya’ll:
30 PPG
13.5 RPG
5.8 APG
It’s crazy because numbers only tell part of the story. The Bucks are on pace to win 64 games this season, which would improve upon their 60 win season of a year ago. The Bucks are the cream of the crop in the Eastern Conference and look poised to get a crack at one of the LA teams in the NBA Finals. The scary thing to consider; Giannis will be going up against Kawhi or LeBron in that scenario… and Greek Freak might be the best player on the court, regardless!
Runner Up: LeBron James – LeBron James is 137 years old (estimated) and he is still putting in major work. ‘Bron is leading the NBA in assists at 10.8 per game while dropping 25 and 8. He has the Lakers running the city and leading the West. The playoffs will be fun as, to paraphrase Jay Z, the clones will have to get off the throne; the King will be back!
Well, that’s all for the 2020 Bellies. Remember to tip your waiter, follow me on Twitter, check out my podcast “F” in Sports, and get the best NBA content on Belly Up Sports.
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1 Comment
great work thanks