It feels like Poole has a leg up on the competition in the Sixth Man of the Year field and the odds certainly reflect that. Poole was a full-time starter for the defending champs for more than half the season and he also started a handful of games during the playoff run. With Klay Thompson out for most of the year, the third-year guard was relied on to play 30 minutes per game, the third-most on the team, and he excelled in that expanded role.
Poole upped his scoring average from 12.5 PPG to 18.5 last season and improved his field-goal, three-point and free-throw percentages, all on higher volume. When Thompson returned to the starting lineup for the , Poole became coach Steve Kerr’s first substitute off the bench. The minutes Steph Curry, Thompson and Poole played together—the Poole Party, if you will—were proof of concept that this trio, with their limitless range, can share the floor with ease.
As long as Poole doesn’t end up starting too many games this will be his award to lose. It’s fair to project Poole for close to 20 PPG and his role as a member of the closing lineup on one of the best teams in basketball will only add to what should be a strong case.Hyland had a strong rookie season as the backup to Monte Morris. Denver’s late first-round pick averaged 10.1 PPG, added a handful of rebounds and assists and shot the three ball relatively well on his way to an All-Rookie team.
In his second season, Hyland is in line for an expanded role behind Jamal Murray. Denver’s starting point guard is set to return after he missed the entire 2021-2022 season due to a torn ACL and Hyland will be spotting him as he works his way back. That’s an important role on a team that projects to be one of the Western Conference’s best and is in need of depth after it was torn apart by injuries last season.
Slotting into a role well matters for the Sixth Man race, but gaudy stats sure help garner votes, so Hyland will need a sizable scoring bump to compete with the likes of Poole and Herro. On a team with Murray, Michael Porter Jr. and Nikola Jokic, it’s unlikely Hyland is a 20 PPG scorer, but he could get up above 15 PPG and grow as a passer and rebounder to beat out Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Bruce Brown for the all-important fifth spot in the closing lineup.Portis wants this.
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that's cute SI
By favorite you mean lock.
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