NBA 2k19 is back on shelves for all basketball fans to enjoy. The game is known as the best annual basketball video game allowing players to play a variety of game modes. Some of the most popular game modes are MyLeague and MyGM, which allows players to call the shots of running an NBA team. In these modes, you can either play every game or simulate them. How accurate is a one-year simulation in NBA 2k19?
Note: All transactions made in this simulation were done by the computer. Nothing was done manually.
NBA MVP: Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors
Steph Curry was able to take home his third MVP award after putting up 28.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game. Those numbers are certainly consistent with other MVP award winners, but it would be extremely hard for Curry to win an MVP this season. The Warriors not only have the four superstar players they had last year, but added DeMarcus Cousins to the fold. The ball will need to be spread around to keep good chemistry and Curry will likely not get MVP votes from around the league because all of the Warriors wins will be aided by his great teammates.
Curry may not even be the most likely player on his team to win the MVP, as Kevin Durant finished seventh in MVP voting for the 2018 season, while Curry finished 11th. Curry has won this award before and would much rather have the great team around him to make another run at an NBA championship.
Rookie of the Year: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks have been raving about how good Luka Doncic has looked in scrimmages and NBA 2k seems to agree. Doncic won Rookie of the Year with 13.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game. With the reviews Doncic has been getting so far, those numbers are entirely reachable and because he would be producing in a lot of different statistics, he would have a good chance of winning the award.
Other rookies who were in the running for the award were Trae Young, Collin Sexton, Marvin Bagley and DeAndre Ayton. Young averaged 20.7 points per game to lead all rookie scorers. Ayton averaged a double-double with 14.3 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. Either one of those players could have won the award without anyone batting an eye.
Sixth Man of the Year: Tyreke Evans, Indiana Pacers
Evans was a name that many heard around the trade deadline as the Memphis Grizzlies weren’t in a position to compete last season. He ended up staying put in Memphis, but signed with the Pacers in the offseason. He will have a new role playing behind Victor Oladipo and co.
Evans averaged 18.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists off the bench, which is very productive given a sixth man role. While the numbers might be a little out of reach, in his new role Evans is fully capable of winning the Sixth Man of the Year this season.
Defensive Player of the Year: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Antetokounmpo averaged 1.8 steals and 1.7 blocks in this simulation. Those numbers are only a slight uptick from his 1.5 and 1.4 in those categories respectively last season. His ability to guard people well, get steals, blocks and rebounds make him a good candidate for Defensive Player of the Year.
He has the length and athleticism to be the best defender in the league but will need to really buy in on the defensive end to beat out the like of Draymond Green and Kawhi Leonard.
Most Improved Player: Buddy Hield, Sacramento Kings
Hield has been forgotten about since being moved to Sacramento, but is still a solid pro. He’s averaging 12 points per game through his two seasons and still has some potential to get better. For Sacramento to take a step forward he, along with a few other players, need to take steps forward. If he gets his scoring average up, Hield is a strong candidate for the award, but this one is the hardest to forecast.
In this simulation, Hield averaged 18.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. That’s a pretty drastic increase from his 13.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game last season. If he shows this type of growth, Hield will certainly be in the running for Most Improved Player.
Coach of the Year: Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors
Steve Kerr is a good coach, but this award may be out of reach. Coach of the Year usually goes to a coach who exceeds expectations the most, rather than the best coach in the league. With the NBA’s most talented roster, there is almost nothing Kerr can do to win the award because he can’t exceed expectations. He’d have to help the Warriors win the most games in a season, again, which is clearly not a goal of the franchise at this point. Kerr did go 65-17 and obtain the first seed in the Western Conference, but that won’t be enough.
Playoff Teams
East: 1.Toronto Raptors, 2. Boston Celtics, 3. Philadelphia 76ers, 4. Detroit Pistons, 5. Washington Wizards, 6. Indiana Pacers, 7. Milwaukee Bucks, 8. Miami Heat
West: 1. Golden State Warriors, 2. Oklahoma City Thunder, 3. Houston Rockets, 4. San Antonio Spurs, 5. Portland Trail Blazers, 6. Utah Jazz, 7. Minnesota Timberwolves, 8. Los Angeles Lakers
None of this is seemingly surprising, but a good matchup is created with the LeBron James-led Lakers taking on the Golden State Warriors in the first round.
NBA Champions: Golden State Warriors
NBA 2k got this one 100% right. With the talent on the roster, the right head coach in place and no major injuries the Warriors will win the NBA Championship for the 2018-2019 season.
The Warriors defeated the Toronto Raptors, who do figure to be one of the best teams in the East again, but this time with Kawhi Leonard in the fold.
Steph Curry was the NBA Finals MVP. This is much more feasible for Curry, as he really just has to win the series and be the best player on the team, whereas the MVP for the season is usually the most trendy player.
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