As the NBA's regular season schedule for 2021-22 has quietly passed the halfway mark, the situation of many teams has changed with recent changes in record. For example, Sir Utah, who was severely damaged by Gobert's absence, has a tendency to fall out of the first echelon after losing consecutively; the Top Bulls in the East lost 68 points in two games, becoming the third team in NBA history to lose by more than 25 points in a row, and the poor performance also reflects the stretch of the team rotation due to injury.
In addition to the changes in the situation between the teams, the performance of the players naturally fluctuates with the deepening of the schedule. For example, Stephen Curry, Meng Shen has shot only 50% of the shots in 9 consecutive games, breaking his career record, and he obviously needs to make adjustments.
Next, we're going to take a look at the current best sixth-man candidate list, which hasn't changed much compared to the previous period, with only one Western player out of five, and if nothing else, the award will be taken to the East at the end of the season.
Fifth Jordan Clarkson was fourth on the previous list
Clarkson struggled early in the season as the winner of last season's Best Sixth Man award, proud of his scoring, which did not fall off a cliff, but his shooting percentage was extremely low, and his number of hits was hurting the team. However, as an experienced veteran, Clarkson quickly came out of the trough and used his own practical actions to help the team get back on track.
Last week's game, Clarkson averaged 15 points, 1 assist and 1.7 rebounds per game, a slight decline from the season average of 15.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists, but his 44.7 percent shooting percentage and 42.1 percent three-point shooting rate were significantly higher than the season average of 40.1 percent and 31.9 percent three-point shooting. He was one of the few bright spots during the Jazz's four-game losing streak.
As the Jazz were overtaken by the Grizzlies to fourth place in the West, it also affected Clarkson's temporary ranking on the list. Still, it's bullish that after All-Star Weekend, Clarkson and the Jazz are working together. He may then be on the verge of defending the best sixth man award.
Fourth Monterrez Harrell Fifth on the previous list
An old acquaintance who has won the best sixth man award, Harrell's importance to the Wizards is self-evident. In fact, the Lakers used to play the trio well in the Wizards. Harrell missed some games after triggering a health and safety agreement. When he returned, he handed over a record of averaging 14.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, shooting 64.7 percent.
Harrell's dynamism and offensive prowess have provided reliable guarantees for the Wizards' bench. The fly in the ointment is that his defense is still worrying, but as a bench leader, Harrell can only cope with the impact of the opposing second-team players most of the time, which greatly masks his lack of defensive ability.
It's important to note that he needs to control his emotions – swinging his fists at his old teammate Pope in the players' tunnels is not something a mature professional should do. He should focus all that unreachable energy on the pitch, not in the dressing room.
Third Place Jaylen Bronson Third place on the previous edition of the list
The Dallas Mavericks are on the run, winning seven of their last eight games and quietly moving up to fifth in the Western Conference. In the previous 21 games, they have only won 7 games, and the recent recovery of the record has greatly improved the situation and atmosphere of the team.
Jaylen Bronson's performance is commendable, no matter how other people play, he can always play at the level he deserves. In his recent winning streak, Bronson averaged 15 points, 5.5 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game, shooting 50 percent from the field, almost the same as his season average. It also highlights his stability.
As a player who has played for four seasons, Bronson has become the most reliable stable point in the team. I believe that as the lone ranger's record continues to pick up, he will bring us more surprises.
Second place Kelly Oubre was second on the previous list
After five consecutive wins, the Hornets came to seventh place in the East. The lineup formed by Mr. Qiao seems to have finally reached the stage of keeping the clouds open and seeing the moon. In addition to the main line-up of Bridges, three goals, Rozier and Hayward, the performance of Kelly Oubre on the bench was also crucial.
Playing the role of the sixth man, he can give full play to the advantages of Oubre as a sharp soldier to the greatest extent possible, so that his characteristics of being good at disrupting the war are undoubtedly revealed. Oubre also did not live up to the expectations of coach Borrego, and the 26-year-old Oubre finally found his own position and let the outside world re-examine his value. Oubre has missed the last three games for triggering a safety and health pact. I believe he is ready, and after returning to the pitch, Oubre will continue to play his role. "Tsunami Papi" go！
No. 1 Taylor-Hilo Was no. 1 on the previous edition of the list
After four straight wins, the Heat are in second place in the East, and it's hard to imagine what a team of two-time players, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayor, could have achieved with a long absence. Butler missed 18 games because of an ankle injury, and Adebayor took a 21-game break due to thumb surgery. Here we have to mention the young 13th pick point guard Taylor Hiro, although there will be a very bad night, but overall, the practice of reliable shooting Giro is the key to carrying the Heat forward.
Known as the "Treasure Boys," Taylor Hiro continues his previous play, averaging 22.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game in the most recent week. As a pseudo-substitute, he is increasingly like Manu Ginobili on the South Coast, which gives him an advantage in the rush to the best sixth man award. As Butler and Adebayor gradually recovered, under the full-body Heat system, Hiro was able to play more freely and his efficiency was further improved.
In this way, Hiro, who is expected to earn a top salary in the offseason, in addition to getting a decent big contract, is also very promising to win the first heavyweight award of his career - the title of best sixth man.