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Lakers: Montrezl Harrell deserves Sixth Man of the Year over Jazz players

By Jason Reed

ORLANDO, FL - APRIL 26: Montrezl Harrell #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers screams after scoring a basket against the Orlando Magic during the second half at Amway Center on April 26, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - APRIL 26: Montrezl Harrell #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers screams after scoring a basket against the Orlando Magic during the second half at Amway Center on April 26, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

The NBA season is winding down, meaning that it is time to primarily talk about two things: the NBA Playoffs and award season. The Los Angeles Lakers should be an integral part of both discussions.

LeBron James was the frontrunner to win the MVP award prior to his high ankle sprain on March 20. It would have been the fifth MVP award of LeBron’s career (let’s be honest, he could have won 10) but instead, it will likely go to Nikola Jokic or Stephen Curry (if he continues his red-hot tear).

LeBron has simply missed too many games.

The Lakers still have a player in the running for an award though. Reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell is once again a contender for the award and is someone who is getting severely overlooked.

The focus for the award is on the two role players in Utah: Jordan Clarkson and Joe Ingles. There is this understanding that Clarkson and Ingles are the two favorites for the award and are competing as teammates to take home the honor.

Wrong. The award should go to Montrezl Harrell for his impact on the Los Angeles Lakers.

It might be easy to overlook Harrell and it is easy to look at how good Utah has been as proof that one of the two role players deserve it. Besides the fact that there can technically only be one sixth man on a team, there are compelling statistical reasons why Montrezl Harrell deserves the award over Clarkson, Ingles and the rest of the NBA.

No homer bias here. Let’s break down the offensive and defensive side of the basketball and make Harrell’s case.

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