So it doesn't look exactly promising for Bertans to win Sixth Man of the Year, but you have to think he'll get votes. Now we'll have to wait until next season to see if he can build off a successful and relatively efficient campaign. Unfortunately, Detroit decided not to sell high on Rose when he was entering free agency this summer. It didn't exactly result in wins, but Rose became a feel-good story around the league and a notable trade target around the deadline. With Blake Griffin injured for most of the year and Andre Drummond not providing a ton of shot creation, Rose became the Pistons' go-to ball-handler off the bench. Rose experienced arguably his best season since tearing his ACL with the Bulls in 2012 this year in Detroit, averaging 18.1 points and 5.6 assists on 49% shooting from the field. RELATED: RUI'S ALL-ROOKIE CASE COULD DEPEND ON ZION Derrick Rose, Detroit Pistons

This is probably the last player I would put ahead of Bertans for the award. Still, Williams' ability to score and manipulate defenses, especially in crunch time, gives the Clippers something few teams have. However, with Leonard and George taking on more of an offensive load with the Clippers this year, Harrell has become a more crucial part of the team's success. Williams' pick-and-roll combination with Harrell is one of the more devastating tandems in the NBA and helped Williams win the award last season. Until Lou Williams ceases to be the embodiment of a bucket off the bench, he's going to continue to be in the Sixth Man of the Year conversation. If anyone has a real shot at beating out Harrell, it's probably Schroder. Similar to Harrell, superior stats and team record put Schroder in a class above Bertans.

Without Schroder's ability to be a third-scorer and playmaker in the pick and roll next to Paul and Gilgeous-Alexander, it's hard to imagine OKC's three-guard lineup being as effective, let alone the team's success as a whole. In his second season With the Thunder, Schroder averaged 19 points, 4.1 assists and 3.7 rebounds off the bench to go along with career-best shooting numbers from the field (46.8%) and from three (38.1%). But OKC's biggest strength in winning close games comes from their three-guard lineup featuring Paul, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Dennis Schroder. RELATED: EARLY ALL-NBA RETURNS AREN'T LOOKING GREAT FOR BEAL Dennis Schroder, Oklahoma City ThunderĬhris Paul will get most of the credit for the Thunder's surprising run to a top-five seed in the Western Conference, and deservedly so.

6th man of the year candidates