The 16-17 MVP Race

[Photon]

If lebron did not get it when his team was not ranked high enough but he was doing everything, why should this year stat stuffing guards be rewarded?

 

[Rich]

If lebron did not get it when his team was not ranked high enough but he was doing everything, why should this year stat stuffing guards be rewarded?

But they're 21-7.........

 

[Jordan]

I've got Harden. That team has no business being 3rd in the West with a gaudy record. He's the only all-star caliber player on the team and there's no else even close. Second best player is either Trevor Ariza or Clint Capela. 21-7?? That's crazy. I didn't think they'd make the playoffs this season, let alone look like friggin contenders.

Eric Gordon and Pat Beverly have been more consistently good than Ariza and Capela... so yeah... that team has no business being a three-seed

 

[blommen]

Last night was pretty good example of how insane this years race is:

Lebron: 26, 7, 9 on 50%, with 2 steals and 2 blocks to boot

Harden: 29, 8, 12 in an OT barnburner against Minny

Westbrook: 26, 11, 22(!!!) against Phoenix

Durant: 34, 11, 4 on buttfucking 11-13 shooting, going 4-5 from 3 in 30 minutes against Portland

 

[The Wizard of Moz]

Last night was pretty good example of how insane this years race is:

Lebron: 26, 7, 9 on 50%, with 2 steals and 2 blocks to boot

Harden: 29, 8, 12 in an OT barnburner against Minny

Westbrook: 26, 11, 22(!!!) against Phoenix

Durant: 34, 11, 4 on buttfucking 11-13 shooting, going 4-5 from 3 in 30 minutes against Portland

Durant is not a part of this MVP race

He has literally 0 case. He isn't even necessarily the MVP of his team. And the team had MORE success last year without him

There's just no need to even watch him

 

[blommen]

Durant is not a part of this MVP race

He has literally 0 case. He isn't even necessarily the MVP of his team. And the team had MORE success last year without him

There's just no need to even watch him

I agree, in the context of all the bullshit around KD there is no case to be made for him.

However, in a vacuum he is having the most efficient season of all time on the best team in the league, and he is absolutely the best player on said team. I agree that he shouldn't win it, and he won't after what transpired this summer but the dude is having an INSANE season effeciency wise.

 

[Stark]

If Westbrook averages a triple-double and the Thunder don't fall apart as a team, he's MVP.

If not, it's LeBron then Harden.

Nobody from Golden State deserves the award.

 

[godfather]

Durant is not a part of this MVP race

He has literally 0 case. He isn't even necessarily the MVP of his team. And the team had MORE success last year without him

There's just no need to even watch him

I think he's in the top-5. And he's definitely having a million times better season than Steph.

I agree he's likely to not win it, but he's having an absurd year efficiency wise. He's got to at least be in the top-5.

Curry won't make the list. He's clearly looking like the second best player on the team. He's at an all-time career low from 3. He's still very good obviously, but he's not having the season he was having the two previous years.

 

[godfather]

I agree here. More of my point was regarding right now. I think Harden has a slight lead currently, even if it's ridiculous because LBJ is straight-up better. It just seems to me that Harden is doing more night-in and night-out (again, obviously LBJ does more for the Cavs, but our team is good enough where he can "chill mode" and we still win; until Houston got Beverly back, they were god awful without Harden).



Agreed, and ultimately I think this is an academic discussion. I doubt Houston or OKC gets a 3 seed or better... So unless someone really has a surprise second-half, I think it is LBJ's award to lose.



Only part of your post I (respectfully) disagree with. I'd be down for a $5 gentlemen bet, donated to the site of course, regarding OKC making the playoffs. I understand if you do not want to, though, no hard feelings.

I looked at the rest of the standings in the West and didn't realize how bad it was. After I made that post. So yes, they will make the playoffs. I don't think they'll finish above .500. If they do, you got to seriously consider Westbrook though, because that roster is dog shit.

 

[blommen]

I looked at the rest of the standings in the West and didn't realize how bad it was. After I made that post. So yes, they will make the playoffs. I don't think they'll finish above .500. If they do, you got to seriously consider Westbrook though, because that roster is dog shit.

That's the thing though, 'cause who has the better supporting cast between Harden and Westbrook? Sure, the Thunder look bad, but they have some really nice players there as well in Dipo, Adams and Kanter, etc. At the same time I'm looking at the Rockets and that Roster is just absolutely void of talent as well, yet Harden makes them all look golden with how well his playing. Conversely I feel like Westbrook makes the rest of the Thunder look terrible.

 

[Rich]

It depends on how you feel about some of those players. Personally, Oladipo is a nice player. And that's about all he is. A nice, little player. I'd rather have Trevor Ariza on most teams. Better all around player.

Steven Adams is the best player either guy has, though.

 

[Derek]

It depends on how you feel about some of those players. Personally, Oladipo is a nice player. And that's about all he is. A nice, little player. I'd rather have Trevor Ariza on most teams. Better all around player.

Steven Adams is the best player either guy has, though.

Offensively, Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson help Harden a ton. Westbrook has no real shooters on his team.

That's the thing though, 'cause who has the better supporting cast between Harden and Westbrook? Sure, the Thunder look bad, but they have some really nice players there as well in Dipo, Adams and Kanter, etc. At the same time I'm looking at the Rockets and that Roster is just absolutely void of talent as well, yet Harden makes them all look golden with how well his playing. Conversely I feel like Westbrook makes the rest of the Thunder look terrible.

I'd say Harden and Rockets have way more offensive talent than the Thunder. Not even close, really.

 

[godfather]

That's the thing though, 'cause who has the better supporting cast between Harden and Westbrook? Sure, the Thunder look bad, but they have some really nice players there as well in Dipo, Adams and Kanter, etc. At the same time I'm looking at the Rockets and that Roster is just absolutely void of talent as well, yet Harden makes them all look golden with how well his playing. Conversely I feel like Westbrook makes the rest of the Thunder look terrible.

I'm not sure this is a fair. For the record, it's not just the talent, people aren't giving D'Antoni enough credit. James Harden Rockets team was awful. What's changed so much?

D'Antoni is one of the great offensive minds in basketball. Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson are good offensive weapons and good pickups that have helped.

Westbrook has to make every single play for his team to win. They are under .500 if he doesn't get a triple-double.

People on here are calling him selfish, a ballhog, etc, but name me a better way they have of winning? They don't. They're over .500, which I think is remarkable given how bad that roster is when it comes to offensive weapons.

Adams is a really good player, but he's not a big time offensive player IMO.

For the record, Oladipo is having a career year in field goal percentage and three point shooting.

Adams is having his best offensive season yet. So Westbrook is holding his team back? Really? That's laughable. Imagine if these guys were the focus point of the offense, their efficiency would be horrendous.

At least Gordon and Anderson have always been proven scorers.

I think Harden's team is better. What both are doing is pretty remarkable though.

That's why it's going to be a really tight race between Harden, James, and Westbrook. I don't think anyone else has chance to win the MVP at the moment, but the season is still really young.

 

[Cassity14]

I expect the thunder to finish right around .500, which won't be good enough. I see the Rockets winning 50-55 games which will propel Harden to the award. He's playing amazing basketball.

 

[KilgoreTrout]

1. Harden doesn't play basketball the right way. Take away all his gift free throws, and his numbers look less impressive.
2. Westbrook stat-pads, to the detriment of his team.
3. LeBron is a god, and the leader of the best team in the East, shifting more towards a facilitator role.
4. Durant is a chump. Take him away, and the Warriors still win 65 games.
5. Kawhi is good, but he's not LeBron.

Answer: #3.