I never said anything about Harden. He is too, but more because Pringles system. And I clearly said RW is my pick, more than once. I'm not sure where you're getting this.
probably because when people state things in support of russell, you complain of stat focus? you've now clarified, but i'm not sure how you don't understand why others didn't understand...
I think Harden will win it just because the media loves D'Antoni and they're infatuated with his playing style. I'm not hating on MDA but let's just call it how it is - it's a coaching/playing style built for the regular season that will likely end in a 2nd round exit. I'm sure no one here will forget that Phil almost dismantled MDA's Suns with a much less talented team back in 2006. We need teams like this in the league, makes the season interesting. But I don't buy them being one of the best teams or Harden being the "most valuable" to the league though. Just my opinion. If it were up to me I'd consider Westbrook and Leonard, leaning towards the former.
before cleveland fell apart, i would have said lebron. now i'm split between westbrook and leonard. i'd go westbrook, though, i think. harden would still be 4th on my ballot.
40+ triple doubles? If the MVP isn't defined in a way that he gets it, there simply needs to be another award created. Simply an amazing statistical year.
i think the issue is that with "advanced" stats, people have shifted their ideas away from traditional descriptions of excellence. a good chunk of the media prides themselves on being ahead of the curve on this stuff, even when it gets them in trouble (*cough*PER*cough*). the double-digit cutoff is an arbitrary distinction. one could argue harden's stat line is as impressive (and both guys have been poor defensively and turn the ball over like it's in their job description). one could argue lebron's is pretty close, too, plus he defends. but really, i end up (irrationally) on your side in this one. i didn't think i'd see another averaged triple double. i just wonder if some of this is a product of the times, and that we might not start seeing more of this starting now. that's when the conversation shifts back to wins, and why i think leonard is actually getting unfairly ignored. his team is winning a lot. they lost a hofer, his replacement missed a bunch of games, and the rest of his cast would be considered average or below average nba players in a vacuum. it's because he's a two-way beast who turns games by himself on the regular.
I think most of us are pretty much in agreement here. It's between Kawhi, Westbrook, LeBron, and Harden, and I think most of us would have Harden 4th. If the Cavs hadn't fallen off the cliff like they have, then LeBron would have had a really good shot at the MVP. Kawhi has been exceptional on both ends of the court while Westbrook has been stupidly incredible statistically. With that said though, there is a video going around that shows Westbrook's teammates really going out of their way to pad his stats. It also shows how he tries to pad his stats by not playing any defense. What do you guys think?
It doesn't bother me as much as I thought it would. Do we all assume Big O wasn't doing the same thing? The casual fan forgets that Wilt's 100 point game wasn't too dissimilar from Booker's 70 point game. There's this sort of thing all the time, but it became a focus of his and the fact that he could maintain this focus and this work all year long is extraordinary. The award is Westbrook's.
eh, how many boards does harden get because his teammates intentionally neglect them in order to let him start the break? houston built their entire system to pump harden's stats, but no one bats an eyelash because they're winning...this year...
You could make a video like that to bring down plenty of players, you could do it with Harden, you could do it with LeBron, it's haters. And honestly even if his teammates do help him out and try to pad certain stats of his, what does that say about him as a teammate that they'd want to help him in that way? I've watched Westbrook as much as I could this season, and his triple doubles are legit, he does it all on a mediocre team and carries them. Watched him get his 41st tonight in a blowout of the Bucks, it's a special thing. If LeBron was doing this it'd be celebrated as the greatest thing of all time. Westbrook stayed with his team after Durant left, signed an extension when he didn't have to, and goes out and is about to average a triple double and keep that franchise in the playoffs and most of all, relevant. How can you hate on that? He's the MVP. If Allen Iverson can win the award with his style of play, Westbrook can certainly win with his, even if he finishes his season with 47-49 wins to Iverson's 56.
The East was so weak back then, 56 wins was about 45 in the West. He also.had 6th Man of the Year, a great coach, and DPOY on his team. Westbrook >> AI.
Considering Westbrook grabs 11 rpg at 6'3'' is pretty amazing. Most forwards and Cs in the NBA should be ashamed.
BTW I just checked he averages 5.4 TOs per game...thats an insane amount of TOs...he has had 33 in his last 5 games...like WTF
is this the point where you mention that harden (already owner of single season TO record) averages .5 more turnovers per game? but yeah, let's give him the mvp. cuz...beard? i'm out of ideas.
At this point if I'm Westbrook after hitting yet another clutch shot last night and just barely missing another Triple Double - to break Oscar's 41 in a season, I have to be saying "what more can I possible do to deserve the MVP award"?? It's got to be him.
