Russell Westbrook is having a amazing year and they really shouldn't be in the playoffs, but I don't know how much of that averaging a triple double throughout the year is stat padding and deserves to be MVP.
Westbrook has to know that he's just barely averaging a triple double in assists and he is definitely going to be stat padding more through the remainder of the season.
Harden isn't fat this year, gives a shit, and buy into the D'Antoni system with a new roster that is actually somewhat likeable outside of Harden and turned his team around completely from the wreck that was last year. He should be MVP on the cool shit he does. He's a super Steve Nash and the Rockets are so fun to watch this year, with the exception of Harden's foul baiting. My only knock against him is that his game is fucking ugly and he averages nearly 6 turnovers a game.
Leonard needs to be the MVP on the merit that no other player carries the same offensive and defensive burden as the leader of their team. The only thing is that he isn't stat padding to the level of Westbrook and Harden's FTA. He's doing all this carrying a defensive burden no other superstar is carrying, and is doing it playing far fewer minutes than the other MVP candidates. I feel like voters are going to be so enamored by the historic numbers that Leonard's only chance at winning is getting 1st seed over the Warriors. He's 25 and just in his 6th season and is younger than every other candidate on the board.
Lebron's numbers are impressive at first, but then you see that he's averaging 37 minutes a game and you see his per-36 minute numbers, and he's not so impressive anymore.
Westbrook has to know that he's just barely averaging a triple double in assists and he is definitely going to be stat padding more through the remainder of the season.
Harden isn't fat this year, gives a shit, and buy into the D'Antoni system with a new roster that is actually somewhat likeable outside of Harden and turned his team around completely from the wreck that was last year. He should be MVP on the cool shit he does. He's a super Steve Nash and the Rockets are so fun to watch this year, with the exception of Harden's foul baiting. My only knock against him is that his game is fucking ugly and he averages nearly 6 turnovers a game.
Leonard needs to be the MVP on the merit that no other player carries the same offensive and defensive burden as the leader of their team. The only thing is that he isn't stat padding to the level of Westbrook and Harden's FTA. He's doing all this carrying a defensive burden no other superstar is carrying, and is doing it playing far fewer minutes than the other MVP candidates. I feel like voters are going to be so enamored by the historic numbers that Leonard's only chance at winning is getting 1st seed over the Warriors. He's 25 and just in his 6th season and is younger than every other candidate on the board.
Lebron's numbers are impressive at first, but then you see that he's averaging 37 minutes a game and you see his per-36 minute numbers, and he's not so impressive anymore.
Something about the font that the Raptors use for the numbers on their jerseys really bother me.
It looks so out of place.
It looks so out of place.
By IWMTB19 Go To PostBeverley thought he could score on Hayward in transition.Hayward is so well rounded it's stupid.
He did not.
Cost the Rockets the game.
Rudy Gobert is the defensive player of the year this year, he's number #1 in every category and it would be gross if Leonard gets it for the 3rd year in a row. Gobert is so good and dominant on the defensive end this year in particular compared the previous couple years.
By shun Go To PostRudy Gobert is the defensive player of the year this year, he's number #1 in every category and it would be gross if Leonard gets it for the 3rd year in a row. Gobert is so good and dominant on the defensive end this year in particular compared the previous couple years.Give Kawhi the MVP he don't need both!
By shun Go To PostRudy Gobert is the defensive player of the year this year, he's number #1 in every category and it would be gross if Leonard gets it for the 3rd year in a row. Gobert is so good and dominant on the defensive end this year in particular compared the previous couple years.spurs are the #1 ranked defense. he should get it.
By diehard Go To PostGive Kawhi the MVP he don't need both!
I mean that's what I'm saying, even if Kawhi misses MVP he still shouldn't be DPoY as some second place prize with what Gobert is doing this year. Like Draymond Green for all he wants to be DPoY, he's not in the same realm as Leonard and Gobert this year and the previous years. So Dray can fuck off with his whining about that.
By s y Go To Postspurs are the #1 ranked defense. he should get it.Kawhi won it in '15 without the Spurs being the #1 ranked defense.
If Westbrook doesn't stat-pad, his team doesn't win. Their record with him getting a triple double is far, far better than when he doesn't.
By s y Go To Postspurs are the #1 ranked defense. he should get it.
I mean I love Leonard and I want him to be MVP, but Gobert this year is what, 1st in blocks, 1st in defensive win shares, 1st in defensive+/-, 1st reducing opposing FG%, etc. Gobert is #1 in nearly every defensive category this year.
By diehard Go To PostKawhi won it in '15 without the Spurs being the #1 ranked defense.he should win it this year to make up for it.
By shun Go To PostI mean I love Leonard and I want him to be MVP, but Gobert this year is what, 1st in blocks, 1st in defensive win shares, 1st in defensive+/-, 1st reducing opposing FG%, etc. Gobert is #1 in nearly every defensive category this year.spurs roster is dogwater hogwash. kawhi is doing this buy himself. at least gobert has hayward and george hill.
The NBA's comeback kings!
He hung on the rim after that final dunk like he just won a playoff round.
By Omzz Go To PostJv contributing in a 4th quarter brings a tear to my eye
He hung on the rim after that final dunk like he just won a playoff round.
By IWMTB19 Go To PostRudy should be first team all-NBA.Nah, Jordan is going to take his place lol.
The problem I have with voting him for MVP because of the triple double is that he might end up not getting it, right? If he ends the season averaging 9.8 assists, does that make his MVP case weaker? In my view it absolutely doesn't, so we should stop talking about the "averaging a triple double" part of his season as if that factors into his case for MVP.
By s y Go To Postwhat makes you think that?
we're gonna be really good next year
By Kibner Go To PostIf Westbrook doesn't stat-pad, his team doesn't win. Their record with him getting a triple double is far, far better than when he doesn't.
If he doesn't stat pad, of course they don't. I'm just questioning whether or not Westbrook really should be a MVP candidate as a 7th seed.
At this point unless the Grizzlies somehow keep losing or the Thunder drop to the 8th seed, they're locked at 7th and the remainder of the season will be Westbrook continuing to stat-pad for a lost postseason and to be the only other player in the NBA to average a triple double throughout a entire season other than Oscar Roberson, who didn't get MVP honors the year he averaged a triple double.
Also, i kinda don't love the stat and it's a little bit bullshit but the Spurs are best on defense when he isn't on the floor. I ain't trying to talk bad about Kawhi though, he is amazing. But let's not act like the Spurs can't play defense without him.
By HasphatsAnts Go To PostThe problem I have with voting him for MVP because of the triple double is that he might end up not getting it, right? If he ends the season averaging 9.8 assists, does that make his MVP case weaker? In my view it absolutely doesn't, so we should stop talking about the "averaging a triple double" part of his season as if that factors into his case for MVP.
I mean that's the entire basis for what media voters are basing Westbrook's MVP candidacy versus other players on the board.
This is a NBA writer and voter's stance on it.
There's a deep appreciation, as there should be, about Kawhi Leonard and how he made himself into a premier player and legit MVP candidate. His takedown of James Harden on Monday was impressive. Should he be a candidate? Of course. Should he win? Not on my ballot, if Russell Westbrook pulls off a triple-double. Reason is simple: I've seen a Kawhi Leonard-type performance before. I've never seen someone average a triple-double before.
And that's the stance that a lot of people who are in love with Westbrook's numbers will be voting by. If not, then it's Harden in their eyes.
This is such a dumb article.
http://deadspin.com/are-you-sure-russell-westbrook-should-be-mvp-consider-1793083400
Kawhi is in contention for DPotY, Westbrook doesn't play any defense (which isn't a knock because he's the entire offense, but come on, the purely stats comparison makes no sense).
http://deadspin.com/are-you-sure-russell-westbrook-should-be-mvp-consider-1793083400
Kawhi is in contention for DPotY, Westbrook doesn't play any defense (which isn't a knock because he's the entire offense, but come on, the purely stats comparison makes no sense).
By s y Go To Posthe should win it this year to make up for it.
spurs roster is dogwater hogwash. kawhi is doing this buy himself. at least gobert has hayward and george hill.
Danny Green is a really good defender too you know. So is Dedmond. And the system Pop employs.
Tired of the cheeseball "I GOT HIT!!!" acting jobs on these shots. They really need to start issuing technical fouls for flops and foul baiting when there's no contact.
(The Rockets shot twice as many free throws as the Jazz, including 15 free throws from three point "attempts" that had no chance of going in)
https://jazzfanatical.wordpress.com/2017/03/09/utah-jazz-at-houston-rockets-opponent-game-thread-highlights-7/
https://jazzfanatical.wordpress.com/2017/03/09/utah-jazz-at-houston-rockets-opponent-game-thread-highlights-7/
By shun Go To PostI mean that's the entire basis for what media voters are basing Westbrook's MVP candidacy versus other players on the board.
This is a NBA writer and voter's stance on it.
And that's the stance that a lot of people who are in love with Westbrook's numbers will be voting by. If not, then it's Harden in their eyes.
And that is stupendously dumb. 10.1 assists a game vs. 9.9 assists per game has literally zero bearing on how well Westbrook played this season.
By diehard Go To PostIs there any NBA writer that is truly worth reading that isn't Zach Lowe?
Chris Herring at 538. Tom Ziller, Mike Prada and Seth Rosenthal at SB Nation. Kevin Arnovitz and Kevin Pelton at ESPN. I'm missing a bunch of dudes but NBA writers are the strongest group of writers covering any major sport in North America.
By HasphatsAnts Go To PostAnd that is stupendously dumb. 10.1 assists a game vs. 9.9 assists per game has literally zero bearing on how well Westbrook played this season.true
Chris Herring at 538. Tom Ziller, Mike Prada and Seth Rosenthal at SB Nation. Kevin Arnovitz and Kevin Pelton at ESPN. I'm missing a bunch of dudes but NBA writers are the strongest group of writers covering any major sport in North America.
compared to the other major leagues they are way better
By HasphatsAnts Go To PostAnd that is stupendously dumb. 10.1 assists a game vs. 9.9 assists per game has literally zero bearing on how well Westbrook played this season.
Chris Herring at 538. Tom Ziller, Mike Prada and Seth Rosenthal at SB Nation. Kevin Arnovitz and Kevin Pelton at ESPN. I'm missing a bunch of dudes but NBA writers are the strongest group of writers covering any major sport in North America.
It is dumb, and I don't think Westbrook should be in the MVP conversation because of that.
Like, if Harden averaged 11.1 assists instead of 11.3, nobody would bat an eye. But somehow the same 0.2 per game dip makes or breaks Russell Westbrook's MVP case.
Anyone who thinks like that should be slapped.
Anyone who thinks like that should be slapped.
By HasphatsAnts Go To PostChris Herring at 538. Tom Ziller, Mike Prada and Seth Rosenthal at SB Nation. Kevin Arnovitz and Kevin Pelton at ESPN. I'm missing a bunch of dudes but NBA writers are the strongest group of writers covering any major sport in North America.I listen to podcasts while i work but almost never read articles, i'll check some of them out.
By diehard Go To PostIs there any NBA writer that is truly worth reading that isn't Zach Lowe?Matt Moore.
By pilonv1 Go To PostWe believe
Bring Baron Davis back from retirement and get Monta Ellis for the minimum.
By Kibner Go To PostThat was waaaaaaay more natural than Draymond tho
