POLL Vote for the MVP

[msgkings322]

The votes are in, and they look right to me. Russ should and will get it.

 

[msgkings322]

Although I gotta say that first round playoff series Hou vs OKC is the shiz. Easily the most watchable first round series in the NBA

 

[CouchOnFire]

41 Triple/Trips and averaged a trip-dub on the season. There is no contest here.

 

[Wishbone]

Not to mention the Suns broke a 13 game losing streak and boat raced his team.
The. Suns.

Well yeah no Roberson, no Abrinas, and nothing left to play for.

 

[The Derski]

Well yeah no Roberson, no Abrinas, and nothing left to play for.

Suns didn't have Bledsoe, Knight, Chandler, or Barbosa.. and what do you mean nothing left to play for? Westbrook is trying to break a 55 year old record.. wtf?

 

[thunderc]

So I heard today that Oscar Robertson averaged 10 minutes more a game that Westbrook has. Makes what he has done even more amazing.

 

[Inimical]

I voted RW. I think people thought that team would be total shit. He really elevated his game to a level we havent seen in the modern NBA era. They are in the playoffs in a respectable seed. James would be a close second. His team has played much better but RW overall numbers and play have just been slightly above his. Lebron has a great team, so they are expected to win especially in the east.

 

[tlance]

I voted RW. I think people thought that team would be total shit. He really elevated his game to a level we havent seen in the modern NBA era. They are in the playoffs in a respectable seed. James would be a close second. His team has played much better but RW overall numbers and play have just been slightly above his. Lebron has a great team, so they are expected to win especially in the east.

I do not think anybody expected the Thunder to be bad. Most thought they would be somewhere between 5 and 8, which is exactly where they are. 5-8 is more or less irrelevant when talking about contenders though.

 

[BallsOfFurry]

I voted RW. I think people thought that team would be total shit. He really elevated his game to a level we havent seen in the modern NBA era. They are in the playoffs in a respectable seed. James would be a close second. His team has played much better but RW overall numbers and play have just been slightly above his. Lebron has a great team, so they are expected to win especially in the east.

I agree on all points.
It's also worth noting the total focus every defense has on RW too.
It reminds me a bit of how Herschel Walker was in the cross hairs of every defense on every snap, but he still asserted his will.

 

[BallsOfFurry]

I do not think anybody expected the Thunder to be bad. Most thought they would be somewhere between 5 and 8, which is exactly where they are. 5-8 is more or less irrelevant when talking about contenders though.

As I recall most didn't expect The Thunder to have a winning record.

 

[tlance]

As I recall most didn't expect The Thunder to have a winning record.

Vegas had them at 45.5 wins and while people certainly questioned their roster, I did not see a single person say they thought the Thunder would miss the playoffs, or even be under that projection.

In other words, wrong.

 

[Inimical]

Also would like to say that the best 2 way player on this list is easily Kawhi. And thats why the Spurs are again the fav to me to come out of the west. He cant stop Durant, but he sure as hell will slow him down.

 

[mr.hockey4242]

Westbrook

NBA is a sham if it's not him

 

[thunderc]

Yes, it should not be close.

 

[bksballer89]

This dude Harden is salty AF. I hope the thunder kick their ass.

 

[thunderc]

You bet your ass he is not going to get into the depths, he pretty much loses across the board if he does.

 

[tlance]

This dude Harden is salty AF. I hope the thunder kick their ass.

Harden should be Salty. He is having a great season. Their stat lines are very similar, with the difference being 2.5 rebounds per game. While I do believe Westbrook to be the better rebounder, I also think those extra boards are fairly inconsequential.

-Harden has 14.7 win shares compared to Westbrook's 12.7
-The Rockets were projected to win 41.5 games in Vegas, yet they Currently sit at 54 wins
-OKC was projected to win 45.5, and they sit at 46 wins
- there was legitimate discussion about Russ averaging a triple double before the season started based on the production void in OKC. Nobody expected this season from Harden. Nobody expected the Rockets to be this good.
- Kawhi Leonard is a DPOY candidate, he has 13.5 win shares and his team is 5 games over their win projection.


I get the historical aspect of what Westbrook has done, but I would make the case that others have had a greater overall impact on winning. The NBA MVP always used to about winning. Russ had been great and he has exceeded expectations, but these other two may have exceeded them more. I think Russ will win, but it definitely should not be unanimous.

 

[gordontrue]

I might be more sympathetic to Harden and Morey crying about "winning is supposed to mean something"... if there was a bigger difference in the standings.

If this was a 60 win team and a 40 win team... yeah I'd get that. But I just don't think the diff between 46 and 54 wins is enough to hang your hat on for the argument.. especially considering who each team lost in the off-season.

 

[Jordan23]

Coming down to the wire but it's Harden or Westbrook. I'm leaning towards Westbrook to win it. He has the better stats on less minutes while leading in PER and VORP.

 

[The Derski]

This dude Harden is salty AF. I hope the thunder kick their ass.

Houston wins in 5 or 6. Plus Harden was just answering a question he was asked. He didn't bring it up. Not to mention he's right.