League MVP

[elindholm]

Who gets your vote?

I know that Westbrook probably won't get it because the Thunder have not fared well against other Western Conference powers, and he has too many detractors who see his accomplishments as stat-padding. But his will to win is the strongest I've seen since Jordan, and he radiates an energy that makes every moment he's on the floor exciting. To me, if you were picking one player to build a brand-new team around, based on this season's performance, he'd be the one, hands down.

 

[SirStefan32]

I agree. Westbrook is clearly the MVP. Over 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assist per game, decent shooting percentage, leading his teams to a pretty good record as the only notable player on his team.

 

[GatorAZ]

I can't give an answer right now. This MVP race is like 2006 where 4-5 guys could've win and i wouldn't have had a problem with any of them.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

James Harden is my pick. He is putting up some similar numbers as Westbrook, but with far better shooting efficiency and is leading one of the best teams in the league.

 

[Errntknght]

You can't go wrong picking Lebron James any year - without him his team is not competitive, its as simple as that. But we expect it of him, so it seems less remarkable. I like to spread awards around though so I'd go with Harden - he's leading a team so far above expectations... I was among those who thought Houston would have trouble making the playoffs with D'Antoni taking over a team that relies on it's D to win a lot of games. Heck, they didn't get a significant new player - Capela has improved a great deal so it's like getting one, though.

I think I'd have added Gobert to the list of candidates, Utah owes it's sudden improvement mostly to him and his rate of improvement... he is becoming a beast before our eyes. Redo the draft where he was taken 27th and he'd go number 1.

 

[Phrazbit]

I think it should be Westbrook too. He's having one of the greatest statistical seasons ever, I know the Thunder scheme for him to gobble up rebounds but with his ability to fly in transition, him getting the boards is probably the most effective way to jump start their offense. And that team is dreadful when he is on the bench, a 15 point swing when he is in or out per 100 possessions. If he were not on that squad they'd be contending for the top lotto spots.

The Warriors, Spurs and Rockets are all competitive when their stars sit. The Cavs meanwhile... wow. They lean on LeBron hard, they are god awful when he sits. They were one of the worst teams in the league when he came over from Miami... and despite the love Kyrie gets, I think they'd be one of the worst again if he bounced. The more I look at LeBron's splits the more blown away I am. Players he is guarding have a PER of 10 this year, that is insane. This dude has a ton of MVPs, 3 rings and yet he is still busting his ass defensively during regular season games. There are not many superstars that can be said about.

But... I digress. LeBron is still the league's best player and I think by a wide margin, but Westbrook is having the best season. He should get the MVP.

 

[sunsfan88]

My pick is either Harden or Kawhi. Both players are leading their teams to top 3 records in their conference and Kawhi is the second best 2 way player in the NBA today.

I like Westbrook a lot and want to vote for him but when I watch the Thunder games, I can tell that he's triple double hunting. He passes up on so many layups to kick it out and try get that assist, I wonder if it's detrimental to the team when those guys brick the shot rather than him just scoring it. He's still amazing a player and I would vote for him but I can't think of the last MVP who came from the 6th seeded team in their conference...I don't think it's ever happened actually.

Can't be upset really as long as its one of Harden/Kawhi/Westbrook.

I'm one of the few people who think it should be a 3 way tie along all three of them and they should all just be co-MVPs.

 

[sunsfan88]

I think I'd have added Gobert to the list of candidates, Utah owes it's sudden improvement mostly to him and his rate of improvement... he is becoming a beast before our eyes. Redo the draft where he was taken 27th and he'd go number 1.

IT deserves some recognition as well being the best player (and the only offensive weapon) on the #1 team in the East.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Westbrook, and its not even close--well, except maybe for Harden. Harden is a close second but clearly second.

 

[slinslin]

Harden is clearly the MVP.

I don't feel like digging up the Westbrook stat-padding article which makes a lot of good points.

One point was that Westbrook is playing putrid defense to speculate for rebounds. The other is that he is gifted far more uncontested rebounds than any other player in the league.

Also I am not sure his triple double goal is 100% positive for his teammates because Westbrook almost only passes to teammates when they are in a position to score immediately to get an assist.

Evidence to that is his low passes per game stat despite the high assists.

 

[sunsfan88]

You can't go wrong picking Lebron James any year - without him his team is not competitive, its as simple as that.

LeBron hasn't been that great this season. The Cavs have looked like utter trash because of injuries to Love and Kyrie and LeBron hasn't been able to keep them remain winning like he usually does.

I think this may be the first season that LeBron misses the finals in 7 years. The Cavs just look like a god awful team, I'm shocked that they've won even 47 games thus far.

 

[3rdside]

Who gets your vote?

I know that Westbrook probably won't get it because the Thunder have not fared well against other Western Conference powers, and he has too many detractors who see his accomplishments as stat-padding. But his will to win is the strongest I've seen since Jordan, and he radiates an energy that makes every moment he's on the floor exciting. To me, if you were picking one player to build a brand-new team around, based on this season's performance, he'd be the one, hands down.

That may be the only reason I might give it to him (on top of stats..).

But self serving play at the expense of his team is hard to condone, especially when his team is not that good, not much talent around him or otherwise. Harden by comparison is doing so much more with not much more and is statistically right there with him.

 

[elindholm]

I don't feel like digging up the Westbrook stat-padding article which makes a lot of good points.

It was probably written by someone who doesn't watch games.

One point was that Westbrook is playing putrid defense to speculate for rebounds.

I've watched a lot of him. He goes through stretches of playing poor defense, but it's to gamble for steals, not rebounds.

The other is that he is gifted far more uncontested rebounds than any other player in the league.

That's because teams are afraid to crash the offensive glass against the Thunder, because the Westbrook fast break is so lethal. There's a reason OKC is at the top of the league in rebounding.

Westbrook's rebound rate goes up when the game is on the line.

Westbrook almost only passes to teammates when they are in a position to score immediately to get an assist.

The Thunder offense is very quick-hitting when Westbrook is on the floor. What's the duration of an average Thunder/Westbrook offensive possession, compared to the rest of the league?

Evidence to that is his low passes per game stat despite the high assists.

How does the percentage of his passes, as a portion of all passes made by the Thunder, compare to that for other point guards? The team doesn't pass much because (a) they try to score quickly, (b) Westbrook is their only playmaker, and (c) their three-point shooting is awful, so you don't see the classic cases of rotating the ball to the open man outside the arc, which is a great way to pad team passing stats.

 

[slinslin]

That's because teams are afraid to crash the offensive glass against the Thunder, because the Westbrook fast break is so lethal. There's a reason OKC is at the top of the league in rebounding.

Westbrook's rebound rate goes up when the game is on the line.

It is because the Thunder bigs are scheming to box out for Westbrook to pick up the rebound.

And because Westbrook plays such bad defense that he will often leave his man to speculate for the rebound.

He is basically rebounding like someone who plays NBA2k.

 

[Dback Jon]

Harden is clearly the MVP.

I don't feel like digging up the Westbrook stat-padding article which makes a lot of good points.

One point was that Westbrook is playing putrid defense to speculate for rebounds. The other is that he is gifted far more uncontested rebounds than any other player in the league.

Also I am not sure his triple double goal is 100% positive for his teammates because Westbrook almost only passes to teammates when they are in a position to score immediately to get an assist.

Evidence to that is his low passes per game stat despite the high assists.

The Thunder are something like 26-7 when he gets a triple double. Win 33% when he does not.

 

[Mainstreet]

I give it to Harden with an assist to D'Antoni. The Rockets are playing so well and they were only a .500 team last season.

 

[elindholm]

It is because the Thunder bigs are scheming to box out for Westbrook to pick up the rebound.

And because Westbrook plays such bad defense that he will often leave his man to speculate for the rebound.

You have no evidence to support either of those claims.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

It is because the Thunder bigs are scheming to box out for Westbrook to pick up the rebound.

And because Westbrook plays such bad defense that he will often leave his man to speculate for the rebound.

He is basically rebounding like someone who plays NBA2k.

This. If he is so deadly on the break than why not leak out and let your big grab the board and advance it forward to you? Simple he would rather get 10 rebounds than actually get out on the break.

 

[Russ Smith]

I'd give it to Westbrook over Harden but you can make a case for all 4. I thought Durant was right there too but he's missed too many games since he got hurt.

I do agree that OKC is well aware he's averaging a triple double and playing to get them for him. But I also agree it's beneficial to them to let him get the rebound and advance it, it's too easy to sit and wait for the outlet and jam the guy.

 

[Phrazbit]

I'd give it to Westbrook over Harden but you can make a case for all 4. I thought Durant was right there too but he's missed too many games since he got hurt.

I do agree that OKC is well aware he's averaging a triple double and playing to get them for him. But I also agree it's beneficial to them to let him get the rebound and advance it, it's too easy to sit and wait for the outlet and jam the guy.

Exactly. Yes, OKC is scheming for Westbrook to haul in rebounds, but is it an effective strategy for them? Yes, no question. They are not doing it just for stats, they're doing it because it is winning them games.

 

[Finito]

You can list all the little nerd stats you want or how he's scheming to get triple double. Do me a favor stat nerds.

What's the thunder record when Westbrook gets a triple double?

I'll wait.

It's clearly Westbrook

 

[Russ Smith]

Exactly. Yes, OKC is scheming for Westbrook to haul in rebounds, but is it an effective strategy for them? Yes, no question. They are not doing it just for stats, they're doing it because it is winning them games.

UCLA did that in Kyle Anderson's soph year. It drove me nuts how few rebounds the Wear twins got until I got it from someone connected to the team that they were actually instructing them to block out and let Kyle get the board so he could start the break. OKC does the same thing, just at warp speed with Westbrook instead of slo mo with Kyle.

It's a strategy and as you said it's helping them IMO.

 

[sunsfan88]

This. If he is so deadly on the break than why not leak out and let your big grab the board and advance it forward to you? Simple he would rather get 10 rebounds than actually get out on the break.

It's better for Westbrook to just grab the rebound and start the fast break himself rather than wait for the big to get it and then pass it to him.

OKC doesn't have much of a halfcourt scoring threat so much of their offense has to be done during fastbreaks.

 

[TJ]

Harden is still a complete defensive liability and is about to shatter the record for turnovers in a season by any player in league history.

Westbrook is a triple-double machine, but his team isn't that great.

Leonard is great, but not league MVP great.

It should be LeBron because he's the best player in the NBA, but that's not how the league votes.

 

[BC867]

It should be LeBron because he's the best player in the NBA, but that's not how the league votes.

That points out a dispute that has been around for a long time. The award is meant for the most VALUABLE player, not the BEST player. mVp.