Durant's been ungodly this December

[28renyoy]

Averaging 29/9/5/2/2 only 2 TOV 127 ORT 97 DRT 55/51/88 shooting and team is 9-1. Hell OKC has won 15 out of their last 16 games, only loss @ Portland 2nd game of back to back

[pegasus]

Averaging 29/9/5/2/2 only 2 TOV 127 ORT 97 DRT 55/51/88 shooting and team is 9-1. Hell OKC has won 15 out of their last 16 games, only loss @ Portland 2nd game of back to back
:applause:

[moe94]

That word doesn't mean what you think it does.

[KyrieTheFuture]

Yes he has been very unlike God in many ways

[RoundMoundOfReb]

I think you meant godly

[pegasus]

That word doesn't mean what you think it does.
He means beyond "god".

[Trollsmasher]

OP fail:lol

[BlazerRed]

Yep he's the MVP so far. He fell off a little after all-star weekend last year unlike Lebron who picked up. Hopefully Durant can win his first this year.

[russwest0]

He's by far the MVP favorite yet you go on ESPN and all you get is cricket noises and clamor for PG4MVP :roll: :roll: :roll:

[asdf1990]

still number 2 behind king james

[BlazerRed]

He's by far the MVP favorite yet you go on ESPN and all you get is cricket noises and clamor for PG4MVP :roll: :roll: :roll:

Anyone who takes ESPN as gospel :facepalm

[Fudge]

Fcking otherworldly.

[russwest0]

still number 2 behind king james

James? Lmao how that dude has been getting outplayed by Wade in every game vs any noteworthy opponent this season

[bigkingsfan]

Why be a king when you can be a god.

[JimmyMcAdocious]

Downright blasphemous, if you ask me.

[NumberSix]

Yes. Very unMVPly

[Nash]

James? Lmao how that dude has been getting outplayed by Wade in every game vs any noteworthy opponent this season
:lol :lol
:biggums:

[KG215]

The whole "ungodly" thing aside, Durant's having another ridiculous season that, for whatever reasons, seems to sort of be flying under the radar. Maybe it's just my jaded perception of the media (mainly ESPN) falling all over themselves trying to promote Paul George and shove the Pacers/Heat "rivalry" down our throats; but Durant is still easily one tier above George and I actually think he's closer to LeBron than a lot of people realize or want to admit. I mean he was kind of shit in terms of efficiency in November, but he's still averaging 29-8-5-2-1 on 49/41/88 shooting for the season and, once again, he's killing it in the advanced stats: 28.2 PER, 120.1 ORtg, 98.8 DRtg, .290 WS/48.

I know quite a few people here are turned off by his game because he is "gifted" a lot of free throws, which is fine if that's how you choose to watch OKC games instead of actually appreciating that Durant is still really damn good FTs aside. But what he's doing isn't normal. It's top 15 or top 25 all-time great. It's transcendent player type stuff and, unfortunately because of LeBron being even greater, it's somewhat getting overlooked and/or not really being appreciated to the extent it deserves to be appreciated.

[SavageMode]

It's cuz he plays in Hicktown, Oklahoma City.

[russwest0]

The whole "ungodly" thing aside, Durant's having another ridiculous season that, for whatever reasons, seems to sort of be flying under the radar. Maybe it's just my jaded perception of the media (mainly ESPN) falling all over themselves trying to promote Paul George and shove the Pacers/Heat "rivalry" down our throats; but Durant is still easily one tier above George and I actually think he's closer to LeBron than a lot of people realize or want to admit. I mean he was kind of shit in terms of efficiency in November, but he's still averaging 29-8-5-2-1 on 49/41/88 shooting for the season and, once again, he's killing it in the advanced stats: 28.2 PER, 120.1 ORtg, 98.8 DRtg, .290 WS/48.

I know quite a few people here are turned off by his game because he is "gifted" a lot of free throws, which is fine if that's how you choose to watch OKC games instead of actually appreciating that Durant is still really damn good FTs aside. But what he's doing isn't normal. It's top 15 or top 25 all-time great. It's transcendent player type stuff and, unfortunately because of LeBron being even greater, it's somewhat getting overlooked and/or not really being appreciated to the extent it deserves to be appreciated.

best post I've read in a good while (aside from the shit about LBJ being greater which he hasn't been at all this year). Take my meaningless rep.

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[Fudge]

Seriously tho, how great is our god?

[AintNoSunshine]

WTF is ungodly? not godly? I agree then.

[plowking]

The whole "ungodly" thing aside, Durant's having another ridiculous season that, for whatever reasons, seems to sort of be flying under the radar. Maybe it's just my jaded perception of the media (mainly ESPN) falling all over themselves trying to promote Paul George and shove the Pacers/Heat "rivalry" down our throats; but Durant is still easily one tier above George and I actually think he's closer to LeBron than a lot of people realize or want to admit. I mean he was kind of shit in terms of efficiency in November, but he's still averaging 29-8-5-2-1 on 49/41/88 shooting for the season and, once again, he's killing it in the advanced stats: 28.2 PER, 120.1 ORtg, 98.8 DRtg, .290 WS/48.

I know quite a few people here are turned off by his game because he is "gifted" a lot of free throws, which is fine if that's how you choose to watch OKC games instead of actually appreciating that Durant is still really damn good FTs aside. But what he's doing isn't normal. It's top 15 or top 25 all-time great. It's transcendent player type stuff and, unfortunately because of LeBron being even greater, it's somewhat getting overlooked and/or not really being appreciated to the extent it deserves to be appreciated.

This is true.

His season last season sits somewhere in the top 25 all time in terms of play, and this season is right there with it so far.
I'm not even a fan because his constant whip through move and the calls he gets, but there is no denying hes insane outside of that.

[Mr. Jabbar]

op operating at our subconscious level, durant suddenly sucks despite his numbers, to top it up, if you read the whole thing backwards it says lebron banged delontes mom

[KG215]

best post I've read in a good while (aside from the shit about LBJ being greater which he hasn't been at all this year). Take my meaningless rep.

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:
I think I can actually sort of get on board with Durant being the best NBA player right now based on their play this season and this season alone. If you want to say that's somewhat or mostly because LeBron is coasting, fine, but Durant has just been absurd this year and if you just wanted to base it on the first 25 games of the 2013-2014 season, I think you could make a case he's the best player in the NBA. When I refer to LeBron's greatness, I'm mainly talking about over the least 2 or 3 seasons where LeBron peaking has coincided with Durant, at just 24 and 25 years old, taking his game up a notch to a level matched by a very select few perimeter players in NBA history. I note his age because I think it means we really are in for something special over the next 3-5 years. I mean this is a player who, even if he never wins a ring, could still go down as a top 20ish player of all-time...I think he's going to be that good. But due to market size, ESPN/national media falling in love with narratives, LeBron/Heat, etc. Durant's play and excellence doesn't quite seem to get the attention it deserves.

Obviously we shouldn't take ESPN as the gospel, and I still think if the season ended today and they voted for the MVP Durant would probably win (or maybe I've just done a good job convincing myself of that?); but from the random shit I've been reading on ESPN even in the last couple of weeks, there still seems to be this "Paul George and LeBron are the leading MVP candidates" narrative going on there and it really doesn't make any sense.

*This doesn't include George's game tonight against Miami where he put up pretty good numbers, so his numbers have gone up, I'm just using BBR which hasn't updated with today's games, yet.

Raw Stats

Kevin Durant: 24 G, 28.6 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.5 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 3.4 TOV, .487 FG%, .406 3P%, .879 FT%, .622 TS%

Paul George: 24 G, 23.8 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 3.5 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 2.8 TOV, .460 FG%, .409 3P%, .857 FT%, .590 TS%


Advanced Stats

Kevin Durant: 28.2 PER, 11.5 TRB%, 22.4 AST%, 12.8 TOV%, 120 ORtg, 99 DRtg, 3.9 OWS, 1.6 DWS, .290 WS/48

Paul George: 23.1 PER, 8.8 TRB%, 18.0 AST%, 12.0 TOV%, 112 ORtg, 95 DRtg, 2.4 OWS, 2.0 DWS, .235 WS/48



And I think part of the reason it seemed people at ESPN were deeming George the frontrunner for MVP (or at least top 2) is because they had the best record in the NBA. Never mind they've only been 1-2 games better than OKC most of the year, they've also had a SOS in the mid to high 20s all season while OKC's has been in the top 10.

[andremiller07]

There's still a huge gap between Durrant and George, If the MVP were today you would give it to Durrant but still a long ways to go. KD/WB just make that whole team better and you can't put a value on how great that is to have.

[Hoopz2332]

Durant been on point but lebron IMo still has the edge. Lebron's drop in mins (he plays like 3 mins less than Durant) is skewing his raw numbers but as you can see


http://i.imgur.com/JUtOlmg.png

Lberon gets more ast while having a lower usg his rebound (off and def) are better than Durants and obvioulsy his PER. Durant only avg about 4 more points than Lebron while taking 3 more shots than him

http://i.imgur.com/rLolqEW.png

[Budadiiii]

Durant been on point but lebron IMo still has the edge. Lebron's drop in mins (he plays like 3 mins less than Durant) is skewing his raw numbers but as you can see


http://i.imgur.com/JUtOlmg.png

Lberon gets more ast while having a lower usg his rebound (off and def) are better than Durants and obvioulsy his PER. Durant only avg about 4 more points than Lebron while taking 3 more shots than him

http://i.imgur.com/rLolqEW.png
You are officially the worst poster on InsideHoops.

[Hoopz2332]

You are officially the worst poster on InsideHoops.


umad doggie?:lol LBJ going for that 5th MVP

[Budadiiii]

umad doggie?:lol LBJ going for that 5th MVP
No... just a dick. I'm an angry dick. :(

Not a mad dick, but an angry one. :(

Sorry for calling you out, insulting you.. attempting to belittle. I regret it. I'm ashamed that I let this stuff get to me.

:cry: :(

[DMAVS41]

The whole "ungodly" thing aside, Durant's having another ridiculous season that, for whatever reasons, seems to sort of be flying under the radar. Maybe it's just my jaded perception of the media (mainly ESPN) falling all over themselves trying to promote Paul George and shove the Pacers/Heat "rivalry" down our throats; but Durant is still easily one tier above George and I actually think he's closer to LeBron than a lot of people realize or want to admit. I mean he was kind of shit in terms of efficiency in November, but he's still averaging 29-8-5-2-1 on 49/41/88 shooting for the season and, once again, he's killing it in the advanced stats: 28.2 PER, 120.1 ORtg, 98.8 DRtg, .290 WS/48.

I know quite a few people here are turned off by his game because he is "gifted" a lot of free throws, which is fine if that's how you choose to watch OKC games instead of actually appreciating that Durant is still really damn good FTs aside. But what he's doing isn't normal. It's top 15 or top 25 all-time great. It's transcendent player type stuff and, unfortunately because of LeBron being even greater, it's somewhat getting overlooked and/or not really being appreciated to the extent it deserves to be appreciated.

Durant has probably been the best player overall so far this year.

But PG is the real deal. Don't get me wrong, he's not Durant, but when arguably the best perimeter defender in the league (clearly better defensively than Durant...and I think Durant is a very good defender actually) can give you 24/6/4 on 59% TS as well. And his team is 20-5...you are going to get legit MVP talk.

For example, PG is clearly a better player overall right now than 11 Rose. His team is on pace to win the same amount of games...etc.

Deep down everyone knows how good Durant is, but he's just in a tough spot. Putting up great numbers and winning around 60 a year has become routine. So that hurts him in the MVP stuff because it has also become routine for everyone to just agree Lebron is clearly better. So the media needs a new narrative to work with...and the Pacers/Heat and PG fit it perfectly.

[KG215]

Durant has probably been the best player overall so far this year.

But PG is the real deal. Don't get me wrong, he's not Durant, but when arguably the best perimeter defender in the league (clearly better defensively than Durant...and I think Durant is a very good defender actually) can give you 24/6/4 on 59% TS as well. And his team is 20-5...you are going to get legit MVP talk.

For example, PG is clearly a better player overall right now than 11 Rose. His team is on pace to win the same amount of games...etc.

Deep down everyone knows how good Durant is, but he's just in a tough spot. Putting up great numbers and winning around 60 a year has become routine. So that hurts him in the MVP stuff because it has also become routine for everyone to just agree Lebron is clearly better. So the media needs a new narrative to work with...and the Pacers/Heat and PG fit it perfectly.
I get that, and I do think he deserves some MVP talk to some extent. I just don't see a logical reason/argument for why he should be ahead of Durant for MVP right now. Either way, I guess it's really not a big deal. We're barely a quarter of the way through the season and right now the MVP race is very fluid.

[DMAVS41]

I get that, and I do think he deserves some MVP talk to some extent. I just don't see a logical reason/argument for why he should be ahead of Durant for MVP right now. Either way, I guess it's really not a big deal. We're barely a quarter of the way through the season and right now the MVP race is very fluid.

Because MVP is not always about the best player. Again look to 11. Rose was clearly not as good as Lebron or Howard...yet he easily won MVP.

MVP is about the narrative and expectations. Paul George and the Pacers are exceeding expectations and while it's not shocking, it's a bit of a surprise.

People have just gotten used to Durant putting up historic numbers and winning near 60 games. Saw the same thing happen in Dallas to some extent with Dirk. It just became commonplace. With Durant, it's even worse because WB is now being propped up a lot...especially after last year's playoffs.

I think Durant has been the best player to date so far in the league, but I bet if the MVP votes were taken today. It would be Lebron then PG then Durant. And everyone just agrees that Lebron is clearly better than Durant...so I don't see any scenario outside the Heat having a way worse record in which Durant wins MVP over Lebron. Seems like it will take a Rose type guy to kind of come out of nowhere to dethrone Lebron.

[scm5]

Because MVP is not always about the best player. Again look to 11. Rose was clearly not as good as Lebron or Howard...yet he easily won MVP.

MVP is about the narrative and expectations. Paul George and the Pacers are exceeding expectations and while it's not shocking, it's a bit of a surprise.

People have just gotten used to Durant putting up historic numbers and winning near 60 games. Saw the same thing happen in Dallas to some extent with Dirk. It just became commonplace. With Durant, it's even worse because WB is now being propped up a lot...especially after last year's playoffs.

I think Durant has been the best player to date so far in the league, but I bet if the MVP votes were taken today. It would be Lebron then PG then Durant. And everyone just agrees that Lebron is clearly better than Durant...so I don't see any scenario outside the Heat having a way worse record in which Durant wins MVP over Lebron. Seems like it will take a Rose type guy to kind of come out of nowhere to dethrone Lebron.

It's weird, Durant gets almost no credit for how good the Thunder are, yet their success and wins are almost entirely on his shoulders. Without Durant, the Thunder would be in a lot of trouble.

Meanwhile, Miami is so stacked that if Lebron misses a few games, they would probably still have a winning record while he's out.