Undeserving NBA Finals MVP Winners

[Stringer Bell]

You can make the argument for Magic Johnson in 1980. He was amazing in Game 6 but so was Kareem in the first 5 games of the series.

You can argue the same for James Worthy in 1988, he had a huge Game 7 but Magic was the more valuable player throughout the series. Not saying I agree, but then again I am more of a fan of Worthy than Mr. Unprotected.

[RoundMoundOfReb]

Kevin Garnett for me in '08 was better than Pierce.

[navy]

The players you listed were completely deserving even if you think they werent the best choice though......

[ArbitraryWater]

The players you listed were completely deserving even if you think they werent the best choice though......

Well I think he means it as that there were other players MORE DESERVING... meaning, it was undeserving for Magic in '80 and Worthy in '88

[LeBird]

1981 FMVP: Bird > Maxwell

[riseagainst]

inb4 real 09 and 10 FMVP: Gasol

[navy]

Well I think he means it as that there were other players MORE DESERVING... meaning, it was undeserving for Magic in '80 and Worthy in '88

I dont think there is a specific criteria though. Ive never seen the FMVP given to a complete scrub or something.

[nathanjizzle]

2013 lebron.

[navy]

Ugh, no.. But any sane person knows Kareem deserved it in 80 and Magic in 88.
Except, no. Kareem didnt play in a critical game. How valuable can that be?

I dont remember the 88 circumstances/stats though.

[Eric Cartman]

Kobe 2010.

[HOoopCityJones]

Kobe 2010.

:facepalm

One phucking bad shooting game and the entirety of wat he did in the Finals should be erased because of gm 7? What about the six previous games? Still grabbed 15 boards , which had decided victory on either side since Game 1.

Lol, why give Kawhi a FMVP if he choked for two straight games :roll:

[ArbitraryWater]

Except, no. Kareem didnt play in a critical game. How valuable can that be?

I dont remember the 88 circumstances/stats though.

Do you even know that Magic's performance is hailed as greatest ever?

THAT'S what was needed to replace Kareem's value...

Kareem:

33/14/5/6 in game 1
38/14/3/5 in game 2 (made many clutch shots but Bobby Jones ended up hitting game winner)
33/14/3/4 in game 3
40/15/4 in game 5 (heroic fourth quarter on a badly sprained ankle. if he doesn't come up big in that fourth quarter, Sixers lead 3-2 and have 2 games to eliminate the Lakers)

[KevinNYC]

You can make the argument for Magic Johnson in 1980. He was amazing in Game 6 but so was Kareem in the first 5 games of the series.
http://wagesofwins.com/2012/09/09/1980-nba-finals-mvp-taking-measure-of-the-myth-of-magic-johnson-at-center/

[ArbitraryWater]

:facepalm

One phucking bad shooting game and the entirety of wat he did in the Finals should be erased because of gm 7? What about the six previous games? Still grabbed 15 boards , which had decided victory on either side since Game 1.

Lol, why give Kawhi a FMVP if he choked for two straight games :roll:

Didn't Kobe shoot 40% in game 2 and 10-29 35% in game 3?

[navy]

Do you even know that Magic's performance is hailed as greatest ever?

THAT'S what was needed to replace Kareem's value...

Kareem:

33/14/5/6 in game 1
38/14/3/5 in game 2 (made many clutch shots but Bobby Jones ended up hitting game winner)
33/14/3/4 in game 3
40/15/4 in game 5 (heroic fourth quarter on a badly sprained ankle. if he doesn't come up big in that fourth quarter, Sixers lead 3-2 and have 2 games to eliminate the Lakers)

The series didnt end at 5 though. Which is my point. If the so called most valuable player literally does not play and someone else steps up, increases his production, and wins (easily) without him you can easily make the case of him having more value to that team. Which is what Magic did.

H

[ArbitraryWater]

The series didnt end at 5 though. Which is my point. If the so called most valuable player literally does not play and someone else steps up, increases his production, and wins (easily) without him you can easily make the case of him having more value to that team. Which is what Magic did.

H

So through 5 games Kareem heavily outplays him, but that game 6, that game 6 makes Magic fmvp huh...

here, get educated.

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=301909

[navy]

So through 5 games Kareem heavily outplays him, but that game 6, that game 6 makes Magic fmvp huh...

here, get educated.

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=301909

Kareem's stats in Game 6?

[Ne 1]

Kareem was literally robbed of the 1980 FMVP. CBS persuaded enough voters to change their ballots in favor of Magic after his phenomenal game 6 because CBS didn't want to present the award to an absent Kareem who the team was resting after injury expecting a game 7.

[ArbitraryWater]

Kareem's stats in Game 6?

so you're a troll now?

Insecure MJ Stan?

[Ne 1]

The series didnt end at 5 though. Which is my point. If the so called most valuable player literally does not play and someone else steps up, increases his production, and wins (easily) without him you can easily make the case of him having more value to that team. Which is what Magic did.

H
What a joke. :oldlol: people seem to forget Wilkes also had the best game of his career in game 6, was he also more valuable than Kareem that series?

[Ne 1]

Honestly, Finals MVP is a pretty useless award when you think about it. Plenty of non-elite players have won it (Cedric Maxwell, Joe Dumars, James Worthy, Chauncey Billups, Tony Parker, Paul Pierce and Kawhi Leonard have all won FMVP. Even John Starks was literally 1 shot away from winning Finals MVP. The NBA should make it defunct and create a Playoffs MVP award. 16-28 game sample size > 4-7.

[Pointguard]

So through 5 games Kareem heavily outplays him, but that game 6, that game 6 makes Magic fmvp huh...

here, get educated.

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=301909
Magic was the necessary guy like Tim Duncan the entire series and the closer in that series. The Lakers before Magic would have never made it to the finals. Magic was the engine, the decision maker and the guy steering the ship. This team was drastically different than the spiritless Lakers the years before. Kareem was great but it wasn't crazy that Magic got it. Its a lot like the Paul Pierce/Garnett situation.

If SA had a closer last year, they win that series, and whoever that closer was, should have been the MVP. No closer, no win.

[navy]

so you're a troll now?

Insecure MJ Stan?

No, not playing in the final game is a good knock on your value. :confusedshrug:

MJ??? How is he even related to this? I think MJ is the GOAT, but I despise MJ stans and Jordan mythologist.

[Adam Silver]

All NBA Finals MVPs have been worthy. Based on the modern approach, the only one that there is an argument against is Jerry West since he won without winning the championship.

[ArbitraryWater]

No, not playing in the final game is a good knock on your value. :confusedshrug:

MJ??? How is he even related to this? I think MJ is the GOAT, but I despise MJ stans and Jordan mythologist.


You seem to have ignored all the other posts and refuse to give in to reality, just for the point of sticking with your initial thought.

[SHAQisGOAT]

Some that "should've" been different...

West - 1969 (going by the notion that only winners should get it, Hondo was the FMVP)
Reed - 1970/1973 (Frazier should've gotten one of those)
Unseld - 1978 (Hayes deserved it more, Dandridge also had a really good Finals)
Magic - 1980 (Kareem deserved it more despite Magic's beastly game6)
Maxwell - 1981 (Bird was the better player throughout those Finals, definitely the FMVP in my book)
Worthy - 1988 (probably should've went to Magic, despite Worthy's big game7)

[TheBigVeto]

Easy.
Kobe in 2009 and 2010. Should've gone to Gasol.
Magic in 1980. Should've gone to Kareem.

[La Frescobaldi]

All NBA Finals MVPs have been worthy. Based on the modern approach, the only one that there is an argument against is Jerry West since he won without winning the championship.
Havlicek should have received that award.

[Magic 32]

Easy.
Kobe in 2009 and 2010. Should've gone to Gasol.



http://mrwgifs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Edward-Norton-Self-Punch-Reach-Gif-In-Fight-Club.gif

[Dresta]

D-Wade should've got that shit over Dirk in 2011, who didn't actually play that well at all. Dirk gets way too much hype for that series when he had two guys on his team (Terry, Chandler) who had just as big an impact. People now have somehow deluded themselves into thinking Dirk dismantled them single-handedly, and that is arrant nonsense.

[Derka]

I would agree with whoever said KG in 2008. He wasn't just a Finals MVP, he was the team's MVP that entire season.

[Purch]

D-Wade should've got that shit over Dirk in 2011, who didn't actually play that well at all. Dirk gets way too much hype for that series when he had two guys on his team (Terry, Chandler) who had just as big an impact. People now have somehow deluded themselves into thinking Dirk dismantled them single-handedly, and that is arrant nonsense.
:roll: :roll: :roll:

[Element]

D-Wade should've got that shit over Dirk in 2011, who didn't actually play that well at all. Dirk gets way too much hype for that series when he had two guys on his team (Terry, Chandler) who had just as big an impact. People now have somehow deluded themselves into thinking Dirk dismantled them single-handedly, and that is arrant nonsense.

no

[Dresta]

:facepalm No way in hell dude, the only time someone who lost won the FMVP was West during the first year it was awarded. And he averaged something like 38/8 with a 40 point triple double in game 7. And lol at Terry and Chandler having the same impact as dirk.
Look at the numbers dude:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_2011_finals.html#DAL-MIA

The Mavs didn't even outscore Miami with Dirk on the court, with Terry or Chandler they massively outscored them. Dirk shot 9-27 in game 6 and they still won. For Miami however, they outscored the Mavs considerably with Wade on the floor, and struggled with Bosh or Bron on the floor. Add this to his vastly superior numbers and it is pretty clear that Wade was a good deal better than Dirk in that series.

Dirk had an average series, Wade had a great series; i don't think that can be denied quite frankly.