We fixin to act like Harden isn't the front-runner for MVP?

[RightToCensor]

Harden is the most valuable player on a Top 4 seed.

Westbrook is the most valuable player below a Top 4 seed.

Curry is a complementary player for the Warriors' system.

LeBron is the most valuable player to phone call a free agent when in trouble.

[sundizz]

23.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 7.7 apg on 49, 42, 90 for Curry begs to differ. He doesnt ball hog, plays within the system, and still puts up ridiculous stats.

[StephHamann]

http://media.tumblr.com/e16dd16f4de841b391f118f72714a54e/tumblr_inline_nbat9kBEXc1satqni.gifhttp://media.tumblr.com/e16dd16f4de841b391f118f72714a54e/tumblr_inline_nbat9kBEXc1satqni.gifhttp://media.tumblr.com/e16dd16f4de841b391f118f72714a54e/tumblr_inline_nbat9kBEXc1satqni.gifhttp://media.tumblr.com/e16dd16f4de841b391f118f72714a54e/tumblr_inline_nbat9kBEXc1satqni.gifhttp://media.tumblr.com/e16dd16f4de841b391f118f72714a54e/tumblr_inline_nbat9kBEXc1satqni.gifhttp://media.tumblr.com/e16dd16f4de841b391f118f72714a54e/tumblr_inline_nbat9kBEXc1satqni.gifhttp://media.tumblr.com/e16dd16f4de841b391f118f72714a54e/tumblr_inline_nbat9kBEXc1satqni.gifhttp://media.tumblr.com/e16dd16f4de841b391f118f72714a54e/tumblr_inline_nbat9kBEXc1satqni.gifhttp://media.tumblr.com/e16dd16f4de841b391f118f72714a54e/tumblr_inline_nbat9kBEXc1satqni.gifhttp://media.tumblr.com/e16dd16f4de841b391f118f72714a54e/tumblr_inline_nbat9kBEXc1satqni.gif

[kells333]

Russell
Curry
Harden
Bron
Davis

In that order.

[ImKobe]

and Kobe is the lottery MVP

[Taller than CP3]

Better give it to him now before he disappears in the Playoffs.

[Dresta]

Curry is a much better basketball player than James Harden - deal with it, and stop being the little bitch of that long-bearded freakshow.

[k0kakw0rld]

Harden is the most valuable player on a Top 4 seed.

Westbrook is the most valuable player below a Top 4 seed.

Curry is a complementary player for the Warriors' system.

LeBron is the most valuable player to phone call a free agent when in trouble.

0-4 vs Curry ... next.
Rose won in 2011, next.

[Thorpesaurous]

I find this MVP race fascinating. One of the most interesting in a long long time. And we're starting to see a some articles about it too. I know Grantland did a short one about it the other day. And I think they were talking about it on The Starters the other night.

The general argument is:

LeBron remains the best player in the world. And now that everything has coalesced, his team is right where everyone expected, with him leading the charge. The cons are it's not his most dominant season. And he's missed a fair amount of time.

Westbrook has put a wounded team on his back and pretty much willed them into playoff contention. He's the hottest guy at the most crucial time ... right now. But he's missed time too. Although people would argue he's toughed it out and played when he probably shouldn't have, whereas LeBron has simply taken time off to vacation? I guess? But the end result is still missed time.

Harden has been more consistently dominant in terms of numbers. He's also carried an injured team, albeit not to the Thunder level. He probably answers the old "if you took him away from his team" theory people like so much. He's worlds better on defense, but still isn't very good. But at least he pays attention and generally gives a shit. The other Cons would probably be the system catering to him to a wild degree, and the fact that he plays what even by fans would have to be considered the least aesthetically pleasing game on the list.

Curry fits the "Best Player on the Best Team" philosophy. He's also got the misses time and bad D rep. But he's been more available this year, and his D, like Harden's, is much better than in the past, although he's still not great, in spite of his league leading steals numbers. Allen Iverson won an MVP with huge usage rates, a custom made team and system, and while being hidden on Defense and allowed to jump every passing lane and lead the league in steals too. He's probably pretty close to a combination of what Curry and Harden are doing. The Cons would probably be the stacked team argument, one I'm not particularly fond of. I personally think the ability to play on a stacked team, and to still stand out, all while allowing everyone to flourish and excel, is a skill that is maybe more unique than any other, and one that is wildly underrated. He's probably hurt a little by his consistent excellence this year too. A bit like Harden, he doesn't have this late season rush that Westbrook is having. Or the turnaround LeBron will get credit for when a lot of that is just everything working itself out.

Personally I'd go with Curry. I don't necessarily prescribe to the Best Player on Best Team thinking, but this case is more than that. He is the identity of that team. The free wheeling nature of that team is unique to him. Even moreso in my opinion than the PnR and Kick identity of Harden's Rockets, which could be in my opinion replicated by a handful of other high usage PnR savants historically (which is by no means a knock). While Curry's scheme is built around his ball handling in the open court both as a trailer and a facilitator, and in the half court both with him with ball, and without as a cutter, and the gravity he puts on defense from all angles. LeBron to me just hasn't played enough, or with as much authority. Something I'm curious to see if he can flip the switch in playoffs. Aging is weird in that you can always claim your conserving yourself, but every time you flip that switch, the bulb maybe doesn't go on quite as bright. And Westbrook is on an incredible run, but I just don't feel like what he's doing is sustainable enough to jump ahead of the other guys. If he averages a triple double the rest of the season and they win a ridiculous percentage of games, obviously it changes things.

Lastly, throwing in Anthony Davis as the fifth guy is ridiculous. He's putting up a historic season in terms of PER, and is the best defensive player in the league. On a team that is probably a little ahead of schedule in it's success.


That's a serious top five.

[ClipperRevival]

Agreed. He is the front runner to me. I give my vote to him. To me, he is what an MVP is. "Most Valuable Player". That's what he's been this year more than anyone else.

[r15mohd]

only one who won't be deserving of the MVP if they win is Westbrook, and that's not to take away from his GOATness these past couple weeks, but the overall win factor will be the hurtful decider.

I'd be OK if any of the three, Harden, Curry or Lebron, won the MVP...it'll come down to the final stretch of the season and eager to see who peaks going into the playoffs.

i do see Lebron peaking, Curry will stay as-is, and Harden will drop off or go on a chuck-spree to try and maintain the MVP talks for himself.

[Chadwin]

Harden is statistically more valuable than the other guys.

[I<3NBA]

Better give it to him now before he disappears in the Playoffs.
:yaohappy:

[LoneyROY7]

Complementary player? Kick back and take this L, homie.

[Bosnian Sajo]

It wont be Lebron, it'll come down to Harden, Curry, and Russ; In that order.

[kenny817]

Better give it to him now before he disappears in the Playoffs.

:applause: :applause: :applause:




















:applause:

[ButterFace]

Harden is the most valuable player on a Top 4 seed.

Westbrook is the most valuable player below a Top 4 seed.

Curry is a complementary player for the Warriors' system.

LeBron is the most valuable player to phone call a free agent when in trouble.

They need to get to 2nd seed in the West, and then maybe.

[UK2K]

GS makes the playoffs without Curry.

OKC barely makes the playoffs WITH Westbrook.

Houston is a lotto team without Harden.

[RightToCensor]

GS makes the playoffs without Curry.

OKC barely makes the playoffs WITH Westbrook.

Houston is a lotto team without Harden.
Hold this W, cuh. How you been UK2K?

[UK2K]

Hold this W, cuh. How you been UK2K?
My life is split equally between work/school/Rockets games/ Kentucky games.

I stay up on ISH from my porcelain throne.

[RightToCensor]

My life is split equally between work/school/Rockets games/ Kentucky games.

I stay up on ISH from my porcelain throne.
Be sure to wax the throne twice a week to keep the shine.

Clutch City can't be living like other peasants reading this.

[ButterFace]

Better give it to him now before he disappears in the Playoffs.

:roll:

[ralph_i_el]

Rockets aren't THAT bad in terms of supporting plauers. To warrent giving it to him.
And Garden's game is so ugly.

So no, I don't don't think he'll win

[Smook A.]

Curry is a much better basketball player than James Harden - deal with it, and stop being the little bitch of that long-bearded freakshow.
Pretty stupid thing to say.

[UK2K]

Rockets aren't THAT bad in terms of supporting plauers. To warrent giving it to him.
And Garden's game is so ugly.

So no, I don't don't think he'll win
Second best player on the Rockets this season... Go.

A) Howard (missed 2/3 of the season)
B) Josh Smith (Detroit paid him 30m to go away)
C) Ariza (joke FA acquisition pre season)
D) D Mo ( averaged 15 mpg last season)
E) Jones (only been back for about three weeks)
F) Dorsey (playing in Europe last season)
G) Other (37 year old Terry, Corey Brewer, or Pablo Prigioni)

Choose wisely.

[Milbuck]

He's definitely in the top 10 but well below Curry, Lebron, Davis, Westbrook, CP, etc. He's in that Teague, Gasol, Deandre Jordan tier imo.

[Jud]

He's definitely in the top 10 but well below Curry, Lebron, Davis, Westbrook, CP, etc. He's in that Teague, Gasol, Deandre Jordan tier imo.
Showing that you're on that 9erempiree, Euroleague, D4L level of troll :applause:

[Jud]

For me:

1a. Curry
1b. Harden
2. Westbrook
3. LeBron

I'm giving Curry the little edge right now because of his team's wins. Harden is very close though.

[fragokota]

23.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 7.7 apg on 49, 42, 90 for Curry begs to differ. He doesnt ball hog, plays within the system, and still puts up ridiculous stats.

It's him or Harden no doubt, but in no way would i call these numbers ridiculous tbh. He's the best player of the best team in the league and if that's the definition of MVP, then he deserves it.

[RightToCensor]

Second best player on the Rockets this season... Go.

A) Howard (missed 2/3 of the season)
B) Josh Smith (Detroit paid him 30m to go away)
C) Ariza (joke FA acquisition pre season)
D) D Mo ( averaged 15 mpg last season)
E) Jones (only been back for about three weeks)
F) Dorsey (playing in Europe last season)
G) Other (37 year old Terry, Corey Brewer, or Pablo Prigioni)

Choose wisely.
http://i0.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/012/834/manfaceaua.jpg

[RightToCensor]

For me:

1a. Curry
1b. Harden
2. Westbrook
3. LeBron

I'm giving Curry the little edge right now because of his team's wins. Harden is very close though.
http://blogs-images.forbes.com/briansolomon/files/2012/03/Michael-Vick1.jpg

[Jud]

http://blogs-images.forbes.com/briansolomon/files/2012/03/Michael-Vick1.jpg
I see watchu did. Clever.

[SCdac]

This year seems weak for MVP imo, and I'm starting to wonder if we'll ever see a traditional back-to-the basket big man as an MVP again... feel like prime Gilbert Arenas (~29 ppg) could probably win an MVP in this era under the right circumstances... Either way, toss up between Curry and Harden probably. Even Westbrook has been beasting... Still feel like Lebron is the best in the game.

[YouGotServed]

Second best player on the Rockets this season... Go.

A) Howard (missed 2/3 of the season)
B) Josh Smith (Detroit paid him 30m to go away)
C) Ariza (joke FA acquisition pre season)
D) D Mo ( averaged 15 mpg last season)
E) Jones (only been back for about three weeks)
F) Dorsey (playing in Europe last season)
G) Other (37 year old Terry, Corey Brewer, or Pablo Prigioni)

Choose wisely.

LOL

Without Harden this is a lottery team. What Harden is doing is something that's never been done. When was the last time a player carried a lottery team to a top 4 record in the NBA? Prime Kobe couldn't do it. Prime Wade couldn't do it.


King James 4 MVP.