Jokic has a lock on the MVP now

[basketballcat]

69 games played, cannot be disqualified
Top seed in the West, 1 game ahead of OKC

Based on record, only the Wolves, Thunder, and Celtics are comparable or better. The rest are too far away.

Anthony Edwards has an impressive stat line, but pales in comparison to Jokic.

Tatum's stats are better than Ant's, but still falls significantly short of Jokic.

ppg: 26.1 Jokic, 27.3 Tatum, 30.4 Shai
rpg: 12.3 J, 8.2 T, 5.6 S
apg: 9.0 J, 4.9 T, 6.3 S
spg: 1.3 J, 1.0 T, 2.1 S
bpg: 0.9 J, 0.6 T, 0.9 S
fg%: 55.7 J, 46.1 T, 49.6 S

Jokic is a C that is 4th in assists in the league.
He is 14th in the league in spg, beating ex DPOY Giannis, perennial DPOY contender Davis, and elite defender Bam. In fact, Jokic leads the league in defensive +/- and #6 in defensive rating.
Jokic is #1 in PER, win shares, box +/-, and VORP.

Utterly dominant MVP season. No racist Perkins hit job is going to take this one away.

[ImKobe]

It's gotta be either Jokic or SGA. Luka might get a couple votes but his team hasn't won enough games. Tatum should not be in the convo.

SGA is #1 in EPM and if he carries a bunch of kids to a #1 seed he should be a strong MVP candidate.

[1987_Lakers]

Easily the MVP, should have 4 straight.

[Jasper]

I still like my Giannis

[FultzNationRISE]

I still like my Lebron

[tontoz]

It will come down to Jokic and SGA. I don't think anyone else is close.

[Carbine]

Its not Jokic and SGA. It's just Jokic.

The odds are -1100 in favor of Jokic. That's about as big a lock as you're gonna see at this point in the year.

[Carbine]

SGA is a +1100 underdog. I could bet 100 dollars and win 1110 if SGA won it (he won't) or bet 100 and win 11 dollars on Jokic if he wins it (he will)

[FultzNationRISE]

Its not Jokic and SGA. It's just Jokic.

The odds are -1100 in favor of Jokic. That's about as big a lock as you're gonna see at this point in the year.

Odds are not a prediction of result, they're a prediction of public expectation. It doesnt matter which way odds makers truly believe something is gonna go. The line is set based on where they believe the public thinks it's gonna go.

I'm not sure these odds take into account potential agendas among the voters. We all know which way Perk is going. And if Mark Jackson still has a ballot we know how that's gonna work out.

I personally think there are reasonable cases to be made for each guy. But SGA definitely has a narrative/agenda edge if they last couple years are any indication.

[Carbine]

Vegas doesn't like to lose money. They have a pretty good idea what the voters are going to do at this point in time. They're protecting themselves from the inevitable (Jokic winning it) by putting his odds so far ahead that it won't attract a lot of bets.

Any SGA bets are just easy money for them right now. This isn't a game where odds are set on an unpredictable event. We know who votes, Vegas knows whos votes and they have a general idea where they are leaning as of right now.

[FultzNationRISE]

Vegas doesn't like to lose money. They have a pretty good idea what the voters are going to do at this point in time. They're protecting themselves from the inevitable (Jokic winning it) by putting his odds so far ahead that it won't attract a lot of bets.

Any SGA bets are just easy money for them right now. This isn't a game where odds are set on an unpredictable event. We know who votes, Vegas knows whos votes and they have a general idea where they are leaning as of right now.


If it’s already a fate accompli then theres no reason for anyone to bet, and that does Vegas no good. Vegas isnt trying to bet against the public on the outcome. Theyre trying to facilitate the public betting against each other while taking a house cut.

The purpose with the odds is to entice bets for both guys. They place the odds wherever they think that is likely to happen. Some people will like the “easy money” on Jokic right now and some will like the potential for “big money” on Shai. But it’s based on how oddsmakers think the public sees it. If they believe Jokic CANNOT lose at this point, they would just stop taking bets on him. Otherwise theyre giving away money.

They believe this line will entice bettors on both sides.

[L.Kizzle]

My vote SGA.
Went from 10th seed last season to a possible 1st seed.
Joker is doing what he's done the past 4 seasons.

[Carbine]

They take no cut with the odds set the way they are. If they get 50 percent of TOTAL payouts they're on the hook for, they break even. This is even more or a point that it's Jokic and nobody else in the conversation right now. If they thought it was a two man race, with both having a somewhat legit chance of winning it they would raise Jokic odds to entice more betting action on him and lower SGA significantly.

Something like Jokic -550 and SGA +350

That leaves a lot of meat on the bone for Vegas to take home a profit.

The NFL draft is no different. Caleb Williams is going #1 and everyone knows it. He's still on the board at ridiculously low payout to go #1. Any bets placed on anyone other than Caleb is free money to Vegas at this point.

[tpols]

My vote SGA.
Went from 10th seed last season to a possible 1st seed.
Joker is doing what he's done the past 4 seasons.

SGAs production is the same as last year basically. So it's obvious there are other factors at play like... Chet playing.

[j3lademaster]

SGAs production is the same as last year basically. So it's obvious there are other factors at play like... Chet playing.This, and Jalen Williams getting better, most notably his 3 and D ability.

[L.Kizzle]

SGAs production is the same as last year basically. So it's obvious there are other factors at play like... Chet playing.

Okay, so Jokic has players who've been producing for years. Don't see you holding that against him.
Murray - AG etc.

[j3lademaster]

Okay, so Jokic has players who've been producing for years. Don't see you holding that against him.
Murray - AG etc.I don't think anyone's holding SGA having good teammates against him.

[elementally morale]

If the Mavs had OKC's record Luka would be a a serious contender and a very likely winner. SGA is not a name like that. He can win if the Nuggets somehow collapse the last 10 games. Otherwise he won't. He is consistent and that's the best thing going for him personally besides the team's standing. I have nothing against him but I think he lack the big moments, the huge games and the name recognition. So Jokic is going to win most probably. If the Nuggets collapse he won't. But I think that's the only chance he loses.

[Axe]

If he wins league mvp, there might be a decent chance he won't be able to defend their championship. That is, if the mvp curse persists.

[999Guy]

Shai’s been better. This might have to get settled in the playoffs, though OKC doesn’t have a prayer against Jokic, he’ll probably average a 40 point triple double and miss 2 shots all series.

[L.Kizzle]

I don't think anyone's holding SGA having good teammates against him.

The previous two post literally state that.

[StrongLurk]

He'll kick Bird out of the top ten after he wins another ring/FMVP this year.

[j3lademaster]

The previous two post literally state that.
Nope. Here is your quote.


My vote SGA.
Went from 10th seed last season to a possible 1st seed.
Joker is doing what he's done the past 4 seasons.

The other poster and I simply pointed out that there are other factors like Chet playing and a good young team simply getting better rather than the improvements SGA made, not holding him having a good team against him. If anything you using the fact that Jokic has been too dominant for too long (past 4 seasons) against him is the part that doesn’t make sense.

[L.Kizzle]

Nope. Here is your quote.



The other poster and I simply pointed out that there are other factors like Chet playing and a good young team simply getting better rather than the improvements SGA made, not holding him having a good team against him. If anything you using the fact that Jokic has been too dominant for too long (past 4 seasons) against him is the part that doesn’t make sense.
Who has better teammates, SGA or Jokic?

[Duffy Pratt]

Who has better teammates, SGA or Jokic?

Denver’s starters are better. OKC is probably deeper. In the playoffs, with an 8 man rotation, a lot will be riding on Braun, Watson, and Jackson, and it’s not at all clear whether they will rise to the occasion.

[basketballcat]

My vote SGA.
Went from 10th seed last season to a possible 1st seed.
Joker is doing what he's done the past 4 seasons.

Exactly. Which is what? What has Jokic been doing the past 4 seasons? Win the MVP.

There is an MIP for SGA, if that's your logic.

[Street Hunger]

Is it a lock? I feel like he's an absolute top candidate, but I don't know if it's a complete lock.

[SaltyMeatballs]

If he wins another ring and FMVP we need to start having a serious conversation about where he ranks all-time. I think it would put him right where Hakeem and KD are. 11-15 range

[90sgoat]

If he wins another ring and FMVP we need to start having a serious conversation about where he ranks all-time. I think it would put him right where Hakeem and KD are. 11-15 range

I'd put him above both, maybe at 10 all time?

It's a sneaky 10 though, because if he could 3-peat, then I would catapult him up around top 5 instantly.

[999Guy]

If he wins another ring and FMVP we need to start having a serious conversation about where he ranks all-time. I think it would put him right where Hakeem and KD are. 11-15 range

You think Hakeem and KD were the same caliber of player?

[Carbine]

Jokic odds have went up even further they're at -2000 now

He's a virtual lock for it.

[SaltyMeatballs]

You think Hakeem and KD were the same caliber of player?

Hakeem's better but if we're talking about all-time rankings, KD is definitely top 15 so he's very close to the same range Hakeem's in.

[1_BAD_TIGER]

The MVP race is over, Joker has won his third.