Two things... 1. They started playing B roll for Giannis when Jaylen said he picked Harden. You can't make this stuff up. 2. Dude on the right admits that MVP is about narrative, and then tries to tell us that this year was about Giannis more than Harden. Man, if you want to go off best player on best team, whatever...but don't say narrative and then try and claim that this wasn't the James Harden season.
Who is the guy on the right again? That was the most honest take I've ever heard about how the media views the MVP award.
What's interesting about *story of the season* aspect is that was used for Westbrook in not only the triple double but Westbrook keeping his team afloat after the "villain KD left." That is something Rachel Nichols really held onto. Harden's scoring run this season is the *story of the season* to me. BUT, if you already like Giannis, you say that Giannis "becoming the NEW face of the NBA (move over LeBron)" is the story. Like Rose said, the "WOW factor" on a DAILY BASIS for Harden TOLD us what the story of the season was. It was the story because it was discussed daily.
Harden lost so I don’t really care...Harden will never win another MVP unless the Rockets win 65+ again with no other team all that close to achieving around the same record
Russell Westbrook's team in 2017 was the 6th seed, with a 47-35 record. That's a terrible comparison to make, just because of "stats". Harden put this team on his shoulders and literally made it a contender. Harden willed the entire organization back to life. I don't care what team you put Harden on. He is the Most Valuable Player, on any team, with any teammate next to him, period.
What a wasted opportunity failing the 2 seed. Giannis may've still won, but 2 seed MVP sounds more credible than four.
As I said in another thread: Years from now, when Harden's historic season is still being discussed, a Giannis MVP will be looked at the same way we now look at MCW winning Rookie of the Year in 2014.
This 6th best conference record and 10th best in the league disagrees: "But Westbrook had an historic year!"
Are we all going to ignore this woman in the middle co-signed Harden as MVP? If Cari Champion was there, and Jalen announced Harden as his MVP, she would have fallen out of her chair and demand Jalen reconsider.
His "story of the season" argument is kind of lame to me, but I realize that it holds sway with sports media who's job is literally to communicate the stories of the NBA season. It's just totally subjective and permits personal bias to enter into the picture too easily. There is no more compelling a story this year as what Harden did -- essentially reinventing how ISO ball can work in the modern NBA. I do agree with his point that people can make too much out of magic numbers that have never been achieved before. I don't think that's a particular good basis for an MVP vote either.
Wack answers derive from wack reasoning. Guy on the right says Giannis because Harden’s greatness was already known and he already won MVP. I bet he’s voted or thought LeBron/Curry deserved MVPs after their first one. But with Harden, one is the limit. Then, while propping Giannis, he conveniently ignores his new coach. A coach with previous good history. Giannis supporters do not practice honestly or integrity.
