MVP Shouldn’t Even be a Discussion

I wouldn't say Harden had a bad game.... he still got 23 points (would have been way more if he got the obvious shootings fouls), 10 rebounds and 7 assists. He would have a triple double if his teammates hit their shots, and he still hit the floater pretty well for the most part. Yeah, his 3pt shot was off, but he could have a few shooting fouls.... and he didn't really have open looks for the rest of them. And Harden still did well defending the post all night.

 

Agree with most of this.
If I wanted to debate you on this I would say Westbrook beating Harden for MVP would prove the exact opposite of everything you’re saying. If I felt Harden got ripped off then, then it’s only fair that I not argue against Giannis this year.

 

Harden had a chance to make a statement game and he didn't. Oh well.

It ain't fair but he knew the stakes.

 

Yes. 9/26 for 23 points isnt very far from Harden's usual night. One of the many below-25 point games that Harden has had this season. You're right. It wasn't a bad game.

 

The Trip Dubs helped but we can all assume that the league loved WB back then.

 

Harden was clearly fouled on 2 3 pointers and fouled on at least 3 drives.

That’s 12 FTA’s. If harden goes 10/12 from the free throw line he finishes the game with 33 points which is a good game. And his percentages would look better with those 5 FGA taken off without the fouls.

 

Ok but doesnt that justify the haters point that Harden only looks good because of free throws? Rox had 7 fta vs Buck's 13, refs were more or less calling it even Harden should have adjusted.

Look we are arguing about league MVP. If you are the MVP you don't depend on ref calls for fts.

And honestly even if I'm a huge Harden fan his chucking is no longer justified. The crew is more or less back why is Harden still shooting 30ish percent from the field? This is the game with the highest stakes for his MVP, he failed miserably.

 

That’s not “looking good because of free throws”

When teams get away with blatantly fouling you it’s going to affect your percentages.

Any NBA superstar that gets fouled on 3’s AND drives at the rim is going to see a dip in production and percentages.

He would have had a triple double if his teammates could make a ****ing open shot.

 

Smh media hanging on to this

 

Tucker played like he meant it as well.

Bricked everything to make Harden look bad.

 

Lots of superstars get fouled every night they dont let it affect them to the point of shooting 11% from 3. Refs were calling it both ways Giannis got fouled a lot too he didnt let it affect him.

I know this is a Rox forum and Im def a big Harden fan but he didnt show up tonight in a very important game. All these are just excuses the refs treated it like a playoff game thats why all these ticky tack fouls arent called. Whining about fts thats why Harden shot 35% FG and 11% from 3 that's not the refs fault dude.

 

lots of superstars don’t get 10 free throws taken off the board.

And No giannis didn’t get fouled a lot. He should’ve had more offensive fouls.

he doesn’t even shoot the ball to get fouled and a lot of his dunks were uncontested.

He was getting clamped and passed out every time he got clamped.

He just had Bledsoe and Harden had.......

The refs call out how they should and the rockets role players make a wide open shot and harden is shooting 45%+ in a 30+ point triple double and that’s a good game.

 

Harden lost it tonight and deservedly so. Not just on him, but that's the nail in the coffin. He whined, looked for fouls, b****ed at team mates, didn't even look to make a statement and go out and win this.

 

Yep, that's pretty much it for the MVP. Had a chance tonight to win over the naysayers but laid an egg of a game.

 

Raptors generally sat him vs weaker competition.

Regardless, missing games can't help team chemistry.

 

Right so basically the refs just hated Harden and didnt give him any pts but they didnt call anything on Giannis and the Bucks? All the wrong calls were in favor of the Bucks? C'mon bro thats just homerism talking a Milwaukee Buck fan would say the same thing except interchange Harden and Giannis and replace passing out to shooting bricks.

The reality is Harden shot 35% and 11% from 3. Even if you give him the 10 pts you claim thats just 3 shots and still wouldnt make a difference in the game score nor significantly increase his FG%. He was also -14 even if you add 10 to his score he would still be a negative.

Harden just didnt step up, thats all there is to it. And the team is just old and short, no wonder they got owned by the Bucks who are young, athletic and have length. It happened last time they met too so its not a surprise.

Since when were uncontested dunks and passing out of double teams a bad thing? Its not the Rox fault not Giannis he was getting uncontested dunks and him passing out is better than clanking the shot which is what Harden did.

 

Why does the media vote for MVP anyway? You need to watch a lot of basketball to be capable of voting for the mvp. Media types don't have time to cover that many games, it's only a guess or based on the popular narrative is at the time.

Refs should be voting, They watch the game. Each game they use a 3 2 1 ballot. Obviously the best player of the game gets 3 points, 2nd best 2 points and 3rd best 1 point. At the end of the season have an mvp awards ceremony reviewing the season and votes.
You would find there is more contenders for MVP and every now and again you would get a big surprise or upset.

 

No MVP could be the chip on Hardens shoulder we need to win a Championship.

 

Buck are a bad match up for the Rockets current offense. Lots of length and hustle. If Rockets make to finals against the bucks will have to put more movement in offense. Standing targets to easy to guard. Pick n roll, cutters thru the paint, on defense switching needs to keep Capela near paint he was caught out by 3pt almost all game.

 

If you thought the forum complained about officials before...

There'd be more "The Refs Suck!" threads than House threads at CF.