Don't want to give him any extra motivation on case of a 3/6 match up. Remember the other time when the best player on a sixth barely lost the award? Though don't they wait until the after the first round to award it?
I thought the same thing when Harden went against Curry two years ago but we all know how that turned out. Besides, all bias aside, EVERYONE knows who the most deserving MVP is.
SO, no. No part of me wants WB to win. Besides Houston is due for one. JJ Watt, Altuve and Harden have been snubbed before, this would be huge for us.
MVP is never announced during first round. It will be announced in 2nd round and awarded first home game 3rd round. Not sure how they award it if MVP has gone fishing like Nowitzki did
I see OP's point. Harden would be extra motivated in playoffs to prove he deserved the award. After all, the big trophy is the only one that really matters anyway.
Check out westbrook past few games....the guy is shooting 30% from the field and yet they are winning. His teammates are superior to Harden. If westbrook were to be as good as harden, they will be 3rd of 2nd by now...He cant be MVP because he's all ball-hog and doesnt make his team better. I really doubt anyone on his team wants to play with him. Only reason why they arn't complaining is because they already got paid.
GTFOH! The amount of confidence that Harden would gain by winning the MVP and getting that monkey off his back will outweigh any extra motivation from Westbrook.
I still remember hearing a story of when they rewarded Robinson the MVP trophy at a home game in the 3rd round (WCF) against the Rockets in 1995. Supposedly Olajuwon turned to his teammates and and said "they are giving him my trophy" and then proceeded to go out and prove that to everyone. My friend told me that. I'm not sure if it's actually true or not because I've never seen it posted anywhere else. But I like to believe it because it sounds pretty awesome.
This. Stop it. As great as he is, Harden is no Hakeem. And stop with the "MVP or Rockets Championship?" as if we/they have to decide between the two. It's not one or the other. It's not James Harden wins MVP but Rockets don't get a championship. It's not James Harden doesn't win MVP but Rockets go on to win a championship. "I don't want MVP! I want the Rockets to win a championship! I want the Rockets focused on the big prize! Forget the individual prize." NO! Stop! It's not one or the other.
Dirk was given his trophy in what looked like his basement, in probably the most somber award ceremony ever thrown in the history of time.
