Fitting with the debate that's been going on in this thread...most people agree that Westbrook is not what you'd call a good 3PT shooter and that as a team you live with Westbrook taking lots of long distance shots. Again IMO both Harden and Westbrook are spectacular players. Harden however is just making it look easy out there. Even on nights where you think he isn't playing his best ball, he still usually is the best player on the court..that's just how good Harden is.
I hated how Shaq acted like it was blasphemy when Chuck thought Harden was MVP. Dude was like no way harden is MVP. Wtf has he been watching this year? At worst, its a close race.
Shaq just wants to counter Charles. Charles said do you ever compliment anyone besides yourself shaq ?
Westbrick getting roasted by the media... Harden getting praised more than I expected for his unselfishness and playmaking ability... having a good team record is so nice
I used to love Barkley but his vendetta against the Rockets these past few years has really made him look bad.
It does seem that way... but in any case, yeah, Gordon has made us better, but without him, people might not give our supporting cast as much credit, and we would probably still be a better team than the Thunder while Harden was still putting up great numbers. Hard to say he wouldn't get any talk for MVP, but either way, that's part of how MVP voting works every year.
This may be the first time I completely agree with Cowherd. It's not even b/c i love harden. It's because westbrook is a selfish volume shooter and he always has been! He's right about curry too! It's time people realize that certain media member's get it right. and there in not some giant conspiracy.
Yes it does, and it should. I think it would be a slap in media's face if Media suddenly forget about team record for THIS year's MVP voting.
It's going to be an interesting few months to come here. The way things look right now it doesn't seem like James or Russ will have any all-star teammates this year -- Even though I think Gordon is deserving he's probably not going to make it in due to how stacked the West is with talented guards. So the narrative that one guy has a superior supporting cast shouldn't hold as much weight in the MVP argument. The team records is what should settle the difference if the media is truly being honest about the whole deal. But the dude digresses here, I don't much care for Harden winning the award tbh because the only award the really matters is Finals MVP, Hakeem proved this to us too. Sometimes the regular season award puts more pressure on you. I mean, Hakeem the Dream only won one MVP award in his entire career yet the man still won 2 championships and is arguably the best two way player to ever play basketball.
If the Rockets win close to 60 games, and the Thunder are down around 45 Harden will win the MVP, period. The award has been consistently given to a player from one of the leagues elite. It is far and away the largest determining factor, and that won't change. The argument has been valid because until this week we weren't that far ahead of the Thunder. Now we have a fairly significant lead, and I only expect it to grow by years end. A few will be enamored by the novelty of the triple double, but as is already being shown, most players and coaches can see past RW's stat padding rebound totals and realize how me first many of his accomplishments are.
The thing is, I don't think supporting cast should even be considered unless 2 teams have similar records. Most MVPs had all star teammates AND top seeded teams. "Average seeded team with no all star teammates" doesn't help Westbrook's case in any way. It simply disqualifys him.
That schedule is damn insane. No wonder if felt like they had a home game every day to start the season.
Then you have to throw away the criteria of team record. It's been a consideration for every single MVP. Go look it up. There is not ONE player who has won the MVP whose team wasn't at least in the top 3-4 in the entire league- that goes back at least 30 years, if not more- and in most cases, they had the best record.
