James Harden is gonna get screwed over again in MVP Voting

Here is what Sean Deveney of the Sporting News said about Harden & Westbrook in the MVP race.
http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/new...-rookie-of-the-year/u2nvdgar0xtu1i0og7uenxzv3

Deveney will vote Westbrook if he keeps his stats up no matter on team record/success.

 

This will be the thinking of many. Double standards be damned.

 

I know these guys opinions aren't respected much around here. But believe it or not they play a big role in the politics on who will actually get the award at years end (I THINK Broussard might be a voter.) Just nice to see people are finally looking past Westbrooks inflated triple double stats and paying attention to the man actually getting his team Ws.

 

The triple double argument is silly.

One. Is implies that if Westbrook averages 9.7 rebounds that it now invalidates him for the MVP award.

Two. It puts more weight on 2 rebounds. Seriously. Harden's team right now is a top 5 team in the league and you as a voter sitting there going "But Westbrook gets more rebounds though."

 

Media continue to be mad about Clutch City righteously claiming the chip from NYC back in 94.

 

"Westbrook averaging a triple double! Willing his team to the playoffs without Durant!" is a fun casual-fan-type narrative to get behind. Nothing is more important than the narrative when it comes to MVP. Harden's got a more objective one given past voting criteria, but not all voters will be objective.

 

Molly Qerim's MVP is Westbrook

 

No question the media drive the narrative and that can swing votes. Like I said, for Harden as long as he keeps his current stats it will all be about TEAM SUCCESS. Rockets need to finish 3 or higher and the Thunder need to lose games and be as low a seed as possible.

 

Despite this game being against the 76ers, today's domination game by Harden 51/13/13 with an excellent FG% on the national stage should help his case a ton.

 

Yeah Westbrick took 44 shots in an overtime against Suns to get his 51 points. Harden did it with 28 shots.

 

Harden really is the best player in the NBA right now.

That last video is eye opening.

As good as Gordon has been his PER isn't even 15.

Harden had carried a team to the 3rd best record in the NBA through 50 games is 20 games over .500 and is playing with by NBA standards a very mediocre team that without him is prob winning 25 games if that.

I just wonder what harden could do if he had another true superstar with him.

I don't think it's even a question that he can lead a team to a championship he just needs his robin.

Get this guy some help because from a talent standpoint and what he's done and the wins he's produced over the last 5 years. He might be a top 20 player all time.

We might be underselling Harden at this point.

 

Can you fault him for that? Westbrook is outplaying Harden right now, one good game against pathetic Philly doesn't change that dynamic.

 

Philly isn't pathetic. They're playing quality basketball as one of the best teams in January.

 

agreed philly had won like 10 of 12 heading into that game.

They were the 2nd hottest team in the league outside of the allstar team in the Bay Area.

 

Hey joomba, which team do you root for in real life? At least be honest and open about it.

 

But Westbrook putting up his 51 point triple double against the Suns shooting 44 times and needing OT to win is impressive?

The rockets have the 3rd best record in the NBA the thunder have the 10th it's really not complicated.

No one on houston even has a PER of 15 but Hardens 28.

So the argument that houston has. It's talent is actually False harden just makes the game easier for his teammates. While Russ jacks up 28+ shots almost nightly.

 

MVP is all about momentum and narrative. Westbrook just hit a buzzer-beater against the Jazz, and then followed that up with a 45 point performance against the Mavericks. OKC is also winning games right now, while Houston is struggling.

 

MVP is about last 2 games instead the whole season? Nice theory

 

yes, talk about current MVP race is all about recent performances. Doesn't mean it's a lock for Russ to win, but as of now the momentum is definitely shifting