If Westbrook's averages drop below averaging a triple double, does his MVP chances die straight away

Yes. But honestly if they end up 6-7 place then he is done regardless if he averages the triple double.

 

His whole MVP candidacy is because of his triple double. If he doesn't have that he doesn't have any thing. His team is currently 7th in the west.

 

not necessarily.

 

If Houston ends up 5th or lower it's going to Westbrook. The dude has 25 TDs!

 

Has there ever been an MVP that wasn't at least 3 seed or better? Harden was the MVP and he still lost it with having his team 2nd seed. No way if they don't get at least 4th for consideration.

 

It's never happened, but we are in Trump's America now. Anything can happen. The media is thirsty for it too.

 

Luckily the media is behind Harden's transformation, but they do seem to be behind Westbrook too. This is going to be close. I think if he loses the TD he's 2nd. And then he gets the MVP next year. It's weird that the argument for Harden's team being better is partly a reason to vote for, and against him, and that annoys me because I feel like Harden is playing with bench players.

 

Harden is not winning MVP if Houston keeps sucking like they've been in the past few weeks; he needs to get his team to win close to 60 games to have a realistic shot at this. I know it's unfair compared to the treatment Westbrook is getting, but that's the uphill battle that Harden faces in terms of the 'likeability' factor. Also, it's perfectly possible that either Durant or Kawhi ends up snatching the award away from both players.

 

harden is still front runner, but I think Leonard is making a case for the Spurs quietly and also Curry has upped his game but his votes will be split with KD

 

I agree with this. Leonard has a decent shot of winning it if there is major separation between the Spurs and Rockets (like 5+ wins) by the end of the season.

 

I still think it comes down to win totals. If the Rockets and Thunder are separated by fewer than 5 games at the end of the season, I think Westbrook edges out Harden for the MVP.

 

Sure it's happened.

Kareem in 75/76 when Lakers didnt even make the playoffs. Moses Malone won it once with the 6th seed, I believe 81/82

So it has happened but you'd have to go way back

 

I think if the Thunder finishes around 4th or 5th and WB averages a TD, then he gets it.

If the Thunder finishes around 7th and WB doesn't average a TD, then the media case for WB winning the MVP fades away.

 

Houston can't afford to lose 3rd seed if we want Harden to be MVP, almost guaranteed if we somehow get the 2nd.

Westbrook has a chance if he hits the 4th seed.

Otherwise its probably going to LeBron, Durant, or Kawhi. Unless someone dethrones the Cavs 1 seed in the East.

 

I think as long as the rockets finish with a top 5 record in the nba, he should be ok

I don't see OKC fishing higher than 7, no chance for russel imo

 

Top 5 won't cut it at all. Top 3 or bust for Harden.

 

Some will vote for Westbrook if he gets the triple double regardless of team performance. They completely ignore the fact that Oscar didn't even win MVP when he averaged a triple double for the same reason: his team was mediocre.

 

He is the consensus leader right now and the Rockets are not in the top 3

 

Oh, my bad. I didn't read "in the NBA" portion of your post. I thought you meant top 5 in the western conference.

I think Harden gets MVP if Rockets are top 3 in the WEST. All NBA record is a cherry topper IMO, but I don't think it really matters that much when you're in the west. Western conference standing is the key IMO. If Rockets drop below 3rd in the west, it's a wrap.