Russell Westbrook beats out James Harden for 2016-17 NBA MVP

I don't really understand this narrative.

Can OKC "put it together" and flip a switch in the playoffs? Maybe. I guess. But on the whole, we're basically a whole season into this. And they're flawed.

I'd rather play OKC than the Jazz. I'd rather play OKC than Spurs - IF Kawhi comes back for the last 10 games. I'd rather play OKC than Portland. I mean, all of these teams... IF HEALTHY, can be good. I'm not scared in any way of Minny, with Butler back... but with Butler back they could at least be somewhat scary.

I mean I think you're misconstruing speed of the game with killer instinct a bit.

Don't get me wrong... I remain perplexed by Game 5/6 against the Spurs last year by Harden. I'm just not "blown away" by Westbrook's killer instinct just because he's fast and plays hard.

If Harden tried to play like that he'd be much worse, honestly. That's not his game.

 

FG% is the dumbest stats to use. I didn't check TS%, but according to basketball reference, Harden's eFG% is 52.1% while Westbrook has 46.4%.
If you can't efficiently convert possessions into points you are wasting opportunities.

 

I can appreciate your opinion on not being scared of OKC in the playoffs, but I think you may be in the minority on that one, whatever that means to you. Yes, the Jazz are hot, not an ideal team to face either. I'll go on record hoping we face the Pelicans or Nuggets, I think the Nuggets finish 9th though.

As for style of play, Harden playing with passion or a killer instinct would make him a worse player is a non-falsifible argument, like if Westbrook was on the Rockets, their record would be "x." However, his pace and control are interesting in that regard.

 

I never said Westbrook was more efficient than Harden.

 

When is the last time there was an MVP vote as embarrassing as the one that handed the award to Westbrick over Harden when looking back on it even one year later?

 

But why did you say Westbrook's FG% is only 1% lower when you know Harden is a much better scorer and that number you showed is misleading?

 

If Westbrook gets bounced in the first round with a significantly more "star studded" lineup then it'll be even more certain.

 

he’s trying to make it seem like Harden and Westbrook are actually close in efficiency to bolster his Westbrook>Harden argument when in fact they are worlds apart with Harden having elite level efficiency and Westbrook being below average

I have no idea how someone could actually think that Westbrook is the better player.

 

Because he scores straight buckets homie.

 

More selfish

 

Of course it can, when he has been a team leader for 3 seasons and his teams have had no success and failed to meet expectations in two of them (this season and last). His teams lack of success with him leading it, no matter who he is surrounded by, is what can't be ignored. Killer instinct and competitive drive leads to wins.

 

I can entertain snake or curry comparisons to harden's value on a team, but using wb is insulting to me.

 

Harden shoots 4% better on 2s, and 5% better on 3s.

 

Him playing with 3 stars has nothing to do with him outplaying Lebron (with Lebron guarding him). When the Miami beat OKC in the finals I'm not sure anybody said "Lebron had 3 allstars" and let KD off the hook. KD was great before he got to GS

 

The Thunder weren't even close to favored to win the series, It was just accepted that they were too young and unrefined.

 

I actually did meh LeBron's Miami rings because he had to leave Cleveland and form a super team on the Heat to do it. I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking that way.

Yes, KD was great before he got to Golden State.

 

Yea, other than a vicious looking dunk every now and again, mean snarl %, and treating the media like ****, Westbrook really doesn't do anything better than Harden.

I hate watching Westbrook, he is such a dumb basketball player.

He is this generations Allen Iverson....people should know better by now.

 

@Os Trigonum alt account confirmed

 

Did you hear anybody saying "Poor KD, He's playing against 3 superstars. This finals loss really shouldn't against him"

 

I did hear a lot of "KD was the only one to show up" and "They were just too young to take down LeBron in his absolute prime" and "they would have won the finals the next year if they didn't trade Harden".