most importantly, giannis is MVP by the sheer fact that giannis, is not james harden. because if giannis were james harden, then giannis... -- hasn't done it in the playoffs yet -- got 21 FT's last nite thats way too much -- plays the game the wrong way with that played out bullyball dunk -- has too much help -- is just a product of budenholzer's system -- isn't even averaging a triple dub -- is a f'n cheater
I haven't read any other threads or comments like this recently! Thank you for adding a new thought to Clutchfans
I'll be interested in seeing who votes for Giannis arguing team wins matter more than historic stats and if they also voted for Westbrook (Thunder finished 20 games out of first place in 2017) two years ago.
We as a fan base shouldn't care this much about an individual award. Especially since this group hasn't won a title yet. It's embarrassing frankly.
6ers are supposed to win last night game if 6ers are title contender, 6ers have much better talents. No injury excuse. MVP will decided by who wins title or who wins more games vs GS.
Recency effect will definitely come into play. Unless Harden nets a similar game in these last 3: > Giannis had a monster statline in a heated battle against a really good Philly team > The win secured the best record in the NBA > Spent the majority of the game without Bledsoe, their 2nd/3rd best player There's lots to mine for the media, and plenty of ways to spin a "Giannis = MVP" take.
I normally don't care too much about regular season MVP. While I somewhat agree with this, "as a fan base" I think it has to do with how much Harden has been denied this award. In 2014-2015 and 2016-2017, both Curry and Westbrook had legitimate cases for MVP. But you could make a strong argument that Harden's case was just as strong as theirs, possibly stronger. He finished second both years. And now this year, his season has been honestly ridiculous. I've lost track of the number of times he has accomplished something that hasn't been done since some NBA legend in the past. The way he has carried his team through injuries and redefined offense. It's not that Giannis' argument for MVP isn't a strong one or that he isn't having an amazing season, it's just that Harden's case is as strong as Giannis'- or in my humble opinion even stronger. I might be wrong, but I think we care so much because it is looking pretty likely that Harden is going to have another incredible, MVP-worthy season, this time after a historically great run- and come in second again behind someone that really may not have a better reason for it.
Hardens 61 on the spurs was more impressive. harden single handedly beating the world champs with 4 all stars in the Bay Area was more impressive
The only way Harden was going to win MVP again was 1) having equal *team success* which, even WITH the INJURIES, could have been done with a better offseason, the slow start, and didn't have the House hold out. I have already detailed the Rockets lost 5 games during the House hold out. They are #1 seed in the West with those wins. 2) Harden's 30 streak going to the end or close to the end of the season. Those elements were the only way.
At this point I kind of hope he loses MVP...something needs to motivate him to play better in the playoffs. Maybe this will be it?
I mainly care because of 2016-2017. That was terrible, and I hate how a stat padder on a bad team on the MVP. Now almost everybody agrees that Westbrook should not have won the MVP, but that is of no use for Harden or for us. I honestly think that Giannis makes a great case for MVP, and I like him as a player. But Since harden was robbed of one MVP award before (and I also believe he deserved it in 2014-2015, but Curry was also a strong candidate) I really want him to win. He should have more MVP awards than Westbrook.
Giannis fandom within ESPN is their desperate need to rebound off of Lebron's downturn in his career. Every one of those Giannis voters all would have picked Lebron for MVP if Lebron hadn't led his team to a losing record.
I accepted this back in December/January so I won’t be surprised. But it is a tragedy for Harden. The inconsistency of the criteria is just unfair. And in the future, if he doesn’t continue putting up these types of stat lines then he doesn’t stand a chance in possibly winning another one. Oh well.
Disagreed with this. The two aren't mutually exclusive. It's not like we can only care about one or the other. In fact, as of right now, we should care more about the MVP for Harden than our quest for a championship because 1) we've already made the playoffs 2) they don't start until the regular season is over and 3) Harden is clearly deserving of the MVP. It's not like we're OKC fans clamoring for Paul George or Nuggets fans clamoring for Jokic to win the MVP. Harden has a legitimate case, yet probably won't win it because of a clear bias, the fact that he won it last year and how certain factors won't go his way.
