Curry deserves, they keep blowing teams out while we keep blowing leads! It's crazy to think what a good coach will do for you, we are just wasting Harden's prime right now!!
There are definitely valid points for both players. The Warriors have a couple of things going for them that the Rockets have not. 1) Chemistry - the Warriors core of players have been together longer than the Rockets. Though I do like the additions made on this Rockets team we haven't had time to meld together. At least not time like the Warriors have had. 2) No significant injuries - Yes, Lee and Bogut have been out but neither were their 2nd and/or their 3rd option on offense (before Terrance went out I would say he was our 3rd option on offense). Nor did they lose their starting PG who sets up their offense. Rockets at one point in time had 7 ROTATIONAL players out at the same time while Harden was single handedly beating teams. Do I think the Warriors have the same record without Klay Thompson or Draymond Green? Absolutely not. I say this because a lot of people keep bringing up that Steph Curry and the Warriors did have key pieces out like James has had here in Houston, but that is simply not the case. Yes, Steph Curry is the best player on the best team in the NBA, but as far as who is more valuable to his team's success, the answer is "THE BEARD".
These conversations about Curry/Harden always end up being about what James Harden doesn't do but I never hear the same logic applied to Curry which is why I'm so frustrated with the discussion. I think they are both neck and neck in terms of their play this year but because the narrative is about how James Harden was a defensive punchline last year, he'll always lose at least a few votes to the "pack mentality" voters and in a tight race, that's going to be enough to swing the vote in Curry's favor. Harden will have to be undeniably better than Curry to win - not just debatably better. ....crazy to think that the viral video of James' defense is essentially going to cost him an otherwise deserved MVP award.
...by the way - rep me when you see some fancy NBA analyst at ESPN essentially repeat everything I just said after the fact.
As of right now, it's Curry's award to lose. That being said, we still have over half a season to go, so a lot could change. I have no doubt in my mind that Harden is the most valuable player to his team. But, with the current win pace the Warriors are on, it's hard not to give it to the best player on the best team.
So far Harden - 26.9 pts 6.7 asts 5.6 rbs 1.9 stls 2.5 3pm 0.9 blks Curry - 23.3 pts 8.0 asts 4.9 rbs 2.1 stls 3.1 3pm
Have you watched Curry? The dude plays with a yo yo ball. It looks like the producers are fast forwarding his moves randomly. I love Harden, but Curry is playing out of his mind.
My argument is this, I bet you if you swapped Harden for Curry on this team, the Rockets are not as good. Imagine Curry in Mchale Freelance system where it's constant Curry ISO and Curry is playing 38 minutes a game. Curry is a dead eye shooter, he'll pull up and burn you with jumper shots and 3s but he's not nearly the creator that Harden is. GSW without curry is probably still a good team because Klay thompson does a lot of the same things. Rockets withour Harden is completely different team because we rely so much on his ISO and creating shots with no system from our head coach. So, the argument is not, HARDEN is a better basketball player, but more valuable to his team? I would say defnitely without a doubt.
I generally don't like arguments that are based on hypotheticals, like if Curry had 3 players injured.... or if we switched players, just because we CAN'T. The best measure of performance are results. (I would be fine with either winning). The tough thing about arguing Harden for MVP is a lot of it is based on "where would they be without him?" If you go this route, your MVP should be Lebron. In his absence, they lost 7 out of 8 and went from a 18-13 team and a solid (for the East) playoff team to a sub-500 team. If you go with the switch players argument, I would still go with Lebron over Harden. For the record, I don't think Lebron deserves the MVP. It sucks to say, but I think a lot of it has to do with aesthetics. Not that it isn't effective, but Harden's game can look downright ugly sometimes when he isn't getting calls from officials or he is in high turnover mode, not to mention his occasional mental lapse on defense. Curry, on the other hand, has a sweet strike and a crazy handle.
The issue with saying Lebron should get MVP using the "Where would we be argument" is his team wasn't very good with him either, 18-13 is not a record that should get you MVP considerations even if your team goes winless once your out.
I get that. That's why I said in my OP I don t think Lebron deserves it. I was trying to explain why I don't like hypotheticals. I think both Steph and Harden are deserving and I m not upset like others are about the debate. They both deserve it and there should be an argument. Id only be mad if Harden weren't mentioned at all.
Starting on March 23 through April 9, the GSW finally have a pretty rough stretch on teams to play in a row. So far their schedule has been very evenly spread out, 1 or 2 good teams follow up by 2 or 3 bad teams. They have taken advantage of it but I can see them losing some steam during this stretch below and if the Rockets start to go on a roll, Harden could edge out Curry towards the end. Washington Wizards Portland Trail Blazers Memphis Grizzlies Milwaukee Bucks Los Angeles Clippers Phoenix Suns Dallas Mavericks San Antonio Spurs New Orleans Pelicans Portland Trail Blazers
Harden - 26.9 pts 6.7 asts 5.6 rbs 1.9 stls 2.5 3pm 0.9 blks .447 FG .367 3FG 4.1 TO Curry - 23.3 pts 8.0 asts 4.9 rbs 2.1 stls 3.1 3pm 0.2 blks .499 FG .404 3FG 3.2 TO
If things continue to play out as they are, and the Warriors end up winning 60+ games while Curry keeps this pace, how could you argue either way?? Both players would be deserving of the MVP, and only one could win it. I'm guessing the voters would go with the team that wins more games, much like the season Dirk won the MVP over Nash and LeBron.
Tired of GSW talk yea they are good great awesome whatever we need to blow this team out when they come to Houston
Sorry, quit reading after that. GSW have a sick team this year; when Iggy and David Lee can come off your bench, your team is sick. Now our bench recently got upgraded, but that is quite recent, vs. a team that has had time to gel in offseason and first few months, with no injury disruptions (except to Bogut, but at this point, that's almost more normal ) or personnel changes.
Statistically they are close, but GSW just have a more stacked team. Way Harden is carrying us is just so MVP-like. I'd give the nod to Harden, but I admit, it is close. If Pelicans make it into playoffs, I will be even more torn...
Baldie was against Harden from the start when he rattled off that list of possible candidates and Harden was 8th or something on that list.
It isn't called the "best player on the team with the best record" award. That is hardly the most important criteria to winning this thing. Harden is the most valuable player in the league right now.
