I'm with you. The further in the playoffs we get, the more exciting it gets. And you never know, it could make us a desirable place for free agents all of a sudden.
I'd really like Harden to have something to show for his incredible season, but it always looks bad when the MVP gets knocked out early so I'd really rather that not happen. Plus I'm ready for the "his game won't work in the postseason" story-line to be put to rest, so I'll go with making it to the conference finals.
Since I have to choose, I want James to get the MVP. James has earned it with incredible, Rockets-record-setting play this year, and it would be a travesty to not give it to him. With the talent and biases in the league, there's no guarantee he can just grab it in the future. Meanwhile, the Rockets' team has a chance to continue to make it to the playoffs in future years, and without terrible injuries, probably could go pretty far. Harden deserves the award he's earned this year.
Conference finals easily. The team needs the experience, they need to experience winning a couple of rounds and being so close to the finals. They will come back even hungrier next year.
Who cares about MVP? it doesn't mean **** if you get eliminated in the first round, and just makes us look worse for getting MVP and still getting owned in the first round
I think if the poll was championship or MVP, everyone would vote for championship. It would be such a no brainer unless there were some Harden-only-fans here. The poll as is, makes the choices a little more leveled. To me, MVP means very little. It's a vote ("we're talkin bout a vote"--in Iverson's voice) by the dumb media, for goodness sake! Why would you hang so much insecurity on such a meaningless thing? Not to mention the very definition of MVP is so muddy it's no point in arguing who "deserves" it.
Championships aren't awards. Awards are voted on. Championships are won on the court. .... says the guy with ASIA in his name.
I'll refer you to my Czar of Answering Questions Involving Choosing Between Winning and Something Else.
How about MVP and second round, with the MVP being the extra little bit we need to attract a third star....
... any fan with decent knowledge. As for this thread and your preface..... "who even remembers which team lost the CFs 3+ years ago". Certainly fewer than who remember the MVPs. For the record, I voted "CFs"... I'm just laughing at people who actually type MVP means NOTHING Such is just a lame over-the-top comment.