On NBA.com the Mvp has been gift wrapped to Curry. Supposedly the reason is because he is the best player on the best team. We all know there is no definite formula, but the reason they gave us is not solid to me. Going back, win shares has a definite emphasis on the winner with a few exceptions. 9 out of the last 14 winners have led the league in WS. A.I in 2001 led the league in scoring, and was the offense of that Sixers team, Philly did not have the best record that season. Same as Harden. In 2006 and 2008 the MVP's team lost 9-10 games more than the best team. Why didn't the best player claim it. In that case Harden holds a strong case. 7 out of the last 14 winners have not been on the best team for their respective season. The Beard feels like he is the MVP and that's what matters more!!, but I would hate for Curry to win it over Media obsession. What is Harden's chances after Curry's 45? 2000-2001: MVP was A.I, PPG leader that season. Win Shares leader was Shaq. However the Spurs led the league in Wins with 58. Philly had 56. http://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2001_standings.html 2001-2002: MVP was Timmy Duncan. PPG was AI. Wins Share leader was Timmy. Kings led the league in Wins with 61 and Spurs had 58. http://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2002_standings.html 02-03: MVP was Timmy again. Timmy led the league in Wins Shares. His Spurs tied for best record with Mavs. 2003-2004: MVP was Kevin Garnett. KG led the league in Rebounds and Wins share. Indiana led the league in Wins with 61 while Minny had 58. http://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2004_standings.html 04-05: MVP was Nash. AI led in PPG. Wins Share leader was KG. However Nash did lead in Assist, and his Suns had the best win record. 2005-2006: Nash wins again. Highly questionable to me. PPG leader was Kobe. Wins share leader was Dirk Nowitski. Nash led in Assist again. Detroit has best win record this season with 64. Suns won 54. http://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2006_standings.html 06-07: MVP was Dirk. Kobe led the league in PPG. Dirk lead in Wins share. The Mavs also led the league in Wins with 67. 07-08: Kobe won MVP. LeBron led in Ppg. CP3 led in Wins share. Celtics won a total of 66 games while the Lakers won 57. http://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2008_standings.html 08- 09: MVP was LeBron. He led in Wins share. Cavs also had most wins that season with 66. http://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2009_standings.html 09 -10: MVP was LeBron. WS leader again. Cleveland also finishes with best record. http://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2010_standings.html 10-11: Rose won Mvp. LeBron led in WS. Bulls had most wins with 62. 2011-2012: LeBron wins MVP. Lbj leads again in WS. Bulls and Spurs were tied for most wins with 50. Heat had 46. http://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2012_standings.html 2012 - 2013: LeBron wins MVP. Leads again in WS. Heat also have best record with 66. http://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2013_standings.html 2013- 2014: KD wins MVP. Kd leads in Ppg and WS. Spurs have best record with 62. Thunder won 59. http://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2014_standings.html 2014-2015: Harden leads in Ppg and Win Shares. http://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2015_standings.html
You guys are acting like Curry is Kawhi Leonard. Curry isn't averaging 16ppg, he's putting up very similar numbers to Harden on a team that is historically good. As much as I hate to say it, Curry will win MVP and he deserves to (not to say that Harden is undeserving).
And you would be correct: it is over, gift wrapped, and waiting under the tree for Stephen Curry. Last night he rose to the occasion. Tonight, Harden didn't. And that is indisputable.
Yeah. It is probably unfair because every star player has off nights and the overall season performance, not just a few games, should be in view. But going to the final stretch on the MVP race and having a bad game right after Curry had an amazing one the night before in front of the national audience is just not looking good.
Harden's campaign ended with a whimper. It turns out it's easy to handcuff if you're not afraid of the 14 other players on the squad.
http://www.nba.com/2015/news/featur...adelphia-76ers-qa-with-kyle-korver/index.html David Alridge supports points made in my OP. Also, is Curry the best player on the GSW? Thompson went off last night in that 2nd quarter. Curry wasn't even on the floor and the Warriors led by 20. Can the Rockets do that? Take Harden out the game and gain a lead of 20. Can the Thunder do that with Westbrook?
Yet when he played San Antonio his team got blown out by 15 points and he was a -17. Not much better than how Harden fared against the Spurs.