Ah ... what a crappy analysis! As the old saying goes, it doesn't matter if you win by 1 point or by 20 ... a win is a win! Thus, the key relevant stat is how the team does when the key player is NOT on the floor. (the red dots) GSW have a net 0.0 point differential without Curry in this analysis. In other words, they play just as well as most other teams. The Rockets get outscored without Harden. Thus, they are a losing team without him. If your mere presence makes the difference between winning and losing, then you are the MVP.
I'm at the point where the Warriors getting knocked out of the playoffs is my primary concern outside of the Rockets. The media obsession is utterly insufferable at this point.
Great post by Haberstroh. Th best statistic to use for MVP is entirely contingent on how many points Festus Ezeli and Justin Holiday give up to Kosta Koufos and Jon Leuer in deep garbage time. #advancedstats #worldwideleader #analytics
You make a good point. And Haberstroh should have the resources to at least provide an adjusted On/Off stat that discards garbage time play.
Players and media members who understand "analytics" have been touting Harden for some time now. The problem is the players have no say in the award, and the media members who actually try and demonstrate some kind of intelligence are drowned out by the mouth-breathing buffoons that dominate the airwaves. No doubt Haberstroh's article is going to fly straight over all the talking heads.
Does Chris Broussard have a vote? <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Most Valuable Player - 1 Harden, Hou; 2 Steph, GSt; 3 LeBron, Cle; 4 Westbrook, OKC; 5 Anthony Davis, NO</p>— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) <a href="https://twitter.com/Chris_Broussard/status/588417557964664832">April 15, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Given the criteria for the award, Harden is the clear-cut 2015 MVP for sure even if he doesn't get the media's vote. He's done more with less all season long, but the sad thing is people might still vote for Steph anyways as he's the best player on the best team. My concern grows and I worry about Beard's chances especially after that transparent GSW 77 straight practice 3s propaganda piece
Brian Windhorst was on Tony Kornheiser's radio show this morning and said he just turned in his ballot on which he had James Harden as the MVP - he cited the Rockets' many, many injuries and the way Harden draws fouls ("an art" as he described it). However, he did say he expects Curry to win it.
I know our board is better than every teams. But if us defending our guy is bothering you, just leave bro. Its so simple.
I know a lot of us feel like Steph is going to win, but I hope you guys realize that this race is closer than it seems. Rockets fans are naturally pessimistic. I felt the race was over in like the beginning of March and Curry already won but here we are in the last day of the season with people still debating whether it's Curry or our guy. Either way, I'm proud of my guy. I feel no disappointment about the way he has helped carry this team this season.
By that measure, CP3 has had the biggest impact. Simple On/Off stats are just as useless as any other random single stat taken out of context. When people say Harden/Westbrook are carrying their teams, it's because they are. The # of double digit scorers the Rockets have - 8, a point the author of the article notes, saying the Rockets have the most - is just another random stat the dude brings up that says nothing on its own. For example, he completely ignores that only 3 of those guys have played more than 56 games (and one of those 3, DMo, is now injured), or the fact that Harden is effectively responsible for a lot of those guys being double digit scorers, or the fact that we're talking about mostly 10-12 ppg scorers. That's the problem with stats, and especially stats without context. The good news is that you can STILL watch the games. In fact, you should be able to watch the games better now then you ever had, as a media member with a vote. Watching the games, you can see that Harden, CP3, Lebron have clearly "carried" their team more than Curry. That's not deniable. That doesn't mean Curry doesn't deserve the MVP... it's just the eyes telling you what's true. For what it's worth, if you switch Curry and Harden I think both teams are still VERY VERY good... so in that sense, who cares. Personally, I think: Best player = Lebron Most exciting player = Curry MVP = Harden Serious consideration = CP3 Will win with a 77+ game played season = Anthony Davis But given as no one really knows what MVP "means", if any of Curry, Harden or CP3 win I don't think you could argue.
