James Harden is gonna get screwed over again in MVP Voting

I will give it to Russell Westbrook at this point of season

 

if they are away games, i wouldn't back them in, they have a losing record on the road

 

Russell Westbrook is earning the MVP, nothing against James, the dude is averaging a triple double and their are winning. Big ups to both James and Russell. OKC had a championship team and blew it.

 

And you are telling me Harden has better support.

 

I am telling you if Harden doesn't win MVP this season, it could affect him mentally and that's worrying as a Rockets fan. We know he really wants this award and has been hearing it everywhere he goes. All the talk about Harden as MVP favorite, direct questions to him regarding this. Deep down, I think Harden believes he has it wrapped.

Harden was obviously hurt when Curry won the MVP in the 2014/2015 season. Ended up focusing on his brand, getting fat, chilling with Khloe that off season.

To come really close twice and not win it could have negative effects going into next season.

 

OKC is about where they were predicted. Confirmed everybody's belief that Westbrook has "no help", and that every single win is a triumphant feat for Westbrook. Harden, however, has had the Rockets overachieving from the start. People have entirely forgotten that they barely gave the Rockets a chance to even make it past the 8th seed, and because Harden has them overachieving at such a high level, those preconceived notions from the preseason were never confirmed.

This is all silly and irrelevant, though, given the fact that Curry was handed the award with lesser stats and one of the great supporting casts ever, simply because he won 60+ games. That is now the standard for Harden, except he has to do it without a 2nd star, much less a 3rd. He also apparently has to average a triple double while doing so.

 

If Harden is going to be negatively affected by losing the MVP instead of take that as a motivation to get better it means he's weak. In fact, i'm more scared about him winning the MVP cause i fear he would just live up to that without trying to improve as a player/leader.

 

That's not the standard. The MVP narrative changes every year. Since he writers have been voting, the only consistent things are great stats, lot of team wins and compelling story. A lower seed hasn't gotten it done in a while, but no one from a lower seed was avg a trip dub.

 

The Durant injury takes away some of the push that the elitists (Beck, Lowe, etc.) were starting to work towards.

 

Well...I guess, but should the criteria not be the exact opposite of what it was in previous years. Like literally the exact opposite?

Hell...Harden couldn't even get 3rd team All NBA for 29/8/7 or whatever it was for the 8th seed, but Westbrook's gonna win the MVP for 30/10/10 on the 7th seed? Harden's gotta win 60-65 games this year to overcome 2 more points and rebounds a game? And yes, I understand the context surrounding those two seasons, but the point remains.

And maybe Harden just completely tanks the rest of the season and this isn't even a discussion in a month, but as of now, I'd say at least some level of consistency for the criteria should be in place, or else they should just rename the award "Best Storyline"

 

Stephen A. backing off Harden.

If there is a co-MVP, I won't have a problem. Thunder without Westbrook, it's night & day when they are with him. What I see in Westbrook is a dude 3-4 inches taller, 30 lbs heavier that actually is more of a ruthless competitor than AI. Can't believe what I'm watching. I can't say enough about him. I think it's co-MVP right now.

 

How is it the exact opposite? You have to acknowledge that part of the reason Curry won in 2015 was that the Warriors were by far the best team in the regular season. They won 67 games that year, and the next closest team was Atlanta with 60 wins. That's a huge differential.

 

The comeback win vs Utah last night definitely helped Westbrook's case. And the pathetic showing by the Rockets on national TV vs the Pacers hurt Harden's case. It's been neck-and-neck all season, and we're at the point now where every game is gonna impact the race. So Harden can't afford anymore stinkers like the other night if he wants to win this. Tonight is another nationally televised game. Harden having a great night and leading his team to a win on the road against the Clippers sure would help.

 

It's hard NOT to have that opinion. Harden has played poorly AND passively for a stretch now and the Rockets haven't been winning at the same clip they started off at. Their coach just called out the team's fight.

The season isn't over, but if it ended today I don't see any chance Harden would actually win the MVP. Harden has 20 games or so to get back to being an elite basketball player and carry the Rockets to a .700+ winning pct down the stretch. Barring that, he made a good run at the anointed MVP when the season started, but he coughed it up in the end.

 

Bovada odds now have them tied.

 

Harden could make up ground tonight with an awesome performance, but James, please don't obsess about the individual accolade. Strive for greatness, strive for championships.

 

Warriors also had a much better record than Houston (11 games better) and repeatedly embarrassed the Rockets H2H. Thunder are only 6.5 GB.

When people talk Westbrook's tri-dub average, they forget to mention something else................ he's #1 in scoring too !! Oscar didn't do that.

If Harden wins MVP, great... but he's not getting snubbed.

 

National narrative shifting and with good reason. Yes, Harden is getting screwed; by himself.

 

Harden was probably snubbed ALL-NBA-wise, but the difference between the Rockets' 8th seed and OKC's 7th is a massive, 10 games.

Thunder are 10 games above .500... Rockets were .500.

 

Very fair, no doubt, but you get my point.