Does Harden winning (or not winning) NBA MVP change things?

After being one of the avid whiners for Harden's MVP candidacy, I can truly say, I don't care.

 

1) It's already confirmed he ain't winning
2) This performance does not matter regarding MVP
3) It's up to you whether you let last night re-write the season

 

He's not winning it. Westbrook has the votes. And it's probably for the best. Harden would be laughed off the stage at the awards show if he got the MVP after last night's performance.

Where this really cost him is any future MVP race. He will never get that trophy until he leads a team to the NBA Finals. He could pull a Westbrook next season or the Rockets could win 60+ games, and it still won't matter. No member of the media will risk being embarrassed by another Harden no show in the postseason by voting him MVP.

 

Me no care.

 

doubtful, the media won't care and they love a redemption storyline. All Harden has to do is put up great numbers have a lot of team success and have dozens of puff pieces and interviews in which he talks about how he has moved forward. Now harden has to be the clear frontrunner for the MVP, if it is a close race then Harden's past will definitely haunt him.

 

Not happening. If you were a member of the media with a vote next year and Harden puts up similar numbers and the Rockets win a similar amount of games, why would you vote him as MVP? First of all, the Rockets will no longer surprise anyone if they win 55+ next year. This year, they had lower expectations coming off of 41 wins in 2015-16. So there goes that advantage. Second, Harden is notorious for shrinking in the postseason. Last night wasn't an isolated incident(although it was arguably the low point of his career). Why vote someone as MVP when a few weeks later, he may quit on his team again when the going gets tough in the playoffs.

Mark my words. Unless the Rockets win 62+ games next season and dominate the league, Harden won't even finish in the Top 4.