It doesn't have to be. The purpose for me was just to understand what most fans value more as an outcome of this season: progressing further into the playoffs (even if we don't get a championship), or an MVP being awarded to James Harden. There seems to be a lot of focus on the MVP race and a growing sentiment that it is a major slap in the face if Harden doesn't get the award. Recognition for our players is great, and the fact he won an MVP will be remembered I think for a long time. But personally, I think such awards are hollow if it isn't also accompanied by playoff success in the end. Conversely, if Harden doesn't win an MVP but we do advance in the playoffs, as a fan I think I would still be quite satisfied. Maybe the story would be different if we had experienced playoff success in recent history.
What really matters is what we control by playing the games on the court, so easily (if given just 1 choice), it's playoff success over the MVP. Durant was right when he called out the media. The media should have no business whatsoever in deciding league awards or Hall of Fame inductions, due to their overwhelming biases toward teams and select players. Hypothetical Situation: Let's say our current roster was playing for NKY, or LAL (and same injury situations we had to deal with this season all applied). If Harden was having this exact same type of season and same situations with injuries and we still had the same record, would this even be a debate between him and Curry????? I think not...but because we are the "heels" of the league and Curry is their new "golden boy", the idiots that are the media think "best player on team with best record" (which to me, is highly debatable with how good Thompson has been for them this season) represents what "Most Valuable means. That is a complete contradiction and cop-out of what the "Most Valuable" Award stands for. Rant Over!
Would love for the Curry fans to get their fill...Then I would love for a chance at a Western Conference matchup with the Warriors...and they give the MVP award right before the series...Almost poetic!!! see David Robinson and Hakeem Olajuwon...
I think its a given most everyone would prefer a deep playoff run over any individual awards the Rockets players may receive. No one of course know how the playoffs will play out - nothing is set in stone. Last season most people believed we would be able to beat Portland and reality is that we should have, but did not. The team has matured a lot since last season and it shows. I honestly think this year's team would have swept last years Blazers. But all that being said we do know what has happened in the regular season and Harden's season this year is nothing short of amazing considering everything he has done and how he has carried this team. Curry has had a great season and is shooting the ball at an all time impressive rate - but there really hasn't been anything Curry has done to make me feel he is the primary reason the Warriors went from low 50s to mid 60s. To me its really the growth of Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. Of course having Curry has helped their growth but those two players are super talented to begin with. Its not like it was a case of Capela or Troy Daniels become a good rotational player all of a sudden. Though I havent watched too many GS games this years the games I have watched this season I can't recall anything that Curry has done that has made me feel he is the guy driving the team. The crazy dribbling against the clippers is to me one of the greatest plays I have seen this year - both the 3 and the breaking of Chris Paul's ankles. Klay's 37 point quarter to me was the next super impressive thing. Having all that said I just feel its a huge slap in the face for Harden not to win the award considering that Curry was simply like the right guy who was in the right place and right time and right circumstances (no injuries to him or teammates) - warriors haven't had to face any real adversity all season long. Harden on the other hand it was one thing after the other and he still persevered through it all.
