OKC is good. Even though OKC were losing games without (WB & KD) they were able to hang with teams, just never got over the hump to get the win. Now with WB and Durant(if both healthy) they will be a 1st round match up nightmare for any team in the west.
AD = Beast Beast no produce enough wins Beast shouldn't be MVP candidate I tried to simplify it for you since you don't seem to understand what I'm trying to say. Pelicans will settle into that 9-10 seed like they always do. If next year AD is putting up his numbers and they are winning then I wouldn't object to him being in the MVP race.
They could easily finish the season with 60 wins if they stay healthy with their ability to run off 10-12 game win streaks. Westbrook is unstoppable / regular season defenses can't touch him. For perspective - OKC won 59 games last year. 59 games is a top 4 guarantee this year.
Sorry to break the news, being an a beast individually can make you an MVP candidate. Happens all the time. Doesn't win it, but you can be a candidate. And a high one too if you're individually great. Orlando's McGrady. Laker's Kobe. Heat's Wade. Those are some examples of guys who put up historically great regular seasons with mediocre team results but still ended up top 3 in the MVP voting. So no, AD is an MVP candidate. And a top 5 candidate this year purely off of his individual greatness. Trust me, he'll top 5 at the end of the year on the ballots. We can make a bet if you want. I can't understand what you're trying to say b/c what you're saying is completely wrong. History has proven individual greatness will earn you MVP votes. I never said he would win it. But AD is a deserving MVP candidate. Again, he's by far the best player this season.
Unless you're the Spurs, whoever face them in the first round will be really pissed to have a great reg. season and get bounced in the first round. If I was smart, I would avoid them. Westbrook appears to be playing at a career pace (historic in fact). Durant is slowly getting into his groove. Their injuries have allowed the growth of some of their role players, which would only make them better down the line.
In my haste to simplify the argument, I've inadvertently made it more complicated. I initially said that AD is OVERRATED as an MVP candidate. He has been mentioned before players like Harden, Lowry and Wall. You take those players, drop them from their respective team, that team is a bottom feeding team. Take AD off his team, a bottom feeding team is still a bottom feeding team. Of course AD will get votes even Kevin Love got votes. You got really defensive because I sad AD is overrated as an MVP candidate. He is overrated. History has shown that the NBA is a massive popularity contest. There have been players that have received awards and spots on all-nba teams because thirst levels were at peak levels at voting time. Lebron getting ROY, Kobe getting all-defensive team. Right now AD is riding high on his popularity from people enamored by his freakish athleticism and skill.
You still don't get it. Get league pass and watch with glasses on. And to insinuate prime McGrady/Wade/Kobe got top 3 MVP votes for their historic regular seasons despite poor team records b/c of their popularity is another ignorant comment. Ridiculous. And FYI since you lack a lot of info, Kevin Love was 11th in MVP voting last year. So no, just putting up numbers on a bad team don't get you MVP votes. Putting up HISTORIC numbers on a contending playoff team (in this case AD, as was prime McGrady/Kobe/Wade were) will, which is what AD is doing. His team is not a bottom feeding team. Do you know what a bottom feeding team is in the first place? As of tonight, they are 9th in the West (tied with Phoenix basically for 8th if you will). So they are a playoff contender. So he deserves his MVP hype. Plus, if you can't admit that AD has been the league's best player by a WIDE margin (outside of Westbrook), then I don't know what to say. Sometimes talking to a brick wall is tough.
I agree. But you said?!?! Blah. Unhh unhh I meant candidate but won't win. Yeah but I still love you. Suck on my toes please, make it better. Wanhhhh!!!!
https://twitter.com/raptorshq/status/544334084441645056 Melo stopper! <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Casey post game: said sticking with Patterson on 'Melo was based on the flow of the game. Credited 2Pat's attention to detail on D.</p>— Raptors HQ (@RaptorsHQ) <a href="https://twitter.com/RaptorsHQ/status/544334084441645056">December 15, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Jesus the Warriors have had good luck with opponents injuries. Thunder without RW and KD, Rockets twice without Howard, Pelicans without Davis, Heat without Wade, even the Mavs without Parsons.
