NBA GameTime crew reacts to James Harden has 50-point triple-double, Rockets beat Kings 119-108

On top of Budenholzer using his pieces better, bucks also have a new center this year that can stretch the floor super far in Lopez. Can’t forget about that when looking at Giannis’ efficiency increase. Giannis no longer has to battle with centers packing the paint.

Then there is general health. Bucks have been fortunate this year and quite healthy relative to others.

 

What I’m saying is that defense should matter in an MVP race. Are you seriously defending the poster who said MVP is only about offense, and DPOY is for defense?

I’m totally fine with an argument that the separation between Giannis and Harden on defense is overblown by the media. I think there is something to be idea that there is more “value” separation for elite offensive players and average offensive players versus elite defensive players and average defensive players in the modern NBA. That’s the argument I would make to counter people who try to shut down Harden’s case for MVP based on defense. Not that defense just doesn’t matter.

 

And I really don't think Lebron had that kind of fatigue for any of his awards. He didn't win MVP in 2011 not because of this fatigue thing, but because he teamed up with other super stars and underperformed. He always get his play of the week or player of the month award when he deserves it, whereas in the case of Harden, as long as there is a slightly worse candidate, Harden wont' get it. Lebron is the most beloved nba player in the history by the media. In fact I think he didn't deserve to get as many MVP votes as he did several times(last year for example), but because the media loves him, he get more votes.

 

I am fine with defense being a factor for MVP along with a number of other things.

What I am not fine with is how they change those factors, or how each much weighs, depending on the year, team, or which candidates it is.

Maybe they need some sort of standardized grading criteria. Because as it stands, bias dictates which factors which voter gets to pick and how much weight they get to assign to them.

 

Is the vote before or after the playoffs?

 

Man, you 100% nailed it. The *Harden fatigue* was permeating in the media before he got MVP. In the span of the last FIVE HEARS Harden will have been 1 or 2 in MVP in 4 of the last 5 seasons. He won 1. We'll see this year, but looks unlikely.

People are tired of the *Harden story* and want to push someone NEW. Yet, here Harden is pushing this *historic* season down the voters throats.

 

Nobody said boo about defense when Curry and Nash won their awards.

(Except that twit Ethan Sherwood Strauss who shoe horned a *Curry is great at defense* COVER STORY on ESPN the Magazine, well timed at the end of March to sway voters in Curry's fist MVP season over Harden).

 

That Pippen comment....."plays the right way." Someone needs to point blank make him explain it. Just so his exact bias is on record. (Don't expect Rachel Nichols to do this)

Pippen likes Giannis because he plays the right way. So Harden does not play the right way? What is not right about how he is playing?

With a lot of these old school vets commenting on current NBA players, what we see is the vets only LIKE players that play SIMILAR to them.

Shaq like Giannis (bully ball)
Pippen lies Giannis (wing defender)
Tim Legler likes Curry (shooter)

Guys, you can like other styles of play, it is ok!

 

Undeniable. And since the voter names are public we can cross reference the lists and take receipts.

 

harden needs to finish the season strong, say averaging 40-50 pts in his last 5-10 games and MVP will be awarded to him regardless of the hate

 

Before the playoffs, but announcement isn't until after the Finals.

No Dream-Robinson situation possible, but James can pretend so in the Finals.

 

You can want defense to matter to the MVP.

But to voters .. defense doesn’t matter.... unless they want it to.

One of the dudes on NBA radio (Greenberg) voted AD second for DPOY award last year but had him 4th for MVP behind Lillard. Despite AD having better stats in almost every major and advanced statistical category and obviously, per the guys own voting, being really really good at defense.

There’s no rhyme or reason to MVP voters. They just go with their gut and feel. Most of them look like idiots if you just compare their voting record across categories and year.

 

The key to doing hot takes or voting for MVP is not have consistency. To be consistent, you have to do research and be educated. You also have to establish criteria. The average idiot on TV does none of that.
Just take Steven A and look at all the things he has said over this past year. None of it matches up from day to day.