After that 57 point explosion, I wouldn't be surprised if that stays fresh in everyone's mind and he wins it.
Expect another 50 plus 15 and 15 from harden to return serve. Harden has two of those this season in a much more efficient manner
I voted Westbrook, but it's still a tossup. The Rockets have been winning a lot of games lately and maintaining a pretty sizable lead over the Thunder in the standings. Plus Harden's been putting up incredible numbers himself even with a bum wrist on his shooting hand. It'll depend on how the two teams close down the stretch. Remember, for all of Westbrook's heroics, OKC is still in 6th place. If they inch past the Clippers, I can see him getting the MVP. But if they don't, are voters really gonna hand that award to a guy on a team that far down in the standings? Especially vs someone with comparable numbers on a team that could wind up with the 3rd best record in the league?
The Beard is the MVP...he'll take it with the voters too. It's obvious he's been playing hurt, to the point of ridiculous last game. Even in that game, with a broken wing, adjustments were made... he positioned the Rockets well, did other things out there...in spite of our brick house from downtown...all those possessions. James would have normally closed that game out. And, he was ripped off two years ago. There is a political /make up mentality at work here that hasn't been discussed in this thread. Finally..he has the most wins in an age of superteams/superfriends. BUT, with a healthy Beard, we not only have more wins, but are ONE of those ELITE SUPERTEAMS with naught a star besides the Man. The Beard will win the damn MVP. That's not what I'm worried about. I want him healthy so we can win it all.
Westbrick wins - Voters are idiots, Media conspiracy, NBA is rigged Harden wins - Voters got it right, F the media and Trump, NBA is awesome Screw all this ****. Just give the MVP to Jerry Lin and call it a day.
yeah, but who do folks want to face in the first round? think I'll start a new thread on THAT question.
I really want harden but I think that itd be hilarious if lebron won. It wont happen but thatd be a real WTF moment
Hell, the Westbrook stat line even scrolled along the bottom of the regular news channels today. The truth is, Westbrook has obviously set his sights on winning MVP this year. Blatant and obvious, but there you go. I won't say Harden hasn't kept an eye on his own stats and the chance to win MVP, but I think you see the difference in the All Star game, which Westbrook seemed hell-bent on winning MVP as well (until someone must have reminded him they were trying to get hometown boy to win) while Harden lollygagged through it (let's have fun). After yesterday's Westbrook game, Harden will probably have to do something spectacular between now and the end of the season. I don't know if playing with a hurt wrist is going to allow that, but we'll see. (Can you tell I'm steeling myself for another 2nd place finish?)
If the Thunder fall short of 50 wins and finish 6th, it's gonna be Harden. If they finish 5th or (god forbid) 4th, with 50+ wins, it's most likely going to be Russell. I think it's that simple... voters are going to be very reluctant to give the award to someone who's almost certainly done in the first round. At this point, Harden still deserves it (and I think he would win it, if barely, if the season ended today). I know the media hates him, but I think they also believe that they owe him (and they do).
I want Harden to win and think he is deserving, but I believe Westbrook is going to get it -- he certainly has the momentum right now. All this could change of course with the MVP award happening after the season though.
Harden wins MVP because triple-doubles are nice numbers, but MVP should not be tilted toward that stats. As amazing as Westbrook's numbers, Thunder win total is less than last year. Tds are numbers that are easily done than in the past because too many teams are playing small ball. We may never see players like Dennis Rodman, or Ben Wallace where they just rebound. Now, they are hybrid players where they position themselves to get rebounds, pass, or score. If Rockets win 58+, Harden's MVP should be sealed, delivered to Toy Center in the playoffs. Rockets has never won more than 58 games, the last time..... we were celebrating on Richmond Ave. Hopefully, we will be celebrating on Washington Ave.
I mean I want to PUKE voting Westbrook here but the media hates Houston. That narrative has not changed. When is the last time the mvp went to a non-contender? OKC is a non-contender. I hope the media realizes this but it is what it is.
