But those metrics and numbers are based off box scores so stat padding will affect those too. Westbrook's stat padding all season long is fairly unprecedented, even though he definitely ticks the "his team would be far worse without him" box.
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I don't see what's historic about statpadding. Curry's season last year was historic. This season is just Westbrook out for self. Westbrook has some really solid players around him and there is no excuse for the Thunder to not be a 52 win team or better. The Thunder are painful to watch this year and I hope Houston gives them the broom.
How much of that is on Donovan and Russ himself though? Everything is catered towards him in an unhealthy manner, so that he gets his numbers. Is it really a surprise that the team falls apart and doesn't know what to do when he's out. It's not like there's a system in place to fall back on once he sits like there is for Kawhi or even Haren.
It should be Kawhi. Winner in a winning team in a tough conference with no other all stars, and a supporting cast that while illustrious is past their prime, with Lamarcus having fallen off offensively from his prior seasons, and some rookies and younger players that are untested. His execution late in games won many games for the Spurs and he outplayed every other MVP candidate when they met. OKC did give trouble to the Spurs at the end of the season, Memphi embarrassed the team and in general, the team's malaise toward the end discredits Kawhis impressive season.