Kings: the real mvp so far

[DMC]

The Cavs were not the favorite before that trade. Their record was 19-17 at the time because they were terrible on defense. Since the trade they have gone 18-7 because of the addition of a rim protector, along with Shumpert and Smith.

Cause vs correlation. It takes time for a new team to gel. Last year the Cavs finished 15th in points allowed. This year they are at 12th. However they were 22nd in points scored, this year they are at 9th. That's a much bigger swing than points allowed. Know who was in 12th last year? Miami.

So far, Mozgov has lived up to expectations. He's averaging a career-high 1.6 blocks per game with the Cavs, and while their defensive efficiency ranking has only climbed to a still below-average 21st, it has improved from 105.5 points allowed/100 possessions before the trade to 104.3 points/100 possessions since. With Mozgov on the floor, the Cavs are 3.4 points/100 possessions better defensively than when he's sitting, and three of the four most frequently used lineups featuring Mozgov have a defensive rating of under 103, including the current starting lineup, which has an excellent 94.5 defensive rating. Mozgov's impact on the team's defensive performance is obvious, given the overall team defensive stats. But what is he doing, specifically, to cause this improvement? Is he actually protecting the rim in the way many expected him to?

To further put Mozgov's defensive impact in context, consider the drop-off when it comes to the Cavs' other bigs defending shots at the rim. Mozgov's 45.6 percent is a significant improvement over Thompson's 50.8 percent allowed on 6.9 shots per game, and his numbers put Love's (53.4 percent, 7.3 FGAs) and Varejao's (54.4 percent, 7 FGAs) to shame* Mozgov isn't just effective as a rim protector; he's vital if the Cavs don't want to be a sieve at the rim.


http://www.fearthesword.com/2015/2/1...m-is-protected

Still doesn't outweigh the offensive production Lebron brings, and Lebron is at least as good a defender as Mozgov, just not a shot blocker as much at the rim. Shot blocking is overrated and the league today is more of a jumpshooting league than attacking the rim league. Not saying Mozgov isn't a difference, but so is Tiago. I wouldn't call him the catalyst though. Tim Duncan won MVP when he had David Robinson protecting the rim.

[DMC]

In fact, the rest of that article goes on to say that Mozgov has plenty of defensive deficiencies...

"Mozgov does have some areas where he isn't great defensively. He's not a good defender in space, as he's in the 40th percentile against isolations. And don't ask him to close out on shooters; somehow he's allowing 1.34 PPP on 38 spot-up possessions for the Cavs, good for the 2nd percentile in the league. That's........bad. And most importantly, while his foul rate has been better as a Cav than it has at any other point in his career, he's still averaging four fouls per 36 minutes, which is a little high. As we've seen, particularly in Thursday's game vs. the Chicago Bulls, when Mozgov gets in foul trouble, it handcuffs the Cavs' defense, and they have a tough time managing without him available. That's always part of the risk you take playing a good rim protector, but if Mozgov can't stay on the floor in the playoffs, the Cavs might be screwed, especially if they come up against a team like the Raptors or Bulls, who love to attack the rim."

[SpurSwag]

In my opinion, the MVP is Harden. However, if the award was given out today, I'm pretty sure Curry would get it

[Malik Hairston]

Harden is MVP, clearly, but Curry is going to win, tbh..a few reasons:

1- Warriors are heavy public favorites to win the West, while the Rockets are virtually guaranteed to be eliminated in round 1..as we saw when Nowitzki won MVP and the Mavs were outed in round 1, it's a bittersweet, somber mood in the room, which kills the entire celebration and ceremony IMO..Harden himself probably wouldn't care(unlike Dirk) since he seems driven by individual accolades, but still..the league would rather award the most coveted regular season award to a player that has a good chance of playing in June..

2- Harden is arguably the most unlikable player in the NBA, his image doesn't translate well to the average White fan(beard, cooking crack celebration, strip clubs, etc) and his style of play is unwatchable, while Curry is light-skinned, looks like a 12-year old boy, and plays in the Asian/Gay district of America..he's also arguably the most entertaining player in the league, too..

[~O~]

Between Harden and Curry with Westbrook coming behind. Anthony Davis and LeBron are still there however but I don't think either will win.

[Malik Hairston]

Anthony Davis is out of the conversation with all those missed games + the Pelicans ty roster winning games without him lately, tbh..