Houston just lost to the Timberwolves

[YGWHI]

Kawhi's shot at MVP is all but gone tbh. At this point Harden, Westchimp, Antetokounmpo, LeBron, and Butler are all ahead of him.

Kawhi never had a shot. The season had not even started and the media guys already said 'they shouldn't forget LeBron this time'...Until Harden/Russ explosion it was LeBron 'tha real MVP' after the Finals. Now it's a two-man battle with LeBron out of the equation.

But I doubt that Kawhi finished behind Butler or Giannis. Butler has been inconsistent and Giannis advanced stats are better than any other candidate but Kawhi's team record matters.

[YGWHI]

Kawhi being MVP is not good for business, MVP´s play heavy minutes to promote the show, they get the calls and the attention so unless Kiws starts playing over 40 minutes...

I wouldn't play Kawhi 40 mpg in the regular season.
But he should get those minutes in some especific games to get the win like last game against Bucks, Kawhi 4 minutes more on the court could have changed everything.
And I would definitely play him 40 mpg in playoffs to win a series. Sadly, Pop didn't think the same in the last two years.

[Mikeanaro]

I wouldn't play Kawhi 40 mpg in the regular season.
But he should get those minutes in some especific games to get the win like last game against Bucks, Kawhi 4 minutes more on the court could have changed everything.
And I would definitely play him 40 mpg in playoffs to win a series. Sadly, Pop didn't think the same in the last two years.

Maybe Pop wants Kawhi playing NBA until he is in his 60s

[BillMc]

Kawhi was second last year. If Spurs get the #1 seed one of these years, he's got an excellent chance.

Anotehr question is can he get another DPOY without Timmy behind him?

[YGWHI]

Kawhi was second last year. If Spurs get the #1 seed one of these years, he's got an excellent chance.

IDK...Besides Warriors, Cavs, I can see more superteams rivals on Kawhi's career with some superstar moving to Clips, OKC or Houston in next years. We'll see.

[Robz4000]

Kawhi was second last year. If Spurs get the #1 seed one of these years, he's got an excellent chance.

Anotehr question is can he get another DPOY without Timmy behind him?

The media is going balls to the walls for Raymond to get DPOY tbh. That award is all wrapped up.

[BillMc]

The media is going balls to the walls for Raymond to get DPOY tbh. That award is all wrapped up.

I agree. I meant long term.

[Robz4000]

I agree. I meant long term.

I see no reason he can't. Spurs are the #1 defensive team in the league stats-wise right now with Gasol and Parker playing heavy minutes. Once you replace them with Murray and a more mobile big the defense could reach godly levels like last year once again.

[NameLess Scrub]

Doesn't excuse last night's choke, but it ends up not hurting them in the standings now either. If Eric Gordon misses significant time the Clippers and Rockets may end up in a dogfight for seeding; bad news for the Spurs if the Clippers land in their bracket.

Clippers will land in the Spurs bracket. That's how they get out this year.
OKC just had their turn again, it's Clippers turn.

Eh, if Lebron decides he wants it he can go for it anytime. We've seen him put up historic numbers like Avante puts up paragraphs of nonsense.

Let him want it. He might turn into LeCramp by May/June.

[Old School 44]

Kawhi was second last year. If Spurs get the #1 seed one of these years, he's got an excellent chance.

Anotehr question is can he get another DPOY without Timmy behind him?

The media is going balls to the walls for Raymond to get DPOY tbh. That award is all wrapped up.

Just ask LeBron who should be DPOY.

[DAF86]

Kawhi's shot at MVP is all but gone tbh. At this point Harden, Westchimp, Antetokounmpo, LeBron, and Butler are all ahead of him.

I'm sick and tired of the Antetokounmpo hype train, his team is ing mediocre in the ing east and they just beat the Spurs without him. He shouldn't even be on the MVP discussion. Same as Butler. Westbrook won't win it as the 7th seed and shooting 40% and Lebron's nbumbers aren't as beastly as they normally are and the Cavs are kind of underperforming this season.

Kawhi is right up there in the MVP race, tbh.

[Fireball]

if Houston is overtaking the Spurs in the standings or even if they stay 2-4 wins behind them, Harden will get much more votes than Kawhi

[TheDoctor]

I'm sick and tired of the Antetokounmpo hype train, his team is ing mediocre in the ing east and they just beat the Spurs without him. He shouldn't even be on the MVP discussion. Same as Butler. Westbrook won't win it as the 7th seed and shooting 40% and Lebron's nbumbers aren't as beastly as they normally are and the Cavs are kind of underperforming this season.

Kawhi is right up there in the MVP race, tbh.

Only chance for Kawhi at winning the MVP is if the Spurs end up w/ the best record overall.

[r0drig0lac]

Kawhi was second last year. If Spurs get the #1 seed one of these years, he's got an excellent chance.

Anotehr question is can he get another DPOY without Timmy behind him?

this season? Gobert or Dray

[Cry Havoc]

if Houston is overtaking the Spurs in the standings or even if they stay 2-4 wins behind them, Harden will get much more votes than Kawhi

I don't like Harden's game and I used to hate him, but he has definitely improved in every way as a player -- more than I ever thought he would. At this point, he's more effective than Westbrook on a anically lower usage rate (34% vs 42% ). He has a tendency to overdribble but doesn't take the braindead shots that Westbrook does, so IMO he's having a much better season.

I'd even probably give him the nod at this point over Kawhi. Houston has improved so much with JH at the point. Doubtful they'll go past the WCSF but that's still a huge difference from last season.

That said, I think Kawhi is going to have a monster post-season and put any doubters to shame. He may not win MVP, but I think he's a really good bet for FMVP.

[itzsoweezee]

Houston had a tough back-to-back. Had to travel from Houston last night to polar weather Minnesota today. Losing on the road to Minnesota on the back end of a back-to-back does not equal losing to the Bucks at home, while having a double digit lead, without Giannis.

Even with the loss, Houston only half a game back of the Spurs. Spurs are now 2.5 back on the Warriors. No chance the Spurs get #1.... Gonna be a real dog fight to get #2.

Houston is 2 games back in the loss column and SA has the tie breaker. Calm down chicken little.

[Cry Havoc]

Houston is 2 games back in the loss column and SA has the tie breaker. Calm down chicken little.

He's the guy who thinks we're going to lose a game when our lead drops from 26 to 18.

[DAF86]

Only chance for Kawhi at winning the MVP is if the Spurs ends w/ the best record overall.

Spurs don't need to finish 1st for Kawhi to have a chance. If they finish 2nd with 60 something wins, he has a very solid chance. Westbrook won't even get to 50, to me he is out of the picture. The only real threat is Harden, if the Rockets finish top 3 in the West, there's no chance he doesn't get it. If they, however, finish 4th or 5th with just around 50 wins, then Kawhi's chances increase dramatically.

[TimDunkem]

He's the guy who thinks we're going to lose a game when our lead drops from 26 to 18.

You can say that about half of the people who post here, tbh. Including OP.

[TheGreatYacht]

Only think Kawhi will get this year will be All NBA Third team, if he's lucky.

Lebron, Durant, Antetokounmpo, Davis, and Butler are all ahead of him

[Amuseddaysleeper]

You can say that about half of the people who post here, tbh. Including OP.

I'd be okay if the lead went from 26 to 18...but once it hits 17 or less I'm starting the offseason thread, tbh.

[Cry Havoc]

You can say that about half of the people who post here, tbh. Including OP.

Yes, at times. But I'm willing to bet that 98% of game threads contain at least one Bieber meltdown. He has 0 faith in this team, even in 14 when we won it all.

[100%duncan]

Kawhi's shot at MVP is all but gone tbh. At this point Harden, Westchimp, Antetokounmpo, LeBron, and Butler are all ahead of him.

Lol no greek and butler are not over him by having records in the east and worse/same numbers advanced or raw with kawhi

[Robz4000]

Lol no greek and butler are not over him by having records in the east and worse/same numbers advanced or raw with kawhi

Remember, it's a media award; PPG and other box score stats mean more to them than anything.

[100%duncan]

Remember, it's a media award; PPG and other box score stats mean more to them than anything.

Bruh stop fooling yourself, it has never been awarded to lower than 3rd seed teams iirc and in the ty east I dont have every number right now but I bet Kawhi is better or on par with them on anything.

TheGreatYacht willing to bet a hundred bucks Kawhi gets 2nd team all nba?