NBA: Official MVP Race

[Clipper Nation]

CP3 is doin' a bit of all, team is lost without him on the floor. On top of that, I think he is the only PG capable to prove Dok theory wrong thanks to his mid range game that is imo more reliable than TP's one.

His defense is also extremely impactful, unlike most point guards... considering the primary focus of the Clippers' defensive scheme is to play the passing lanes aggressively and force turnovers, CP3's unrivaled ability to get steals (4-time NBA steals leader, soon to be 5-time) is the linchpin of what is a top 5 defense in the league when healthy...

Offensively, he isn't pigeonholed into being JUST a pass-first PG like Ra'on "Assist " Rondo or a scorer like Westbrick.... he can assume either iden y at any time and be just as dominant....

It also helps that CP3 is arguably the best closer in the game.... despite his size, he almost always seems to get the perfect shot off in a clutch situation....

It won't be easy, but yes, CP3 is probably the only point guard in the league right now who could defy DoK's theory, tbh.....

[DMC]

You have to consider the entire season as the body of work.

You also have to consider how they did when faced with adversity, carrying the team while others were out and being successful at it.

TP has done that very well. He's stemmed runs by opponents and carried the Spurs to wins time and again, and they have the best record in the league right now.

You can argue based on your emotional attachments to this or that player (Stretch) or you can argue based on how the race has historically been decided. You're either arguing for who you think should win or who you think will win.

I think Lebron will win. I think someone else should win, but the season is still young.

[spurraider21]

Lebron unless voters are bored
/thread

[TDMVPDPOY]

lol if durant wins mvp....lookout for westbrick to ballhog in the playoffs and finals if they make that far and win it....i can see this clown actually costing the okc a ring with his me, myself and i mentality

lebron is just coasting atm even with those crazy efficient stats

[Grit and Grind]

well he is playing good D for most part of the year tbh

So is Melo

[Brazil]

So is Melo

I didn't say a word about Melo D. Nobody is acting like TP is a great Defender but people saying that he is a bad defender are not paying attention.. at all. So whats your point ? are you saying Melo >>> TP because of D ? I understand people saying Melo should be ahead of parker on mvp race, it's not my opinion but it is clearly arguable but saying Melo >>> parker like it is not even close is not accurate.

[DPG21920]

So is Melo

No

[Killakobe81]

Lebron

Durant



CP3/Carmello


That's about where it ends. Those are the only guys with any shot to actually win it. And CP3/Carmello has to finish the season #1 in their conference, and hope that Lebron and Durant either get hurt or screw up badly down the stretch to have any chance. Their chances are rather slim.

This. And Sure TP has been very good but I doubt he finshes higher than Melo ...
Oustside of a few clunkers (like the Honey-nut game) Melo has played very well ..

[Pelicans78]

So is Melo

No he's not.

[Killakobe81]

LeBron is a better defender than Durant, but Durant is actually underrated in that regard. He has become not only a competent defender, but actually a good and reliable one. He does have solid help from teammates on defense. But I'm betting that most people don't realize that statistically Durant is putting up just as good a defensive season as LeBron, and is a tick better based on advanced defensive metrics.

LeBron
6.9 DRPG
1.63 SPG
0.85 BPG
102 DRtg
2.6 DWS

Durant
6.9 DRPG
1.55 SPG
1.22 BPG
101 DRtg
3.2 DWS

Now steals and blocks don't necessarily equate to good defense, as we've seen in the past with guys like Marcus Camby and Allen Iverson. But that's why I also included the advanced metrics (from basketball-reference). Again, Durant is surrounded by some very good defensive teammates so that skews the numbers some. But it does give some insight on the fact that Durant is actually underrated defensively. No, he's not as good as LeBron defensively. That's not what I'm arguing. But he's better than what some people claim, and at least statistically, he's doing his part defensively for his team as well.

agree whole-heartedly. Durant has gotten better on defense ... but this year Lebron has alo gotten better on offense especially, the last 3 weeks. I Also dont think it is a stretch to say starting with last years huge game against Boston, through the Olympics and through this year's ASB Lebron has put up one of the most dominant stretches of elite basketball since at least 1980 .. I never saw bill or Wilt and Im not a huge stat guy ... but I saw MJ and sure MJ was a greater scorer ... but you can not tell me MJ played much better than James is right NOW. his defense though slightly overrated (MJ's too) is elite for this era especially as a help defender, his passing is almost as impressive as his drives and that fall back jumper has become increasingly reliable. I still think his post game is ugly but he is effective kind of like 2000 Shaq.

[Jodelo]

LeBron
















LeBron











CP3
Durant











Howard

[ffadicted]

How can you people say that Durant deserves it more than Paul?

His team is winning more, he's better, and he hasn't missed games with injury? lol How can ppl say paul over durant tbh It''s clearly a two man race

[Clipper Nation]

His team is winning more, he's better, and he hasn't missed games with injury?

I love how people keep bringing up CP3's injury as a detriment to his chances, as if he could somehow control in advance whether or not JJ Re bumped knees with him and opted for the injury... and again, the Clippers mostly played like without him, falling out of the top 5 in offensive and defensive efficiency and enduring some ugly losses to lottery teams... clearly that proves CP3 is extremely valuable to the Clippers' success....

Durant will have plenty of chances in the coming years to get MVP's, it should be CP3's time if LeBron doesn't get it....

[Josepatches_]

LeBron

[racm]

And LeBron is at the Jordan point in his career where he should be league MVP every season by a mile, but they'll give it to other people just because they don't want to give it to him constantly.

Durant is a distant second.
CP3 is an even more distant third.

This. I think the voters will take into account the following:

LeBron James' case for MVP:

1. Mindblowing stats
2. All-around play
3. Leading the best team in the East

Kevin Durant's case:

1. likely to join the 50/40/90 club
2. team has the second best record and has the best point differential
3. losing Harden to Houston means he gets the "I have less help" storyline

[scanry]

Lebron's stats are out of this world. On top of it, he's shooting almost 70%.

[TIMMYtoZO]

1. LeBron

The only reason he doens't win is because they're tried of giving it to him.

[JamStone]

I love how people keep bringing up CP3's injury as a detriment to his chances, as if he could somehow control in advance whether or not JJ Re bumped knees with him and opted for the injury... and again, the Clippers mostly played like without him, falling out of the top 5 in offensive and defensive efficiency and enduring some ugly losses to lottery teams... clearly that proves CP3 is extremely valuable to the Clippers' success....

Durant will have plenty of chances in the coming years to get MVP's, it should be CP3's time if LeBron doesn't get it....

It doesn't matter whether CP3 had control of his injury or not. For the record, imo if CP3 plays the rest of the season, I don't think his missed games will be a big enough reason to leave him out of contention. But even if he didn't have control of the injury and say he missed 40 games, he simply wouldn't be a legit candidate for MVP, whether he has control over his injury or not. I don't even understand why you made that comment about him having control of his injury. It doesn't matter.

The Clippers are 6-6 without CP3 this season, and I mentioned this before in another thread, but when CP3 got injured, the Clippers were also without Billups for every game CP3 missed. That compounded the Clippers problem when CP3 went down. And as for falling out of the top 5 in defensive efficiency, are you sure?

With CP3, Clippers allowed 93.7 PPG and .436 FG% by their opponents.

Without CP3, Clippers allowed 92.8 PPG and .431 FG% by their opponents.

Where did you get your defensive efficiency stats?

The MVP shouldn't be determined by whether another candidate will have plenty of chances in coming years to win MVPs. That's just bad logic. That's the reason Shaq only has 1 League MVP when he should have probably 3-4.

[noob cake]

We have the "Bill Russell Finals MVP", time to create LeBron James MVP Trophy

Because I don't see anyone winning it other than LeBron for the next 4-7 years.

[FlaSpursFan]

I would give it to Lebron with Durant as a close second.

Not to crazy to put Parker in their considering he he has the second highest field goal % of players averaging over 20ppg(Lebron is the only one higher) and is the best player on the best team in the league right now. Duncan actually has the 4th highest PER rating too FWIW. But really after Lebron and Durant no one is even close.

[StrengthAndHonor]

I hope the media stops playing with this award. Just give it to the best damn player. Enough politics and BS. I don't like Lebron much but this year he really has earned my adoration. He's so good the referees are literally forced to hold their whistle when Lebron drives to the basket. Reminds me of prime Shaq where every replay shows he's fouled but referees turns a blind eye.


As amazing as Durant is, he's simply not on Lebron's level and that idea "Player of the Team with the most wins" needs to be shredded for good.


Lebron is driving an Enzo Ferrari in this race right now, he's shifting from third gear to fourth gear with every turn while the rest of players in the league are riding their Skyline (Durant) Mustang (Melo) and Porsche 911 (CP3) trying to pull away in their 6th or 7th gear. Lebron doesn't need much anyway, but the moment he puts that foot in the pedal the rest of the league will be seeing dust.

[JamStone]

Don't disagree that LeBron is on another level than everybody else. But to be fair about the referee point, they also hold their whistles when LeBron fouls on defense. So maybe it evens out.

[Latarian Milton]

's gonna be a lock between bron and durant imho. CP3 misses too many games to challenge the top dogs, while TP isn't really that good to begin with