Race to the MVP pt. III

[Doctor MJ]

Is Melo still top 5?

I'd take KD/LeBron/CP3/Harden/Duncan/Kobe over him.

To me Harden is the story of the entire season, but I don't know if I'm ready to put him above Melo.

Duncan's hard. The thing is at this point I feel like the Spurs will win no matter what, which is why they can play Duncan so little. I don't enjoy knocking Duncan because he's amazing (we're so privileged to just keep watching Duncan & Garnett play), but realistically if I'm taking Duncan far more seriously as an MVP candidate this year than Parker last year I have to question if it's just because of history.

[MisterWestside]

Is Melo still top 5?

I'd take KD/LeBron/CP3/Harden/Duncan/Kobe over him.

As someone who's not fooled by the Melo hype (he's getting MVP props only because of team record, not because he's actually a "different player"), I would still put Melo over Harden. He's still playing a better season.

Although you would think that shooting jumpers at a .52 efg% clip (a truly ridiculous hot shooting streak for Melo) HAS to go down...

[OneWhoKnocks]

All you people saying Heat are a bad defensive team this year need to look at the overall picture. The Heat are pretty much coasting, look at what happens when they "flip the switch". They are pretty much demolishing Golden State at home tonight (yeah I know Steph Curry was out, but still) and they're very likely going to demolish the Lakers tomorrow.

[Doctor MJ]

All you people saying Heat are a bad defensive team this year need to look at the overall picture. The Heat are pretty much coasting, look at what happens when they "flip the switch". They are pretty much demolishing Golden State at home tonight (yeah I know Steph Curry was out, but still) and they're very likely going to demolish the Lakers tomorrow.

I think that's actually the more important question in everyone's mind: Can they flip the switch?

It's questionable however whether that matters for the MVP race. As I've said regarding Shaq for so long: He didn't win more MVPs because he chose to coast in the regular season. That's fine. No one really holds it against Shaq that he won only 1 MVP, so who cares? However he has no right to complain.

[Hero]

Right now:

1. Durant
2. Paul
3. Melo
4. LeBron
5. Duncan

That's my list right now. It's Durant's award to lose right now.

Why is Melo at number 3?

[TwentyOne920]

Is Melo still top 5?

I'd take KD/LeBron/CP3/Harden/Duncan/Kobe over him.

To me Harden is the story of the entire season, but I don't know if I'm ready to put him above Melo.

Duncan's hard. The thing is at this point I feel like the Spurs will win no matter what, which is why they can play Duncan so little. I don't enjoy knocking Duncan because he's amazing (we're so privileged to just keep watching Duncan & Garnett play), but realistically if I'm taking Duncan far more seriously as an MVP candidate this year than Parker last year I have to question if it's just because of history.

At this point TD has an argument more for DPOY than MVP.

Parker himself is having a great season. There's only one other player who averages at least 19 and 7 and 50/40/80 shooting in a season, and that's Larry Bird.

[TheKiteDesigner]

That commercial with KDs mom and KDs voice in the background is certainly helping his case.

[Doctor MJ]

At this point TD has an argument more for DPOY than MVP.

Parker himself is having a great season. There's only one other player who averages at least 19 and 7 and 50/40/80 shooting in a season, and that's Larry Bird.

Oddly enough, I don't know if Duncan has ever had a better case for MVP than for DPOY. Not that I object to his being an MVP winner.

Re: only one other player who averaged these arbitrary quantities. Eh, I don't like such comparisons. Using that you can make 50 different guys look like Top 5 players.

[Ninjek]

1. KD
2. CP3
3. Bron
4. Melo
5. Duncan

[kingkirk]

Just curious what the argument is for melo over lebron? Dont see lebron lower than 3 atm.

Their isn't a legitimate argument for Melo as a top 3 anymore imo.

Previously there was, as he had the record to back up his great play.

He doesn't have that anymore.

He is 4th in my book.

[kingkirk]

Dude all I said was that the Heat were down 3-2 to a team they shouldn't had been down to and how they benefitted from having 2 top 5 players in the league out for the entire playoffs in there own conference. And it wasn't like the Celtics were healthy either. Bradley was out and Ray was injured and Pierce had knee problems as well.

JordansBulls, two things:

1. I have informally publicly warned you in this thread before about derailing, and turning this thread into something its not. Its now formal. Do not post in this thread again unless you stay on topic. Derailing the thread and making it about Miami's playoff run is irrelevant.

2. As a fellow Bulls fan, not everything is about MJ, Rose or Chicago. If the thread doesn't relate to it, don't post about us and derail/bait user.

Any further derailments from here on in from anyone will lead to warnings and suspensions.

[branny]

Lebron can't be lower than 3rd

[TwentyOne920]

Lebron can't be lower than 3rd

I think if the Heat weren't in coast mode he'd be favored. But as it is Durant is having a breakout season in scoring efficiency and assists, while Paul is leading a team known for being mediocre year-in, year-out to record highs.

[LBJ-ITALY]

1-Durant
2-Lebron
3-CP3
4-Melo

[Hero]

All things considered, and especially the Heat's record.

1) KD
2) LBJ
3) CP

[mj234eva]

Right now:

1. Durant
2. Paul
3. Melo
4. LeBron
5. Duncan

That's my list right now. It's Durant's award to lose right now.

Why is Melo at number 3?

Look at the picture in his signature.

[og15]

At this point TD has an argument more for DPOY than MVP.

Parker himself is having a great season. There's only one other player who averages at least 19 and 7 and 50/40/80 shooting in a season, and that's Larry Bird.

Oddly enough, I don't know if Duncan has ever had a better case for MVP than for DPOY. Not that I object to his being an MVP winner.

Re: only one other player who averaged these arbitrary quantities. Eh, I don't like such comparisons. Using that you can make 50 different guys look like Top 5 players.

Yea, I'm really not a fan of that stuff, just let his numbers, production and imact speak for itself, lets not put some statistical cut offs to make a guy seem exclusive and act like it means much.

Parker is averaging 21.5 pts, 3.2 Rebs, 7.9 assists per 36 with a .583 TS% and a 22.4 PER, he's playing well again, just like last season, except he's improved his efficiency as a scorer this year.

Here's the thing, Duncan does about as much offensively and is the defensive anchor. He's putting up 20.5 pts, 11.5 Rebs, 3.3 assists and 3.3 blocks per 36 and has a .551 TS%. He's contributing all over the place at a high level.

[ClayDavis]

All things considered, and especially the Heat's record.

1) KD
2) LBJ
3) CP

that's perfect.

[inquisitive]

KD is in the lead right now...still a long season to go though..

[NaturalThunder]

So.....the Clippers won on the road without Chris Paul again.

Three games without CP3:

at MIN - W 90-77
at HOU - W 117-109
at MEM - W 99-73