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Few Share the Same MVP Voting Formula
Jan. 25 -- With no concrete criteria to use as a guideline, we're left to our own subjectivity and various statistical devices to determine the names on our ballots for the NBA's Most Valuable Player Award.

For some of us, that means weighing a player's individual statistics, his team's overall success and whatever thoughts we have about his game, character and performances before putting him on the ballot.

That means each voter brings a unique perspective to the process, a painstaking affair that we go through every week here on the Kia Race to the MVP Ladder (which has a new No. 1 this week). But this is a debate that rages daily around the NBA world, and I mean literally around the world.

And the view from afar, using the formula of Fergus McFarlane from Canberra, Australia, is an interesting one.

Hey Sekou,

I'd just like to throw my support behind one MVP candidate. So if you'll stay with me, let me propose the following for two "players:"

Player A: in 38.5 mpg, he collects 26.3 pts, 8.1 boards, 7.0 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.9 blocks whilst shooting 55% from the field, 40% from three, 73% from the stripe and commits 2.8 turnovers a game.

Player B: in 39.7 mpg, he collects 29.5 pts, 8.4 boards, 8.2 assists, 1.9 steals, 2.8 blocks whilst shooting 56% from the field, 41.7% from three, 91% from the stripe and commits 3.3 turnovers.

Despite the difference in blocks, I'm sure you will agree that player A and player B are pretty much identical stats-wise. As I'm sure you know, Player A is none other than your current (as of last Wednesday) MVP leader, LeBron James.

Player B, on the other hand, is the output you would receive if you took the leading statistical categories from the big three of the Oklahoma City Thunder. The minutes, points, 3-point percentage, free-throw percentage and turnovers are Kevin Durant's stats. The assists and steals are Russell Westbrook's and the rebounds, blocks and field goal percentage are Serge Ibaka's.*

While I can appreciate the team success OKC is experiencing, how can anyone in the media say LeBron James is not the MVP when his statistics are on par with the contributions of the Thunder's big three?

YS78 wrote:NBA.COM

Few Share the Same MVP Voting Formula
Jan. 25 -- With no concrete criteria to use as a guideline, we're left to our own subjectivity and various statistical devices to determine the names on our ballots for the NBA's Most Valuable Player Award.

For some of us, that means weighing a player's individual statistics, his team's overall success and whatever thoughts we have about his game, character and performances before putting him on the ballot.

That means each voter brings a unique perspective to the process, a painstaking affair that we go through every week here on the Kia Race to the MVP Ladder (which has a new No. 1 this week). But this is a debate that rages daily around the NBA world, and I mean literally around the world.

And the view from afar, using the formula of Fergus McFarlane from Canberra, Australia, is an interesting one.

Hey Sekou,

I'd just like to throw my support behind one MVP candidate. So if you'll stay with me, let me propose the following for two "players:"

Player A: in 38.5 mpg, he collects 26.3 pts, 8.1 boards, 7.0 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.9 blocks whilst shooting 55% from the field, 40% from three, 73% from the stripe and commits 2.8 turnovers a game.

Player B: in 39.7 mpg, he collects 29.5 pts, 8.4 boards, 8.2 assists, 1.9 steals, 2.8 blocks whilst shooting 56% from the field, 41.7% from three, 91% from the stripe and commits 3.3 turnovers.

Despite the difference in blocks, I'm sure you will agree that player A and player B are pretty much identical stats-wise. As I'm sure you know, Player A is none other than your current (as of last Wednesday) MVP leader, LeBron James.

Player B, on the other hand, is the output you would receive if you took the leading statistical categories from the big three of the Oklahoma City Thunder. The minutes, points, 3-point percentage, free-throw percentage and turnovers are Kevin Durant's stats. The assists and steals are Russell Westbrook's and the rebounds, blocks and field goal percentage are Serge Ibaka's.*

While I can appreciate the team success OKC is experiencing, how can anyone in the media say LeBron James is not the MVP when his statistics are on par with the contributions of the Thunder's big three?

perfect, lebron in my opinion is the mvp so far

lebron is clearly the most valuable player this season

I still find it hilariois some people put durant in the same category as lebron on d. And someone also tried to value durant off ball play and letting others handle the ball as equaling lebron gigantic playmaking advantage? I forgot the stat lebron has somethig like 200+ 9 assist games in his career while durant has 3

Every sane, logical NBA fan knows LeBron is a more valuable player than Durant but the media is gonna get tired of LeBron winning every year. They're gonna make sure Durant wins one sooner or later.

As we all know ESPN is what influences the race the most. And everybody on ESPN is pretending as if the race is already over and Durant should already be crowned. Sound Familiar? Yep kinda like Rose. Also if you look at the numbers, Lebrons are much better than last years. He has career highs in a lot categories. So, I think its still a tie mainly because OKC's record is better.

Excellent submission sent in by the reader. Very clever and sums it up perfectly. The impact Lebron has on his team...is simply unmatched... BUT voter fatigue does exist and with the incredible year Durant is having as well (questionable amount of FT's and all...lol), he'll have a real chance to win it because his team has a great record too. If Durant does get it, I guess Lebron will just have to "settle" for another Finals MVP...which isn't too bad either haha

the way bulls are playing this year without rose, anyone else feels lebron deserved the mvp the first year with us?

krikor wrote:the way bulls are playing this year without rose, anyone else feels lebron deserved the mvp the first year with us?

I don't think our beatwriters (face it, the only voice we have in the media) ever did a good job of pointing out how bad Cleveland was in their first season without LeBron.

26-game losing streak, most in the history of the NBA and that record will probably hold up for a very long time.

krikor wrote:the way bulls are playing this year without rose, anyone else feels lebron deserved the mvp the first year with us?

No, Wade was too dominant himself that year. In that year, Howard should've won it, as I considered his impact to be bigger than Rose's.
Speaking of that year though, if the media found a way to hand Rose his MVP award that season, they sure as hell will make sure KD wins one this year, as he even has a stronger case than Rose did in 10/11.

krikor wrote:the way bulls are playing this year without rose, anyone else feels lebron deserved the mvp the first year with us?

Obviously he did

But Remember Rose didn't have much help, but wait Deng and Noah are All Stars without him
LOL

SweetTouch wrote:

krikor wrote:the way bulls are playing this year without rose, anyone else feels lebron deserved the mvp the first year with us?

Obviously he did

But Remember Rose didn't have much help, but wait Deng and Noah are All Stars without him
LOL

This! Everybody made it sound like Rose was carrying the Bulls like LBJ was carrying the Cavs. No knock on Rose, but he was just a good all star lucky enough to be apart of a great system, aswell as good players around him.

Yeah, Dwight should've won MVP in 2011, imo.

I think LeBron has a very good case for winning this year, but I doubt he does. I'm pretty sure Durant wins it, unless he completely falls off.

Don't think he will win it honestly and I don't think he cares. I think he likes playing limited minutes and preserving his body for the playoffs.

If Spo were to play him like he did his first year here, Lebron would be running away with the MVP title. And even now averaging career low on minutes, he's still in the race but a much closer race cause he isn't logging 40 minutes a night like he used to.

Regardless, this is why rings hold so much weight and accolades are just consolation prizes for popular players.

Wade: 10 years straight being the best shotblocking guard in the NBA, 0 first team All-Defense and only 3 second team.

If Durant stays hot, and OKC stays #1, he'll win the MVP. However, I think Bron's current level of play is more sustainable than Durant's, and Bron has another gear he can hit if he started attacking the basket or post more often. I expect him to win his 4th MVP trophy this season. I just don't think he will allow the voters to deny him. PEACE.

He should win his 4th MVP this year no doubt about it, his impact on the court is unmatchable in every corner but knowing the media, they probably tired voting for LeBron.

jami0528 wrote:He should win his 4th MVP this year no doubt about it, his impact on the court is unmatchable in every corner but knowing the media, they probably tired voting for LeBron.

This is true, and what's more, there's no narrative for LBJ to win his 4th in 5 years. Well deserved though, considering he's improved while everyone else is playing the same (Wade, Bosh to a lesser extent) and the rest of the supporting cast hasn't been there.

OTOH, KD has a lot of narrative advantage: losing Harden, joining the 50/40/90 club, improving his apg...

reckon durant is favourite..lebron may have better stats but they might be bored of giving it to him.

outstanding again tonight.