Race to the MVP.

[nyk_buc]

I think this Thursday will be an important game for MVP voters.

It's not even 25% of the season yet. That game will have zero bearing on the MVP voting.

People are too caught up on a game-by-game basis. 2 years ago, LBJ was the frontrunner for MVP till the all-star break, then lost to DRose.

Last year, LBJ was the frontrunner for MVP then lost the hype to KD after his one week slump around february.

So people need to relax. MVPs take into consideration the totality of an entire season, and also how the player finishes the past 2 months.

It's not one game, one week, or even one month. So just relax on all of this.

[nyk_buc]

I think this Thursday will be an important game for MVP voters.

It's not even 25% of the season yet. That game will have zero bearing on the MVP voting.

People are too caught up on a game-by-game basis. 2 years ago, LBJ was the frontrunner for MVP till the all-star break, then lost to DRose.

Last year, LBJ was the frontrunner for MVP then lost the hype to KD after his one week slump around february. but he then had a great finish and won it back.

So people need to relax. MVPs take into consideration the totality of an entire season, and also how the player finishes the past 2 months.

It's not one game, one week, or even one month. So just relax on all of this.

[OptimusOne6]

It's not even 25% of the season yet. That game will have zero bearing on the MVP voting.

People are too caught up on a game-by-game basis. 2 years ago, LBJ was the frontrunner for MVP till the all-star break, then lost to DRose.

Last year, LBJ was the frontrunner for MVP then lost the hype to KD after his one week slump around february.

So people need to relax. MVPs take into consideration the totality of an entire season, and also how the player finishes the past 2 months.

It's not one game, one week, or even one month. So just relax on all of this.

Lebron was never the front-runner for the MVP in 2011. He had too much hate and scrutiny by everyone for joining Miami. The race for 2011 was between Rose, Dirk, and Dwight. Lebron's name was being mentioned for MVP as always but he was never the favorite.

[PCProductions]

I think this Thursday will be an important game for MVP voters.

It's not even 25% of the season yet. That game will have zero bearing on the MVP voting.

People are too caught up on a game-by-game basis. 2 years ago, LBJ was the frontrunner for MVP till the all-star break, then lost to DRose.

Last year, LBJ was the frontrunner for MVP then lost the hype to KD after his one week slump around february.

So people need to relax. MVPs take into consideration the totality of an entire season, and also how the player finishes the past 2 months.

It's not one game, one week, or even one month. So just relax on all of this.

I wasn't suggesting that it was going to wholly determine the MVP...

But you can't say that if Melo outscores/performs Lebron in a win against the Heat that it won't affect his standing in the MVP race.

[28reloaded]

I wasn't suggesting that it was going to wholly determine the MVP...

But you can't say that if Melo outscores/performs Lebron in a win against the Heat that it won't affect his standing in the MVP race.

No, because Durant is in front of both of them right now.

[MisterWestside]

I wasn't suggesting that it was going to wholly determine the MVP...

But you can't say that if Melo outscores/performs Lebron in a win against the Heat that it won't affect his standing in the MVP race.

Trust me, the voters don't care. They're "snap-decision", "what have you done for me lately" kind of people, and the award is only relevant around playoff time.

[og15]

Durant is an elite defender now, decent rebounder, almost 4 AST's a game, 27 points, 1.5 blocks/steals

What else do you want!

Elite defender? Please don't hang on early Def rating and DWS returns as your argument, because he certainly isn't an elite defender. His length can be irritating at best.

He's only marginally improved on his awful A/TO ratio this season, too.

That being said, I'd still put him at #1 in the race. Posts like these are a problem, though.

Durant has been a borderline great defender going on two seasons now. Last season he was a beast when iso'd, but struggled off ball. This seasons he's improved his overall defensive awareness and it has greatly increased his defensive impact.

So no, his post wasn't a problem.

Ehhh, I don't think so...

[Brickz7]

Right now Melo durant are 1-2 for MVP for me this season thus far..i can't give lebron the lead based on his defense has been lackluster this year and that loss to the wizards is inexcusable..i dont care if your coasting or not.a champion/winner doesnt lose to teams like that...of course real gm and lebron stans are going to come up with excuses..but i refuse to put him on a pedestal and let him off the hook for that

[28reloaded]

Right now Melo durant are 1-2 for MVP for me this season thus far..i can give lebron the lead based on his defense has been lackluster this year and that lost to the wizards is inexcusable..i dont care if your coasting or not.a champion/winner doesnt lose to teams like that...of course real gm and lebron stans are going to come up with excuses..but i refuse to put him on a pedestal and let him off the hook for that

What the hell has Melo done to be put on the same level as Durant?

[TheGarden]

The over rating of Durant is beyond absurd now

[Benedict_Boozer]

Like someone else said Thurs game will matter in the short term. Melo being in the NYK market if he outplays Lebron and gets that win, he will likely be getting momentum as a front-runner for MVP early in the season. Not saying it's fair to KD, but you can see the writing on the wall.

I think the Knicks are gonna take that game too, the Heat are playing lazy basketball and the Knicks are going to come in with something to prove.

[Brickz7]

The over rating of Durant is beyond absurd now

it is and its a shame

[PCProductions]

I wasn't suggesting that it was going to wholly determine the MVP...

But you can't say that if Melo outscores/performs Lebron in a win against the Heat that it won't affect his standing in the MVP race.

Trust me, the voters don't care. They're "snap-decision", "what have you done for me lately" kind of people, and the award is only relevant around playoff time.

Don't you see the fact that when if it comes down to let's say Melo vs. Lebron near playoff time and Melo has a winning record against him that it will affect that decision? Isn't that one of the reasons that Rose won it over Lebron in 2011?

[Woodsanity]

I wasn't suggesting that it was going to wholly determine the MVP...

But you can't say that if Melo outscores/performs Lebron in a win against the Heat that it won't affect his standing in the MVP race.

Trust me, the voters don't care. They're "snap-decision", "what have you done for me lately" kind of people, and the award is only relevant around playoff time.

Don't you see the fact that when if it comes down to let's say Melo vs. Lebron near playoff time and Melo has a winning record against him that it will affect that decision? Isn't that one of the reasons that Rose won it over Lebron in 2011?

No Rose won it because everyone hated Lebron's guts and he already won it twice in a row.

[28reloaded]

The over rating of Durant is beyond absurd now

it is and its a shame

Yep because 27/9/5/2/2 65TS% just walks through the door every day.

Leading the NBA in Offensive AND Defensive win shares, something that's only been done twice in the past 25 years, and his WSp48 ranks 15th all time. Not to mention his team is 15-4 and has BY FAR the best SRS in the league. Finally Durant has an on/off of +23.4 which is far and away the best in the league.

[TheGarden]

The over rating of Durant is beyond absurd now

it is and its a shame

Yep because 27/9/5/2/2 65TS% just walks through the door every day.

Leading the NBA in Offensive AND Defensive win shares, something that's only been done twice in the past 25 years, and his WSp48 ranks 15th all time. Not to mention his team is 15-4 and has BY FAR the best SRS in the league. Finally Durant has an on/off of +23.4 which is far and away the best in the league.

[Brickz7]

I wish people would stop posting advanced stats..nobody outsides online forums care about that.aka the general public

[28reloaded]

I wish people would stop posting advanced stats..nobody outsides online forums care about that.aka the general public

>nobody outsides online forums care about that
>outside online forums
>online forums

on online forums.

[bbms]

The over rating of Durant is beyond absurd now

It's Melo who's been overrated. He has nice stats and game, but doesn't compare with how good Durant, LeBron and Duncan are now. Other league. Durant beats Melo on every category of this sport, while having comparable and slightly better record.

Durant has Martin? Yeah, but Melo doesn't have any Perkins. Durant has Westbrook? Melo has 5 40%+ from 3pt.

Advanced stats doesnt matter in MVP voting? Maybe no, but yes, people notice that Durant score the same amount as Melo on 16 shots while Melo shoots 20.

Melo doesn't even has the turnover argument anymore using raw stats, and it'll be fun Melo fans using TOV% to say that Melo is less turnover prone(which really is).

[TheKingOfVa360]

The over rating of Durant is beyond absurd now

I agree, you would think Durant was Lebron.