WCQF | (3) Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder (6) | HOU 2-1

[karkinos]

this is the mvp award
you don't get pity points for having bad teammates.

[TMU]

Amazing work via twitter. Just passing it along

Nice dude...
Thanks for sharing.

[BallerTalk]

this is the mvp award
you don't get pity points for having bad teammates.

Especially when you don't really have "bad teammates" per se, just an ill-fitted system and superstar to maximize their talents.

[ken6199]

Welp, Harden taking 400 less shots on the season? First time I realized that. That's like 5 FGA per game. Thanks for sharing, I am truly lost in the stats department this year because everyday we see historical stuff popping out.

[BallerTalk]

Spoiler:

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

I actually can understand Harden winning MVP over Westbrook (I really think you can argue for either player) but don't really like that logic because Harden has a lot more offensive firepower on his team, if Westbrook had the kind of shooters Harden has, I doubt OKC would have the 17th ranked offense

The problem there is Westbrook is not as good as Harden at weaponizing teammates and utilizing their strengths.
Houston's offense was historic this season (top 10 all time IIRC) with Harden at the helm. I doubt you get the same result if you replace him with Westbrook.

Even long time Thunder fans will tell you the same about that fundamental difference between James and Russell.
Westbrook is a missile. Harden is a maestro.

And while D'Antoni has been an absolute boon for Harden's style of play, the truth is James was already empowering lesser teammates even when McHale was the coach.
He turned a rebuilding project into a playoff team overnight when he first arrived in Houston. Two seasons later he carried a team giving starters minutes to Jason Terry, Corey Brewer, and Josh Smith to the 2nd seed in the West and a run to the WCF.

So it's not just that Harden has better teammates, he makes his teammates better.

[-Sammy-]

I'll be shocked if Harden vs. Westbrook isn't an all-time, All-Time, ALL-TIME matchup. Like, top-10 all-time.

[Young_Star11]

Westbrook has a decisive MVP advantage. Deserved or not, let's get on with discussion about this series.

[rockets22]

Houston has way to much offensive firepower. Only the Warriors are a better offensive team. I cant see the Thunder wining more then two games in this series.

[rockets22]

Westbrook has a decisive MVP advantage. Deserved or not, let's get on with discussion about this series.

it is pretty much over for James. Most of us know it and even James knows it as well. Averaging a triple double and breaking the most triple dubs in a season has pretty much guaranteed Westi the MVP

[Ballerhogger]

I'll be shocked if Harden vs. Westbrook isn't an all-time, All-Time, ALL-TIME matchup. Like, top-10 all-time.

Thats a match up the thunder should want. The rockets as whole are better team. Ryan Anderson, Nene , and the rockets bench should able to win in 6.

[Pillendreher]

Read on Twitter

*cough*

[HotTubMike]

Read on Twitter

*cough*

What a hard-o

[BallerTalk]

"Once you get on the floor, you've got one friend, and your friend is Spalding" - Russell Westbrook

*cough*

[Patches Perry]

this is the mvp award
you don't get pity points for having bad teammates.

I wonder if this will ring true in the 2nd round also? Leonard vs. Harden/Westbrook- this is the MVP. No pity points for having bad teammates.

[BallerTalk]

Westbrook has a decisive MVP advantage. Deserved or not, let's get on with discussion about this series.

After the historic seasons Harden and Westbrook just had, you have to know MVP talk is virtually inextricable from any discussion about this series.

[Dupp]

Wish this game would start already. The other stuff is boring I just wanna see goat vs beard

[TMU]

Watch Roberson go off tonight.

[E-Balla]

The color is off...

[RightToCensor]

Here we go

[Kobblehead]

Why are they wearing color rush uniforms? This looks unappealing.