NBA MVP Discussion Thread 2022-23 (part 5 - The Final-er MVP Countdown!)

[GeorgeSears]

Good for Embiid. He deserves it and was an absolute monster this last stretch of games.

As for vitriolic, toxic and ultimately racist discourse surrounding Jokic and the MVP discussion, it definitely turned me off from the NBA. It was disgusting how ESPN (which prides itself on moral righteousness at every turn) enabled it and even encouraged it at times to get views.

The Jokic discourse was certainly something to behold this season. I think the most embarrassing and desperate argument came from the Nick Wright types, where they effectively said that Jokic was favored by MVP voters, and media types in general, because he represented them and the average viewer: fat and white.

I don't know if we'll ever sink to this level of discourse again, but It wouldn't surprise me.

[kuclas]

To be honest, I think they will give it to Embiid "just because they feel its time to give it to him". It has happened before. I felt Embiid carried the sixers big time the first 2/3 of the season last season without simmons and half the team out with Covid for various stretches including Embiid himself out for 9 straight games. Embiid's record percentage wise when playing was better last season. So Embiid had a better impact on his team perforance last season than this season.

If Jokic hadn't gotten it last year, I think Jokic gets it this year (1 seed but not the strongest 1 seed). Triple double on very high efficiency.

I'm shocked Jokic has only played 68 games this season. I think the regular season is too long for big men. It wears them down more these days. I wonder what the average games played for true centers who average more than 30 minutes a game is these days? Gotta be less than 70 games played this season. Even taller power forwards like AD, Giannis are playing less and less these days. Load management whatever you want to call it. That's why NBA setting 65 games as min games to get major awards cause they see it happening so at least give voters a guideline what the min number of games played to be eligible for an award.

[CharityStripe34]

Good for Embiid. He deserves it and was an absolute monster this last stretch of games.

As for vitriolic, toxic and ultimately racist discourse surrounding Jokic and the MVP discussion, it definitely turned me off from the NBA. It was disgusting how ESPN (which prides itself on moral righteousness at every turn) enabled it and even encouraged it at times to get views.

The Jokic discourse was certainly something to behold this season. I think the most embarrassing and desperate argument came from the Nick Wright types, where they effectively said that Jokic was favored by MVP voters, and media types in general, because he represented them and the average viewer: fat and white.

I don't know if we'll ever sink to this level of discourse again, but It wouldn't surprise me.

This is the unfortunate byproduct of the "hot take" era or the era of "Infotainment." We're meant to bring you insight and analysis but we're really here to toss incendiary and idiotic statements to garner viewership. The Jokic/Embiid/Giannis stuff should've been and should be celebrated as three elite and completely unique bigs dominating. Throw in young rising superstars like Luka and Tatum as well.

[Kurtz]

Good for Embiid. He deserves it and was an absolute monster this last stretch of games.

As for vitriolic, toxic and ultimately racist discourse surrounding Jokic and the MVP discussion, it definitely turned me off from the NBA. It was disgusting how ESPN (which prides itself on moral righteousness at every turn) enabled it and even encouraged it at times to get views.

The Jokic discourse was certainly something to behold this season. I think the most embarrassing and desperate argument came from the Nick Wright types, where they effectively said that Jokic was favored by MVP voters, and media types in general, because he represented them and the average viewer: fat and white.

I don't know if we'll ever sink to this level of discourse again, but It wouldn't surprise me.

This is the unfortunate byproduct of the "hot take" era or the era of "Infotainment." We're meant to bring you insight and analysis but we're really here to toss incendiary and idiotic statements to garner viewership. The Jokic/Embiid/Giannis stuff should've been and should be celebrated as three elite and completely unique bigs dominating. Throw in young rising superstars like Luka and Tatum as well.

I think Perkins and people paying attention to/amplifying Perkins made this a toxic topic. Prior to that, it was relatively rational.

Also the closeness of this year's race was a contributing factor.

[Dmagic]

First of all since Denver just finished first and prob gonna sit jokic. Jokic . 1 or 2 off the triple double. Can we give him credit for basically and definitively averaging a triple double. It is historically great and awesome. He deserved mvp and obviously could have tried to get these stats higher there is no need. Everyone bowed out of the potential mvp race which could have been historically great but will only remember in my mind for embiid getting a bull award Giannis really deserving it and jokic getting the triple double. And the regular season taking more of a hit. Let’s just do away with it no body would complain at this point

[Tha King]

so why is Giannis not the clear MVP? Bucks have been the best team in the regular season with their second best player barely playing and mostly coming off the bench. The roster is nice but doesn't really stand out and I think might be slightly below other elite teams when you don't consider best players.

[DreamTeam09]

If Embiid doesn't win the chip this year or get to the finals, the same issues the media have about Jokic can all be said with Embiid. At least Jokic has been to a conference finals

[Exp0sed]

so why is Giannis not the clear MVP? Bucks have been the best team in the regular season with their second best player barely playing and mostly coming off the bench. The roster is nice but doesn't really stand out and I think might be slightly below other elite teams when you don't consider best players.

just the missed game, nothing else
The Bucks are def the best team in the league (in the rs at least) but they did a significant portion of that without him

heck, there was a thread about the possibility and merit of 3 different Bucks players making an all defensive team

if he had played 72 games he'd win by a landslide
as it stands I think he'll get it anyway but it's gonna be close and Embiid (rightfully or not) latest flash is sure to give him at least some extra 2nd place votes, I think he'll get over the hump this year

[BoatsNZones]

Lmao lack of bag in playoff crunch time? Even tho Giannis has now added one of the most respectable mid range shots in the game. The only defense to Giannis is collapsing multiple defenders on him and hoping that his shooter bricks the 3. If you really believe Luka is a more valuable piece than Giannis… all the best to you.

I'm sorry what?

do the research yourself and see who has the highest fg% from mid-range, you'll be surprised

The fact that you can't parse out that he is very clearly an absolutely horrendous shooter from anywhere outside the basket (this year, and every year) from eye test alone is classic. Holy rose-tinted glasses.

[LordCovington33]

If Embiid doesn't win the chip this year or get to the finals, the same issues the media have about Jokic can all be said with Embiid. At least Jokic has been to a conference finals

Yes, he got to a conference final, but he never won MVP that year. When he did win, he failed miserably during the playoffs. If Embiid wins and does not get a ring, it will just follow a trend that’s lasted a decade (2012-13). Since that season, only Steph Curry has won an MVP and a championship in the same season. It will further solidify individual regular season accomplishments do not translate into team success, making the MVP seem even more irrelevant. Harden never made it to the final in the year he won. The same thing with Giannis - both times. Neither did Kevin Durant nor Westbrook.

[kuclas]

If Embiid doesn't win the chip this year or get to the finals, the same issues the media have about Jokic can all be said with Embiid. At least Jokic has been to a conference finals

Yes, he got to a conference final, but he never won MVP that year. When he did win, he failed miserably during the playoffs. If Embiid wins and does not get a ring, it will just follow a trend that’s lasted a decade (2012-13). Since that season, only Steph Curry has won an MVP and a championship in the same season. It will further solidify individual regular season accomplishments do not translate into team success, making the MVP seem even more irrelevant. Harden never made it to the final in the year he won. The same thing with Giannis - both times. Neither did Kevin Durant nor Westbrook.

It’s because lebron was always the best player from 2008-2020. Voter fatigue with lebron not being nba mvp each season. Even during curry’s 2 mvp season. Lebron was still the better player. We all know that.

With exception of his injury filled 2018-2019 season first season with lakers (he actually had lakers as the 3 seed dec 25 2018) before missing so many games that season. Lebron was the undisputed best player in the world for 11 plus season despite others winning the nba mvp.

We are in this post Jordan 1998-2007 era where we have tremdenous players deserving of nba mvp. But not transcendent players like Jordan or lebron.

[BoatsNZones]

If Embiid doesn't win the chip this year or get to the finals, the same issues the media have about Jokic can all be said with Embiid. At least Jokic has been to a conference finals

Yes, he got to a conference final, but he never won MVP that year. When he did win, he failed miserably during the playoffs. If Embiid wins and does not get a ring, it will just follow a trend that’s lasted a decade (2012-13). Since that season, only Steph Curry has won an MVP and a championship in the same season. It will further solidify individual regular season accomplishments do not translate into team success, making the MVP seem even more irrelevant. Harden never made it to the final in the year he won. The same thing with Giannis - both times. Neither did Kevin Durant nor Westbrook.

It’s because lebron was always the best player from 2008-2020. Voter fatigue with lebron not being nba mvp each season. Even during curry’s 2 mvp season. Lebron was still the better player. We all know that.

With exception of his injury filled 2018-2019 season first season with lakers (he actually had lakers as the 3 seed dec 25 2018) before missing so many games that season. Lebron was the undisputed best player in the world for 11 plus season despite others winning the nba mvp.

We are in this post Jordan 1998-2007 era where we have tremdenous players deserving of nba mvp. But not transcendent players like Jordan or lebron.

Absolute nonsense take and objectively false to think Lebron's reason for not winning MVP was due to voter fatigue in all these seasons (and actually funny considering he doesn't have the most MVP's and hasn't won the award in a decade. What fatigue, exactly?).

Arguing you would rather have him in a playoff series over the field in any of these given seasons is subjective and fine (I definitely don't agree), but MVP is a different discussion and he had zero case over the winner in the majority of the seasons he lost.

[Purch]

Curry during his unanimous mvp season was absolutely the best player in the league until he got injured in the 1st round.

[Wolfgang630]

Curry during his unanimous mvp season was absolutely the best player in the league until he got injured in the 1st round.

He’s never been better than Lebron.

[eyeatoma]

Great read

https://theathletic.com/4384522/2023/04/06/joel-embiid-nba-mvp-sixers?source=user-shared-article

Sent from my SM-S918B using Tapatalk

[LloydFree]

Good for Embiid. He deserves it and was an absolute monster this last stretch of games.

As for vitriolic, toxic and ultimately racist discourse surrounding Jokic and the MVP discussion, it definitely turned me off from the NBA. It was disgusting how ESPN (which prides itself on moral righteousness at every turn) enabled it and even encouraged it at times to get views.

The Jokic discourse was certainly something to behold this season. I think the most embarrassing and desperate argument came from the Nick Wright types, where they effectively said that Jokic was favored by MVP voters, and media types in general, because he represented them and the average viewer: fat and white.

I don't know if we'll ever sink to this level of discourse again, but It wouldn't surprise me.

In this case Wright is right.

[NBA4Lyfe]

Good for Embiid. He deserves it and was an absolute monster this last stretch of games.

As for vitriolic, toxic and ultimately racist discourse surrounding Jokic and the MVP discussion, it definitely turned me off from the NBA. It was disgusting how ESPN (which prides itself on moral righteousness at every turn) enabled it and even encouraged it at times to get views.

The Jokic discourse was certainly something to behold this season. I think the most embarrassing and desperate argument came from the Nick Wright types, where they effectively said that Jokic was favored by MVP voters, and media types in general, because he represented them and the average viewer: fat and white.

I don't know if we'll ever sink to this level of discourse again, but It wouldn't surprise me.

the jokic mvp slander came from known lebron mouthpieces... perk, nick wright, broussard.. because lebron didnt win 3 straight, they can have a player that is playing currently while he is still in the league win 3 straight. Lebron is that petty, this is the same guy that tanked the 2011 nba finals because wade was gonna win the finals mvp over him

[NBA4Lyfe]

If Embiid doesn't win the chip this year or get to the finals, the same issues the media have about Jokic can all be said with Embiid. At least Jokic has been to a conference finals

doc rivers hasnt made a conference finals i believe in 13 years... embiid wanted glenn, and he will get the classic glenn special in the coming months

[Sixerscan]

If Embiid doesn't win the chip this year or get to the finals, the same issues the media have about Jokic can all be said with Embiid. At least Jokic has been to a conference finals

I mean he's already been getting criticism for that and many other things for years but yeah sure.

[AleksandarN]

Hopefully Jokic gets healthy for the playoffs. He didn’t look like right the last game. His movement was worse than I have seen since he got into shape.

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