ken6199 wrote:THE J0KER wrote:ken6199 wrote:One thing though OP, if OKC didn't overhaul that -15 deficit, Denver would have dropped to 3rd, one game from 4th.
I guess it's all momentum based. PG's January and Feburary performance were unparalled by any month from Jokic, I even say it's right up there with Harden's historical December-Feburary run because PG was elite on defense too. The voters value those months over Jokic's consistency.
Also, Denver got blown out by their bad matchup (Houston) but PG drilled that buzz beater on Houston on the final day also shifted some weights. I have PG 3rd, though by a hair.
Talking about matchups isn't Denver-Oklahoma 4-0 should be more relevant for this discussion? BTW George stats in January are 30-8-4, but Jokic January numbers are also awesome 25-12-8, with better W-L record, so it is not like George outclassed him like you suggesting.
Thats just how voters look at it I guess. PG has that heroic feeling of carrying the team with his wingman MVP guard playing like crap, and he carried them until his shoulder broke down.That's a lot of momentum over Jokic at that point. Remember around the ASB people ranked PG above Harden in the mvp race? I think if Jokic's overall play was more March/April heavy, or that stretch of Jokic carrying the team through injuries on various teammates had happened later in the season instead of December, he would have gone ahead. Plus, PG's team (before the playoff started) was primed to be one of the two major threats to dethrone the Warriors with PG being their best player. All those little things mattered narrative wise.
I can't agree, because perception is that Jokic, Giannis, Harden, LeBron, Davis and Kawhi carried about their teams as lone stars unlike Durant/Curry, George, Embiid, which have support of co-star teammates. So that criteria was in Jokic favor too.
You say that at the time of ASG some experts gives advantage to George even ahead of Harden, but at the time Houston was #6 and Oklahoma was #3, but at the end of the season it was opposite.
Also, I don't think George amazing recovery story should have to do anything with this nomination. After all, in meantime he played already 4 all-star games after comeback.