MVP Discussion [19/20] [part I] - voting reopened

[Prez]

The list in the poll is just based on recent MVP odds, as we get further into the season we can remove certain guys and add others who deserve to be in the mix.

Update 12/9/2019
We've reset the poll to the latest Sekou's MVP ladder.
https://www.nba.com/article/2019/11/29/kia-mvp-ladder-nov-29-edition-2019-20?collection=mvp-ladder

[rate_]

Kendrick Nunn a candidate

[Swish1906]

Giannis

[MisterHibachi]

I would say LeBron, AD, Embiid, Giannis and KAT are the front runners, not necessarily in that order.

LeBron and AD even if they keep up this rate of play for the whole season (or improve) are unlikely to win mvp because they'll steal votes from each other. Unless the Lakers are really dominant and end up being the only 60 win team. In that case, I think LeBron would win it based on a lifetime achievement type of vote. Hasn't won MVP since 2013, despite being the best player in almost all the seasons since.

[AdagioPace]

I would give it to Embiid if he plays enough minutes and games. AD has not yet convincingly shown to be the best player on his team.
KAT: I'm still not sure if he can keep the Wolves' ass afloat every night. It's an almost impossible task and he's not KG.
The underwhelming start for many doesn't help us have a clear picture.

[therealbig3]

LeBron. Still the best player in the game.

[scrabbarista]

KAT so far.

[ken6199]

KAT really needs a solid, consistent side kicker to take his team to the next level (aka to offset whatever Wiggins does) to take a shot at this.

Houston has to tidy up their atrocious defense as a team or Harden can score 50ppg and nobody will even talk about him after what happened last year. "They take it for granted".

LeBron is on a mission right now. If anyone not named Kawhi goes into a 2 horse race vs Lebron, my money goes to the king because the LA thing will eventually tip the scale.

[Dupp]

Giannis and harden will be in the mix again.

Maybe embiid can win it if they have the best record.

Don’t think lebron can win it and lebron might take too many votes off AD.

Kawhi also in the mix, maybe jokic.

That’s about it.

[Yuri36]

My top 5 for now:

1.Kawhi
2.LBJ
3.kyrie
4.Giannis
5.Luka

[LikeABosh]

Don't think Kawhi has a chance if he's gonna be resting throughout the season

[Yuri36]

Don't think Kawhi has a chance if he's gonna be resting throughout the season

He's necessarly going to have a chance if his team win the regular season for example.

[Colbinii]

My top 5 for now:

1.Kawhi
2.LBJ
3.kyrie
4.Giannis
5.Luka

How can you have Kyrie over Towns at this point?

[Dupp]

Im gonna pick embiid for this. I think theyll run away with the best record in the league.

[Yuri36]

My top 5 for now:

1.Kawhi
2.LBJ
3.kyrie
4.Giannis
5.Luka

How can you have Kyrie over Towns at this point?

You're right, should have putted KAT instead of Kyrie, forgot about him.

[Colbinii]

My top 5 for now:

1.Kawhi
2.LBJ
3.kyrie
4.Giannis
5.Luka

How can you have Kyrie over Towns at this point?

You're right, should have putted KAT instead of Kyrie, forgot about him.

Kyrie has been great though.

[LikeABosh]

Im gonna pick embiid for this. I think theyll run away with the best record in the league.

I'd say him and Giannis are the two most likely to win with the tiebreaker being their record. They have an advantage because they don't have superstar teammates like Harden/WB or LeBron/AD do

[Cavsfansince84]

My summation of the mvp race this year is that it boils down to the following guys:
1. LeBron. Needs to stay healthy and he'll be right there. I think AD will get some hype but the general feeling I think is that its LeBron's team and he may get voter sympathy for only having 4 mvps despite arguably being the best player in the league for much longer then that.
2. Kawhi. Just needs to keep missed games to a minimum.
3. Embiid. If Philly wins 60+ games he probably wins it unless one of the above wins more.
4. Giannis. My question with him is I'm not sure Milwaukee will be quite as good as last year. If they only win 54 games I think they will be seen as something of a disappointment.
5. Doncic. Question is can Dallas get a top 4 seed in the west. If they can and given the much lower expectations for them he could be a dark horse.
6. KAT. Much like the above. It comes down to whether Minnesota can get a top 4 seed.
7. Harden. I think voters are tired of him and I don't think Houston will win enough to make him a real candidate but can't rule him out yet.

[theGreatRC]

I know KAT won't win it (Unless we're a top 3 seed), but just him being in the conversation after all the memes and talk about him last season would be a huge W for the Wolves organization.

I think LeBron can win it unless AD posts monster stats as well

[picko]

I think four teams have 60-win potential - the Bucks, Sixers, Clippers and Lakers. So the MVP winner will likely come from those teams - the other likely candidate is Harden due to the crazy scoring numbers.

Kawhi isn't going to play enough games. PG will also miss too many games. So scratch a Clippers candidate. LeBron and Davis may very well fall into that category as well - we will find out soon!

That leaves us with (in no particular order):

1. Giannis
2. Embiid
3. LeBron
4. Davis
5. Harden

A guy such as KAT could certainly jump into calculations if the Wolves continue to perform well. Right now I'm just not convinced that they will be a 50+ win team and if they aren't then KAT won't get consideration.

There are no clear narratives that have developed. Nobody that the media is rooting for. One narrative that might develop quickly is a nostalgic narrative surrounding LeBron and how 'we should appreciate him more because soon he will be gone'. I could easily see the Lakers having the West's best record and the media jumping on the LeBron bandwagon to reward him for an outstanding career.