RealGM

There has been way too many days between games and I have plenty of time on my hands as I have COVID , so I went back and searched who would have been the Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals & Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals award winners if the award was around. I've gone from 1996 which is when Magic retired.

Results are based using advanced stats and just my memory. Happy to hear arguments for other players and why you think they should have got the award instead!


2022 - Jayson Tatum & Steph Curry
2021 - Giannis Antetokounmpo & Chris Paul
2020 - Bam Adebayo & Anthony Davis
2019 - Kawhi Leonard & Steph Curry
2018 - Lebron James & Kevin Durant
2017 - Lebron James & Steph Curry
2016 - Lebron James & Steph Curry
2015 - Lebron James & Steph Curry
2014 - Lebron James & Tim Duncan
2013 - Lebron James & Tony Parker
2012 - Lebron James & Kevin Durant
2011 - Lebron James & Dirk Nowitzki
2010 - Paul Pierce & Kobe Bryant
2009 - Dwight Howard & Kobe Bryant
2008 - Kevin Garnett & Kobe Bryant
2007 - Lebron James & Tim Duncan
2006 - Dwayne Wade & Dirk Nowitzki
2005 - Richard Hamilton & Tim Duncan
2004 - Richard Hamilton & Kobe Bryant
2003 - Jason Kidd & Tim Duncan
2002 - Jason Kidd & Shaquille O'Neal
2001 - Allen Iverson & Kobe Bryant
2000 - Reggie Miller & Shaquille O'Neal
1999 - Allan Houston & David Robinson
1998 - Michael Jordan & Karl Malone
1997 - Michael Jordan & Karl Malone
1996 - Michael Jordan & Shawn Kemp

Nice list. Can't see much I'd change except two small things:

2013-14 Spurs vs OKC WCF... I'd probably give that to Manu Ginobili. He took charge in key moments of that series... i.e., had the most MVP moments among a squad with many good players who all did well in their roles (Parker, Duncan, Kawhi, Boris Diaw, Danny Green).

2001-02 Lakers vs Kings... I'd give that to Kobe although Shaq was great too, because we didn't win that series on defense and Kobe was the heart of our offense. I remember Derek Fisher having some absolute stinkers. Also, Kobe played like 44 MPG in that series and whenever he went to sit for a small rest, we saw a lot of missed shots and turnovers from the others.

Btw, get well soon!

Assuming only winners:

1995 - Hakeem Olajuwon & Shaquille O'Neal
1994 - Hakeem Olajuwon & Patrick Ewing
1993 - Michael Jordan & Charles Barkley
1992 - Michael Jordan & Terry Porter
1991 - Michael Jordan & Magic Johnson
1990 - Joe Dumars & Terry Porter
1989 - Isiah Thomas & Magic Johnson
1988 - Isiah Thomas & Magic Johnson
1987 - Larry Bird & Magic Johnson
1986 - Larry Bird & Hakeem Olajuwon
1985 - Kevin McHale & James Worthy
1984 - Larry Bird & Kareem/Magic
1983 - Moses Malone & Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
1982 - Julius Erving & Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
1981 - Larry Bird & Moses Malone
1980 - Julius Erving & Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
1979 - Bob Dandridge & Gus Williams
1978 - Bob Dandridge & Marvin Webster
1977 - Julius Erving & Bill Walton
1976 - JoJo White & Paul Westphal
1975 - Elvin Hayes & Rick Barry
1974 - John Havlicek & Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
1973 - Walt Frazier & Jerry West
1972 - Walt Frazier & Wilt Chamberlain
1971 - Wes Unseld & Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
1970 - Willis Reed & Jerry West
1969 - Bill Russell & Wilt Chamberlain
1968 - John Havlicek & Jerry West
1967 - Wilt Chamberlain & Nate Thurmond
1966 - Bill Russell & Jerry West
1965 - Bill Russell & Jerry West
1964 - Bill Russell & Wilt Chamberlain
1963 - Bill Russell & Elgin Baylor
1962 - Bill Russell & Elgin Baylor
1961 - Bill Russell & Bob Pettit
1960 - Bill Russell & Cliff Hagan
1959 - Frank Ramsey & Elgin Baylor
1958 - Bill Russell & Bob Pettit
1957 - Bill Russell & Cliff Hagan
1956 - George Yardley & Paul Arizin

I think I'd have to put Chauncy over Rip in 04-05, and I'd think about Ben over Rip in 03-04. He was a one-man wrecking crew in the playoffs with his defensive versatility. He and Prince, especially, really stymied the Lakers.

538 has an article on this. (It’s better than their RAPTOR-based predictions.)

shza wrote:538 has an article on this. (It’s better than their RAPTOR-based predictions.)

Thanks for letting me know! Just had a read. It’s pretty much the same as mine aside from 3 or 4.

Link below for those that want to read.


https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-nbas-conference-finals-mvp-award-is-new-this-year-but-what-if-we-had-always-had-it/amp/

Curry in 2018 too

Curry +57
Durant +37

Curry 25.0 pts 6.6 reb 5.7 ast 1.7 stl 0.9 blk
KD 30.4 pts 5.7 teb 2.7 ast 0.3 stl 0.9 blk

6/7 games

Curry 28 pts 7 reb 8 ast 2 stl 2 blk 3.5 tov .488 FG .413 3P 0-0 FT +46
Durant 28.5 pts 6 reb 4.5 ast 0.5 stl 2 blk .447 FG .375 3P 17-24 FT +23

AussieCeltic wrote:2021 - Giannis Antetokounmpo & Chris Paul

Love Giannis but can you give a guy the award who didn't play in half your wins in the series? Middleton was kinda awesome.

This Thophy must be for all 3 PO rounds.

Baddy Chuck wrote:

AussieCeltic wrote:2021 - Giannis Antetokounmpo & Chris Paul

Love Giannis but can you give a guy the award who didn't play in half your wins in the series? Middleton was kinda awesome.

Good call. He played in 4 of 6 of the games.

Middleton or Jrue good options.