NBA MVP Discussion Thread 2022-23 (pt 2)

[Duke4life831]

I know it can be annoying because of how often people bring it up. But it is pretty hard to overstate just how much harder it is for guys like Jokic/Luka who dont have that legit #2 option that defenses have to worry about. Defenses cant just 100% sell out on guys like KD, Tatum, and Embiid.

Kyrie: Since coming back from his suspension, hasnt missed a game and is averaging 26/5/4 on 52/42/90 shooting (64 TS%).
Brown: 27/7/3 on 59 TS%
Harden: 22/6/11 on 60 TS%

Having a 2nd option like these guys prevent teams from being able to just 100% sell out on KD/Tatum/Embiid. Compare that to Luka or Jokic. Its either Murray or Gordon for Jokic, or its Wood or Dinwiddie for Luka. Defenses will happily say, lets 100% focus on taking Jokic/Luka out and force those 2nd options to beat us.

I also want to be clear, I dont think having a legit #2 option should be some disqualifier for MVP either. I think the majority of MVP winners have a legit 2nd option. Its just when guys dont have a legit 2nd option and are still able to put up crazy efficiency numbers and lead their teams to good records, thats just a bonus for them.

Prior to Harden, Embiid had a 2nd year Maxey and Tobias Harris for much of the season last year. Better than Jokic's team and Luka's, but really not great. Maxey has taken a leap this year, and Harden is here. Tobias has bought in. But if you make that argument, why is Tatum a candidate? KD?

I never made the claim that Embiid had an elite 2nd option last year, Im talking about this year. And again I made it clear that having a legit 2nd option is in anyway a disqualifier for the MVP. Its just a positive for those that can put up a MVP season without having one. That is why Ive stated multiple times I think that Embiid, Tatum and KD are having legit MVP worthy seasons this year.

[_NoMas]

Joel Embiid is the NBA player of the month for the eastern conference in December. Yet somehow he's not a talked about MVP candidate, not even top 5 in the media, or that stupid NBA.com MVP ladder.

Media will do everything in its power to bring down Embiid. Now people are discussing him not being an All-star starter, lol.

Read on Twitter

Availability/ number of wins means it’s hard to justify having him ahead of Tatum, KD or Jokic… and Luka just having a ridiculous year with a subpar roster. Embiid should definitely be starting the all star game though, no question

[eyeatoma]

I know it can be annoying because of how often people bring it up. But it is pretty hard to overstate just how much harder it is for guys like Jokic/Luka who dont have that legit #2 option that defenses have to worry about. Defenses cant just 100% sell out on guys like KD, Tatum, and Embiid.

Kyrie: Since coming back from his suspension, hasnt missed a game and is averaging 26/5/4 on 52/42/90 shooting (64 TS%).
Brown: 27/7/3 on 59 TS%
Harden: 22/6/11 on 60 TS%

Having a 2nd option like these guys prevent teams from being able to just 100% sell out on KD/Tatum/Embiid. Compare that to Luka or Jokic. Its either Murray or Gordon for Jokic, or its Wood or Dinwiddie for Luka. Defenses will happily say, lets 100% focus on taking Jokic/Luka out and force those 2nd options to beat us.

I also want to be clear, I dont think having a legit #2 option should be some disqualifier for MVP either. I think the majority of MVP winners have a legit 2nd option. Its just when guys dont have a legit 2nd option and are still able to put up crazy efficiency numbers and lead their teams to good records, thats just a bonus for them.

Prior to Harden, Embiid had a 2nd year Maxey and Tobias Harris for much of the season last year. Better than Jokic's team and Luka's, but really not great. Maxey has taken a leap this year, and Harden is here. Tobias has bought in. But if you make that argument, why is Tatum a candidate? KD?

I never made the claim that Embiid had an elite 2nd option last year, Im talking about this year. And again I made it clear that having a legit 2nd option is in anyway a disqualifier for the MVP. Its just a positive for those that can put up a MVP season without having one. That is why Ive stated multiple times I think that Embiid, Tatum and KD are having legit MVP worthy seasons this year.

Ah, my bad, thanks for clarifying.

[jokeboy86]

I don't think Luka will win it despite the year he's having because of the precedent it would set and the heated media discussion afterwards. We can assume that the Mavs probably won't get the #2 or #1 seed so if the voters would give Luka the MVP that would be 3 straight years of the MVP going to a player whose team is not 1 or 2. It would not only change the discussion after 40 or 50 something years of how the MVP is usually awarded but the backlash would also then focus on guys who maybe should have won the MVP for their individual brilliance but were penalized for their team's place in the standings(Kobe, Harden, T-Mac and more come to mind). I still think the voters didn't really want to give Jokic the MVP these past two years but because of his stats and more importantly his availability/health compared to the other candidates they had no choice.

[Bob8]

I don't think Luka will win it despite the year he's having because of the precedent it would set and the heated media discussion afterwards. We can assume that the Mavs probably won't get the #2 or #1 seed so if the voters would give Luka the MVP that would be 3 straight years of the MVP going to a player whose team is not 1 or 2. It would not only change the discussion after 40 or 50 something years of how the MVP is usually awarded but the backlash would also then focus on guys who maybe should have won the MVP for their individual brilliance but were penalized for their team's place in the standings(Kobe, Harden, T-Mac and more come to mind). I still think the voters didn't really want to give Jokic the MVP these past two years but because of his stats and more importantly his availability/health compared to the other candidates they had no choice.

For Mavs to finish in top4, Luka would need to have insane numbers, better than Jokic last year. Mavs didn't win a single game in which he didn't play or was exceptional. He has scored only once under 20 points, 19, when he was ejected in 3rd Q. He scored only 7 times under 30 points and had only 10x FG% under 50%. And he missed only 3 games, which Mavs have lost all.

He will need to continue to play as good as he's playing at the moment and not miss more than few games for Mavs to stay in top4, not very likely to happen, but if they stay there, Luka will deservedly be MVP.

[AussieCeltic]

Joel Embiid is the NBA player of the month for the eastern conference in December. Yet somehow he's not a talked about MVP candidate, not even top 5 in the media, or that stupid NBA.com MVP ladder.

Media will do everything in its power to bring down Embiid. Now people are discussing him not being an All-star starter, lol.

Read on Twitter

Having a cry and claiming conspiracies about Embiid… right on cue…

[jym85]

I don't think Luka will win it despite the year he's having because of the precedent it would set and the heated media discussion afterwards. We can assume that the Mavs probably won't get the #2 or #1 seed so if the voters would give Luka the MVP that would be 3 straight years of the MVP going to a player whose team is not 1 or 2. It would not only change the discussion after 40 or 50 something years of how the MVP is usually awarded but the backlash would also then focus on guys who maybe should have won the MVP for their individual brilliance but were penalized for their team's place in the standings(Kobe, Harden, T-Mac and more come to mind). I still think the voters didn't really want to give Jokic the MVP these past two years but because of his stats and more importantly his availability/health compared to the other candidates they had no choice.

I think the voters should receive backlash for the years they stole the award from the true MVPs
Rewarding a very good player for being on the best team always seemed so stupid to me.

Dragging what's essentially a g-league level roster to 6 or 7 seed can be more impressive

[mediocrityrules]

Read on Twitter

[CobraCommander]

Ok so Giannis dropping 55 today letting us know

that 50 is the new 40

and 60 is the new 50


and 71 is still ****Ing outrageous...

Jokic gonna have to win the MVP by being consistently better without a single outlier game lol

Right now the field is crowded!

Jokic at 1.

Tatum at 2.


Luka, KD, Giannis and Embiid tied at 3

Mitchell at 4 and climbing

Curry, Zion and Ja at 5...

Is The NBA currently more stacked than ever before or are guys just showing off..or both...

[Johnny Tomala]

Ok so Giannis dropping 55 today letting us know

that 50 is the new 40

and 60 is the new 50


and 71 is still ****Ing outrageous...

Jokic gonna have to win the MVP by being consistently better without a single outlier game lol

Right now the field is crowded!

Jokic at 1.

Tatum at 2.


Luka, KD, Giannis and Embiid tied at 3

Mitchell at 4 and climbing

Curry, Zion and Ja at 5...

Is The NBA currently more stacked than ever before or are guys just showing off..or both...

How? I'd have Jokić, Doncić, Antetokounmpo, Durant ahead of him.

[CobraCommander]

Read on Twitter

If literally 6 other guys were not going the hell off this would be the best 7 games ever....but damn....this just keeps you up with Embiid, Luka, KD and Jokic and even Lebron lol


The league is on fiya and reminder...Giannis still the second best player on earth behind Jokic

[Infinite Llamas]

Read on Twitter

3-4 record in those games loses some luster

[CobraCommander]

Ok so Giannis dropping 55 today letting us know

that 50 is the new 40

and 60 is the new 50


and 71 is still ****Ing outrageous...

Jokic gonna have to win the MVP by being consistently better without a single outlier game lol

Right now the field is crowded!

Jokic at 1.

Tatum at 2.


Luka, KD, Giannis and Embiid tied at 3

Mitchell at 4 and climbing

Curry, Zion and Ja at 5...

Is The NBA currently more stacked than ever before or are guys just showing off..or both...

How? I'd have Jokić, Doncić, Antetokounmpo, Durant ahead of him.

Ahead of Tatum?

[CobraCommander]

Read on Twitter

3-4 record in those games loses some luster

Agreed but that’s why he is having to go so hard...

[Bmaasse]

Read on Twitter

3-4 record in those games loses some luster

Lol, but he's missing his 2 best teamma....nevermind.

[Infinite Llamas]

Read on Twitter

3-4 record in those games loses some luster

Lol, but he's missing his 2 best teamma....nevermind.

Lopez has been healthy all year, nice try.

[CobraCommander]

Read on Twitter

3-4 record in those games loses some luster

Lol, but he's missing his 2 best teamma....nevermind.

The narrative changes to prop their guy...

This year there may be a 6 way tie for mvp lol

[Packbuckman]

Read on Twitter

3-4 record in those games loses some luster

No not really he can’t shoot the ball for his teammates to those assists should be way more to! The team really is in a funk shooting rarely over 30% from 3 and Bud likes to shoot those 3‘s jrue has been out sick and no Middleton really all year.

[CobraCommander]

Over the last 7 games...Jokic avg a 30 point triple double and that’s losing ground on the field because Luka and Giannis avg 40+10 I’ve the last 7 lol

This is going come down to the last game

[Plossum]

You could throw a blanket over Tatum, Jokic, Giannis, Embiid, KD and Luka for MVP now. Should make for a fun second half of the season with the field so close. No clear standout, just a lot of exceptional individuals right now.