NBA MVP Discussion Thread 2022-23 (pt 3)

[GeorgeSears]

The national Jokic-for-MVP discourse is getting borderline embarrassing. I just watched a clip of Richard Jefferson, who is actually a solid commentator imo, criticizing Jokic for not getting enough "hockey assists." The heart of the criticism is that Jokic is hogging assists from his teammates - the players on the floor are just there to receive assists from Jokic.

[DutchManDanFan]

Giannis has the best record because his team is capable of winning at a rate that puts them 8th best in NBA when GIannis is out. If Jokic's team won without him at that rate, they're the #1 seed in the NBA right now. So take that best record argument elsewhere, because a good chunk of it currently is based on games where Giannis sat to load manage (almost 20% of his games so far this season...)

If you repeat this I’ll repeat the following:
Nuggets without Jokic: 5 losses, 6 games against play-off teams.
Bucks without Giannis: 5 losses, 4 games against play-off teams.
The missed games have no effect at all. In fact you can argue the Nuggets did better without Jokic.

And Giannis missed 5 games in a row. His knee was bothering him and he took the needed rest.

Lol @ the argument of "It's special for a guard to get 10 boards" without context again. For Westbrook, < 25% of his boards were contested. For Jokic those same 10 boards are 48% contested. I feel really bad if I need to explain to you the difference there.

Same thing with Jokic averaging 10 assists a game while having the ball in his hands for less than half the time Westbrook did....

I feel like I'm getting trolled because it's just impossible that someone doesn't understand the difference there. If that's the case, touceh...if not...oh boy.

My argument was about the TD average not being unique. It’s done before and that’s a fact.
Denver has the best record in the West, it makes it much much better. But the Bucks have a better record, while Giannis is just as valuable for his team. Overall a little more valuable, certainly with Middleton missing so many games.

No trolling at all. Just exploining why Jokic should not be leading this race. Not anymore.

[DutchManDanFan]

Also to consider:
Bucks 23-10 against play-off teams (4 without Giannis).
Nuggets 20-11 against play-off teams (6 without Jokic).
And the East leads the West with quite a large margin.

[HotRocks34]

Looking more and more like a 2-man field between Jokic and Giannis

[mademan]

ya im on the Giannis train boys.

[Sgt Major]

Fatso with 6 FGA
Stat-padding assists like crazy smh

[HotRocks34]

Jokic rolling

[Wolfgang630]

Jokic might beat Wilt’s triple double record in a year (by a center)

[HotRocks34]

Nuggets beat Grizzlies postgame

Read on Twitter

[Mickey8]

Malone is bs' ing because the game was broadcasted nationally ,while in the first half team was trailing big after Jokic went to the bench, in the second half they made that big run that have decided the game. Jokic passivity again tonight, could have cost the team important win. This crap will not fly in the play of"s but I expect him to be more aggressive come play off time.

[Duke4life831]

Here’s the thing. I have no issues with guys propping up Giannis. He’s playing freakishly well and Milwaukee just isn’t losing.

My only thing is Jokic is just not doing anything to lose his lead. 18/18/10 on elite efficiency (scoring and facilitating) over the 2nd seed in the West.

[HotRocks34]

Read on Twitter

[HoopsterJones]

1. Jokic
(Gap)
2. Giannis
3. Embiid
(Gap)
4. Doncic
5. Tatum

[iggymcfrack]

Can we just give Jokic 2 MVPs in one season for being so dominant? Every time I see him played I’m utterly amazed that someone can be so good at basketball. The only regular season I’ve seen that even compares is Curry in 2016.

[HotRocks34]

Read on Twitter

[Johnny Firpo]

Nuggets beat Grizzlies postgame

Read on Twitter

He definitely moved his feet well today and even challenged some shots at the rim. Nuggets are up to 12th on defense, and will probably overtake OKC after this game for the 11th spot. We'll see if they can keep it up in the playoffs.

[Mrakar]

Read on Twitter

This cant be true?

[-Luke-]

Read on Twitter

This cant be true?

It's not. Both numbers are false.

[_NoMas]

Another great showing from Jokic, but… I really don’t think the gap is as wide between him and Giannis as most people on here are claiming. Giannis is on fire, although availability is likely going to cost him down the stretch.

A big showing in the Philly game tonight could easily sway a few more voters, who really look out for the marquee match ups. Maybe even eyeatoma will make a return if Embiid wins big against Giannis (although he has no chance for MVP at this stage).

[Ryoga Hibiki]

Maybe with better health for the Bucks the gap would be larger?

Middleton missed 2/3 of the season. But for Giannis’ chances this doesn’t have any meaning? Even with the best record in the league?
All the excuses work for Jokic but not for others. That’s the point and it’s pretty clear.

Jokic is doing great but a lot of his advanced stats are inflated. What Giannis does for the Bucks is different but comparable in valuability with what Jokic does for Denver. But one of them leads his team to the best record in the league.

The only thing Jokic has over Giannis is less games missed.

Actually jokic has more team wins than Giannis.

And more team losses.

This is such a lame argument. Suppose Giannis played all the games against lottery teams, then he had a lot more of those 'team wins'. But would he then be the favourite in your eyes? Or would you look for other excuses?

of course he would have a better case if he played and won more games, no doubt.
don't know if enough to win, but definitely a better case.
the moment wins are such an important part of your evaluation of course games played becomes a jey oarameter