Race to the MVP.

[fallacy]

I don't know if anyone mentioned this already but Durant and Lebron won players of the month for the first month of the season. Those two are your leaders for the MVP.

everyone's agreed on that its the fact that people are saying no one else has a say

Durant, Lebron, Melo, maybe Kobe, and maybe Duncan. That's really about it

[theokie]

You can argue Melo is more deserving of the MVP. Thats fine and if thats your opinion you aren't alone. Carmelo is the best player on the team with the best record in the East and its December. Obviously he's in the discussion.

But saying Carmelo is a better player than Durant and only backing that up by showing win loss records against each other from 4 or 5 years ago is just illogical and stupid, especially in an MVP thread.

no it isn't, the fact that someone said since Durant's 2nd year he's owned Carmelo has been proven otherwise

I personally think Carmelo is better than Durant regardless of what anyone says nothing can change my mind on that

No. Its stupid to look at a basketball game from 4 years ago to determine this years MVP and to determine who the better player is currently. Just completely, absolutely, stupid.

[MisterWestside]

And no, LeBron is not a better offensive player than Durant.

You also said this in '12, when LeBron surpassed Durant on offense in both the regular season and playoffs.

[og15]

I don't know if anyone mentioned this already but Durant and Lebron won players of the month for the first month of the season. Those two are your leaders for the MVP.

everyone's agreed on that its the fact that people are saying no one else has a say

Durant, Lebron, Melo, maybe Kobe, and maybe Duncan. That's really about it

Not with a 9-10 team for Kobe

[bluerain]

Melo and Durant are playing good ball, and both these players are surrounded by adquate defensive players. Neither anchor defense for their teams, so they are near equal in value. Miami have no center and their anchor is lebron and his defense have been strecthy at most. Right now really hard to choose, great race!

[Bravely Done]

And no, LeBron is not a better offensive player than Durant.

You also said this in '12, when LeBron surpassed Durant on offense in both the regular season and playoffs.

I'm not aware what you're referring to, but Durants 30ppg/55fg%/63ts% finals performance contradicts the myth you're attempting to perpertuate. He's better in most aspects of offense, sans play making.

[Ito]

Durant is not better than Lebron at anything.

People be like "oh he could shoot better so he's better on offense" .. Yo, Lebron could do things with the ball that Durant just cant do.. this is really not even debatable..

[28reloaded]

Durant is better than LeBron at everything on offense sans finishing at the rim, passing, and ball security.

As a matter of fact, you take P&R Ball handling out of the equation and it's tough to imagine as instance where I would prefer LeBron over Durant.

[OptimusOne6]

Durant is not better than Lebron at anything.

Except shooting and scoring, but those aspects don't mean much. It's not like the outcome of the game is determined by which team scores more points.

Durant is better than LeBron at everything on offense sans finishing at the rim, passing, and ball security.

You forgot offensive rebounding, posting up, and ability to get to the rim.

[Bravely Done]

Durant is not better than Lebron at anything.

Except shooting and scoring, but those aspects don't mean much. It's not like the outcome of the game is determined by which team scores more points.

Durant is better than LeBron at everything on offense sans finishing at the rim, passing, and ball security.

You forgot offensive rebounding, posting up, and ability to get to the rim.

Durabt is better in the post than LeBron. I'd also argue that Durant's handle has made him a comparable slasher, as his is much more effective in creating separation off the bounce.

[OptimusOne6]

Durabt is better in the post than LeBron.

Get real, I'm just as much of a Durant fan as I am of a Lebron fan and it's pretty obvious Lebron is much better in the post.

Durant can only shoot a turnaround in the post while Lebron has a variety of moves down there. I'm sure Synergy backs up that Lebron is better and more efficient in the post, but you can double check and list the post-up stats if you want and let me know if I'm right or wrong.

I'd also argue that Durant's handle has made him a comparable slasher, as his is much more effective in creating separation off the bounce.

I'd like to know how you would argue that.

[28reloaded]

I'll just wait for someone to post Durant's post up numbers this season. He's #1 in the league by a WIDE margin in FG%/PPP on post ups.

As for slashing, I would agree that Durant is better at slashing without help. LeBron is much, much better in the P&R as the ball handler, but in ISO sets? Durant is superior and it's justified by his superior ISO scoring and his absurd foul rate in ISO sets.

Durant is fouled on 18.6% of ISO situations whereas LeBron is only around 11%. That is indicative of Durant forcing his man, or help defense, to foul him to prevent an easy layup.

Durant's ability to blow by defenders in isolations is criminally underrated. Here is an example from last game

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79jDaEwax8M&feature=youtu.be&t=48s[/youtube]

[bledredwine]

Pretty obvious IMO that KD is a better scorer than Lebron. But when you say offender, that includes running the floor and getting the team involved... gotta hand it to LBJ.


But in terms of scoring? KD is easily the better shooter, is easily craftier, has a better touch on the ball, though Lebron is certainly stronger. You take away Lebron's inside game with great interior D, and he's screwed (see Mavs finals). KD is quite the opposite.

It's only a matter of time before KD gets that spotlight.

Also, defense between the two this year isn't nearly as big of a gap as people make it out to be.

[The_Dream]

And no, LeBron is not a better offensive player than Durant.

You also said this in '12, when LeBron surpassed Durant on offense in both the regular season and playoffs.

I'm not aware what you're referring to, but Durants 30ppg/55fg%/63ts% finals performance contradicts the myth you're attempting to perpertuate. He's better in most aspects of offense, sans play making.

Durant is the better scorer, not the better offensive weapon. LBJ runs the offense completely.

[Bravely Done]

Get real, I'm just as much of a Durant fan as I am of a Lebron fan and it's pretty obvious Lebron is much better in the post.

Fact is fact regardless of your fanhood.

What's obvious is that Lebron is stiff and robotic in the post, lacks go to moves, and relies heavily on a turnaround baseline jumper that isn't falling. Most of his post success comes against mismatches against smallers guards and forwards coming off switches. On the other hand, Durant possesses a fluidity from the high post down that LBJ may never have, with the both the ability to face up and operate further down on the block via turn arounds, fadeaways, hook shots, floaters, drives, etc. I didn't expect his post game to look so refined, so quickly, but he's made it look easy thus far this season and he's currently ranked #1 in ppp out of the post.

Durant can only shoot a turnaround in the post while Lebron has a variety of moves down there. I'm sure Synergy backs up that Lebron is better and more efficient in the post, but you can double check and list the post-up stats if you want and let me know if I'm right or wrong.

You're wrong.

Now that we've clarified that, do you mind detailing all those "moves LeBron has down there"? Im curious.

I'd like to know how you would argue that.

Very simply. KD has been a functionaly potent PnR ball handler for two seasons, and with an improved handle and more ball security, he's become one of the best slashers in the league. He can crossover both right to left and left to right and covers tons of ground while doing so, making it very difficult for defenders to stay in front of him. This season, he hasn't even needed a screen to create separation off the bounce.

[GrandTheftRondo]

Thoughts on Rondo's MVP chances so far?

[Hero]

Durant is not better than Lebron at anything.

People be like "oh he could shoot better so he's better on offense" .. Yo, Lebron could do things with the ball that Durant just cant do.. this is really not even debatable..

+1

Durant is a better free throw shooter though and it helps that he gets more calls than anyone else in the league.

[Doormatt]

Thoughts on Rondo's MVP chances so far?

im the opposite of a rondo fan and i think hes having a good season, but in no way, shape or form does he deserve to be in the MVP discussion. hes not even in the best point guard discussion as far as im concerned because chris paul is so far and away better, not sure why he should be in the MVP discussion at that point.

[KING CB4]

You can argue Melo is more deserving of the MVP. Thats fine and if thats your opinion you aren't alone. Carmelo is the best player on the team with the best record in the East and its December. Obviously he's in the discussion.

But saying Carmelo is a better player than Durant and only backing that up by showing win loss records against each other from 4 or 5 years ago is just illogical and stupid, especially in an MVP thread.

no it isn't, the fact that someone said since Durant's 2nd year he's owned Carmelo has been proven otherwise

I personally think Carmelo is better than Durant regardless of what anyone says nothing can change my mind on that

Wow

[JordansBulls]

Durant is not better than Lebron at anything.

People be like "oh he could shoot better so he's better on offense" .. Yo, Lebron could do things with the ball that Durant just cant do.. this is really not even debatable..

How so? Durant averaged 30.6 ppg on 55% FG in the finals on him while Lebron averaged 28.6 ppg on 47% FG in the finals on Durant.