2016-17 MVP Discussion Thread

[Hero]

Obviously way early but :

LeBron

Kawhi
Westbrook
KD

LeBron should definitely "go for it" and not cruise as much as he usually does. Would be a nice addition to his resume.

[OnceUponADime]

DeRozan has a great start and looks great, but I'm honestly not too impressed with Regular Season numbers. We'll see in the playoffs when there is persistent defense being played.

MVP is a regular season award. It doesn't matter if a player averages 30, 5 and 5 during regular season then averages 12, 3 and 1 during the post season...he should still get MVP based on reg season #s (and if team is top notch during reg season) cause MVP is for the reg season.

[JulesWinnfield]

This is going to be Westbrooks award this year for sure in my view if 2 things happen...

1- he stays healthy

2- thunder meet the mandatory win floor, I think 50 will be enough even though it's lower than most MVP award winners

The schedule to start this year is really favorable and they just started a stretch of 8 of 9 at home. January is just a nightmare though (go look it up, my goodness), they really have to fatten up early on before they get to that part of the schedule.

[bondom34]

Read on Twitter

[Big_Aristotle]

DeRozan has a great start and looks great, but I'm honestly not too impressed with Regular Season numbers. We'll see in the playoffs when there is persistent defense being played.

MVP is a regular season award. It doesn't matter if a player averages 30, 5 and 5 during regular season then averages 12, 3 and 1 during the post season...he should still get MVP based on reg season #s (and if team is top notch during reg season) cause MVP is for the reg season.

You guys are right that this is a topic about the regular season MVP award, but there are too many post-season proven candidates that DeRozan will have to do miracles to be in the top 3 for this year. If he is persistent this season and during the playoffs, he will be a legit candidate.

For now he's a top-10 candidate, maybe top-5 but he won't make top-3. Westbrook, LeBron, Kawhi, Harden and Durant are most likely candidates for me (not in the same order)

[The High Cyde]

If LeBron is basically averaging a 20 point triple double while his team wins around 60 games, it's his. I don't think his competitors will win as many, and really that's all that matters. I want to see him get his fifth just so his challenge of Jordan is even more legitimate than it is now, I think that'd be pretty cool. It's not every generation we see someone win 5 mvps, it's a truly remarkable feat.

For Westbrook, his team just won't win enough games, they also lack talent to sustain the energy Russ plays with.

Kawhi might win if the Spurs are in that 60 win area.

I don't think Curry, Durant, or Harden are as likely as the others. Media currently despises Durant and Curry has voter fatigue, plus you can't give the MVP to a player who keeps underwhelming in the playoffs and gets outplayed. Injury or not, it happened. And that will discourage voting for him.

So basically the top 3 have a chance, but I'm hesitant to put Westy there as much as I love him. Dude is gonna put incredible, astonishing numbers, but his team won't have his back.

[HotRocks34]

LeBron now 2/2 in Eastern Conference Player Of The Week awards.

George Hill is Western Conference Player Of The Week.

[PCProductions]

Harden is my pick if we're talking about raw carrying of a team. Even more so than Westbrook.

[Triples333]

Harden looks like he could legitimately sustain 32/12/7 on elite efficiency, and if does that (especially if he is the leader in both points and assists), I'd say he has to be the front runner for MVP if they are any higher than the 6 seed. Bron won't average 9 rebounds or assists let alone 10, and it looks like he'll be 2nd or maybe 3rd on his team in scoring. That's not going to get the voters amped for a team expected to coast in their conference to the 1 seed.

I'd say it's Kawhi or Harden in the early going.

[MoMan24]

Harden looks like he could legitimately sustain 32/12/7 on elite efficiency, and if does that (especially if he is the leader in both points and assists), I'd say he has to be the front runner for MVP if they are any higher than the 6 seed. Bron won't average 9 rebounds or assists let alone 10, and it looks like he'll be 2nd or maybe 3rd on his team in scoring. That's not going to get the voters amped for a team expected to coast in their conference to the 1 seed.

I'd say it's Kawhi or Harden in the early going.

Why can't James avg 9 boards or 10 ast. Have you watched him play this year? His passing game is so high right now. If his teammates make shots thats like 12 easy, if they don't its like 7 or 8. As far as being 2nd or 3rd his team in scoring he is .17 points under Irving and that is due to his slow start in terms of scoring and Irving hot start. Last game Irving struggled which will happen a lot more to him that James. James has the only 2 player of the weeks in the East so far. His team probably will have a better record than last year. I mean the guy can sleep walk into 25 7 7. Its his to lose this year plain and simple. As for Harden Im not sure this level is sustainable and his team is a .500 team. The other 2 true candidates are Leonard but his team will most likely win less games this year and Westbrook but his team has to remain top 3 in the west. But right now the narrative and his teams record and his play and his stats has James leading the pack I just don't see how one can deny that given how this award is handed out.

[phanman]

Obviously way early but :

LeBron

Kawhi
Westbrook
KD

LeBron should definitely "go for it" and not cruise as much as he usually does. Would be a nice addition to his resume.

Meh he already has 4.. I mean 1 more would tie Jordan but I think resting for his eventual finals matchup with GSW takes precedence over any individual accolades late in his career. I think improving his finals record to 4-4 is much more important to legacy than going 3-5.

[Triples333]

Harden looks like he could legitimately sustain 32/12/7 on elite efficiency, and if does that (especially if he is the leader in both points and assists), I'd say he has to be the front runner for MVP if they are any higher than the 6 seed. Bron won't average 9 rebounds or assists let alone 10, and it looks like he'll be 2nd or maybe 3rd on his team in scoring. That's not going to get the voters amped for a team expected to coast in their conference to the 1 seed.

I'd say it's Kawhi or Harden in the early going.

Why can't James avg 9 boards or 10 ast. Have you watched him play this year? His passing game is so high right now. If his teammates make shots thats like 12 easy, if they don't its like 7 or 8. As far as being 2nd or 3rd his team in scoring he is .17 points under Irving and that is due to his slow start in terms of scoring and Irving hot start. Last game Irving struggled which will happen a lot more to him that James. James has the only 2 player of the weeks in the East so far. His team probably will have a better record than last year. I mean the guy can sleep walk into 25 7 7. Its his to lose this year plain and simple. As for Harden Im not sure this level is sustainable and his team is a .500 team. The other 2 true candidates are Leonard but his team will most likely win less games this year and Westbrook but his team has to remain top 3 in the west. But right now the narrative and his teams record and his play and his stats has James leading the pack I just don't see how one can deny that given how this award is handed out.

James can't average 9 boards because he's not capable of it over the course of the season (I think that's fair to say for somebody who has never in his life averaged 9 boards over a season, even when playing power forward and getting the gimme boards off of free throws). 10 assists maaaybe but it's not something that he has ever averaged before (his peak was 8.6), and I don't see what's different about his role or talent this season than in many of his in years past. Advanced stat wise he currently is not in the same league as a Leonard or Harden, so I'm not sure how it's his to lose. He has certainly not been better than either. Harden's biggest detriment is clearly that he does not have very good teammates, and that will cost him a lot of wins. That said, if he does manage to carry them to 50+ ala 2014, he will be right back as an MVP favorite or close to it.

[miman15]

Harden looks like he could legitimately sustain 32/12/7 on elite efficiency, and if does that (especially if he is the leader in both points and assists), I'd say he has to be the front runner for MVP if they are any higher than the 6 seed. Bron won't average 9 rebounds or assists let alone 10, and it looks like he'll be 2nd or maybe 3rd on his team in scoring. That's not going to get the voters amped for a team expected to coast in their conference to the 1 seed.

I'd say it's Kawhi or Harden in the early going.

Why can't James avg 9 boards or 10 ast. Have you watched him play this year? His passing game is so high right now. If his teammates make shots thats like 12 easy, if they don't its like 7 or 8. As far as being 2nd or 3rd his team in scoring he is .17 points under Irving and that is due to his slow start in terms of scoring and Irving hot start. Last game Irving struggled which will happen a lot more to him that James. James has the only 2 player of the weeks in the East so far. His team probably will have a better record than last year. I mean the guy can sleep walk into 25 7 7. Its his to lose this year plain and simple. As for Harden Im not sure this level is sustainable and his team is a .500 team. The other 2 true candidates are Leonard but his team will most likely win less games this year and Westbrook but his team has to remain top 3 in the west. But right now the narrative and his teams record and his play and his stats has James leading the pack I just don't see how one can deny that given how this award is handed out.

James can't average 9 boards because he's not capable of it over the course of the season (I think that's fair to say for somebody who has never in his life averaged 9 boards over a season, even when playing power forward and getting the gimme boards off of free throws). 10 assists maaaybe but it's not something that he has ever averaged before (his peak was 8.6), and I don't see what's different about his role or talent this season than in many of his in years past. Advanced stat wise he currently is not in the same league as a Leonard or Harden, so I'm not sure how it's his to lose. He has certainly not been better than either. Harden's biggest detriment is clearly that he does not have very good teammates, and that will cost him a lot of wins. That said, if he does manage to carry them to 50+ ala 2014, he will be right back as an MVP favorite or close to it.

Advanced stats last year said lebron was better than kawhi and harden, why not this yr? Lebron is still the best player in the game. Its still his to lose, specially if they have the best record in the league. Lebron always starts slow in the season, you should know by now. I think he can average 9 assists this year as kyrie is carrying more load in scoring... Lebron is still coasting yet hes still putting up crazy numbers.

[Triples333]

Why can't James avg 9 boards or 10 ast. Have you watched him play this year? His passing game is so high right now. If his teammates make shots thats like 12 easy, if they don't its like 7 or 8. As far as being 2nd or 3rd his team in scoring he is .17 points under Irving and that is due to his slow start in terms of scoring and Irving hot start. Last game Irving struggled which will happen a lot more to him that James. James has the only 2 player of the weeks in the East so far. His team probably will have a better record than last year. I mean the guy can sleep walk into 25 7 7. Its his to lose this year plain and simple. As for Harden Im not sure this level is sustainable and his team is a .500 team. The other 2 true candidates are Leonard but his team will most likely win less games this year and Westbrook but his team has to remain top 3 in the west. But right now the narrative and his teams record and his play and his stats has James leading the pack I just don't see how one can deny that given how this award is handed out.

James can't average 9 boards because he's not capable of it over the course of the season (I think that's fair to say for somebody who has never in his life averaged 9 boards over a season, even when playing power forward and getting the gimme boards off of free throws). 10 assists maaaybe but it's not something that he has ever averaged before (his peak was 8.6), and I don't see what's different about his role or talent this season than in many of his in years past. Advanced stat wise he currently is not in the same league as a Leonard or Harden, so I'm not sure how it's his to lose. He has certainly not been better than either. Harden's biggest detriment is clearly that he does not have very good teammates, and that will cost him a lot of wins. That said, if he does manage to carry them to 50+ ala 2014, he will be right back as an MVP favorite or close to it.

Advanced stats last year said lebron was better than kawhi and harden, why not this yr? Lebron is still the best player in the game. Its still his to lose, specially if they have the best record in the league. Lebron always starts slow in the season, you should know by now. I think he can average 9 assists this year as kyrie is carrying more load in scoring... Lebron is still coasting yet hes still putting up crazy numbers.

Because Lebron this year is not putting out anywhere near the overall impact of Kawhi or Harden (is why this years advanced stats differ).

[miman15]

James can't average 9 boards because he's not capable of it over the course of the season (I think that's fair to say for somebody who has never in his life averaged 9 boards over a season, even when playing power forward and getting the gimme boards off of free throws). 10 assists maaaybe but it's not something that he has ever averaged before (his peak was 8.6), and I don't see what's different about his role or talent this season than in many of his in years past. Advanced stat wise he currently is not in the same league as a Leonard or Harden, so I'm not sure how it's his to lose. He has certainly not been better than either. Harden's biggest detriment is clearly that he does not have very good teammates, and that will cost him a lot of wins. That said, if he does manage to carry them to 50+ ala 2014, he will be right back as an MVP favorite or close to it.

Advanced stats last year said lebron was better than kawhi and harden, why not this yr? Lebron is still the best player in the game. Its still his to lose, specially if they have the best record in the league. Lebron always starts slow in the season, you should know by now. I think he can average 9 assists this year as kyrie is carrying more load in scoring... Lebron is still coasting yet hes still putting up crazy numbers.

Because Lebron this year is not putting out anywhere near the overall impact of Kawhi or Harden (is why this years advanced stats differ).

We'll see at the end of the season, hell be in in the top 2 in advanced stat like he always does. He was outside top 5 almost the entire season last year but still ended as no. 2. You should know by now that lebron alwys picks up his game in the 2nd half of the season. And if the cavs grab the best record in the league, its hard not to pick him as the mvp. A 24, 9 and 8 number would seal it.

[Triples333]

Advanced stats last year said lebron was better than kawhi and harden, why not this yr? Lebron is still the best player in the game. Its still his to lose, specially if they have the best record in the league. Lebron always starts slow in the season, you should know by now. I think he can average 9 assists this year as kyrie is carrying more load in scoring... Lebron is still coasting yet hes still putting up crazy numbers.

Because Lebron this year is not putting out anywhere near the overall impact of Kawhi or Harden (is why this years advanced stats differ).

We'll see at the end of the season, hell be in in the top 2 in advanced stat like he always does. He was outside top 5 almost the entire season last year but still ended as no. 2. You should know by now that lebron alwys picks up his game in the 2nd half of the season. And if the cavs grab the best record in the league, its hard not to pick him as the mvp. A 24, 9 and 8 number would seal it.

Fair enough, he generally finishes stronger. He'll have a ton of "advancing" to do though, as Harden and Kawhi are going to have career years.

[miman15]

Because Lebron this year is not putting out anywhere near the overall impact of Kawhi or Harden (is why this years advanced stats differ).

We'll see at the end of the season, hell be in in the top 2 in advanced stat like he always does. He was outside top 5 almost the entire season last year but still ended as no. 2. You should know by now that lebron alwys picks up his game in the 2nd half of the season. And if the cavs grab the best record in the league, its hard not to pick him as the mvp. A 24, 9 and 8 number would seal it.

Fair enough, he generally finishes stronger. He'll have a ton of "advancing" to do though, as Harden and Kawhi are going to have career years.

Well said. Do you think Houston will have a good record to back-up Harden's MVP Case?

[Triples333]

We'll see at the end of the season, hell be in in the top 2 in advanced stat like he always does. He was outside top 5 almost the entire season last year but still ended as no. 2. You should know by now that lebron alwys picks up his game in the 2nd half of the season. And if the cavs grab the best record in the league, its hard not to pick him as the mvp. A 24, 9 and 8 number would seal it.

Fair enough, he generally finishes stronger. He'll have a ton of "advancing" to do though, as Harden and Kawhi are going to have career years.

Well said. Do you think Houston will have a good record to back-up Harden's MVP Case?

For a team who doesn't have a 2nd best player in the top-50 in the NBA (honestly probably not top 100), I think ~50 wins should do it. Another great game from Harden tonight, who were Vegas underdogs but he took them to the 8 point win with another ~30/15/7 performance. Crazy tough start to the year for the Rox who have essentially every game on the road, but they have a winning record. He's the MVP over Kawhi right now.

[miman15]

Fair enough, he generally finishes stronger. He'll have a ton of "advancing" to do though, as Harden and Kawhi are going to have career years.

Well said. Do you think Houston will have a good record to back-up Harden's MVP Case?

For a team who doesn't have a 2nd best player in the top-50 in the NBA (honestly probably not top 100), I think ~50 wins should do it. Another great game from Harden tonight, who were Vegas underdogs but he took them to the 8 point win with another ~30/15/7 performance. Crazy tough start to the year for the Rox who have essentially every game on the road, but they have a winning record. He's the MVP over Kawhi right now.

I agree with that harden is probably the most indispensible player right now, and playing extremely well. But 50 wins just wont be enough for him to be mvp. Weve seen Wade done that before with crazier stats, T-Mac and Lebrons 2004 to 2008 circa, they put up monster stats at both ends of the floor than harden right now with crappy teammates, but they still didnt win the mvp. Lebron didnt win it till the cavs won 60 plus games.

[Triples333]

Well said. Do you think Houston will have a good record to back-up Harden's MVP Case?

For a team who doesn't have a 2nd best player in the top-50 in the NBA (honestly probably not top 100), I think ~50 wins should do it. Another great game from Harden tonight, who were Vegas underdogs but he took them to the 8 point win with another ~30/15/7 performance. Crazy tough start to the year for the Rox who have essentially every game on the road, but they have a winning record. He's the MVP over Kawhi right now.

I agree with that harden is probably the most indispensible player right now, and playing extremely well. But 50 wins just wont be enough for him to be mvp. Weve seen Wade done that before with crazier stats, T-Mac and Lebrons 2004 to 2008 circa, they put up monster stats at both ends of the floor than harden right now with crappy teammates, but they still didnt win the mvp. Lebron didnt win it till the cavs won 60 plus games.

In the modern era we have never seen a player lead the league in points and assists, which he may very well do. It would be epic/special and due for an MVP award if he has them over 50 wins. He nearly stole it from Curry in 2015 and they were not a top 3 team in the NBA (extremely rare).