2016-17 MVP Discussion Thread

[Impuniti]

3rd 40 and 15 game from AD tonight

Rest of the leeg has 0

Is there a reason AD played for 41 minutes in a game when the Pels win by 17 other than stat padding?

No, I watched it. He was padding. Ditto Gianni's in the Bucks/Cavs game. Though not the first AllStar or MVP candidates to pad this year, and won't be the last. The Warriors have done it a number of times simply because they're up big in so many 4th quarters and their numbers at the time were paltry before doing a little padding.

Warriors average 28-30mpg in blowouts, with one exception of Curry playing 3-4+ mins in game where he had a putrid 11points before coming back in. I know it's not the first all star, I just find it in general a terrible idea for a star in a .500 team padding since they usually will need a bit more physically than stars that play with 1-2 other stars in their teams throughout the season. It's been a while since I remember someone hitting 41mpg in a blowout though.

[Triples333]

Is there a reason AD played for 41 minutes in a game when the Pels win by 17 other than stat padding?

No, I watched it. He was padding. Ditto Gianni's in the Bucks/Cavs game. Though not the first AllStar or MVP candidates to pad this year, and won't be the last. The Warriors have done it a number of times simply because they're up big in so many 4th quarters and their numbers at the time were paltry before doing a little padding.

Warriors average 28-30mpg in blowouts, with one exception of Curry playing 3-4+ mins in game where he had a putrid 11points before coming back in. I know it's not the first all star, I just find it in general a terrible idea for a star in a .500 team padding since they usually will need a bit more physically than stars that play with 1-2 other stars in their teams throughout the season. It's been a while since I remember someone hitting 41mpg in a blowout though.

We've seen KD in there padding as well in the 4th quarter when the Warriors are up 20 with 5-7 minutes left. Kerr generally pulls the plug at that point, but if KD or Curry are below 20 points he'll get them some 4th Q burn regardless of the score (which I actually don't think is entirely dumb, these are franchise guys and whether we like it or not, as we can tell by our posts, the numbers matter). As far as middling teams who have to fight for every win doing it? Yeah, that's a bit more concerning as they need all the energy from their stars that they can get.

[Impuniti]

No, I watched it. He was padding. Ditto Gianni's in the Bucks/Cavs game. Though not the first AllStar or MVP candidates to pad this year, and won't be the last. The Warriors have done it a number of times simply because they're up big in so many 4th quarters and their numbers at the time were paltry before doing a little padding.

Warriors average 28-30mpg in blowouts, with one exception of Curry playing 3-4+ mins in game where he had a putrid 11points before coming back in. I know it's not the first all star, I just find it in general a terrible idea for a star in a .500 team padding since they usually will need a bit more physically than stars that play with 1-2 other stars in their teams throughout the season. It's been a while since I remember someone hitting 41mpg in a blowout though.

We've seen KD in there padding as well in the 4th quarter when the Warriors are up 20 with 5-7 minutes left. Kerr generally pulls the plug at that point, but if KD or Curry are below 20 points he'll get them some 4th Q burn regardless of the score (which I actually don't think is entirely dumb, these are franchise guys and whether we like it or not, as we can tell by our posts, the numbers matter). As far as middling teams who have to fight for every win doing it? Yeah, that's a bit more concerning as they need all the energy from their stars that they can get.

No, that's due to rotation. He ends games with 29-30mpg in blowout games.

[Triples333]

Warriors average 28-30mpg in blowouts, with one exception of Curry playing 3-4+ mins in game where he had a putrid 11points before coming back in. I know it's not the first all star, I just find it in general a terrible idea for a star in a .500 team padding since they usually will need a bit more physically than stars that play with 1-2 other stars in their teams throughout the season. It's been a while since I remember someone hitting 41mpg in a blowout though.

We've seen KD in there padding as well in the 4th quarter when the Warriors are up 20 with 5-7 minutes left. Kerr generally pulls the plug at that point, but if KD or Curry are below 20 points he'll get them some 4th Q burn regardless of the score (which I actually don't think is entirely dumb, these are franchise guys and whether we like it or not, as we can tell by our posts, the numbers matter). As far as middling teams who have to fight for every win doing it? Yeah, that's a bit more concerning as they need all the energy from their stars that they can get.

No, that's due to rotation. He ends games with 29-30mpg in blowout games.

That's true, but it's a rotation they could obviously abandon or cut shorter with games out of reach (I'd argue up 20 with 9 minutes to go is out of reach). Like, they beat the Lakers 149-106. Probably no need for KD to be in there dropping buckets down to the 9 minute mark of the 4th quarter in that game. It's not super common, but it's common enough. And again I think it's understandable.

[Ballerhogger]

Jimmy has MVP 3 to tie it against the Lakers and big air ball. Not seeing MVP in his future. The Bulls aren't good enough

[inquisitive]

i honestly would like the nba to have players vote not just on MVP, but other awards too. too bad the owners won't allow this.

[Triples333]

Fantastic OT performance from Westbrook in OT to secure the W over the Wiz. And another 30 point triple double (ho hum right?). Granted, he hasn't shot above the 30%'s in 5 games in a row now (~25 attempts per game). Something to watch amid the stat mayhem. But as long as they're winning, get at it.

[Prez]

3rd 40 and 15 game from AD tonight

Rest of the leeg has 0

Is there a reason AD played for 41 minutes in a game when the Pels win by 17 other than stat padding?

No, I watched it. He was padding. Ditto Gianni's in the Bucks/Cavs game. Though not the first AllStar or MVP candidates to pad this year, and won't be the last. The Warriors have done it a number of times simply because they're up big in so many 4th quarters and their numbers at the time were paltry before doing a little padding.

Except that he didn't. Lue had Lebron, Kyrie, Love in till 6 minutes left and Giannis stayed till 3 minutes left. In those 3 minutes all he recorded was one bucket and an assist. Of his 34/12/5/5 statline, he had 32/12/4/5 when Cleveland's starters sat. They were only up 19 on the defending champs with half a quarter to play, it's not stat padding to ensure a win with 6 minutes left.

[Triples333]

Is there a reason AD played for 41 minutes in a game when the Pels win by 17 other than stat padding?

No, I watched it. He was padding. Ditto Gianni's in the Bucks/Cavs game. Though not the first AllStar or MVP candidates to pad this year, and won't be the last. The Warriors have done it a number of times simply because they're up big in so many 4th quarters and their numbers at the time were paltry before doing a little padding.

Except that he didn't. Lue had Lebron, Kyrie, Love in till 6 minutes left and Giannis stayed till 3 minutes left. In those 3 minutes all he recorded was one bucket and an assist. Of his 34/12/5/5 statline, he had 32/12/4/5 when Cleveland's starters sat. They were only up 19 on the defending champs with half a quarter to play, it's not stat padding to ensure a win with 6 minutes left.

Well that's a nice revisionist Bucks fan view, but he was. He failed to stat pad and missed a couple shots/turned it over in that span (my guess is that because it was a career high scoring night, they were trying to get him to 40 in the next few minutes), but that was the attempt. When you're up 20 with 6 minutes to go and the other team subs out the stars for the scrubs, you can very safely sub in your bench at the next dead ball. They will not lose a 20 point lead in that span. Ever. The only reason to leave your star in is if he wants to eat.

[Impuniti]

We've seen KD in there padding as well in the 4th quarter when the Warriors are up 20 with 5-7 minutes left. Kerr generally pulls the plug at that point, but if KD or Curry are below 20 points he'll get them some 4th Q burn regardless of the score (which I actually don't think is entirely dumb, these are franchise guys and whether we like it or not, as we can tell by our posts, the numbers matter). As far as middling teams who have to fight for every win doing it? Yeah, that's a bit more concerning as they need all the energy from their stars that they can get.

No, that's due to rotation. He ends games with 29-30mpg in blowout games.

That's true, but it's a rotation they could obviously abandon or cut shorter with games out of reach (I'd argue up 20 with 9 minutes to go is out of reach). Like, they beat the Lakers 149-106. Probably no need for KD to be in there dropping buckets down to the 9 minute mark of the 4th quarter in that game. It's not super common, but it's common enough. And again I think it's understandable.

KD leaves around the 8-9m mark in the 4th in blowouts due to rotation. 29-30min is the standard time to sit in blowouts and is averaging 3m less than his carer average in mpg, which he already said is making a difference this year. Unless you want KD or any other star to play 24-26m ie half the game in such situations, but I doubt anyone would be ok with that.

[Alonzo_Morning]

3rd 40 and 15 game from AD tonight

Rest of the leeg has 0

Make that 1 with KAT today

[Phreak50]

Westbrook now shooting a career low 39% from the field. I don't care how bad his team apparently is and how good his other stats are, no one is winning MVP shooting under 40% surely.

(Iverson was at 42% in his MVP year)

[QPR]

Westbrook now shooting a career low 39% from the field. I don't care how bad his team apparently is and how good his other stats are, no one is winning MVP shooting under 40% surely.

(Iverson was at 42% in his MVP year)

Why would you isolate one particular stat though, given he contributes positively in so many other areas?

[bondom34]

Westbrook now shooting a career low 39% from the field. I don't care how bad his team apparently is and how good his other stats are, no one is winning MVP shooting under 40% surely.

(Iverson was at 42% in his MVP year)

Also a near league leading on/off, league leading assist percentage, and a pretty average TS at .539. I don't think anyone uses FG percentage for much of anything anymore.

[therealbig3]

My take:

-Westbrook is being overrated a bit by his raw numbers...great players surrounded by not much talent are going to put up huge numbers...doesn't necessarily mean they're playing better than all the other elite players who may have lesser numbers

-I find it hard to give it to Durant, because I think there's a legitimate argument to be made that Curry is still their best player, and that at minimum, you have to give almost equal credit to both of them, which means neither one is really MVP-caliber...not to mention that Draymond Green, because of how unique he is, still might be their most "valuable" player, in terms of who they absolutely can't lose for an extended period of time and expect to stay dominant...the 2016 Warriors are like the Spurs for the last 5 years or so, where no individual player could really take all that much credit, because everyone played so well together and multiple players were big time contributors...it's more of an ensemble effort than any one individual carrying them

-James Harden is kind of in the same class as Westbrook for me



I think LeBron or Paul would be my pick for MVP so far.

[Riko]

Westbrook now shooting a career low 39% from the field. I don't care how bad his team apparently is and how good his other stats are, no one is winning MVP shooting under 40% surely.

(Iverson was at 42% in his MVP year)

I don't agree... Westbrook is the only one in his team who can create a shoot (maybe Kanter but he average less than 20 minutes) so is almost impossible for him to raise his efficency in today basketball.

IMHO the league needs new face for the next decade so the MVP (it is a advertasing award) will go to one beetween Leonard, Westbrook, Harden or Durant.

[jg77]

With all the Westbrook, Harden, Durant and LeBron talk...aren't we forgetting Kawhi Leonard?

[Ballerhogger]

Westbrook clear number 1 right now

[PCProductions]

With all the Westbrook, Harden, Durant and LeBron talk...aren't we forgetting Kawhi Leonard?

The negative On/Off really hurts his case right now.

[ChiCityHoops34]

My take:

-Westbrook is being overrated a bit by his raw numbers...great players surrounded by not much talent are going to put up huge numbers...doesn't necessarily mean they're playing better than all the other elite players who may have lesser numbers

There have been a lot of great players on bad teams not even sniff a 30+ ppg triple double average. He is carrying the Thunder to 12-8 and the 5th seed in the West right now after losing a top 3 player in the world. Nobody is even close to him in the MVP race if it ended today.