Celtics (24-15) @ Hawks (22-16) – 8PM, 01-13-17 – (AB = O; Amir/Brown = Prob)

[GreenBloodedC]

Okay I love IT as much as the next guy but come on. He's not even close to an MVP candidate.

He's behind

Harden
Westbrook
Durant
Greek Freak
Anthony Davis
LeBron
Cousins

All those players are ahead of him in PER and Estimated Wins Added. Except for LeBron who's behind him slightly in PER but solidly ahead him in Wins added.

I'd make an argument for Jimmy Butler before IT too.

IT has been phenomenal offensively and because of that he's now in rare air when talking about players, but there's still two parts to this game.

If there were an MVP vote he might get 1 or 2 votes as a shout out to his great season. But he's not in any consideration.

Are we talking about MVP or better player?

No doubt that the players you've mentioned are better than IT.

But no way that Cousins, AD and maybe greek freak are ahead of him.

And no one's in consideration other than Westbrook, Harden, KD, and LeBron. Not even the other guys you've mentioned


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Literatlly no one is talking about IT outside of this thread.

Here's the last list from USA today about 5 days ago
[url]
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2017/01/09/nba-mvp-race-butler-durant-lebron-westbrook-harden/96329472/[/url]

Got Jimmy Butler there at 5 after what he's been doing. (IT not mentioned)

Unless you have a 60+ win team being a better player does play a factor in this thing.

Article from today

http://www.nba.com/mvp-ladder

Greek Freak is in top 5 for them

This article last week

http://www.sbnation.com/2017/1/4/14164228/nba-mvp-rankings-james-harden-russell-westbrook

Kawhi 4th, Cousins and Anthony Davis tied for 5th. (IT not even mentioned)


http://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/mvp.cgi

IT listed 9th

http://www.si.com/nba/2016/12/12/nba-awards-first-quarter-mvp-russell-westbrook-james-harden-kevin-durant

They have CP3 as the 5th candidate which his stats and eye test support. (IT not mentioned)

http://hoopshabit.com/2016/12/24/ranking-the-top-5-mvps-this-season/3/

Kawhi listed 4th (IT not mentioned)


I tried to keep the sources in the past week or two, but seriously. I don't think I have to go on here.

By not in the consideration, what I meant was having no shot of winning. Not literally beign not included in the list

And IT has just been recognized recently. Couple that with our record, he should only be behind

Harden, Westbrook, LeBron, KD, leonard.

And he should be in the same tier as the greek freak.

I didn't consider CP3 because he just came back from an injury. And regardless of the stats, if your team is not even playoffbound, any mvp talk is not warranted.

What IT is doing and our team record should put him ahead of the other players.


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[Marvel]

Okay I love IT as much as the next guy but come on. He's not even close to an MVP candidate.

He's behind

Harden
Westbrook
Durant
Greek Freak
Anthony Davis
LeBron
Cousins

All those players are ahead of him in PER and Estimated Wins Added. Except for LeBron who's behind him slightly in PER but solidly ahead him in Wins added.

I'd make an argument for Jimmy Butler before IT too.

IT has been phenomenal offensively and because of that he's now in rare air when talking about players, but there's still two parts to this game.

If there were an MVP vote he might get 1 or 2 votes as a shout out to his great season. But he's not in any consideration.

Are we talking about MVP or better player?

No doubt that the players you've mentioned are better than IT.

But no way that Cousins, AD and maybe greek freak are ahead of him.

And no one's in consideration other than Westbrook, Harden, KD, and LeBron. Not even the other guys you've mentioned


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

Literatlly no one is talking about IT outside of this thread.

Here's the last list from USA today about 5 days ago
[url]
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2017/01/09/nba-mvp-race-butler-durant-lebron-westbrook-harden/96329472/[/url]

Got Jimmy Butler there at 5 after what he's been doing. (IT not mentioned)

Unless you have a 60+ win team being a better player does play a factor in this thing.

Article from today

http://www.nba.com/mvp-ladder

Greek Freak is in top 5 for them

This article last week

http://www.sbnation.com/2017/1/4/14164228/nba-mvp-rankings-james-harden-russell-westbrook

Kawhi 4th, Cousins and Anthony Davis tied for 5th. (IT not even mentioned)


http://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/mvp.cgi

IT listed 9th

http://www.si.com/nba/2016/12/12/nba-awards-first-quarter-mvp-russell-westbrook-james-harden-kevin-durant

They have CP3 as the 5th candidate which his stats and eye test support. (IT not mentioned)

http://hoopshabit.com/2016/12/24/ranking-the-top-5-mvps-this-season/3/

Kawhi listed 4th (IT not mentioned)


I tried to keep the sources in the past week or two, but seriously. I don't think I have to go on here guys. We're old enough to know when we're just listening to Tommy Heinsohn level Celtic propaganda aren't we?

Sorry, but Boogie and AD should not be 5th in any MVP "voting". That's ridiculous. 2 great players but they're not having the same impact as IT is having on the Celtics with a better aka winning record.

[31to6]

things Cave has been RIGHT about:
Steph Curry is legit
David Lee is garbage
Nets trade is **** **** awesome
other stuff I'm sure

things Cave has been WRONG about:
people think it's likely that IT is going to lead us to a title

things PENDING:
NO CUZ
we should've soft tanked/not gotten IT three years ago (I was all about the soft tank too, not trying to reanimate a dead horse here)

things I DON'T REMEMBER FROM THE TIME AND AM GOING TO NOW PRETEND I NEVER SAW:
anything related to Kobe Bryant's greatness

[return2glory]

Okay I love IT as much as the next guy but come on. He's not even close to an MVP candidate.

He's behind

Harden
Westbrook
Durant
Greek Freak
Anthony Davis
LeBron
Cousins

All those players are ahead of him in PER and Estimated Wins Added. Except for LeBron who's behind him slightly in PER but solidly ahead him in Wins added.

I'd make an argument for Jimmy Butler before IT too.

IT has been phenomenal offensively and because of that he's now in rare air when talking about players, but there's still two parts to this game.

If there were an MVP vote he might get 1 or 2 votes as a shout out to his great season. But he's not in any consideration.

Are we talking about MVP or better player?

No doubt that the players you've mentioned are better than IT.

But no way that Cousins, AD and maybe greek freak are ahead of him.

And no one's in consideration other than Westbrook, Harden, KD, and LeBron. Not even the other guys you've mentioned


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MVP= most VALUABLE player, so you are right.

Cousins? Cousins' team won't make the playoffs again. Durant? Warriors won over 60 games without Durant last year without him. Durant is not more valuable that Thomas. AD? See Cousins.

[return2glory]

We got a good win and it sucks some of us have to defend Thomas and his great season to other Celtic fans. WTF?

It's almost becoming tanking vs anti tanking from a few seasons ago.

[tlee324]

There are a handful of teams out there, maybe a bit more, that if you took away their top guy, would NOT even be close to a playoff team. Boston is one of them without Isaiah Thomas; therefore, he's a candidate. He is not a front-runner, but a candidate. It's cool to hear fans cheering MVP when he's on the FT line in the Garden. We haven't heard that in a while.

[celticfan42487]

We got a good win and it sucks some of us have to defend Thomas and his great season to other Celtic fans. WTF?

It's almost becoming tanking vs anti tanking from a few seasons ago.

Just because legit no one else other than Celtics fans have delusions IT being in MVP consideration that isn't "having to defend him". My God dude.

It's just asking for the slightest of reasonable discussion.

And if the couple of posters in this thread can't see why just about all outlets and writers and advance stat sites have Leonard, Cousins, Greek Freak AD above him... then its time to ask "am I just being a homer or is every other single person a hater".

But that said, I've never said he isn't a candidate. Just no where near consideration and he's no "oh if Westbrook or Harden gets hurt" "oh he's in the top 3"

He's an honorable mention, which is great and an honor, because he's not a serious MVP candidate.

[tlee324]

Kevin Garnett is bringing the discussion to the national stage. I think he knows a thing or two about a thing or two. He's just a homer, I'm guessing.

I actually don't agree that he's right behind Harden and Westbrook. Those guys are clearly the front runners and deservedly so.

[London2Boston]

Cousins and Davis aren't even on .500 teams and Giannis is just about. Come on now.

[return2glory]

We got a good win and it sucks some of us have to defend Thomas and his great season to other Celtic fans. WTF?

It's almost becoming tanking vs anti tanking from a few seasons ago.

Just because legit no one else other than Celtics fans have delusions IT being in MVP consideration that isn't "having to defend him". My God dude.

It's just asking for the slightest of reasonable discussion.

And if the couple of posters in this thread can't see why just about all outlets and writers and advance stat sites have Leonard, Cousins, Greek Freak AD above him... then its time to ask "am I just being a homer or is every other single person a hater".

But that said, I've never said he isn't a candidate. Just no where near consideration and he's no "oh if Westbrook or Harden gets hurt" "oh he's in the top 3"

He's an honorable mention, which is great and an honor, because he's not a serious MVP candidate.

What are you talking about? From ESPN to TNT, they are talking about Thomas as a MVP candidate.
And Thomas is a honorable mention and that's a great accomplishment.

He is having a better year than when Nash won the MVP.
Cousins and AD? When are players for non playoff teams considered for MVP?

[celticfan42487]

We got a good win and it sucks some of us have to defend Thomas and his great season to other Celtic fans. WTF?

It's almost becoming tanking vs anti tanking from a few seasons ago.

Just because legit no one else other than Celtics fans have delusions IT being in MVP consideration that isn't "having to defend him". My God dude.

It's just asking for the slightest of reasonable discussion.

And if the couple of posters in this thread can't see why just about all outlets and writers and advance stat sites have Leonard, Cousins, Greek Freak AD above him... then its time to ask "am I just being a homer or is every other single person a hater".

But that said, I've never said he isn't a candidate. Just no where near consideration and he's no "oh if Westbrook or Harden gets hurt" "oh he's in the top 3"

He's an honorable mention, which is great and an honor, because he's not a serious MVP candidate.

What are you talking about? From ESPN to TNT, they are talking about Thomas as a MVP candidate.
And Thomas is a honorable mention and that's a great accomplishment.

He is having a better year than when Nash won the MVP.
Cousins and AD? When are players for non playoff teams considered for MVP?

See the post I made in the last page, where legit every news source you can find. Seriously... I don't know how to put it more straightforward.

[Writebloc]

Okay I love IT as much as the next guy but come on. He's not even close to an MVP candidate.

He's behind

Harden
Westbrook
Durant
Greek Freak
Anthony Davis
LeBron
Cousins

All those players are ahead of him in PER and Estimated Wins Added. Except for LeBron who's behind him slightly in PER but solidly ahead him in Wins added.

I'd make an argument for Jimmy Butler before IT too.

IT has been phenomenal offensively and because of that he's now in rare air when talking about players, but there's still two parts to this game.

If there were an MVP vote he might get 1 or 2 votes as a shout out to his great season. But he's not in any consideration.

Are we talking about MVP or better player?

No doubt that the players you've mentioned are better than IT.

But no way that Cousins, AD and maybe greek freak are ahead of him.

And no one's in consideration other than Westbrook, Harden, KD, and LeBron. Not even the other guys you've mentioned


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

Literatlly no one is talking about IT outside of this thread.

Here's the last list from USA today about 5 days ago
[url]
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2017/01/09/nba-mvp-race-butler-durant-lebron-westbrook-harden/96329472/[/url]

Got Jimmy Butler there at 5 after what he's been doing. (IT not mentioned)

Unless you have a 60+ win team being a better player does play a factor in this thing.

Article from today

http://www.nba.com/mvp-ladder

Greek Freak is in top 5 for them

This article last week

http://www.sbnation.com/2017/1/4/14164228/nba-mvp-rankings-james-harden-russell-westbrook

Kawhi 4th, Cousins and Anthony Davis tied for 5th. (IT not even mentioned in rankings but get shout out next to Kemba Walker)


http://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/mvp.cgi

IT listed 9th

http://www.si.com/nba/2016/12/12/nba-awards-first-quarter-mvp-russell-westbrook-james-harden-kevin-durant

They have CP3 as the 5th candidate which his stats and eye test support. (IT not mentioned)

http://hoopshabit.com/2016/12/24/ranking-the-top-5-mvps-this-season/3/

Kawhi listed 4th (IT not mentioned)


I tried to keep the sources in the past week or two, but seriously. I don't think I have to go on here guys. We're old enough to know when we're just listening to Tommy Heinsohn level Celtic propaganda aren't we?

Rankings were made to be changed. Creepy levels at how much you want to discredit a Celtic's player? What kind of agenda are you angling towards? Lots of research going into showing how just out of the MVP race IT is? Headscractcher?

[return2glory]

Just because legit no one else other than Celtics fans have delusions IT being in MVP consideration that isn't "having to defend him". My God dude.

It's just asking for the slightest of reasonable discussion.

And if the couple of posters in this thread can't see why just about all outlets and writers and advance stat sites have Leonard, Cousins, Greek Freak AD above him... then its time to ask "am I just being a homer or is every other single person a hater".

But that said, I've never said he isn't a candidate. Just no where near consideration and he's no "oh if Westbrook or Harden gets hurt" "oh he's in the top 3"

He's an honorable mention, which is great and an honor, because he's not a serious MVP candidate.

What are you talking about? From ESPN to TNT, they are talking about Thomas as a MVP candidate.
And Thomas is a honorable mention and that's a great accomplishment.

He is having a better year than when Nash won the MVP.
Cousins and AD? When are players for non playoff teams considered for MVP?

See the post I made in the last page, where legit every news source you can find. Seriously... I don't know how to put it more straightforward.

I would go with what former NBA players who are current ESPN and TNT analyst over the links you privided. Anyone who included Cousins and AD as MVP canditates isn't legit to me. Both those guys play for non playoff teams.

You got to ask your self if your a homer? Really? Thomas is 4th in the NBA is scoring and 1st in the NBA is 4th quarter scoring?

I guess some people here aren't happy, even after a win. Try a little harder to prove Thomas isn't a legit MVP canditate. Ask yourself are you even a Celtic fan or just a guy that doesn't like Thomas.

[return2glory]

Watch on YouTube

[GreenBloodedC]

Okay I love IT as much as the next guy but come on. He's not even close to an MVP candidate.

He's behind

Harden
Westbrook
Durant
Greek Freak
Anthony Davis
LeBron
Cousins

All those players are ahead of him in PER and Estimated Wins Added. Except for LeBron who's behind him slightly in PER but solidly ahead him in Wins added.

I'd make an argument for Jimmy Butler before IT too.

IT has been phenomenal offensively and because of that he's now in rare air when talking about players, but there's still two parts to this game.

If there were an MVP vote he might get 1 or 2 votes as a shout out to his great season. But he's not in any consideration.

Are we talking about MVP or better player?

No doubt that the players you've mentioned are better than IT.

But no way that Cousins, AD and maybe greek freak are ahead of him.

And no one's in consideration other than Westbrook, Harden, KD, and LeBron. Not even the other guys you've mentioned


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

Literatlly no one is talking about IT outside of this thread.

Here's the last list from USA today about 5 days ago
[url]
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2017/01/09/nba-mvp-race-butler-durant-lebron-westbrook-harden/96329472/[/url]

Got Jimmy Butler there at 5 after what he's been doing. (IT not mentioned)

Unless you have a 60+ win team being a better player does play a factor in this thing.

Article from today

http://www.nba.com/mvp-ladder

Greek Freak is in top 5 for them

This article last week

http://www.sbnation.com/2017/1/4/14164228/nba-mvp-rankings-james-harden-russell-westbrook

Kawhi 4th, Cousins and Anthony Davis tied for 5th. (IT not even mentioned in rankings but get shout out next to Kemba Walker)


http://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/mvp.cgi

IT listed 9th

http://www.si.com/nba/2016/12/12/nba-awards-first-quarter-mvp-russell-westbrook-james-harden-kevin-durant

They have CP3 as the 5th candidate which his stats and eye test support. (IT not mentioned)

http://hoopshabit.com/2016/12/24/ranking-the-top-5-mvps-this-season/3/

Kawhi listed 4th (IT not mentioned)


I tried to keep the sources in the past week or two, but seriously. I don't think I have to go on here guys. We're old enough to know when we're just listening to Tommy Heinsohn level Celtic propaganda aren't we?

Isaiah moves up one spot to 6th behind Harden, Russ, KD, Lebron, Giannis in this week's KIA MVP Ladder: http://www.nba.com/article/2017/01/13/mvp-ladder-week-10-stephen-curry-still-shining-golden-state

On Zach Lowe's latest podcast episode:
JVG: "Isaiah Thomas to me -- he's gonna be in the top 5 of the MVP balloting. I don't think there's any doubt about that..."

He's not gonna win it -- that's between Harden and Westbrook -- but I didn't even imagine coming into the season that people would be talking about him as a possible candidate. Lots of season left, but he's looking good for an All-NBA team spot if he's getting national attention and team continues to win (screw Bleacher Report and their 11th best PG ranking).

EDIT:
The guy works for The Vertical now, another national media outlet.

Read on Twitter

Quoting Crowderkeg's post on the recent MVP rankings which confirmed my previous statement.

IT should only be behind Westbrook, Harden, KD, LeBron and you could make the argument that he should be above Giannis due to standings.

I guess people outside this forum is talking about IT being an MVP candidate.

PS.

No room for guys who should not even make the playoffs.

[ParticleMan]

IT is the runaway MVP this year.

IT's contract is the best value in the league. so he is the most valuable player.

[CeltsfanSinceBirth]

I honestly don't care if IT is an MVP candidate or not. What I can tell you is that he's just a helluva fun player to watch, and his 4th quarter outbursts made me wish there was another star available via trade to bring in. He's a closer. If IT were to be flanked by KG and Ray like Pierce was, there's no doubt in my mind that IT could be an integral part of a title team.

I don't know how much more clutch the guy needs to be for people to see this.

[Writebloc]

I honestly don't care if IT is an MVP candidate or not. What I can tell you is that he's just a helluva fun player to watch, and his 4th quarter outbursts made me wish there was another star available via trade to bring in. He's a closer. If IT were to be flanked by KG and Ray like Pierce was, there's no doubt in my mind that IT could be an integral part of a title team.

I don't know how much more clutch the guy needs to be for people to see this.

They’re blinded by their own agendas. It's been happening on this board for a long time now.

[Gant]

I walk every day and just got back. A few minutes ago I startled a hawk. It flew away and made the same sound that they play way too often and too loud in the Atlanta arena.

This seems to be the appropriate thread to report this experience.

[celticfan42487]

Are we talking about MVP or better player?

No doubt that the players you've mentioned are better than IT.

But no way that Cousins, AD and maybe greek freak are ahead of him.

And no one's in consideration other than Westbrook, Harden, KD, and LeBron. Not even the other guys you've mentioned


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

Literatlly no one is talking about IT outside of this thread.

Here's the last list from USA today about 5 days ago
[url]
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2017/01/09/nba-mvp-race-butler-durant-lebron-westbrook-harden/96329472/[/url]

Got Jimmy Butler there at 5 after what he's been doing. (IT not mentioned)

Unless you have a 60+ win team being a better player does play a factor in this thing.

Article from today

http://www.nba.com/mvp-ladder

Greek Freak is in top 5 for them

This article last week

http://www.sbnation.com/2017/1/4/14164228/nba-mvp-rankings-james-harden-russell-westbrook

Kawhi 4th, Cousins and Anthony Davis tied for 5th. (IT not even mentioned in rankings but get shout out next to Kemba Walker)


http://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/mvp.cgi

IT listed 9th

http://www.si.com/nba/2016/12/12/nba-awards-first-quarter-mvp-russell-westbrook-james-harden-kevin-durant

They have CP3 as the 5th candidate which his stats and eye test support. (IT not mentioned)

http://hoopshabit.com/2016/12/24/ranking-the-top-5-mvps-this-season/3/

Kawhi listed 4th (IT not mentioned)


I tried to keep the sources in the past week or two, but seriously. I don't think I have to go on here guys. We're old enough to know when we're just listening to Tommy Heinsohn level Celtic propaganda aren't we?

Rankings were made to be changed. Creepy levels at how much you want to discredit a Celtic's player? What kind of agenda are you angling towards? Lots of research going into showing how just out of the MVP race IT is? Headscractcher?

Just wait till I start arguing that the sun will appear to be in the sky tomorrow. It'll be super creepy how much evidence I'll find to support that opinion.