MVP Discussion [19/20] [part I] - voting reopened

[Jamaaliver]

Serious question: How is Trae Young not on this poll and a serious part of this MVP conversation?

Before injury he was #1 in assists and #2 in scoring. He's still top-10 in both categories.

Hawks are absolute garbage without him...

Read on Twitter

[Ballerhogger]

Serious question: How is Trae Young not on this poll and a serious part of this MVP conversation or listed in the poll?

Before injury he was #1 in assists and #2 in scoring. He's still top-10 in both categories.

Hawks are absolute garbage without him...

Read on Twitter

Good numbers but a 3-3 record isnt good showing for MVP candidate

[LukaV]

Unless one of LBJ and AD, Westbrook and Harden or Kawhi and PG13 is derailed by injuries, neither of those pairs should be in the running for MVP. Having such a tremendous teammate simply makes the game so much easier for you compared to other top players who don't have a such a great (MVP/All NBA top level) teammate. That's why I thought KD&Curry canceled each other out when both on Warriors and that's why LBJ and DWade canceled each other out in 2011.

So for me the top candidates will most likely be Giannis, Embiid and Jokić, since their three teams will most likely have lots more wins in the regular season than Minny, Dallas or Portland. Given their defensive prowess, Giannis and Embiid will be my two favourites if both remain healthy enough.

So you agree that Curry should be void of his MVP in 2016 due to Draymond Green, Jordan in 1996 and Shaq in 2000?

I was very young in 1996&2000, so my perception of the NBA back then was too immature for me to really know now how good Pippen and Kobe were in those years. So I can't reply to your question about Jordan and Shaq MVP's in those years.

As for Steph in 2016, my opinion is that neither Klay nor Draymond were in the top echelon of NBA players. Tremendous #1/#2 option-players, but definitely not #1 option/MVP level players. On the contrary, LBJ/AD, Westbrook/Harden, Kawhi/PG13 are all players who have shown that they can be a clear #1 option on a championship contender, a.k.a. they've shown they're MVP level players.

[NapoleonII]

Serious question: How is Trae Young not on this poll and a serious part of this MVP conversation or listed in the poll?

Before injury he was #1 in assists and #2 in scoring. He's still top-10 in both categories.

Hawks are absolute garbage without him...

Read on Twitter

Good numbers but a 3-3 record isnt good showing for MVP candidate

Their last two losses he was absent for 7/8 of those quarters.

I'll see what their record is 15 games into the season and evaluate then, but his current numbers are bonkers. And having watched a few games, Young can literally do anything on the offensive end. He reminds me so much of Steve Nash it's kinda scary.

[yoyoboy]

It's too hard to make an MVP leaderboard this early in the season. Mine is probably something like:

1. LeBron
2. Giannis
3. Doncic
4. Kawhi

After that it's difficult because you've got several guys who have missed multiple games but have been posting crazy production and led their teams to impressive wins when they've played. All I know is LeBron and Giannis are the top 2 so far considering both of them have played in every game and they've also been playing at as high of a level as anyone else. KAT and Butler have been fantastic but have also played half the minutes LeBron has. Embiid has played less than a third of the minutes he has. Young has been superb too but he's at about 60% of LeBron's minutes this year. Mitchell, Kyrie, Lillard, Davis, Horford, and Booker, among a few others deserve honorable mentions, as well.

[The High Cyde]

There's no way Kawhi wins MVP if he's taking games off this early in the season. He might only play around 60-65 games this season with the pace he's sitting out games.

[Kabookalu]

At this rate it's going to be Dwight Howard.

yes I keed

[rtiff68]

Are we stating who we think should be the MVP based upon our own personal criteria? If that's the case, then all of the options mentioned could be viable.

By contrast, if we are guessing who will win the award based upon how it has traditionally been given out, then a lot of the options listed and being mentioned simply are not very realistic.

Traditionally, the MVP award is given out to the best player (provided he does not miss too many games) on the team with either the best record or close to it. There have been occasional outliers (like the first Westbrook triple double season), but they are just that-- outliers.

Based upon the aforementioned, guys like KAT, Doncic, and Trae Young are really not that realistic at all unless you think their respective teams are finishing at the top of the conferences. With Kawhi's load management he'll likely miss too many games for consideration, and with Embiid's injury history I'd think DNP's would trip up his bid as well.

Giannis

Harden, Jokic

LeBron, Davis (I think they'll both miss games for rest AND steal votes from each other-- like Curry and Durant did-- or they'd be higher)

Lillard (they won't win enough games)

[limbo]

Giannis has too much going for him...

- pretty numbers
- two-way player
- top 5 player based on impact (with potential of being the best)
- clear cut best player on his team
- likely won't be sitting out as many games as other candidates
- has good enough team + easy conference to rack up 55, 60 wins

It would take a really special effort to take the award away from him, imo.

I can MAYBE see a scenario where LeBron wins it, if the Lakers end up with around +10W over the Bucks and LeBron averages a triple double. This would get people debating whether we're seeing another peak version of LeBron + triple double narrative + lifetime achievement narrative gets him the award (also Giannis not being a fresh pick since he won it last season, that could play in LeBron's favor too).

I thought about AD maybe winning, since he can realistically get DPOY while averaging close to 30 ppg, but if LeBron performs the way he has in the last couple of games, then no way AD wins MVP, since most people don't even have him as the best player on his team.

Another plausible option is Embiid. Again Sixers would likely need to firmly win the Eastern Conference, Embiid would need to average at least 30 mpg and not miss too many games. Anchoring the #1 defense would help too.

[Dupp]

Yeah it’s looking like Giannis is gonna repeat to me. Dude is insane. Great numbers. Good cast but no co stars and will have a great record.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

Giannis has too much going for him...

- pretty numbers
- two-way player
- top 5 player based on impact (with potential of being the best)
- clear cut best player on his team
- likely won't be sitting out as many games as other candidates
- has good enough team + easy conference to rack up 55, 60 wins

It would take a really special effort to take the award away from him, imo.

I can MAYBE see a scenario where LeBron wins it, if the Lakers end up with around +10W over the Bucks and LeBron averages a triple double. This would get people debating whether we're seeing another peak version of LeBron + triple double narrative + lifetime achievement narrative gets him the award (also Giannis not being a fresh pick since he won it last season, that could play in LeBron's favor too).

I thought about AD maybe winning, since he can realistically get DPOY while averaging close to 30 ppg, but if LeBron performs the way he has in the last couple of games, then no way AD wins MVP, since most people don't even have him as the best player on his team.

Another plausible option is Embiid. Again Sixers would likely need to firmly win the Eastern Conference, Embiid would need to average at least 30 mpg and not miss too many games. Anchoring the #1 defense would help too.

Homer stance: Giannis is clear favorite unless an injury happens or Embiid stays healthy and leads sixers to 60+ wins.

[RB34]

Giannis with another monster game.. 38/16/9 with the dub.

[tkb]

Giannis has too much going for him...

- pretty numbers
- two-way player
- top 5 player based on impact (with potential of being the best)
- clear cut best player on his team
- likely won't be sitting out as many games as other candidates
- has good enough team + easy conference to rack up 55, 60 wins

It would take a really special effort to take the award away from him, imo.

I can MAYBE see a scenario where LeBron wins it, if the Lakers end up with around +10W over the Bucks and LeBron averages a triple double. This would get people debating whether we're seeing another peak version of LeBron + triple double narrative + lifetime achievement narrative gets him the award (also Giannis not being a fresh pick since he won it last season, that could play in LeBron's favor too).

I thought about AD maybe winning, since he can realistically get DPOY while averaging close to 30 ppg, but if LeBron performs the way he has in the last couple of games, then no way AD wins MVP, since most people don't even have him as the best player on his team.

Another plausible option is Embiid. Again Sixers would likely need to firmly win the Eastern Conference, Embiid would need to average at least 30 mpg and not miss too many games. Anchoring the #1 defense would help too.

The bolded part isn’t remotely close to being a «maybe scenario». If that happens, LeBron will win MVP unanimously

[JN61]

Yeah it’s looking like Giannis is gonna repeat to me. Dude is insane. Great numbers. Good cast but no co stars and will have a great record.

He's playing with last year's all-star, who is once again shooting great to start the season.

[Run DLC]

I hope LeBron go after it. If he were to win it, He’d be the only player in NBA history to win the regular MVP for three different teams. I’m well aware of the fact that he or Kawhi have a chance of being the first player to win a title for three different teams. It would be quite an amazing feat if LeBron could pull it off. That would definitely define his longevity as a dominant player by winning three MVP’s and championships for three different jerseys.

[Oscar9992]

Giannis is off the charts right now...

29 PPG, 14.3 RPG, 7.6 APG, 35.5 PER.

[GusT15]

Giannis is off the charts right now...

29 PPG, 14.3 RPG, 7.6 APG, 35.5 PER.

Giannis

8 games 6-2
5th in Points PG
3d in Rebounds PG
8th in Assists PG
37th in Steals PG
17th in Blocks PG
1st in PER

TS% .642,WS/48 .361,BPM 15,VORP 1.1

Lebron

7 games 6-1
10th in PPG
27th in RPG
1st in APG
17th in SPG
66th in BPG
7th in PER

TS% .576,WS/48 .285,BPM 11.5,VORP 0.8

#1 and #2 in the MVP race IMO at the moment.

(Kawhi 29/7/6,4th PPG,39th RPG,22nd APG,2nd SPG,38th BPG,2nd PER-DQ,Load Management,Out of MVP Contention currently)

[UcanUwill]

Aron Baynes the real MVP.

Dude is playing out of his mind no doubt. Love how he shoots his threes

Wonder what will happen when Ayton comes back. Baynes 3 point shooting form is great, reminds me of women shooting.

[UcanUwill]

The only thing that can stop Giannis is FIBA rules ha

[WHITE_HOT_HEAT]

Giannis keeps this up and Bucks gets close to the Best record, he'll win.
I'm doubtful about the record though.