MVP Discussion [19/20] [part II] - voting opened

[eminence]

I don't think LeBron's case is as weak as some are saying, but he's really the only one with even a fringe case against Giannis, who is, and should be, the heavy heavy favorite as of now.

[mitrandil20]

OT:
What do you think are the Bucks' chances of winning the championship this year? I haven't watched any game of the team, I kind of get the strengths in terms of deep bench and structural pillars being veeery solid right now - but where does the main 'closing' strength lie? In their superstar Giannis or in their web of strengths? A combination of both is my first and most hopeful (or stupid?) answer, but I'm still not completely sold on Giannis being the absolute super-basketball saviant a lot of people describe him as. I would be frightenly happy to be shown otherwise actually, as my mind says "He's there", but my basketball aesthetic's perception says "No"

P.S. In recent years I just had the time to check daily box-scores and perhaps watch one or two games during the playoffs. My fav team is San Antonio, and I would be extremely satisfied with LeBron winning a 4th title.

[SeniorWalker]

I don't think LeBron's case is as weak as some are saying, but he's really the only one with even a fringe case against Giannis, who is, and should be, the heavy heavy favorite as of now.

It's not that LeBrons case is weak. In any given year he'd be a solid candidate. It's more that Giannis is way ahead of everybody. So like if were going to talk about 1st place votes or whatever, LeBron doesn't really deserve any consideration over Giannis. Hes strong enough to be considered among the others though for sure. An also-ran, effectively.

[eminence]

I don't think LeBron's case is as weak as some are saying, but he's really the only one with even a fringe case against Giannis, who is, and should be, the heavy heavy favorite as of now.

It's not that LeBrons case is weak. In any given year he'd be a solid candidate. It's more that Giannis is way ahead of everybody. So like if were going to talk about 1st place votes or whatever, LeBron doesn't really deserve any consideration over Giannis. Hes strong enough to be considered among the others though for sure. An also-ran, effectively.

Guess we disagree there. With the cast advantage Giannis has I think it's still at least worth monitoring.

[SeniorWalker]

I don't think LeBron's case is as weak as some are saying, but he's really the only one with even a fringe case against Giannis, who is, and should be, the heavy heavy favorite as of now.

It's not that LeBrons case is weak. In any given year he'd be a solid candidate. It's more that Giannis is way ahead of everybody. So like if were going to talk about 1st place votes or whatever, LeBron doesn't really deserve any consideration over Giannis. Hes strong enough to be considered among the others though for sure. An also-ran, effectively.

Guess we disagree there. With the cast advantage Giannis has I think it's still at least worth monitoring.

Theres no question that the bucks cast overall is put together better. But LeBron is not the most important player by far for the Lakers, in the way Giannis is for the bucks. The lakers are a defensive oriented team and AD is their clear anchor, not to mention their leading scorer. It's really disingenuous on anyone part to act like he isnt contributing almost equally to LeBron. He really is. (Not implying anything about you personally here).

I also think LeBron is the Lakers most important player and they definitely need his playmaking but AD does lift nearly as much as he does, especially with LeBron's diminished scoring ability. This lowers LeBron's MVP value in my view.

[clyde21]

just give it to Giannis this discussion is pretty much over, biggest runaway probably since '16 Steph

[BFRESH44]

Giannis should get a unanimous vote if Curry got one in '16.

[bballgod07]

Milwa is undefeated without Kompo they are like 6-0 or something? Clearly they are still probably top 4 without him easily.

[mediocrityrules]

You probably want to check the teams they’ve played without him before calling them ‘top 4 clearly’.


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[everdiso]

Kyle Lowry.

[C0bR]

Bucks are now 5-0 without Giannis with an average margin of victory being 17 points

They are the best team in basketball irrespective of him playing or not

Giannis has now slipped fully out of contention

[Gooner]

Bucks are now 5-0 without Giannis with an average margin of victory being 17 points

They are the best team in basketball irrespective of him playing or not

Giannis has now slipped fully out of contention

Yes, they are an elite regular season team even without him. Lillard is the MVP for me if he gets Portland to the playoffs.

[MrPerfect1]

Bucks are now 5-0 without Giannis with an average margin of victory being 17 points

They are the best team in basketball irrespective of him playing or not

Giannis has now slipped fully out of contention

Yeah, because beating the Magic, Hawks, Kings, etc is truly the Mark of a Great Team lol

If they are the Best team even without him, then are you arguing Middleton for MVP?

[blazza18]

Bucks should have done Giannis a favour by losing to lottery teams.

[MrPerfect1]

OT:
What do you think are the Bucks' chances of winning the championship this year? I haven't watched any game of the team, I kind of get the strengths in terms of deep bench and structural pillars being veeery solid right now - but where does the main 'closing' strength lie? In their superstar Giannis or in their web of strengths? A combination of both is my first and most hopeful (or stupid?) answer, but I'm still not completely sold on Giannis being the absolute super-basketball saviant a lot of people describe him as. I would be frightenly happy to be shown otherwise actually, as my mind says "He's there", but my basketball aesthetic's perception says "No"

P.S. In recent years I just had the time to check daily box-scores and perhaps watch one or two games during the playoffs. My fav team is San Antonio, and I would be extremely satisfied with LeBron winning a 4th title.

-Giannis is having 1 of the Greatest Seasons in NBA History despite only playing 30 mins/game. Per/36 he scores nearly as much as Harden and adds Dominant Rebounding and DPOY caliber Defense on top.

-In terms of the team, they are the Highest scoring team in the League at roughly 120/game and haven't been held under 100 in any game this year.

-They are the Best Defensive team in the NBA with far and away the Best Rim Defense in the League. They give up a good amount of 3's, but usually to the lesser shooters in the harder to make spots.

-The only way teams have really beaten the Bucks this year is if teams catch Fire from 3 and either set or come close to setting a team record. Usually Bucks losses have featured the opposition making roughly 18-26 3's and shooting like 40%+ from 3 that game.

[E-Balla]

The Bucks legitimately have one of the best defenses I've ever seen given the league environment currently and the modern interpretation of the rules.

[KGtabake]

The Bucks legitimately have one of the best defenses I've ever seen given the league environment currently and the modern interpretation of the rules.

They give up a ton of open 3s. If they go against an elite shooting team, they'll have problem.
They defend the paint better than anyone i've seen. In the playoffs i think this kind of D will be problematic. We'll see.

[E-Balla]

The Bucks legitimately have one of the best defenses I've ever seen given the league environment currently and the modern interpretation of the rules.

They give up a ton of open 3s. If they go against an elite shooting team, they'll have problem.
They defend the paint better than anyone i've seen. In the playoffs i think this kind of D will be problematic. We'll see.

Last year this was true but this year I don't think they give up more open looks than most teams from deep.

[KGtabake]

The Bucks legitimately have one of the best defenses I've ever seen given the league environment currently and the modern interpretation of the rules.

They give up a ton of open 3s. If they go against an elite shooting team, they'll have problem.
They defend the paint better than anyone i've seen. In the playoffs i think this kind of D will be problematic. We'll see.

Last year this was true but this year I don't think they give up more open looks than most teams from deep.

Maybe i'm wrong but i have the impression that every time they lose their opponent shoots lights out.
Sixers had a franchise record 3pt makes at Christmas(19 or something), Nuggets made 20-22 3s days ago.
I've watched these games. Again maybe i'm wrong because i don't watch all their games.
But if you make your shots against them you have a legit chance to beat them. Ofc that's a big "if".
Easier said than done.

[E-Balla]

They give up a ton of open 3s. If they go against an elite shooting team, they'll have problem.
They defend the paint better than anyone i've seen. In the playoffs i think this kind of D will be problematic. We'll see.

Last year this was true but this year I don't think they give up more open looks than most teams from deep.

Maybe i'm wrong but i have the impression that every time they lose their opponent shoots lights out.
Sixers had a franchise record 3pt makes at Christmas(19 or something), Nuggets made 20-22 3s days ago.
I've watched these games. Again maybe i'm wrong because i don't watch all their games.
But if you make your shots against them you have a legit chance to beat them. Ofc that's a big "if".
Easier said than done.

Those teams got hot against but it wasn't like they had a bunch of open looks or more open looks than usual. At least in the losses I saw.