BoatsNZones wrote:Packbuckman wrote:BoatsNZones wrote:I mean Bird won 3 in a row because he was the best player in the league (a league with Jordan/Magic/Hakeem/Malone(s),Kareem, etc) and proved it in the playoffs during that span, culminating in 3 Finals for the Celtics and 2 ships/Finals MVP's in those seasons. That's a sliiiight difference between the two. Realistically, Giannis' only chance (and it would have still been very tough) would have been if he and the Bucks somehow just blew the league out of the water and both improved their level of play from last year. But, both he and the Bucks have regressed this season. He has zero chance despite having a borderline MVP level case.
Harden, for different reasons also has zero chance this year. He has zero statistical case as the best player, he has proven to struggle in the post-season (matters for narrative, and it's why Lebron is still seen as a front-runner right now), and a majority of voters would never give him the benefit of the doubt after what happened in Houston. People can argue his merits in a vacuum all they want, but he has zero chance to win (and hell, even the objective/statistical BBREF Award Tracker does not have him among their top 10 choices. He's a moot point).
Giannis and the bucks definitely have a chance to have the best record in the East again. Giannis first 19 gms 59% from the free throw line the last 11 games 75% and 6-8 so far this gm and 23 pts at the half. His stroke looks so much smoother and he is just more confident he continues this look out league! Plus jrue has been out for 9 games and counting for health protocols he was playing great for us.
They're PRO-gressing to the mean for sure, and they should finish with the 1st or 2nd best record in the East. But there's a very, very low probability of both the Bucks and Giannis outperforming last season, which is the bare minimum that he'd need for a shot at voters giving him b2b2b after the underwhelming playoffs both years. I'm a Giannis fan, but it's not happening for him (and shouldn't).
Which is cool with me if he didn’t I rather settle for Giannis keep hitting those free throws to get ready for the playoffs.