Who will challenge Westbrook in the MVP race?

[tlance]

I Imo, there should be 2 awards. Most Valuable Player and Most Outstanding Player. When I think of Most Valuable Player, I think the player who means the most to his team. In other words, what is that team like if you remove that player?

Most Outstanding Player would be the leagues best player. Sometimes, that can be the same guy. If you look at Lebron's first stint in Cleveland, he was both the Most Valuable Player and the Most Outstanding Player for at least 4 and probably 5 of those years. During the past 6 years with Miami, he has been the Most Outstanding Player, but not the most valuable.

If you take Westbrook off of the Thunder, their record is likely down there with Philly and Dallas. If you take Lebron off the Cavs, they're still a playoff team in the East.[/QUOTE]

I actually interpret those two completely differently.

Take LeBron off the Cavs and they might be a 45-50 win team. Last year they would have been considerably worse than that without LeBron. With him they are elite. Sub him for ANY other player in the NBA and that team gets better while the Cavs get worse.

Most outstanding, on the other hand should go to the player who provides the most impressive individual performance. That was Curry last year and so far Westbrook this year.

 

[trojanfan12]

I actually interpret those two completely differently.

Take LeBron off the Cavs and they might be a 45-50 win team. Last year they would have been considerably worse than that without LeBron. With him they are elite. Sub him for ANY other player in the NBA and that team gets better while the Cavs get worse.

Most outstanding, on the other hand should go to the player who provides the most impressive individual performance. That was Curry last year and so far Westbrook this year.

Interesting way of looking at it. I've always heard it/thought of it as value to the team. But your way makes just as much sense.

 

[tducey]

Lebron.

 

[Scapegoat]

Scoring and overall pace is through the roof this year. Currently 25 teams are averaging over 100 ppg

11 teams are averaging over 105 ppg

Just in 06 there was only 9 teams over 100 ppg and 2 over 105 ppg

As impressive as Westbrook's overall numbers are this year, a lot of it has to do with the evolution of the game. In my opinion the best players in the game are still Lebron, KD, and Steph and then it's Westbrook, Harden, or Anthony Davis.

The MVP is Westbrook's to lose. But I think a lot of people are overlooking what KD is doing. He's been averaging 27 ppg while shooting 56-57 % all year. I think if KD wanted to average 35 this year in that Warriors system he could easily do it and probably still shoot 50 %, but he's not playing for stats.

Same with Lebron. His stats while still great, will never truly show his true value to his team. He is always making the best basketball play for his team not trying to force an assist at the expense of his team or not contesting a shot to sit in the paint for a rebound. Westbrook has been guilty of that in some games and his turnover avg is a good indicator of that.

Great player but stats are a bit inflated across the board. I don't think Westbrook's triple double year is any better than Lebron or KD's previous mvp year. It's like saying Kirk Cousins throwing for 4000 yds in this era is better than Dan Marino throwing for 4000 yds in his era.

Then why is he the only one doing it?

 

[msgkings322]

Then why is he the only one doing it?

Because he (and Harden) are on teams where that's what they get to do, dominate the ball at all times. Neither team has any chance of winning a title with them playing like that, but they don't have enough talent to do anything else.

 

[Scapegoat]

Because he (and Harden) are on teams where that's what they get to do, dominate the ball at all times. Neither team has any chance of winning a title with them playing like that, but they don't have enough talent to do anything else.

They aren't the only players to be in that position. Westbrook is just the only player who has gotten it done.

 

[msgkings322]

They aren't the only players to be in that position. Westbrook is just the only player who has gotten it done.

I agree he will get the MVP, and that should take the sting out of losing Durant a bit, but really, wouldn't you rather be a title contender than have your guy win an MVP?