Certain dilemmas in the universe require deep evaluation, critical analysis and genius-level intelligence. How can humans colonize other planets? Where do astrophysical neutrinos come from? Who is hip-hop’s GOAT, Biggie or Lil Yachty 2Pac?
Then there are other questions that appear simple and straightforward. Yet people insist on overthinking and overanalyzing them until ‘alternative’ dilemmas turn into real ones.
This is exactly what has happened with the NBA’s MVP race. A decision that should be clear as day has become as muddled and murky as a White House press briefing.
Here are the four candidates with a legitimate chance to win the MVP this season:
Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder (42-31):31.4 points, 10.4 assists, 10.5 rebounds, 1.6 steals – #6 seed in West, 37 triple doubles
James Harden, Houston Rockets (51-23):29.3 points, 11.4 assists, 8.0 rebounds, 1.5 steals – #3 seed in West, 20 triple doubles
LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers (47-26):26.0 points, 8.8 assists, 8.4 rebounds, 1.2 steals – #2 seed in the East, 10 triple doubles
Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs (57-16):26.0 points, 3.5 assists, 5.9 rebounds, 1.8 steals – Best defender in basketball, #2 seed in West
All of these players are having fantastic, MVP-worthy seasons (in other years). They are all certified monsters on the hardwood. I’ll also throw out the disclaimer that the MVP isn’t always about who has the best raw numbers. The formula for winning consists of individual success + team success + leadership x intangibles.
Intangibles are why Leonard, who hasn’t posted the same gaudy statistics as the others, is still in the conversation. He’s the best defender in basketball. His team has the best record of all those in contention.
However, a cursory glance at the numbers makes it pretty obvious that one of these seasons is not like the others.
Westbrook is averaging a triple double folks. Oh, and he’s also leading the league in scoring. Case closed. Discussion over. Class dismissed.
Sure, records and playoff seeds matter. Only one player has won MVP in a season when his team didn’t advance to the playoffs (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 1975-76). Furthermore, out of the 61 MVPs to date, only four (including Jabbar) finished with a winning percentage under .600. That means Westbrook could be in serious trouble of being snubbed due to the Thunder’s current .575 winning percentage.
It certainly wouldn’t be the first time. Oscar Roberson, the only man who has achieved the epic feat that Westbrook is chasing did not win the MVP Award for his historic 1960-61 season. Robertson’s Cincinnati Royals finished 43-37 (.538). Though the Royals finished as the #2 seed in the Western Division, Robertson lost out to Bill Russell for the MVP award. Russell’s Celtics had a league-best 60-20 regular-season record (.750) and went on to win the championship.
However, it is still considered a travesty that Robertson was not named MVP in a season where he accomplished something that no man, until now, has achieved.
Harden is considered the front-runner for the award by many because of his team’s success. After saying goodbye to Dwight Howard and saying hello to coach Mike D’Antoni, many people expected Harden and the Rockets to finish near the middle or the bottom of the Western Conference standings. On Hardens shoulders though, the Rockets team has outperformed expectations and appear locked into the #3 seed.
Number three.
We’re not talking about a team with the best record in the league. We’re not even talking about a team with championship expectations. James is the only player on the list with a reasonable expectation of winning a championship this year. Leonard has an outside chance.
That could sound like an endorsement for James or Leonard, but it isn’t. Both players have far more talented teams than Westbrook and Harden. Take James off the Cavs and Leonard off the Spurs and both teams would likely still make the playoffs. Neither the Thunder nor the Rockets would have a chance without their superstars.
For me though, when two guys stand out above the rest, the tiebreaker is going to be the guy who is doing something that has only been done once before. Did I mention that he’s leading the league is scoring?
It’s just not reasonable that the tiebreaker is a #3 seed over a #6 seed. Realistically, both Westbrook and Harden will be sitting at home watching the Finals with you and me. But the MVP award is about the regular season and there’s nothing regular about Westbrook’s remarkable feat.
Westbrook might be grumpy. He can be petty. He shoots a lot. However, it doesn’t take Albert Einstein to see that he’s far and away having the best season in the NBA this season, and one of the best seasons in league history. Hopefully MVP voters will do the right thing. Any name but Westbrook’s is fake news.
MPJ recruiting hard for Mizzou
Mizzou hoops did the unthinkable and landed the #1 recruit in the nation when Michael Porter Jr. de-committed from the University of Washington in order to follow his father back to Columbia, Mo. Porter realizes that he’ll likely need some help to immediately turn around a disastrous team that finished 8-24 for the season.
As Maurice Scott reported, Porter is going hard in the paint trying to recruit All-American forward Kevin Knox. However,Knox isn’t the only target of Mizzou’s star player and best recruiter.
Porter is also publicly wooing another blue chip recruit on social media. On Friday, Porter tweeted out, “Mizzou nation show my guy some love we need him at the ZOU.” The message was a retweet from a message by Blake Harris, an elite point guard out of Chapel Hill, NC. Like Porter, Harris initially signed with Washington, but de-committed when Lorenzo Romar was fired.
Mizzou nation show my guy some love we need him at the ZOU https://t.co/TgbkNOu6q7
— Michael Porter Jr. (@TheMPJ1) March 25, 2017
According to Zagsblog.com, Harris has narrowed down his choices to Michigan State, Missouri, N.C. State and Rutgers. If the Tigers can add Harris and/or Knox and keep point guard C.J. Roberts (a Kim Anderson recruit) committed, you can expect Mizzou to go dancing next season.
Follow Ishmael and In the Clutch on Twitter @IshmaelSistrunk
